People with Disabilities & Their Families

While some local providers have temporarily closed their group living homes, JCFS Chicago is committed to supporting individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities in their homes. Our homes are fully staffed and focused on the well-being of the residents, keeping them safe and healthy as we all shelter in place.

At JCFS Chicago, helping children, teens, and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) integrate into the community and improve their quality of life is at the core of what we do.

Four years ago, Jeff Suskin decided he was ready to live on his own and was looking for an independent living arrangement. With the help of his parents, Jeff found a good fit at an integrated living home in Wilmette through JCFS Chicago's residential supports.

Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with intellectual/developmental disabilities? Consider joining us at our monthly respite groups at the Joy Faith Knapp Children’s Center on Sundays from 1-4 pm.

Are you a parent or guardian of a child with special needs who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan? Do you have any questions about the plan itself or with its implementation? Do you suspect your child may have a disability and may need services in school? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the JCFS Chicago Legal Advocacy Center may be a resource for you.

Though the holidays represent a time of fun, family time and tradition, they can also bring heightened stress. On top of everyday responsibilities, there are plenty of changes to your regular schedule including travel, hosting family dinners and possible financial burden. Integrated Pediatric Therapies director Jennie Marble recommends these tools to help your family thrive this holiday season.

Safety is a critical concern for families who have children whose communication may not be understood by everyone. The most constructive way to face these concerns is to have a safety plan in place that is updated and addressed on a regular basis.

Clothes shopping is part of the back to school season. Major retailers have introduced new, inclusive clothing lines designed to help solve some of the dressing challenges that parents of children with special needs face. 

Rachel has several disabilities, including near-total blindness, but her determination is unwavering.  Last year, Rachel partnered with JVS Chicago’s job development team to find a job. 

Helping the World See My Sister the Way I See Her

By Renee Birnberg Silberman

My sister is the most emotionally intelligent person I know. Our mother liked to tell me Estella was so smart, but I brushed her statements aside for most of my young and young adult life. After all, she had been tested as having lower than average intelligence, and the doctors told my parents (over half a century ago) that the best place for her to grow up was in a nun-run facility in Wisconsin.