IL Council on Developmental Disabilities

11/05/2025

Federal SNAP funding to states has stopped as of November 1, 2025 due to the government shutdown. This means thousands of Illinois residents with developmental disabilities could lose access to food. The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is sounding the alarm. Even though on 10/31/25 2 judges have declared withholding SNAP funds illegal it is still unclear as to when SNAP benefits will become available.

As such, ICDD is calling all doers, donors, and volunteers to let us know if you want to be on standby to support the DD Community in having food access.

By signing up, you will be added to a specific listserv that ICDD staff will use to inform you as opportunities in your communities arise. Here is a link to the form:

11/04/2025

A Webinar Hosted by the Coalition on Human Needs:

Threats to Health and Hunger During the Shutdown and Beyond -- Thursday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

From the Coalition on Human Needs:

The federal government shutdown continues — and families across the country are facing real hardships as they face reduced and delayed SNAP benefits, skyrocketing health premiums, and other rising costs of basic needs.

Join the Coalition on Human Needs this Thursday, November 6 at 4:00 pm ET, for a webinar examining how the ongoing shutdown is threatening essential services and supports for low-income individuals and families.

Register Here:

The federal government shutdown continues — and families across the country are facing real hardships as they face reduced and delayed SNAP benefits, skyrocketing health premiums, and other rising costs of basic needs. Join the Coalition on Human Needs for a timely webinar to examine how the shutd...

11/03/2025

𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗔

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET

𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: In light of recent events in the U.S. Department of Education and actions that threaten the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the rights of more than eight million children with disabilities, we invite you to join a grassroots virtual Town Hall for parents, teachers, and advocates for children with disabilities.

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities is proud to co-host this important event with our partners at COPAA, the Center for Learner Equity, The Arc, the Council for Exceptional Children, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and the National Down Syndrome Congress.

Speakers will share insights about recent events and discuss actions you can take. Together we will use our collective voice to compel the Administration to protect children with disabilities and urge Congress to help protect the IDEA, whose sole purpose is to ensure equitable access and opportunity to education for every child with a disability.

𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ROjpXDrPS76Hm2y3udCXbg #/registration

10/31/2025

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 — 𝗗𝗗 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺

As of November 1, 2025, federal SNAP funding to states has stopped due to the government shutdown. This means thousands of Illinois residents with developmental disabilities could lose access to food.

Two judges have temporarily blocked the federal action, but uncertainty remains. Out of caution, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) is calling on every doer, donor, and volunteer to stand by and step up.

If you’re ready to Step Up to Serve, fill out the DD Community Food Access Volunteer Form today.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nwgia7qOPEaE9TFxIQ-QBap_PCgrDHNMqSwaI00FOYNUQzQ0SUlNSUNIODFMVFdDUzQyWTRNNTRYOS4u

When you sign up, you’ll join ICDD’s volunteer listserv so staff can connect you to opportunities in your community.

𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽:
• Donate food, gift cards, or funds
• Deliver meals or supplies
• Host or support a local food drive
• Partner with local pantries or churches
• Share resources online or in your community
• Offer storage, space, or transportation support

When systems stop, people don’t have to. Let’s move together.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? Email ICDDinfo@illinois.gov

10/31/2025

𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀

SNAP benefits may stop as of November 1, 2025, due to the government shutdown, impacting millions of people, including those with developmental disabilities. If you or someone you support relies on SNAP, take action now.

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱:

• Feeding Illinois – https://www.feedingillinois.org/food-resources-illinois

• IDHS Find Food IL Map – Find free food programs statewide, no application needed. https://eat-move-save.extension.illinois.edu/ -food-il

• Greater Chicago Food Depository – https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food-2/

• Northern Illinois Food Bank – Check mobile pantry schedules in your area -- https://solvehungertoday.org/get-groceries-resources/

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:

If someone offers help, know what’s safe. Groceries or meals are fine. Cash and gift cards can put your Medicaid, SSI, or housing benefits at risk. Learn more from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities FAQ on protecting benefits:
https://nacdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Protecting-Your-Benefits-NACDD.pdf

When systems shut down, Illinois steps up! 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗜𝗖𝗗𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼@𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀.𝗴𝗼𝘃

Get Free & Fresh Groceries Weekly Each week our Mobile Markets are distributing free and fresh groceries to neighbors throughout Northern Illinois. Everyone is welcome. No ID, proof of income, or referral is needed. Check out the calendar below to see if there is a distribution coming to your commun...

10/31/2025

This Friday, October 31, 2025, WOW Meetings convene again.

Join Self Advocates on Fridays from 10-11 AM to connect and talk about things that are important to self advocates and FOR self-advocates!

The WOW Meeting REBOOT!
With Chuy and Tavarus!!
Fridays 10am – 11am (Central Time - Chicago)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7086981579

Meeting ID: 708 698 1579
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,7086981579 # US (Chicago)
+13092053325,,7086981579 # US

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcvS5EdeZD

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

10/29/2025

This is a statement from the page of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. More than 30 State Councils also signed this statement. This included Illinois.

10/28/2025

Here is a story from Politico about a large group of states suing the Federal Administration over the withholding of SNAP Benefits: "25 states sue Trump admin over withholding food aid funding" https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/28/25-states-sue-trump-snap-food-aid-shutdown-00625431

Nearly 42 million low-income Americans will lose their food aid benefits on Saturday barring any federal intervention or funding patch.

10/27/2025

Here is a message from The Arc of Illinois:

Feeling Overwhelmed? Join Our Virtual Family Support Group – Oct 28 at 4:30 PM- How to Handle More Than You Can Handle, featuring guest speaker Amanda Griffith-Atkins, MS LMFT, Amanda Atkins Counseling Group.

Register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Family Support Group. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

10/23/2025

More coverage about how the food assistance program SNAP will be impacted if the government shut down continues. This is coverage from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The ongoing federal government shutdown has placed November food assistance allocations in jeopardy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has notified state agencies in a letter to hold November benefits until further notice, citing insuff...

10/22/2025

Thank you to The Arc of Illinois for sharing this information with its network. This is a fact sheet from The Arc of the United States about the government shutdown.

This fact sheet covers: "what will continue, what could be delayed, and steps you can take if services are disrupted." https://www.thearcofil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-Shutdown-Fact-Sheet-1.pdf

10/21/2025

This information is shared from the University of Illinois at Chicago Department on Disability and Human Development List Serve:

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽: 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

1. Do you use public transportation and/or paratransit services to get around in Chicagoland region?

2. Are you interested in sharing your experiences, issues and ideas for systems change specific to transportation access & equity for people with disabilities in Chicagoland?

University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is hosting an online focus group and action planning session to get your ideas and input on transportation access in Chicagoland for people with diverse disabilities. Our UIC students are learning how to do focus groups and you will be helping them learn, and also providing information that can then by used by disability rights groups and organizations in their advocacy to improve transportation access. Laura Saltzman from Access Living has been helping to teach our students about transportation issues in Chicagoland that they are advocating for now. We will be focusing on these issues so Access Living can use the findings from the focus groups in their transportation advocacy.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:

WHAT: Transportation Access Focus Group and Action Planning Session

WHERE: Online via Zoom

WHEN: October 23, 2025 (Thursday evening, the session will go from 4-7pm online (with breaks, ½ on the focus group and ½ on action planning advocacy and improvements)

WHO: People with diverse disabilities who are using public transportation and/or paratransit in the Chicagoland region and counties. We are especially looking for people who have experience with public transportation (bus, train, both).

To thank you for your time, we will be giving you 𝗮 $𝟲𝟬 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 (available electronically or we can mail you the gift card) after participating in this session.

If you would like to participate in this 10/23 focus group, please contact Joy Hammel or Elnaz Alimi at:

𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹: hammel@uic.edu; ealimi2@uic.edu
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲: (708) 209-8479 (for texts) or (312) 996-9655 (for voice mail)

Please make sure to let us know your name and how to reach you (email, text or phone) so we can connect and give you details and the zoom invite.