The maze of services, supports, and therapies for children with special needs can be challenging, but Champaign-Urbana has a multitude of options.
If your child has been diagnosed with special needs or has a developmental disability, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. But there are many organizations in the Champaign-Urbana area that offer resources to help guide you along the way. We’ve included a list of some of the most important resources for young children with special needs in the area. Many of the organizations were recommended by local families who have children with special needs and professionals that work with individuals with differing diagnoses.
Thanks to Stephens Family YMCA with Larkin’s Place for presenting this information. The YMCA believes that ALL individuals should have access to community programming and activities without limitation. The YMCA supports individuals with disabilities through a fun, non-competitive environment promoting learning and making friends along the way! From sports and fitness to specialized programming like music, speech, occupational and adapted aquatic therapy, the Y is so much more! Learn more by visiting Larkin’s Place at www.sf-ymca.net or via therapy@ccymca.net or (217) 239-2849.
Supports are listed in alphabetical order:
AMBUCS is an organization of local community members dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities enhance their mobility. With the referral of a therapist, AMBUCS assists children and adults with disabilities to be fitted with an AmTryke, which is a therapeutic tricycle designed to help achieve optimal positioning, mobility and independence. They also help to build ramps for family members requiring support for their home and help maintain Ambucs Park in East Urbana. It features a wheelchair accessible playground. For more information, visit the website.
Behavioral Perspective, Inc. Apple Academy (4112 Fieldstone Road, Suite B, Champaign) offers an intensive ABA program for learners ages 2-7. They offer in-home, in-clinic, and in-school services and supports. For more information, call (888) 308-3728 or visit them on Facebook, and Instagram.
CASE (Central Affiliation for Special Education) Audiology (809 N. Neil St., Champaign): Provides hearing evaluations for children from birth through high school graduation for families in Champaign and Ford counties. There is no direct charge to families for this service. For more information, call (217) 355-1214.
Champaign County Down Syndrome Network: The Champaign County Down Syndrome Network operates as a not-for-profit organization serving families who have members with Down syndrome in Central Illinois. The DSN offers support to families by providing current information for parents, professionals and the general public. They also reach out to new parents and try to raise awareness of Down syndrome in the community.
Champaign County Metcad 9-1-1: This service allows for parents and caregivers to provide first responders with important information regarding family members or loved ones with special needs. Telecommunicators have access to special information to provide to first responders en route to a medical emergency. Information must be updated annually!
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) ADA Paratransit Services: This service provides rides for passengers with disabilities. It exists to make sure that all community members have access to the same level of service that they would on traditional buses from MTD. There is an application process involved for this service, and passengers are required to call and schedule a trip at least a day in advance. For more information, call 217.384.8188.
Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation (1311 W. Church St., Champaign): CUSR was formed through a cooperative agreement with the Champaign and Urbana Park Districts to provide recreation programs and leisure services for residents with disabilities. Inclusion and specialized programs are available. For more information, call (217) 239-1152.
Child and Family Connections of Central Illinois (201 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign): Serving children and their families living in Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean and Vermilion counties, CFC is the regional intake agency for children ages birth to 3 to enter the Illinois Early Intervention System. Early Intervention credentialed service coordinators work with families to develop an individualized family service plan and select service providers to meet the needs of the child. For more information, call (800) 877-1152.
Community Choices (44 E. Main St., Suite 419, Champaign): Its mission is to partner with people with disabilities in Champaign County in pursuit of independence, opportunity, and choice by offering quality, self-directed supports and services in order to assist in community living. For more information, call (217) 621-1090.
CU Able is for families that have children with special needs and was started by four local moms on Facebook to connect families with one another. The closed group has more than 400 members who share their challenges, questions and resources to help support one another. For more information, contact info@cuable.org.
CU Autism Network: The Champaign-Urbana Autism Network is a local non-profit agency. Its mission is to support persons on the autism spectrum, their families, caregivers, educators, other professionals, and the public by providing opportunities for support and networking, education, training, and advocacy, along with promoting awareness and acceptance. For more information, visit their website or find them on Facebook.
DASH Pass through Champaign Mass Transit District (MTD): Used for transportation, the DASH Card is issued at no cost and provides unlimited access to a fixed route service for individuals with disabilities qualifying for the service. Applications for DASH passes must be presented at the Illinois Terminal building and must include certification from a MTD authorized agency.
Developmental Services Center (1304 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign): DSC serves approximately 1,100 children and adults with developmental disabilities, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, cognitive disabilities, Down syndrome, or other conditions. Services include case management and family support, an early intervention program and developmental training. For more information, call (217) 356-9176.
Illinois Assistive Technology Program (1020 S. Spring St., Springfield): Not for profit organization that helps access assistive technology devices for trial, loan, etc. Assistance is available for financing for assistive technology and also for buying and selling equipment. For more information call (217) 522-7985 or email.
Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse (51 Gerty Dr., Champaign): The EI Clearinghouse is a lending library of videos, books, manuals, and journals related to the development of young children with special needs and their families. The librarians are information specialists who can help find resources for you and your service provider. The Clearinghouse is operated by the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative at the University of Illinois and is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. For more information, call (217) 333-1386.
Larkin’s Place (2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign): The Stephens Family YMCA is specifically designed to support and integrate children and families at all developmental levels, encouraging acceptance, play and growth for everyone. While the philosophy and spirit of Larkin’s Place permeates every aspect of the Y from design to programming, classes designated as “Larkin’s Place Programming” incorporate additional therapeutic, developmental and social goals, actively seeking to bring together typically and atypically developing participants in an effort to cross social barriers and enact positive personal and societal change. Larkin’s Place offers a variety of programs, including music therapy, occupational therapy, aquatic therapy, social groups, handwriting groups, and play groups. For more information, call (217) 359-9622.
Prairie Wind Speech Therapy (1803 Woodfield Dr., Suite C, Savoy): Offering speech language and occupational therapy services; free consultation before beginning therapy services. For more information, call (217) 355-5905 or email.
Rosecrance (1801 Fox Dr., Champaign) offers assessment and treatment of childhood emotional disorders in a kid friendly environment. For more information, call (217) 398-8080.
Special Olympics (902 N. Country Fair Dr. #7, Champaign) provides specialized recreation and fitness activities for individuals with disabilities in Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Piatt, Champaign, and Vermilion counties. Call (217) 355-1750.
TAP (The Autism Program) (904 W. Nevada Ave., Urbana): TAP is part of a statewide network of resources for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the state of Illinois and is one of five regional training centers. It is a joint program of the Department of Human and Community Development and the Department of Special Education. The Resource Room is housed in the Family Resiliency Center and provides a place where families and professionals can find information or preview materials that might be helpful to them. They provide training, support, and visuals/communication strategies for children on the autism spectrum and their families. For more information, call (217) 244-1395.
The Able Center (3011 Village Office Place, Suite C2, Champaign) provides pediatric neuropsychological evaluations and interventions. For more information, visit their website or call 309-661-8046.
The Place for Children with Autism (301 S. Vine St, Unit 10, Urbana) offers ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapy in a preschool-like setting for children ages 2-6. The goal of programming is to increase communication skills, social skills, independent living skills and reduce challenging behaviors that interfere with learning. For more information, call (224) 436-0788.
Tom Jones Challenger League is an organization that provides children with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. All games and practices are held at Ambucs Park in Urbana featuring a handicap accessible park and ball diamond. Volunteers and buddies are present on the field to allow parents to spectate and enjoy the experience of their child participating on a sporting team. For more information, email or call (217) 239-1152.
Total Spectrum (517 W. Town Center Blvd., Champaign) offers ABA therapy at its Champaign location. Programs are developed to help children learn to communicate and develop friendships. For more information, call (844) 263-1613.
UIC Specialized Care for Children (510 Devonshire Dr., Suite A, Champaign): University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) has assisted thousands of families and children in Illinois with special health care needs connect to services and resources. There is a regional office in Champaign, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (800) 322-3722 for more information.
University of Illinois Autism Clinic (505 E. Green St., Champaign): Housed within the University of Illinois Department of Psychology Psychological Services Center, it is an autism clinic headed up by Amy Cohen focusing on diagnosing and treating autism and other developmental disabilities. For more information, call (217) 333-0041 or email amycohen@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Speech-Language Pathology Clinic (2001 S. Oak St. Suite B, Champaign): Individual and group therapy for children and adults conducted by graduate students and overseen by certified speech language pathologists. For more information, call (217) 333-2205.
Did we miss your facility or organization? Email us here so that we can provide a comprehensive listing of resources available to parents of children with special needs in our community.