Family Resource Center
on Disabilities
Do You Need a FRCD Parent Trainer to Support You At Your Child's Next IEP Meeting?

Does your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) meet the demands of the new school year? Does your child’s special education services support their goals? Are you nervous about your child's next IEP Meeting.

Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) will connect you with one of the organization’s parent trainers . You can put their years of extensive IEP experience to work for you. Together you will comb through your child’s IEP to ensure that you have a strong understanding of all aspects of the program. They will also attend your child's IEP meeting as a support to you depending on staff availability.

To receive your free virtual IEP support complete the form below, and a certified FRCD Parent Trainer will contact you.

(FRCD Support applies to the following counties: Cook, Dupage, Mchenry, Will, Grundy, Kendall, Lake and Kane)
Special Education Rights Webinar:
Discipline and IDEA

October 2, 2021
10:00 AM-12:00 PM 


This training will focus on the discipline process for children receiving special education services and their rights in regards to in-school suspensions, classroom removal, and expulsion.
Su Derechos en educación especial: IDEA-IEP / 504 / TRANSICIÓN ESCOLAR después de los 14 años 1/2

29 de Septiembre de 2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

TRANSICIÓN Para INMIGRANTES Las Alternativas Dentro Y Fuera De La Escuela Después De Cumplir Los 18 Años De Toda Persona Con Discapacidad
Behavior Intervention Plan:
Special Education Rights Webinar

Saturday, October 9, 2021
10:00 AM-12:00 PM



Do you receive frequent phone calls from your child's school regarding his/her behavior? Perhaps you noticed some behavior concerns during remote learning.

This training will discuss the components of the Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP), the purpose of the BIP, and steps to acquire one for your child if appropriate.
Family Matters PTIC Upcoming Fall Training.

All events are FREE unless noted. Family Matters PTIC does not offer CPDU credits for educators at this time. We reserve the right to cancel a training if the minimum requirement of 15 people registered is not met.

Events are open to parents, grandparents, foster parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, therapists, educational surrogate parents or any interested party.


September 28, 2021 via webinar

September 29, 2021 12:00 PM 
2021 LDA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE VIA ZOOM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021
8:30 A.M. – 3:15 P.M.

Registration Fees:
Member of LDA: FREE
Student: $5
Non-member: $20 — can be applied to a $55 membership but a decision to apply for the dollars to be applied to membership must be made by September 26, 2021.
Illinois Parents: For Free  Membership AND Conference FREE: Gift from Dr. Janet Lerner Memorial Membership Fund, please submit scholarship/membership form below: Janet Lerner Membership Scholarship Form 

Family & Community Empowerment

Illinois State Board of Education, the Learning Technology Center, and other Illinois educational advocacy groups will be starting a virtual monthly networking meeting for parents/caregivers and community support members across the state during the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Meetings will focus on capacity building, networking, sharing best practices, and empowering attendees with the tools and skills they need to be able to make an even greater impact in their communities. #facempowermentIL

Click each link below to register for that month's meeting.

ENGLISH speaking meetings will take place the second Tuesday of each month, from 3:15-4:15 pm CST.




Familias & Comunidad Empoderadas

Se invita a las familias a participar en las reuniones virtuales cada mes para escuchar de usted y los representantes educativos durante este año escolar. Nuestro enfoque primordial es crear conexiones y compartir ideas además de ofrecer recursos de apoyo a nuestros estudiantes.

Estas reuniones incluyen representantes de La Junta de Educación del Estado de Illinois, El Centro de Aprendizaje de Tecnología y otras entidades de abogacía en educación en Illinois. #facempowermentIL

  • Las en ESPAÑOL se llevarán a cabo el segundo jueves de cada mes de 3:15-4:15 pm CST
Notice of Mini Grants Available
Micro Industries for Self-Advocates
Offered by Life’s Plan Inc. Pooled Trust

Life’s Plan is a non-profit organization that provides Trustee services for people with disabilities and their families. Life’s Plan is a Medicaid qualified pooled trust program that provides supplemental care and services through a Pooled
investment strategy while also offering families individual trust management services. Our trust accounts do not jeopardize key public benefit programs such as SSI and Medicaid. The families we serve have an alternate choice to spending down their loved one’s inheritance with the use of a pooled trust. Life’s Plan has been serving individuals with disabilities and their families throughout Illinois since 1986.

If you would like to learn more about Life’s Plan Inc., please
click on the link: www.lifesplaninc.org
What: Micro-industry grants of up to $2000 for an Adults with disabilities or mental illness that meets Social Security’s disability eligibility criteria under the Supplemental Security Income program, section 1614 of the Social Security Act.

Who is Eligible: Adults with a Developmental Disability or Mental Illness living in Illinois who has not previously received a Life’s Plan Inc. micro-industry grant.
Limits: No more than one individual or one partnership (less than 4 individuals) per social service agency will be selected. Awards will be made of up to $2000 per person or partnership.

Focus: To fund start-up money for micro-industry business that allows adults to earn wages. A micro-industry is a business run by a person or persons with a disability with support from staff or advocate to allow the person to be more economically independent, agencies and service organizations are not eligible for grant. Examples of these types of micro-industries can include, but are not limited to arts/crafts Company, jewelry making, used book resale, greeting cards, vending machine business, janitorial services, laundry services, errand running, food cart, shredding, lawn/snow removal services and other innovative concepts….

Requirements: Proposals should be limited to no more than four (4) pages. Proposals should include:
  1. 1. Basic demographics of person applying
  2. Indication of who will support you in this endeavor
  3. Willingness to submit a 1 page final report by 10.21.2022
  4. Concept, summary and any business partnerships developed with micro-industry proposal
  5. Budget on how the funds will be utilized
  6. A one page work plan with time frames
  7. Conceptual outcomes of business
  8. Indicate to whom or what entity funds shall be disbursed if approved for grant funding to insure the individual’s government benefits are not jeopardized.

Final RFP Applications are to be sent to: Grants@lifesplaninc.org Proposals are accepted up until the deadline: Friday November 27, 2021 at midnight.

If you have questions on how to complete a Grant application please contact Life’s Plan Board Member Consuelo Puente, ctpuente@hotmail.com.

Any questions on ideas, expectations in planning a Micro-business, develop and ultimately manage a successful Micro-business, please contact Matthew Koupal, mkoupal@aol.com or Consuelo Puente, ctpuente@hotmail.com for assistance.

Email with any questions or confirmation on applications to Scott Nixon, Executive Director, Life’s Plan Inc. at snixon@lifesplaninc.org



Microindustrias para Self-Advocates/
Autorepresentación Ofrecido por:
Life’s Plan Inc. Pooled Trust

“Life’s Plan” es una organización que está proporcionando financiamiento/
subvenciones para microindustrias de hasta $2,000 o menos para adultos con
discapacidades del desarrollo o salud mental para iniciar un negocio.
Solo personas con discapacidades, que no han recibido Life’s Plan anteriormente, son
elegibles. Agencia u organizaciones no son elegibles para esta financiación. La
persona con discapacidad puede utilizar soporte/apoyo.

Fecha límite para presentar propuesta: Noviembre 27, 2021

Las propuestas deben limitarse a no más de cuatro (4) páginas. La propuesta debe
incluir la siguiente información:
  1. ¿Quién esta aplicando?
  2. ¿Quién brindará apoyo al individuo?
  3. Debe estar dispuesto a enviar un informe de una página antes del 10-21-2022
  4. Concepto, resumen y las asociaciones comerciales que se utilizarán.
  5. Presupuesto (¿cómo se utilizarán los fondos?)
  6. Plan de trabajo de una página con metas and fechas
  7. Resultados conceptuales del negocio
  8. Quién debe recibir los fondos para asegurar que los beneficios de la persona no
se vean afectados.

Cualquier pregunta sobre la subvención debe dirigirse a:
Consuelo Puente Correo electrónico: ctpuente@hotmail.com
O por texto: 630-746-8524
The Arc of Illinois Living with Autism 2021 Conference
October 5, 2021

Registration is now open for The Arc of Illinois Living with Autism Conference, which will be held VIRTUALLY October 5, 2021. This conference will examine topics relating to a variety of issues that will help families, professionals, and individuals living with Autism. Click below to see the full line up of keynote speakers and breakout sessions!

 Long COVID under Section 504 and the IDEA: 
A Resource to Support Children, Students, Educators, Schools, Service Providers, and Families 

This resource is issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to provide information about long COVID as a disability and about schools ’Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).2 and public agencies’ responsibilities for the provision of services and reasonable modifications to children and students for whom long COVID is a disability. The discussion here focuses on two Federal laws: 3 
This resource has four sections: 
  • I. Background Information on Section 504 and IDEA 
  • II. What Is Long COVID and What Is Its Impact on Children and Students 
  • III. Protections and Services under IDEA and Section 504 for Children and Students with Long COVID 
  • IV. What to Do If a Child or Student Is Experiencing Long COVID 
16th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference
November 4 – 5, 2021. 

The 16th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference for transition-aged youth and young adults with disabilities, their family members and teachers, vocational professionals, caregivers, health care professionals, college students pursuing careers in special education, and community advocates will be held on November 4 – 5, 2021. The conference will focus on best practices in promoting effective, person-centered transition planning that addresses all aspects of adult life for youth with disabilities. 
SUFEO (Stand Up For Each Other!)
Stand Up For Each Other (SUFEO) Chicago is a group of law students that provides free information and services, under attorney supervision, to K-12 students in a variety of areas. SUFEO offers support and representation to students experiencing:

Inadequate special education services
Bullying or harassment
Suspension, expulsion, or other discipline
Barriers related to COVID-19 and remote learning

Additionally, SUFEO offers free "know your rights" trainings to students, parents/guardians, and other community advocates. We are also excited to collaborate with the newly launched Anti-Bullying Project at the Civitas ChildLaw Center.

These services are for K-12 students or their parents/guardians who need help. SUFEO returns all calls within 24-48 hours to schedule an intake.


Email: sufeochicago@gmail.com

Hotline: 773-800-0338
Family Resource Center on Disabilities | www.frcd.org