Resources for Children with Disabilities

The Collaboration for Early Childhood is here to support Oak Park and River Forest families of children with disabilities and parents who have concerns about their child’s development. Out Intake Coordinator is available to help answer questions and guide you through the resource and referral process. You can contact us by emailing programs@collab4kids.org or by calling 708-613-6122 ext. 8.

The following is a list of organizations and resources that families with children with disabilities or developmental delays may find useful. When possible, we have linked directly to the family-based resources on the organization’s webpage. We have attempted to list most local groups — or regional/ national organizations if a local resource does not exist. If you know of an agency or organization that should be added to this list, don’t hesitate to let us know.

Local School District Student Services and Special Education Offices

Forest Park (District 91) Student Services Department
925 Beloit Avenue, Forest Park 60130 Phone: 708-366-5742

Oak Park (District 97) Special Education
260 Madison, Oak Park 60302 Phone: 708-524-3000

River Forest (District 90) Special Education
7776 Lake Street Phone: 708-771-8282

Not a resident of the above districts? See a full list of Western Cook County School Districts.

Local Resources

Parents of Extra Special Kids Facebook Group

Parents of Extra Special Kids is a supportive and inclusive group of parents of kids with special needs or other challenges. Parents share experiences and resources, as well as have regular parent/caregiver meet ups, learning opportunities, as well as social events for kids and families. Parents are from Oak Park area and the surrounding suburbs.

Aspire Children’s Services
1815 South Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162 Phone: 708-236-0979
Provide family-centered early intervention, parent education and support groups, and specialized services for children with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families.

Community Support Services
9021 W. Ogden, Brookfield 60513 Phone: 708-354-4547
Case management/ social work; developmental disabilities services; parent/support/training; respite care.

Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC)
at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Phone: 800-322-3722
Care coordination for children from birth to age 21 with physical disabilities. Financial assistance with medical costs for qualifying income-eligible families. Information available in English and Spanish.

Dynamic Lynks
1100 Lake St., Suite 100C, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: 708-620-2373
Email: info@dynamiclynks.com
Holistic therapeutic center, music and movement for children with Autism. Individual and group music therapy sessions, adaptive yoga, voice, piano, guitar and ukulele lessons. All ages.

Family Resource Center on Disabilities
20 E. Jackson Blvd, Room 300, Chicago 60604 Phone: 312-939-3513
Provides information, training, and support for families who have children with disabilities.

Fussy Baby Network at Erikson Institute
Phone: 888-431-BABY (2229)
Variety of services including free parent support phone line, home visit program, English and Spanish support groups, and fussy baby clinic.

Helping Hand Center
9649 W. 55th St., Countryside 60525 Phone: 708-352-3580, ext. 383 Fax: 708-352-9728
Developmental therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.

Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse
Phone: 877-275-3227 Fax: 217-522-4670
Provides library and information services to Illinois residents on health, educational and developmental concerns of infancy and early childhood; call to order materials at no cost.

Imagine Pediatric Therapy
606 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago 60607 Phone: 312-588-5050 Fax: 312-588-5040
Occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy.

Kids Unlimited Therapeautic Services LLC
820 North Blvd. (side entrance) Oak Park 60302 Phone: 708-524-2445 Fax: 708-524-2443
Occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy.

Lakeview Speech and Language Clinic, LLC
Phone: 773-573-7709
Email: info@lakeviewspeech.com
Lakeview Speech and Language Clinic provides in-home speech and occupational therapies to children and their families in Oak Park – River Forest, and Chicago, IL. Their mission is to connect with your child and family to promote and teach skills in order to enrich your lives in all environments. Therapy sessions are energized and motivational, and use naturalistic materials and activities.

Lurie Children’s Hospital Lekotek Center (also Known as Jackie’s Toy Chest)
225 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-227-6398
Lekotek uses the developmentally beneficial aspects of play to help support families of children with disabilities. Playtime can relieve families’ stress, solidify important emotional bonds and normalize routines.

Oak-Leyden Developmental Services
411 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park 60302 Phone: 708-524-1050 ext. 107
Individualized, family centered services for young children from birth to age 5 with developmental delays or disabilities. Program services include: physical, occupational, speech, and developmental therapies, play groups, family training and support, and family events. Developmental screenings available upon request.

Pillars
6918 Windsor Ave., Berwyn, IL 60402
708-745-5277 (phone); 708-795-4834 (fax)
Social-emotional/mental health therapy.

Smart Love Family Services
610 S. Maple Avenue, 2nd Floor, Oak Park, IL 60403
773-665-8052, ext. 4 (phone); 708-660-4301 (fax)
contact@smartlovefamily.org
Mental health services for children and adults; diagnostic evaluations; individual and group counseling; play therapy; psychological and neuropsychological testing; autism treatment program.

STAR Net Region II
2626 S. Clearbrook Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
224-366-8579 (phone)
Support and Technical Assistance Regional Network provides training and technical assistance to parents of children with special needs (birth – age 8) in western Cook County.

Thrive Counseling Center
120 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302
708-383-7500 (phone); 708-383-7880 (fax)
Social-emotional/mental health therapy.

Vital Rehabilitation
5820 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60634
773-685-8482 (phone); 773-685-8479 (fax)
Developmental therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social-emotional/mental health therapy and speech therapy.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) & Lekotek
2915 Maple Street, Franklin Park, IL 60131
847-455-2100 (phone)
Cooperative extension that provides recreational opportunities for children and adults with special needs, disabilities, or handicapping conditions. WSSRA also offers Lekotek, a lending library of toys for children with disabilities.