Emergency Preparedness for Disabilities & Special Needs Groups

Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

Downtown

Chicago Lodgings
Loop
West Loop
South Loop
River North
North Michigan Ave.
Near North
Lincoln Park/Lakeview
Out of Town
Midway Airport
O'Hare Area
North
West/Northwest

121 N. LaSalle St., Rm. 1104 (Cross Street: Washington)
312-744-7050
312-744-4964 TTY
A city department that seeks to meet the diverse needs of the more than

600,000 people with disabilities who live and work in Chicago. See their

website for additional resources and a calendar of disability-related events.

 

Chicago Department on Aging

30 N. LaSalle St. (Cross Street: Madison St.)v 312-744-4016
A city department that provides older persons with access to information

about programs and services available to them.

 

DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA

1640 W. Roosevelt Road
800-949-4232 Voice/TTY

312-413-1407 Voice/TTY
Provides information, problem solving assistance and referrals for

implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws.

 

LIFE Center

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
345 E. Superior St. (Cross Street: Fairbanks)
312-238-5433
TTY 312-238-1069
Community resource center committed to helping people with disabilities

live life fully.

 

Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago

115 W. Chicago Ave. (Cross Street: LaSalle)
312-640-2100
312-640-2102 (TTY)
Center for advocacy and social change for people with disabilities.

 

Progress Center for Independent Living

7521 West Madison
Forest Park, IL
708-209-1500
708-209-1826 TTY
Community-based, non-profit, non-residential service and advocacy organization staffed by and for persons with disabilities.

 

Equip for Equality

20 N. Michigan Ave.
312- 314-0022
Non-profit dedicated to advancing the civil rights of persons with disabilities in Illinois. It is the only state-wide, cross-disability organization providing self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education while also engaging in public policy and legislative advocacy.

 

The Chicago Lighthouse

1850 W. Roosevelt Road (Cross Street: S. Wood)
312-666-1331
312-666-8874 TTY
Comprehensive provider of services to people who are blind or visually impaired.

 

Chicago Public Library

Talking Book Center
Harold Washington Library
400 South State Street, 5 North (Cross Street: Congress)
312-747-4001
The Talking Book Center provides free library services and life enriching programs, creating independence for people with visual and physical impairments.

 

Guild for the Blind

180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700 (Cross Street: Lake)
312-236-8569
312-236-2128 TTY
Offers vision loss information, computer training, career counseling, introductory vision rehabilitation workshops, product store and a monthly newsletter.

 

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

877-455-3323 TTY/V
217-557-4405 TTY/V
This state agency works to assure equality, respect, accessibility and independence for all individuals with a hearing loss.

 

Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC)

3001 Montvale Drive, Ste D
Springfield, IL
800-841-6167
800-841-1055 TTY
ITAC provides equipment to qualified deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired persons enabling them to use the telephone. ITAC also provides the relay service in Illinois.

 

Chicago Hearing Society

2001 N. Clybourn Ave., 2nd Floor
773-248-9121
773-248-9174 TTY
Provides services for children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing.

 

HANDS

2501 W. 103rd St.
773-239-6662 TTY
Advocacy network of the deaf and hard of hearing. Hosts open captioned movie at a theater at least once a month. Clearinghouse for educational and social events in Chicago area.

 

Family Resource Center on Disabilities

20 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 300
Chicago, IL. 60604
312-939-3513
312-939-3519 TTY
Founded in 1969, this center seeks to improve services for all children with disabilities. It is one of 100 federally-funded Parent Centers in the US and provides training and assistance as well as serving as a resource and referral center.

 

Chicago Parent

Their Going Places magazine, featuring fun things to do in Chicagoland, is available free at various locations around the city. Online there's a calendar of kid-friendly events and resources for children with disabilities.

 

ALS Association - Greater Chicago Chapter

220 W. Huron St., Suite 4003
312-932-0000
 

Easter Seals - Metropolitan Chicago

14 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 900
312- 939-5115
Provides comprehensive services for individuals with disabilities and their families to improve quality of life and maximize independence.

 

Epilepsy Foundation Greater Chicago

17 N. State St., Suite 1300
312-939-8622
800-273-6027
 

Muscular Dystrophy Association-Chicago

430 N. Michigan Avenue, #603
312-254-0632
312-254-1632
 

National Center for Latinos with Disabilities

1921 S. Blue Island
312-666-3393
312-666-1787 TTY
Assists Latino persons with disabilities and their families to participate equally in society in an independent, purposeful and meaningful manner.

 

National Multiple Sclerosis Society—Chicago Chapter

910 W. Van Buren, 4th Floor (Cross Street: Clark)
312- 421-4500
 

Paralyzed Veterans of America

2122 W. Taylor St. (Cross Street: Damen)
312-850-3836
 

United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago

325 N. Wells St., Suite 321 (Cross Street: Wacker)
312-464-1608
312-321-1233 TTY