Integrated Pediatrics

“Catch a wave 🌊 and you're sitting on top of the world.” - The Beach Boys

Backwater Gamblers' Access to Waves has two upcoming adaptive water ski clinics for people with disabilities in Rock Island, Ill.

The clinic allows people living with paraplegia, quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputations, traumatic brain injuries and more to experience the joy of water skiing.

The clinic will be at Backwater Gamblers Ski Site, 5000 44th St. in Rock Island from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 and Saturday, August 17.

The cost is $10.

Individuals must complete all registration forms and have permission from their doctor to participate.

For more information, including the link to register, visit https://zurl.co/sBOo.

The Hope D. Wall School Inclusive Playground in Aurora! 😃 This completely fenced-in playground has a combination of synthetic playground turf and poured-in-place rubber for easy access. Playground features include a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round, double wide ramps, wheelchair accessible swings, communication board, music area, and a shaded seating area.

Looking for other new parks to check out this summer? Click on this link for a list of inclusive playgrounds in the Western Suburbs.
https://mykidlist.com/inclusive-playgrounds/

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kxblvp2PTC-WXBSROSAAiw
Special Education has its own special terms and acronyms. Educators and service providers use these terms as shortcuts, and sometimes they forget that not everyone knows what they mean. You need to understand these terms to understand the special education process.

Free Character Plush with Every Purchase Learning shouldn’t be complicated. Begin is the early learning leader behind hands-on and digital products from Little Passports, HOMER, codeSpark & more.

Attention families! 📢

Our next Family Advisory Council meeting is tomorrow, May 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. on
Zoom.

This meeting is an open forum for all Illinois families of children and young adults with special healthcare needs.

We want to hear directly from parents, caregivers and young adults themselves about their needs and how we can help meet them.

You do not have to be a Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participant to attend.

You can find more details and the link to join the meeting at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/dscc-family-advisory-council-open-forum-6/.

Our Family Advisory Council connects families to resources and provides guidance to strengthen DSCC’s teamwork, improve communication and empower families to have a voice in their child’s care.

Don't miss this great opportunity to share feedback, find support and learn about resources!

https://chicagofeedinggroup.org/events/parent-support-group-summer-2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Iancu8QUyuHV69HLPTQNRF_tOdNDJ8LD4QTqtUgJYPavyWrlMsvtWYQk_aem_Ac3Mu1jSbfzUdaLuoHQx_pdLpHD3VLL9pLYvOCLZnCY3YYtjFjMZPmicfOv2xmrQ_puNC4PFYXnstW3Uybh_n0QI

Parent Support Group - Summer 2024 - Chicago Feeding Group Parenting a child can be stressful, and parenting a child who struggles to eat can be even more so. This professionally facilitated support group aims to […]

Help adorable Sarah get votes to win an adapted bike - hit like & share on your FB page💕

Meet Sarah!
4 years old
Rett Syndrome

"Sarah was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in December of 2021. She lost all her skills and abilities, and can’t walk, talk, use her hands, or apply any motor skills anymore. She loves the water, whether the pool or the beach, and also loves music and riding bikes and horses. Any time she goes to a physical therapy session, she enjoys riding the bike: It’s not only fun but also benefits her muscles and strength. We are so thankful that your organization is helping children be mobile and have a more normal, basic lifestyle. Everybody Rides means a lot to all of us. It’s said that you need a village to raise a child, and it’s so true: We have Everybody Rides, Project Mobility, and Freedom Concepts working together to help the community of special needs families who can't afford adaptive bikes for all of our Angels. God bless all of you for all your hard work and support. I hope that Sarah will be one of the winners because it will have a huge impact on her childhood. When you put a smile on a child’s face, it’s a gift that lasts forever. Thank you all from us and especially from Sarah."

Focused Therapy Programs Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley's focused based therapy programs for children include peer group sessions with occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, nutritionists and speech language pathologists.

DIR 101: AN INTRODUCTION TO DIR® AND DIRFLOORTIME® - An Introductory Course Specifically and Only for Parents

2024T2101CR-PARENTS DIR 101: An Introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime

Chicago-area families, join Lincoln Park Zoo for its "Sensory-Friendly Morning” on April 28 from 8 to 10 a.m.

Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free event for people of all ages who benefit from visiting the zoo without crowds and other sensitive environmental elements.

Individuals with a wide range of sensory sensitivities, such as autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dementia and other disabilities can enjoy exploring the zoo:

✅ In a comfortable and inclusive environment

✅ With fewer people and no large crowds

✅ With the music and noise levels lowered or turned off for activities such as the train and carousel

The zoo also has a variety of accessibility resources to help plan your visit, including an accessibility map (pictured below).

Find more details and the link to register at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/sensory-friendly-morning-at-lincoln-park-zoo-2/.

Wheelchair and stroller users in the Edwardsville area, come take a stroll on the ice!

RP Lumber Center is hosting a wheelchair accessible skate session this Sunday, April 21, from 12 to 2 p.m. at 6289 Tiger Drive in Edwardsville.

The wheelchair accessible session is free for anyone using wheeled devices. Admission for individuals accompanying them is:

⛸ $7 for residents in Edwardsville School District 7

⛸ $9 for non-residents of District 7

Skate rental is $3 for anyone not using a wheeled device.

You can find more details about the event at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/wheelchair-accessible-skate-session-in-edwardsville/.

https://www.easterseals.com/dfv/programs-and-services/medical-rehabilitation/focused-therapy-programs/

Focused Therapy Programs Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley's focused based therapy programs for children include peer group sessions with occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, nutritionists and speech language pathologists.

Illinois early intervention families are invited to join this caregiver support group!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/ileifamilies/

Hearing your child’s first word is incredibly exciting. However, soon you may develop concern or even anxiety over your child’s communication milestones. Learn examples of how you can help promote verbal communication: https://bit.ly/3IrHYCx

It's Rare Disease Day! Rare is everywhere. Learn more about rare disease care in the US.

is just 10 days away! 🦓

Looking for ways to in your community? Download our playbooks for tips and tools on how to stripe out your school, work, and neighborhood: https://bit.ly/48lCgfX

Comment with your plans to stripe out your community!

Young children in Illinois with spina bifida and/or mobility deficits may be eligible to receive a free, custom electric ride-on car 🚗 from GoBabyGo.

The Illinois Spina Bifida Association (ISBA), New Trier High School and New Trier Educational Foundation are hosting a GoBabyGo workshop on Feb. 29.

The University of Delaware’s GoBabyGo program provides modified ride-on cars to support independent mobility.

The GoBabyGo workshop is open to children living anywhere in Illinois ages 1 to 3 who have:

➡ Significant mobility deficits

➡ Head and trunk control

➡ Cognitive age of 12 months or greater

➡ No severe visual disorder

➡ Enthusiastic parent(s) with ability to supervise a child in a car. Cars have a wireless remote control for parent assistance.

The program will fit cars and deliver them to participants at the GoBabyGo workshop at New Trier High School in Winnetka.

Find the link to register and learn more at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/2024-gobabygo-custom-electric-ride-on-car-workshop-for-illinois-children-in-winnetka/.

We're excited to explain our programs and resources for families during a free webinar next Tuesday, Feb. 20, with Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center.

Our Title V Transition Specialist Claire Cook will go over:

✔️ An overview of our programs and resources for families

✔️A look at our Transition Toolkit

✔️ How to use transition readiness assessments as planning tools

✔️ How to apply for our programs and more

There will also be time for questions.

The webinar is from 12 to 1 p.m. More details and the link to register are at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/webinar-dscc-programs-and-resources-for-families/.

We hope you'll join us!

ISBA provides free, custom GoBabyGo cars to Illinois children age 1-4 with spina bifida. If you are interested in learning more about upcoming opportunities, register to receive email updates here: http://eepurl.com/gP0rvD

Chicago Children's Museum and Dare2tri invite children of all abilities to discover the endless possibilities for athletes with disabilities.

Come and explore different adaptive sports at the museum's “Play For All” event on Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dare2tri is a non-profit specializing in adaptive sports and removing barriers to recreation and fitness for all.

Participants can enjoy an exclusive hour of play before the museum opens to the public at 11 a.m. They can also have fun exploring:

➡ Roller sled hockey

➡ Handcycling

➡ Wheelchair racing

➡ Bocce

➡ Judo and group exercises

➡ A See & Touch Prosthetics display

The first 500 children and families with disabilities who register will receive free admission to the museum. You must sign up to attend.

You can see the event flyer (pictured below) and more details at https://dscc.uic.edu/events/adaptive-sports-at-chicago-childrens-museum-2/.

Attention IL Early Intervention Families - Family Focus Groups

Family Focus Groups | Grupos de Enfoque Familiar Dear families, The Illinois Department of Human Services, in collaboration with Afton Partners and with support from Birth to Five Illinois, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), and Raising Illinois, are hosting focus groups to understand the family experience in Early Intervention across....

Special Kids Day is hosting their "Visit with Santa" on Wednesday, December 6. This is a free event and no registration is required. It will be full of fun and activities!
Learn more at: https://www.specialkidsday.org/events.html.

lots of learning, lots of fun, DEC 2023 MSP

Thanksgiving is one week away! While this food and family-filled holiday can be wonderful for some, it can be stressful for others, including kids that are neurodivergent. In anticipation of next week, Have Dreams has shared some useful tips and a Thanksgiving Social Story to help prepare your kids for what's to come.

To download our Thanksgiving Social Story, visit here: https://havedreams.org/social-stories
To download our tips and other helpful home visual supports, visit here: https://havedreams.org/home-visuals