Service Providers
All Our Kids: Early Childhood Network
McLean County Health Department
Maureen Sollars, Network Coordinator
200 W Front St., Rm 304
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone Number: (309) 888-5539 or (800) 474-0800
TTY Number: (800) 526-0844
Fax: (309) 888-5543
Email: maureen.sollars@mcleancountyil.gov
Web Site: www.mcleancountyil.gov/health
The AOK Network is a systems-building project funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. AOK brings the community together to discuss and address the needs of families with very young children; and, through this collaborative effort, works toward ensuring that all children have the same opportunities to succeed.
Although AOK does not provide direct service to families, the Network welcomes inquiries and comments from parents regarding local services. AOK also has direct ties to state-level policy groups who welcome feedback from our local families.
The AOK Network produces the "Parent (pocket) Resource Guide", which is a business-card size listing of local agencies serving families in McLean County. Call to receive one. We also help to produce a directory of local services in Spanish.
The Autism Place
One Normal Plaza
706 Oglesby Ave., Suite 303
Normal, Illinois 61761
Brown Music Therapy
Phone: 309-212-6204
Offers music therapy services for individuals and groups throughout Central Il. Serviced by Meryl Brown MM, MT-BC, DT. Not specific to age or music ability and will offer groups based on interest and age.
Center for Autism Resource and Education
CARE Center
2404 East Empire
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
(Easter Seals)
Phone: (309) 663-8275
Web Site: http://ci.easterseals.com
Contains a wide variety of resources including: visual supports, books, Boardmaker (a software program that creates visual cues for tasks), DVDs, games, structured teaching kits, toys, computer software programs, internet access, learning aids and other materials.
The center is available for families, service providers, educators and the general community.
Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCRRN)
Phone: (800) 437-8256 or (309) 828-1892
E-Mail: info@ccrrn.com
Web Site: www.ccrrn.com
Pamela Womack, Executive Director
207 W. Jefferson, Suite #301
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Resource Center, Lending Library of Toys, Books and Videos.
Assistance in locating care for children with disabilities.
Training for child care providers.
Child and Family Connections
(Housed in Danville)
Phone: (800) 877-1152 or (217) 442-8097
Fax: 217-442-8153
E-Mail: CFC@Crosspointhumanservices.org
Becky Cline, Program Manager
Phone: (309) 212-4073
309 North Logan Avenue
Danville, IL 61832
Gateway into Early Intervention services.
Provides developmental screenings, evaluations, and assessments at no cost to families.
Provides referrals to Early Intervention Services.
The Children’s Foundation Child Care Center
Mendy Smith
403 S. State Street
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone: (309) 827-0374
E-Mail: msmith@tcf.chasi.org
Web Site: www.thechildrensfoundationchasi.org
In addition to traditional day care, the center works with children who have been abused/neglected, are low income, have high emotional needs, developmental delays, or other special needs.
The principles of self-help, peer support, caring and nonviolence are the basis for Parents Care & Share. There are currently sixteen support groups available targeting a variety of special interests such as teen parents, grandparents parenting grandchildren, and single parents. Groups meet weekly at various sites throughout Central Illinois.
Central Illinois Service Access (Developmental Disabilities)
Vicki Ortega
1415 Valle Vista, PO Box 817
Pekin, Illinois 61555
McLean County Local Office
Phone: (309) 347-7202
Prioritization of Unmet Needs (PUNS)
Referral Services: linkage to service providers who provide residential and vocational placements.
Advocacy: Provide information and linkage to services for persons with developmental disabilities. Advocate for all needs on behalf of individuals.
Pre-Admission Screening: Assessment of individual service needs before residential placement is made.
Monitoring: Monitor services that people receive at home or at service program site.
District #87 Schools
Phone: (309) 827-6031
Fax: (309) 827-5717
Web Site: www.district87.org/esc/specialeducation
Rebecca Francois, Director of Special Education
300 E. Monroe St.
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Special Education provided for children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21.
Referral Procedures: Contact building principal.
Department of Human Services (DHS)
McLean County Local Office
501 W Washington, PO Box 3725
Bloomington, Illinois 61701-3725
Phone: (309) 451-6000
TTY: (309) 682-2830
Fax: (309) 451-6012
Services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities are provided to help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve as much independence as possible and to live in their home communities with family and friends. Emphasis is placed on enabling individuals to stay in their own homes, in family homes, or in small-group settings. Services funded by the State of Illinois are delivered in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the individual.
Services are offered for individuals with developmental disabilities depending upon the availability of funding for services, the individual's current living situation, whether the individual is a member of a DHS-designated priority population, severity of the individual's developmental disability, his or her age, qualification for Medicaid services, and other program requirements as necessary.
Support Services are provided to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to enable the individuals to continue to reside in their own or family homes while receiving needed Department-funded support services.
Skills and Vocational Training Services are designed to enhance a person's skill levels in the major life areas and work-related activities.
Residential Services are residential programs provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. and range in level of services, supervision, and location, based on each individual's wants and needs, unique abilities, and behavioral and medical needs.
Bloomington DRS Office (DHS Rehabilitation Services)
207 S Prospect Rd
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Phone: (309) 662-1347
TTY: (309) 662-1347 or 888-261-8539
Fax: (309) 662-7219
DHS’ division of Rehabilitation Services is the state’s lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. ORS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities.
**Normal office has merged with this location. The staff previously at that office is now working within the office of disability concerns at ISU.
Staff talk to people about their employment needs and help them find a job or get ready to go to work. They also make sure that people have the supports they need to stay on the job.
Help high school students who have disabilities plan for their futures after high school graduation through our Transition and STEP programs.
Benefits Planning Program helps people who receive SSDI/SSI benefits understand how working will affect their benefits.
Supported Employment Program (SEP) serves eligible people with significant disabilities who want to go to work and need on-going support services to succeed on the job.
Home services and respite care for the severely disabled and their caregivers helps support independent living. Must meet age and income eligibility.
Easter Seals-UPC
*Family Service Center
Kathleen Bautista, Service Coordinator
2404 East Empire Street
Bloomignton, Illinois 61704
Phone: (309) 663-8275
Fax: (309) 662-7872
Email: kbautista@ci.easterseals.com
Web Site: www.ci.easterseals.com
Services Offered: The P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters)
Occupational, Physical, Speech and Developmental Therapies
Specialized therapies (targeted at children with ASD) include: Sensory
Integration, Sequential Oral Sensory Feeding (SOS approach, Picture
Exchange Communication System (PECS), Therapeutic Listening, Links toLanguage, Oral-Motor/Apraxia therapy, and Aquatic therapyA Parents' Guide of the Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities
Social Skills Groups (4-7 years of age)
In-Home Respite
Respitality (one night stay at participating hotel)
Free screenings under the age of three
Diagnostic and evaluation services
Parent training and support groups
Counseling (Early Intervention only)
Group Developmental Therapy (Early Intervention only)
Hammitt School
Kathy Case, Associate Director
Terry Bishop, Supervisor of Challenges
108 E. Willow
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 452-1170
Fax: (309) 862-2902
E-Mail: kcase@thebabyfold.org
Web Site: www.thebabyfold.org
3 Classrooms for Ages 3-14
Referrals made by public school districts within a 50-mile radius.
Support group is offered for parents and siblings.
Offers consultation services to the school districts to help in structuring academics, assessment of behavior and strategies to change behavior for children with autism.
Heartland Head Start
206 Stillwell
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone: (309) 662-4880
Web Site: www.heartlandheadstart.org
Educational opportunities in classroom and home
Child must be 3 years old by September 1
Must meet income eligibility
Illinois State University - Autism Clinic
706 East Oglesby Ave.
Suite 303
Normal, Illinois 61761
Autism Clinic
Clinic Phone: (309) 438-5629
Email: psc@ilstu.edu
Website: http://www.psychology.ilstu.edu/psc/autism.shtml
Karla Doepke, Ph.D.
Fairchild Hall, 4th Floor
Phone: (309) 438-2969
Goals of the clinic include:
Coordinating with local school districts to provide in-service training to teachers and other professionals working with children with autism
Coordinating with schools, families, and local professionals to provide additional hours of clinical service to children with autism through direct contact
To provide consultation services to schools and families to address challenging educational and behavioral issues that arise with specific children
One-on-one child therapy
Systematic school consultation
Illinois State University - Autism Spectrum Institute Resource Library
Stacey Jones Bock, Ph.D.
DeGarmo Rm #508
University Street
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 438-5291
Email: autismspectrum@ilstu.edu
Web Site: www.autismspectrum.ilstu.edu
Resources include: Textbooks, resource guides, therapy materials, toys, and video and audio tapes. Book topics range from how to write an IEP for a child with ASD to writing social stories.
Board Maker is available to create Pictures for use in Picture Exchange Communication System(PECS), social stories, or creating schedules. Call ahead for help in creating materials using board maker.
Anyone can check out these materials by completing an information card.
Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD)
Phone: (312) 413-8833
Email: idhd@uic.edu
Website: www.idhd.org
Mission Statement:
The Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) is dedicated to promoting the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.
The mission is addressed by conducting research and disseminating information about disability to academicians, policymakers, businesses, government agencies, service providers and the general public. The IDHD also provides an extensive array of clinical and community service activities and, through the Department of Disability and Human Development and other academic departments, offers interdisciplinary pre-service training. The values of cultural diversity, consumer choice and self-determination are emphasized across the life span in all training, public service, and research activities of the IDHD.
LANS - Local Area Network Services
McLean County
Judy Rehder
Phone: (309) 937-1071
Work Cell: (309) 264-0317
E-Mail: Jrehder@idcfs.state.il.us
Laison - Lisa Massa
Local Contact:
Tim Glancy or Doug Braun
Catholic Charities
Phone: (309) 829-6307
Meetings held at Project Oz on the first Friday of each month
LAN Mission Statement:
LAN #23 is a network of dedicated parents, individuals, and organizations who promote the development of healthy families and responsible children/youth by planning, advocating, collaborating, and improving access to needed local services with emphasis on prevention of abuse/neglect, early intervention, and assistance to family units dealing with emotional/behavioral problems.
A wraparound plan may be available. The wraparound process is family- centered to include the needs of all family members. Technical assistance is available to assist parents, school/agency personnel, juvenile officers, case managers, and other human service providers in the development of comprehensive support plans that utilize the wraparound philosophy.
Do you have a child or adolescent under the age of 18 who is:
- Experiencing severe emotional and behavioral difficulties?
- At risk of being removed from the home, family, school, or community?
- Returning from an out-of-home placement who needs additional assistance from community programs, resources, or services?
Learning for Tomorrow
Cathy Heissler M.ED.-Owner/Operator
3901 GE Road, Suite 4
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Phone: (309) 451-8777
E-mail: cathy@learningfortomorrow.com
Web Site: www.learningfortomorrow.com
Educational Consultants
Essential Learning Systems: Increases visual, auditory skills, and reading comprehension by 2.4 grade levels on the average
Social skills help for individuals 3-adult
Interactive Metronome Therapy: Improves motor planning, attention span and sequential deficits
Behavioral Therapy for children and families who have difficulties with behavioral issues (By a Behavioral Therapist)
Summer Mini-Sessions: Many different areas of learning (check out website in March)
Individuals Tutoring: Math, study skills, Reading, Spelling, etc.
marcfirst (formerly Marc Center)
Marc and Marc Foundation
Rick Glass, CEO
1606 Hunt Drive
Normal, Illinois 61761-2192
Phone: (309) 451-8888
TTY: (309) 451-0077
Fax: (309) 451-8989
Email: rgalss@marcofIllinois.org
Web Site: www.marcfirst.org
Offer developmental training, employment, housing, and respite supports: Early Intervention and advocacy services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Residential Services: various levels of residential supports for adults (18 yrs of age and older) within the Bloomington Normal Area
Children’s Services: Advocacy, respite and in-home supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Developmental Training Services: Prepares adults 18 years of age and older to live and function integrated community settings.
Supported Employment: Job development, training, coaching and transition services for individuals 18 years of age and older.
Early Intervention: Physical, speech, occupational and developmental therapies for children 3 months to 5 years of age with developmental disabilities or delays.
Respite Services: Temporary in-home care giver supports for families when assistance is needed.
McLean County Health Department
Robert Keller - Director
200 W Front St., Rm 304
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone: (309) 888-5450
TTY Number: TTD (800) 526-0844
Fax: (309) 452-8479
Web Site: www.mcleancountyil.gov/health
Public health services:
Maternal and Child Health, WIC, Immunizations, communicable disease, environmental health services, animal control, community health, health education, and mental health.
McLean County Local Interagency Council (MCLIC)
PO Box 271
Bloomington, Illinois 61702
Phone: (800) 877-1152 or (309) 888-5539
Fax: (309) 888-5543
(TTY)(800) 526-0844
Web Site: www.ccrrn.com
Referral to services for children 0-5 with developmental disabilities
Early intervention planning and referrals
Early intervention screenings
Family supportEarly intervention screenings
PATH
(Providing Access To Help)
201 E. Grove St.
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone: (800) 570-PATH (7284) or (309) 827-4005 (crisis phones)
Fax: (309) 827-7485
Web Site: www.pathcrisis.org
Information and referral service: answering service for a number of local agencies and support groups
Directory of human services
Psychology Specialists
Neuropsychological Services @ Psychology Specialists
Jennifer C. Imig, PhD
Clinical Developmental Neuropsychologist
808 Eldorado Road, Suite 102
Bloomington, IL 61704
Jennifer C. Imig, PhD
Clinical Developmental Neuropsychologist
808 Eldorado Road, Suite 102
Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: 309-706-3190
Fax: 309-452-9028
Fax: 309-452-9028
Dr. Jennifer Imig is a licensed and fellowship-trained Developmental Neuropsychologist. She specializes in the evaluation of developmental conditions in children and young adults, including autism, pervasive developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, and ADHD.
S.O.A.R.
(Special Opportunities Available in Recreation)
Shelly Shultz and Mary Jo Johnson, Recreation Specialists
109 E. Olive St.
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
Phone: (309) 434-2260
Fax: (309) 434-2483
Web Site: www.cityblm.org/soar
The only limits are, as always, those of vision
~ James Broughton
A community therapeutic recreation program serving individuals with disabilities who are unable to participate in regular programs.
Special Olympics
Katie Herriott, Area Director
Heartland/Area 6
605 E. Willow
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 888-2551, ext. 220
Fax: (309) 888-2577
E-Mail: kherriott@soill.org
Web Site: www.soill.org/areas/area_6.html
Heartland Special Olympics Illinois serves 782 athletes who reside in the following counties: De Witt, Livingston, Mason, McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford
Special Olympics Illinois athletes range in age from 8 to over 80.
All the programs offered in Illinois provide athletes with the chance to develop physical fitness, sports skills, social skills and self-esteem.
Special Olympics Programs.
Speech & Learning Connections
Basha Ontiveros, Director
2412 E. Washington St., Suite 8B
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Phone: 309-663-4172
E-mail: bashao@hotmail.com
Web Site: speechandlearningconnections.com
Provide speech and language therapy, reading skills and social skills instruction.
ABA trained therapist on staff.
SPICE
marcfirst’s Early Intervention Services
Teri Meismer, Director
1606 Hunt Drive
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 452-0069
Fax: (309) 451-8989
E-Mail: teri.meismer@marcofillinois.org
Web Site: www.marcfirst.org
Parent, Infant, Child education
Free Screening, in home, community, or on-site
Families involved in determining how services are received
Services include Speech, Occupational, and developmental Therapies
TCRC, Inc.
21310 Illinois Rt. 9
Tremont, Illinois 61568
Phone: (309) 347-7148
Fax: (309) 925-4241
Private non-profit organization which provides services to persons with disabilities, birth-adult.
Early intervention 0-3.
Activity Services.
Respite Care.
Family Support.
Tri-County Special Education Association
Sherry Piercy, Director of Special Education
105 Hamilton Road
Bloomington, Illinois 61704
Phone: (309) 828-5231
Fax: (309) 828-3013
E-Mail: info@tcsea.k12.il.us
Web Site: www.tcsea.org
A joint service program organized to provide quality Special Education programs.
Provides administrative, psychological, social work, and supervisory services to a geographic area covering 2,000 square miles and serviced by the Regional Office of Education in Logan and McLean/DeWitt counties (excluding Normal Unit #5 and Bloomington District #87).
Unit #5 Schools
Dr. Charles Hartseil, Director of Spec. Education
Bambi Bethel, Asst. Director of Spec. Education
412 East Cyprus Street
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 454-2220
Web Site: www.unit5.org
*District Office
1809 W. Hovey Ave.
Normal, Illinois 61761-4339
Phone: (309) 452-4476
Offers special education service to children with disabilities ages 3-21.
School psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, and other related service staff available to provide support services to students.
Individualized education plans.