Resource and Links for Families
Parent Groups / Advocacy / Family Support
Equip for Equality
Provides free self-advocacy assistance for parents of children with disabilities, free legal representation and educational seminars for parents and organizations.
The Family Defense Center
The Family Defense Center's mission is to advocate justice for families in the child welfare system: a legal advocacy organization that provides high level systemic advocacy and grass-roots activities for families treated unfairly by state child protection agencies.
Special Ed Advocacy Center
The Special Ed Advocacy Center (SEAC) provides free legal services to low-income parents and caregivers of children with disabilities seeking to obtain appropriate educational services for their children provided under current law.
Voice-Advocacy
VOICE-Advocacy is an organization that provides support, training, and advocacy services for families of children with special needs in school settings. Our organization will assist you with your special education advocacy needs.
Advocacy and Law
Understanding the laws that ensure appropriate services for your family is essential. At the same time, it can become quite confusing. There are several supports available to help you find answers.
Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN)
Neighborhood Parents Network is the largest organized parent resource network in Chicago. NPN is the trusted resource for connecting Chicago parents. Find the support, information, and connections you need to tackle the every day challenges of being a parent. Get connected with other families all over Chicago online and in person. Easily find parents in your own neighborhood and with similar interests.
Fussy Baby Network
For parents struggling with a baby who is fussy, crying excessively, or has difficulties with sleeping or feeding. Infant specialists are familiar with all the latest research in infant crying, sleeping, and feeding issues and are available for private, in-home consultations, or hotline telephone support. Parents groups, baby clinics.
Parent to Parent Contacts
Connect with other parents who have "been thee" or who "just beginning life's journey with their child.
Support For Fathers
Fathers share a unique relationship with their children. Find articles, supports and information specific to this valuable partnership.
Support for Siblings
A sibling of a child with special needs can face emotional struggles too. Understanding their situation is important so that appropriate supports can be made available.
Personal Stories
The experiences of others are helpful for many reasons. They can provide inspiration and show us that we are not alone. We can learn valuable lessons about what we should or shouldn't do with our own children.
Technical Assistance Alliance for Parents
The Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers is an innovative project that supports a unified technical assistance system for the purpose of developing, assisting and coordinating Parent Training and Information Projects and Community Parent Resource Centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Parent Coalitions and Information Groups
A comprehensive Parent Support Group List compiled by The Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD).
