Americans with Disabilities & Civil Rights Information

Equip for Equality: Advancing the human and civil rights of people with disabilities in Illinois.

Great Lakes ADA Resource Center: Addresses your concerns about the Americans with Disabilities Act.

IL Attorney General’s Office: Disability Rights Bureau enforces state and federal laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities.

IL Guardianship & Advocacy Commission: Protects the rights and promotes the welfare of people with disabilities.

National Association of the Deaf: A civil rights organization for deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States.

Wrights Law: Provides parents and professionals reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

Illinois Department of Human Services Programs

IL Bureau of Blind Services: Programs for adults with visual impairments to enable them to work and participate fully in family and community life.

IL Department on Aging: Helping older adults live independently in their home and community. Search for local agencies by county.

IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services: Provides healthcare coverage for adults and children on Medicaid, and Child support services.

IL Department of Human Services: Listing of the wide range of services available to you and your family to help you become healthy and self-sufficient.

IL Department of Veterans Affairs: Assist veterans navigating services and benefits available.

DHS Community Reintegration Program: Reintegrate eligible individuals age 18 – 59 from a nursing setting to a community based independent living setting.

DHS Home Services Program: Provides services to individuals with severe disabilities so they can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible.

IL Disabled Workers Program: State of Illinois program to employ people with disabilities.

IL Division of Rehabilitation Services: works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: A resident-directed advocacy program helping and protecting resident’s quality of life in a variety of long term-care settings.

Healthcare Related Services

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Exchange information.

Medicare Plan Finder: Locate Medicare plans by zip code.

Programs & Services available in Illinois

Family Matters Parent Training & Information Center: Information to empower parents and professionals to achieve strong outcomes for students with disabilities.

IL Application for Benefits Eligibility: Apply for and manage healthcare, food, and cash assistance benefits for Illinois residents.

IL Assistive Technology Program: Increase access to and acquisition of assistive technology devices for all people with a disability.

IL Benefit Access Program (formerly Circuit Breaker): Online filing for bus pass or license plate sticker renewal.

IL Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission: Promotes education and awareness for effective communication on behalf of people with hearing loss in Illinois.

IL Guide to Services: Guide booklet of services for Illinois Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Veterans.

IL Network of Centers for Independent Living: Association of the twenty-two Illinois centers for independent living. Locate the center serving your county.

IL Online Voter Application: Website for completing Voter Application.

IL Pantries, Soup Kitchens and Homeless Shelters: Locate sources of food and shelter.

IL Secretary of State Forms: Forms and applications for persons with disabilities.

IL Substance Use Disorder Programs: Locate a provider or treatment facility for opioid and other substances.

IL Talking Book and Braille Service: Provides audio and braille library service to any Illinois resident unable to read standard print material due to visual / physical disability.

IL Telecommunications Access Corporation: Issues free equipment for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, Deaf-Blind, and Speech-Disabled communities.

IL WorkNet Center: Locate jobs, training opportunities and resources.

Safelink Wireless: Provides free Talk, Text and Data to qualified participants.

Sarah Bush Lincoln Peace Meals Senior Nutrition Program: Provides congregate and home delivered meals for seniors in a fourteen county region.

Starkey Hearing Foundation: Hear Now Program providing hearing help to low income Americans.

The Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois: Provides leadership, research, planning and education required to support independent living in Illinois.

Programs & Services available in Central Illinois

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Central IL: Meeting times, dates, and locations.

Community Online Resource Directory: Search for agencies and programs in Moultrie, Shelby, Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Edgar, Douglas, Effingham and Jasper counties.

Decatur Housing Authority: Information on Section 8 and public housing in Decatur.

DMCOC Energy Assistance Program: Assists low-income families in Decatur pay their utility bills through LIHEAP application assistance

Northeast Community Fund: Services offered by this Decatur outreach agency.

Operation Uplift Paratransit: Provides Decatur residents public transportation services without regard to disability.

United States Human Services Programs

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: Access and manage your VA benefits and health care.

U.S. Social Security Administration: Information for all Social Security programs and services.

Additional Programs & Services available

American Foundation for the Blind: Resources for people with visual impairments.

Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living: Provides leadership and resources on rural independent living.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Provides hope, help, support, and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders.

Directory of Centers for Independent Living: Nationwide directory of CILs by state.

National Federation of the Blind: Resources for people with visual impairments.

U.S. Guide Dog Schools: Resource list of guide dog schools

Need Services?

SAIL advocates for persons with disabilities and provides referrals for resources.

SAIL provides language assistance services upon request.