Special Education Resources for Families

Healthcare 

• The ARC and the National Center for Children with Poverty released Disability Perspectives on Paid Leave.
• UnitedHealthcare  Children’s Foundation
• Family to Family Health Information Center
• Service Inc
• Illinois Department of Human Services

Huntley 158 Thriving Future Talks presentations

• Why Every Family Belongs Here - 9/17/25

• Planning Ahead: Benefits, Healthcare and Supports - 10/15/25

• From School to Self-Sufficiency: Navigating the Road to Adulthood - 11/12/25

• Parent Panel - 1/14/26 

• Guardianship - 2/18/26

• Regional Transit Authority: Building Independence Through Accessible Transportation - 3/18/26

Local Organizations

• Illinois State Board of Education Forms
• Options and Advocacy of McHenry County /Autism Resource Center
• Service INC
• UIC Specialized Care for Children
• Lake County Center for Independent Living Services from Braille training, sign language, assistive technology training, youth employment readiness, and adult employment training, independent living skills training are some of the services provided
• Youth Transition Services also through Lake county Center for Independent Living
• Illinois Assistive Technology Program
• Pioneer Center For Human Services
• Clearbrook West

Recreation

• NISRA
• Gigi’s Playhouse
• Special Olympics
• Huntley Park District
• Kingpins Drumline program

Special Education Parent Rights

• ISBE Special Education website
• Parent Guide to Educational Rights and Responsibilities in Illinois 
• Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents/Guardians of Students with Disabilities
• Derechos y responsabilidades en materia de educación Illinois (Spanish)
• Aviso de Garantias de Procedimiento Para los Padres o Tutores de Estudiantes con

Support Groups

Thriving Parent Support Group

Monthly support group for current and past Huntley 158 families who have a child with an IEP.  To receive information on future meetings, please complete this brief registration form.

Other Support Groups

• NAMI Mental Illness support for caregivers, family members or peer groups
• Options and Advocacy Groups for Caregivers, siblings and peers (Autism resource center)
• Wow Words of Wisdom Adults with disabilities support group
• Heads Up Survivors of traumatic brain injury  
• Compassionate Friends Parents who have lost a child (and sibling grief groups)

Websites 

• Family Matters Training and Information Center
• Family Resource Center
• Parent Center Hub
• The Pacer Center
• Matrix Parents