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- Particularly Active Parents Groups
- ABetterLife.org
- DuPage County - The mission of A BETTER LIFE is
to empower our community members who have developmental
disabilities, and their families, by providing information
and helping to secure resources that are tailored to their
needs.Mary Dickter 630-369-2255, 630-420-7463, abetterlife1@earthlink.net,
President@abetterlife.org A
Superb Links Page for Illinois Resources, List
of Local Parents Advocacy Groups,
- Mothers From
Hell 2 - German Valley- P.O. Box 19 German Valley,
IL 61039 Phone: 815-362-5303 FAX: 303-374-3151 www.mothersfromhell2.org,
President Beth - beth@mothersfromhell2.org, Vice Pres &
Web Mistress Nancy - nancy@mothersfromhell2.org Secretary
& Brimstone Editor JFS - jfs@mothersfromhell2.org Associate
Vice President Rob - rob@mothersfromhell2.org Associate
Member Maggie - maggie@mothersfromhell2.org
- P.A.C.E. (Parents'
Alliance for Compliance in Special Education) Chapters -
Plainfield, Kankakee, & Joliet - contact Carol McCullough
Education Organizer, NTIC work: 312.243.3035 carol@ntic-us.org,
Carol@nationaltraining.org, Leigh Tumpack (paceparents@aol.com
815-370-3553)
- PACHS - Downers
Grove and Naperville - (Parents' Association for Children
with Hemiparesis) - support, information, resources and
seminars for parents - Mary Kay Ballasiotes, info@pachs.org,
630-854-4058
- Parents Association for Student Services in District 39
(PASS39) - Willmette - wilmettepass39@aol.com
- Special Kids, Special Families - Buffalo Grove
- contact Susan Bauer 847-913-1978 ALLSB5@aol.com
- Additional Parents Groups
- ANSWERS - Peoria - Autism support group - Chuck
Behrens (309) 682-5722 behrens_61603@Yahoo.com Lauri Hislope
(309) 697-3300 Chilope@juno.com Sue Grimm (309) 693-3088
E-Mail: marknsue@heart.net Chuck Behrens behrens_61603@yahoo.com
Lauri Hislope Chilope@juno.com Sue Brimm marknsue@heart.net
- A.S.K.
(Answers for Special Kids) - Evanston - Marian Casey
Director answersforspecialkids@comcast.net 847-733-1739
- Galena
Parent Advocates - Galena - Galena Parent Advocates
was organized to inform, educate and activate parents in
their community. General meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of
the month at the DeSoto House Hotel. Advance registration
is required. Special meetings are listed in the website.
Most of their Special meetings are approved for ISBE CPU
or CPDU credit. There is no fee for parents of children
with disabilities. Government,
Education & Media Contacts page Lynn Gallager galenaadvocate@hotmail.com
- The Holland Foundation - Bloomington-Normal - contacts:
Gary and Kim 1-877-452-6194, fax, 1-309-888-4403, jkga345@cs.com
- Illinois Hands & Voices is a parent-driven organization
dedicated to providing non-biased support and information
to parents of deaf and hard of hearing children. They provide
Parent Connection meetings, host an annual "Mom's Night
Inn", and provide quarterly newsletters and a listserv.
contact: Karen Putz support@ilhandsandvoices.org, www.handsandvoices.org,
www.ilhandsandvoices.org
- Kankakee Valley Chapter of the Autism Society of America
- Kankakee - They meet on the 3rd Monday of the month
at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee, Illinois for details
contact Julie Gindy 815-933-3467 JuleZee@aol.com We meet
on the 3rd Monday of the month at Riverside Medical Center,
Kankakee, Illinois at 7:00
- Parent-2-Parent
- Des Plaines - A Support/Advocacy Group for Parents
and Friends of Children With Disabilities- located in the
Chicago Northwest Suburban Area But Open To Parents Everywhere!
Eva M Roberts, PO Box 4205, Des Plaines, IL. 60016 Specedparents@aol.com
847/699-1223, aginzburg@aol.com, Cheryl Mix 847-803-3114,
cell 847-399-0853
- P.R.A.I.S.E. - Central Illinois - P.R.A.I.S.E
now has 3 chapters in central Illinois. The original chapter
is based out of Decatur and serves families in the Macon-Piatt
Special Education Coop. The Moultrie county chapter is based
out of Sullivan and serves parents in Moultrie and Shelby
counties, and the Coles county chapter has been based out
of Charleston and serves famillies in the Charleston-Mattoon
area. P.R.A.I.S.E. is also extremely active as the parent
group partner for the Parent Mentoring Project. Current
Chair-Matt Sekosky, skyranch@wireless111.com Current co-chair
Toomas Kriisa Kriisa@sbcglobal.net
- Parents
as Partners - Peotone - contact: Cindy Grubbs-Mahood
GrubbsMahood@aol.com
- Special-Connections.org
- Skokie and Niles - a parents support group for
the Skokie, Morton Grove and Niles Township School Districts
Chuck Kusar contact@special-connections.org 312-914-0591
- Rainbow of Friends - Chicago - For children with
Special Needs. As a single parent of a child with Autism
there really weren't that many groups on the Northside of
Chicago for my son to join so I started one myself. I currently
have about 15 families in my group. The majority of the
children have Autism but there are a few with other diagnosis.
Ayana Geiger, austi1973@yahoo.com, Home: 773-764-8740
- The Special Education Resource Group (SERG) - Elmhurst
- sergmail2000@yahoo.com SERG is a PTA organization of District
205 parents of children with special needs.
- VOICE - Mokena - Co-Chair: Brad Bradley Address:
P.O. Box 834, Mokena, IL 60448 Phone: (815) 469-4929 or
1-800-469-2844 Fax: (815) 469-6807 Provides parents with
advocacy services on a sliding scale based on gross income.
voicefamilyties@cs.com
- Will and Grundy Counties - contact: Brad Bradley
voicefamilyties@cs.com
- Northwest Suburban Illinois Chapter of the Autism Society
of America Schaumburg Township Meeting Hall. 25 Illinois
Blvd. Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60194 Meetings are
held on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. President@autismillinois.com
- Other
- Autism News - ahebel@owc.net, an autism mailing list,
P.O. Box 1255 Crystal Lake, IL 60039-1255 http://www.geocities.com/fishstep
(this site has an excelent statewide activity calendar including
contact info),
- Autism Society of Illinois 630/691-1270, info@autismillinois.org
- North Suburban ASI Chapter (Autism) Michael: 847/541-9969
NorSubAsi@aol.com
- Springfield Illinois Asperger's Support Group Joychll@aol.com
- Northern Illinois Asperger's Support Group rtmugnolo@yahoo.com
or (708) 771-8522
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- Attention Deficit Disorders Center, Marv L. Meyer,
Ph.D., ABPP, 5225 Old Orchard Road
Suite 38, Skokie, Illinois 60077, (847) 663-8550 ADHD and language
processing resources recommended by Marv Meyer:
- Family Resource Center on Disabilities 312-939-3513 -
Educational meetings for parents re dealing with IEP's and
other school problems. They have Pamphlets, esp. Tax Guide
for Parents, e.g. Remediation is a medical expense and therefore
tax deductible.
- Illinois Section of the National Dyslexia Association,
Glenn Ellyn, IL. phone 630 - 469-6900 They can provide a
list of trained tutors for reading problems, esp. trained
in the Wilson System, a structured, comprehensive program
to enhance reading fluency.
- Local tutor in Skokie, Marsha Weiss, phone 847 - 675-8087
- Rush Educational and Emotional Health Evaluation Program
for Children andAdolescents; Rush University Medical Center;
1720 W. Polk, Chicago, IL60612; Contact: Hollie Sobel,
Ph.D. (312) 942-4450, Hollie_Sobel@rush.edu, Dr. Louis
Kraus, M.D., Jean Heideman, MS, RN
- TLC Educational Services, Ltd. - Certified special educator with over twenty years experience. Specializing in Tutoring, LD Specialist and Consultant. Phonemic Awareness/Orton Gillingham Certified. Math curriculum can be adapted so every child can succeed in math. Written language and spelling skills are taught using a mutlisensory approach. Red Apple Teacher Award ~ Golden Apple Nominee. tlcedservices@gmail.com 847-508-9981 Barbara Joseph, Certified Educational Specialist
- Advanced Case Management, Ltd. provides IEP consultation and development, advocacy, classroom observations, review of evaluations and school records, coordination of public and private services, and medication management. The organization’s vision is to collaboratively work with parents, professionals and educators so that children with special needs will realize their potential and enjoy productive, successful lives. Services are headed by Catherine J. Oliver, RN, C, MSN who has 10 years of experience in the special education field. Catherine works with city and suburban families. Telephone: 847-615-9410. Website: http://www.advancedcasemanagement.com E-mail: cjo@interaccess.com.
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- Child Advocates (who handle IEP matters and due process hearings)
- Precision
Education - "Changing Family Experiences in Special
Education"-Joliet, IL- We strive to bring our clients solutions
for their children to receive a Free and Appropriate Public
Education through creating a precise path customized to
your family visions. Founder-Catherine Whichter, M.Ed. (Office
(800) 432-0170 Fax: (866)-773-5217), info@PrecisionEducation.com,
Toni Marcum tjfrech@yahoo.com http://www.precisioneducation.com
- Advanced Case Management, Ltd. provides IEP consultation
and development, advocacy, classroom observations, review
of evaluations and school records, coordination of public
and private services, and medication management. The organization’s
vision is to collaboratively work with parents, professionals
and educators so that children with special needs will realize
their potential and enjoy productive, successful lives.
Services are headed by Catherine J. Oliver, RN, C, MSN who
has 10 years of experience in the special education field.
Catherine works with city and suburban families. Telephone:
847-615-9410. Website: http://www.advancedcasemanagement.com
E-mail: cjo@interaccess.com.
- Individualized Consulting and Resources, LLC. (224.622.8334)
is an educational consulting business which provides consulting,
advocacy, tutoring and other resources to special education
children and their families. The main focus is to inform,
guide and advise parents, families and community structures
with educational information ranging from special education
and 504 plans to disability services as well as general
educational needs, assessments, seminars, tutoring and how
to navigate through the educational system. 2416 Bradley
Place, Evanston, Illinois 60202; email: individualizedllc@comcast.net
- Everyone Is Welcome - One of the largest, if not
the largest, child advocacy service provider in Illinois.
They provide not only child advocacy, but also expert witness
services, 712 Westfield Drive St. Charles, IL 60174-3846
(630) 584-0970 eiwelcome@aol.com EveryoneIsWelcome
- Child Advocates include: Mark W. Doyle, M.S. Ed.(inclusion
and transitional services) Janet M. Varchetto (reading,
language and Dyslexia), Chris Scherschel (physical therapy,
multiple disability children, and inclusion issues),
Joe Creedon, Debra Scouten, Barbara Chatman
- EdPsych Solutions offers comprehensive psycho-educational
evaluations, consultation and advocacy services. Specializing
in learning disabilities, ADHD, tourette syndrome and spectrum
disorders. Contact Shari Meserve, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. at 847-800-8781
or visit www.edpsychsolutions.net
- Bonnie Fell - Over 20 years of experience in advocacy
of children and families. Founder of the North Suburban
Chapter of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (CH.A.D.D.) Affiliated with the The Child and Family
Law Center of the North Shore 847-926-0101 bonnief@lawforchild.com
- Gail Glasser - "Advocate for Children's rights for Learning
Disabilities as well as for Gifted Children" Skokie, 847-845-1902
Butterfly0214@aol.com
- Wendy E. Handrich, M.S., Ed. “The Learning Curve of Wisconsin,
Inc.” Provides child advocacy and expert witness services.
Serves both Wisconsin and Illinois. Phone: (262)
567-9044. learningcurvewi@charter.net
- A Chance To Succeed (ACTS) - Tinley Park - Terri Buckley
- Parent Advocate Phone: 708-633-0903 E-mail: tbacts1@attbi.com
- Action ADDvoKids - Cindy L. Asselstine, Lay Advocate 1014
North Plum Grove Road, Suite 118 Schaumburg, Illinois 60173
Work: (847) 882-1225 Fax: (847) 882-0921
- Ariye Ginzburg - Morton Grove, aginzburg@aol.com 847-965-4756
or 847-581-9066
- Tammera L. Lawson - Parent/Child Advocate 48 Pembrooke
Rd. Montgomery, Illinois 60538 (630) 966-0927 E-mail: tammera2526@aol.com
Professional advocate serving Kendall, Kane, DeKalb, Will
and DuPage counties (does not represent in due process).
- Barb Duffy, Parent Advocate - Making Connections, Chicago,
IL Email: Advocate226@aol.com A former special education
teacher, currently a parent advocate for four years. Working
in Chicago and suburban areas to ensure appropriate services
of children with initial placements, 504s, or IEPs. Expertise
in Learning Disabilities and ADHD.
- George Ackron - Paraclete Services - 4615 Tile Line Rd.
Crystal Lake, IL 60012 phone and fax: (815) 455-7010 gackron@mc.net,
Advocate in Disability Law. Has been providing advocacy
services in IL for 25 years. Specializing in Special Ed.
and SS Disability Representation.
- Annmarie Robinson - a non-lawyer Child Advocate who is
associated with the Law Firm of Monahan & Cohen 312-419-0252
annmarie.robinson@att.net
- Mary Anne Ehlert, CFP, a non-lawyer Child Advocate who
is associated with the Law Firm of Brian Rubin & Associates
mehlert@anet-chi.com (847) 279-7999
- Rebeccah G Rodgers - Parent/Child Advocate 2624 S Lincoln
Ave Springfield, Illinois 62704 (217) 793-0405 E-mail: rgrodgers@angellove.org
Web: http://www.AngelLoveFoundation.org Professional advocate
serving Sangamon, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard and
Cass counties.
- Tuula Snow - 208 S. Oppyville Rd. Watseka, IL 60970 Phone:
815-432-6427 Fax: 815-432-2786 thnkfinn@prairieinet.net
Providing educational advocacy for children and their families
in all aspects of special education through phone consultations
and attendance at IEP meetings.
- VOICE - Provides parents with advocacy services on a sliding
scale based on gross income. Co-Chair: Brad Bradley Address:
P.O. Box 834, Mokena, IL 60448 Phone: (815) 469-4929 or
1-800-469-2844 Fax: (815) 469-6807 voicefamilyties@cs.com
- Sheri L. Zalar M.Ed. Helping Parents Help Their Children
3328 W. Lexington Ct. Peoria, IL 61615 Tel: (309) 679-9582
E-Mail: SLZalar@aol.com
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- Illinois Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
- They do a lot of parent advocacy training throughout the state...
training that is applicable to parents of all kinds of special
ed children - iffcmh@msn.com 800-871-8400 or 618-993-2059 1616
West Main St, Suite 101, Marion IL 62959 Diane Ledbetter, executive
director iffcmh@msn.com, Marge Jesuit, President, KenMar60005@msn.com
Tom Galassini, Treasurer tomgalassini@uwsc.net, Beth Berndt
Northern Illinois Coordinator 630-365-1584 cell phone 618-315-0153.
- Federally funded centers provide training and technical assistance
to parents of children with disabilities.
- DESIGNS FOR CHANGE Donald R. Moore/Bernard Lacour 29 East
Madison, Suite 950 Chicago, IL 60602 800/851-8728 or 312/236-7252
Fax: 312/236-7927 http://designsforchange.org, dfcl@aol.com
blc@designsforchange.org
- Sharon Soltman, Esq., is Legal Director at Designs
for Change, and was responsible for the landmark Corey
H. case against the Chicago Public School District
- FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ON DISABILITIES Charlotte DesJardins,
Executive Director 20 East Jackson Boulvard Room 300 Chicago,
IL 60604 800/952-4199, 312/939-3513 or 312/939-3519, Fax:
312/939-7297 e-mail: frcdptiil@ameritech.net www.ameritech.net/users/frcdptiil/index.html
www.frcd.org
- http://www.ameritech.net/users/frcdptiil/index.html
- http://www.frcd.org
- FAMILY T.I.E.S. Network Carol Saines, Executive Director
830 South Spring Street Springfield, IL 62704 800/865-7842
or 866/223-7726 217/544-5809 Fax: 217/544-6018 e-mail: ftiesn@aol.com
mrsinclusion@aol.com, davis@familytiesnetwork.net,
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR LATINOS WITH DISABILITIES Everado
Franco, Executive Director 1915-17 South Blue Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608 800/532-3393 or 312/666-3393 Fax: 312/666-1787
e-mail: ncld@ncld.com
- ARC Community Support Systems Family Matters Parent Training
and Information Center Debbie Einhorn, Director 2502 S. Veterans
Drive Effingham, IL 62401 toll free (866) 436-7842 Fax: (217)
347-5119 E-mail: nfo@fmptic.org Web: www.fmptic.org This parent
center serves all of Illinois outside of the 8 county Chicago
area Amanda Bain FMPTIC, 866-436-7842 ext 109
- CHOICES for Parents is a Chicagoland coalition of agencies
providing parents, of children who have a hearing loss, with
immediate access to information, resources, and support. Contact:
CHOICES for Parents, 312.523.6400 (v/tty), PO Box 806045, Chicago,
IL 60680-4121, E-mail: choicesforparents@yahoo.com, web: www.choicesforparents.org
- Equip for Equality is an independent, private, not-for-profit
organization designated by the Governor in 1985 to implement
the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System
in Illinois. The mission of Equip for Equality is to advance
the human and civil rights of children and adults with disabilities
in Illinois. It is the only statewide, cross-disability, comprehensive
advocacy organization providing self-advocacy assistance, legal
services, and disability rights education while also engaging
in public policy and legislative advocacy and conducting abuse
investigations and other oversight activities. Equip for Equality
provides free legal services and self-advocacy assistance to
people with disabilities, and self-advocacy training to people
with disabilities and family members. Contact Chicago (312)
341-0022, (800) 537-2632, TTY (800) 610-2779; Rock Island (309)
786-6868, (800) 758-6869, TTY (800) 758-6869; and Springfield
(217) 544-0464, (800) 544-0464, TTY (800) 544-0464. EFE's website
is http://www.equipforequality.org, e-mail at contactus@equipforequality.org.
Special education cases accepted by EFE will be assigned to
an appropriate attorney or advocate.
- Jewish Children's Bureau of Chicago - Central Office One South
Franklin Street Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 444-2090, Skokie Office
(847) 569-5100 http://www.jcbchicago.org
- ISBE
List of Resource Centers - Centers that provide legal or
advocacy services to families of children with disabilities,
usually free or at low cost.
- Individualized Consulting and Resources, LLC. (224.622.8334)
is an educational consulting business which provides consulting,
advocacy, tutoring and other resources to special education
children and their families. The main focus is to inform, guide
and advise parents, families and community structures with educational
information ranging from special education and 504 plans to
disability services as well as general educational needs, assessments,
seminars, tutoring and how to navigate through the educational
system. 2416 Bradley Place, Evanston, Illinois 60202; email:
individualizedllc@comcast.net
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IEP
Recorder and IEP Book List
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Special
Education Lawyers
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- Relevant Illinois Laws
- Relevant Federal Laws
- IDEA
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (provides
for Individualized Education Plans)
- 34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 300
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Family Student Records Act 20 USC
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
related Federal code of regulations at 34
CFR 104.
- Good Legal Resources
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- Illinois State Board of Education - 866/262-6663, 217/782-4321,
(Internal Audits, Jenifer Stevens), Illinois
State Board of Education - Web Site (malong@isbe.net)
- Illinois State Board of Education Learning Disability Complaints
- Complaints about any School District relating to Special Education
may be referred in writing to the Division of Program Compliance,
Illinois State Board of Education which will review and investigate
it within 60 days. (100 North First Street, Springfield, IL
62777-0001, 217/782-5589 fax 217/782-0372
- Paula Stadker is Process Coordinator (contact her for
Due Process Hearing matters)
- Sherri Colegrove (contact her for non-binding mediation
matters)
- Illinois State Advisory Council on the Education of Children
with Disabilities - Chief Contact is Pat Koch, Principal
Special Education Consultant at 217/782-5589 pkoch@isbe.net
(you can also contact The Governors Office at 217/782-6830 or
Cathy Pavolko CPAVOLKO@isbe.net, secretary to Chistopher A.
Koch, Acting Deputy Superintendent for Special Education) ISBE
Advisory Board Web Site
- United States Department of Education -
- The best place to submit complaints:
- ed.gov/ocr
- fax 312/353-4888 MN, WI, IL, IN
- ocr_chicago@ed.gov
- Linda McGovern
- online
complaint form
- Complaints may also be submitted to the Office of Special
Education Programs (if the complaint is about a particular
child they will typically ask you to first submit the complaint
to the state and then to them only after you have failed
to receive satisfaction from the state), United States Department
of Education, Federal Office Building 6, Room 4181, 400
Maryland Ave, S.W. Washington, D.C., 20202. Their phone
number is 202/205-5507. Diane Demaio (diane_demaio@ed.gov)
is the person responsible for the State of Illinois complaints.
Sybrena Bullock (sybrena_bullock@ed.gov) is responsible
for information about the Office of Special Education Programs
in general (she is a pleasure to talk to on the telephone
and always very helpful). www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA/index.html
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Illinois
State Board of Education
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- Political Disability Advocates
- Bob Dole, Retired Republican Senator and past Candidate
for President
- David Hoppe, chief of staff to Republican Senate Majority
Leader Trent Lott
- Hon. Dan Burton, Chairman House of Representatives Committee
on Government Reform 2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-6143 Attn. Ms. Beth Clay Tel. 202-225-5074
E-mail address: beth.clay@mail.house.gov
- Republican Senator Judd Gregg from New Hampshire is attempting
to pass federal legislation that would allow special-education
students to attend private schools with taxpayer-funded
vouchers.
- Republican Dan Burton of Indiana, Chairman of the US House
of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, who has
a grandson with autism, is asking the President to assemble
a special team of people to try to determine the causes
of autism as well as effective treatment methods.
- Illinois Special Education Legislation Association - bevjohns@juno.com
217/245-5781
- US. Senators Representing Illinois
- United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald 555 Dirksen Senate
Building Washington DC 20510 202 224-2854 senator_fitzgerald@fitzgerald.senate.gov
- United States Senator Richard Durbin 364 Russell Senate
Office Building Washington DC 20510 202 224-2153 dick@durbin.senate.gov
(press secretary Stacy Zolt 312/848-4484, fax 312/353-0150)
- Washington DC (phone 202-224-2152, TTY 202-224-8180,
fax 202-228-0400), Chicago (phone 312-353-4952, fax
312-353-0150), Marion (phone 618-998-8812, fax 618-997-0176)
- Illinois State Legislators
- You can locate your local representatives to the state
senate and house of representatives here: www.legis.state.il.us.
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