”There are over 120 programs throughout the state,” said Dr. Audry Witzman, an educational consultant for early childhood programs with the Illinois State Board of Education. ”The governor has charged the State Board of Education to be the responsible agency. Our job is to find children who need help and coordinate the providers. Sometimes I feel like someone gave me a 1,000-piece puzzle and never gave me the top of the box.”
Jim Johnson, an administrator with Easter Seals, agrees it`s a confusing scene. ”If you asked 100 people where to go to find help for a child, you`d get 100 different answers. You should be able to make one call and find out, but right now, that just isn`t the case.”
By law, that one call should be to your local school district. But until the goal of tight interagency coordination has been achieved, parents will still have to do some digging on their own. Following is a list of helpful phone numbers:
The Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse: 800-852-4302. Its lending library has books, periodicals and audiovisuals. Users are charged only for postage. The staff answers questions, makes referrals and publishes a free newsletter.
Direction Service of Illinois: 800-634-8540. Provides information on disability-related services. Information available in Spanish, Braille and for the voice/hearing impaired.
Childcare Resource and Referral Hot Line: 800-244-5376. Aimed at parents looking for child care, it also maintains a database for special needs. The staff includes child-care specialists to advise callers.
Childfind hot line: 1-800-851-6197. Service for early identification of children with special needs.
Easter Seals of Metropolitan Chicago: 312-939-5115. Serves children with disabilities in the Lake-McHenry area.
Waukegan Unit District Administration offices: 708-336-3100.
Special Education District of Lake County: 708-623-0021.
North Suburban Special Education District: 708-831-5100.
