Service Access Estimates

​DHS has created an inquiry system that allows people to get an estimate of when they might be pulled for waiver (PUNS) services like CILA or Home Based Support (HBS). 
In the past, families would have no idea when they might expect to start receiving state funded services - it could be 6 months or 10 years. Now, families are able to get a rough estimate of the year that they might be offered a service award letter.

*Some, but not all, of Community Choices services require that our members be on PUNS (the waiting list for services). 

To get an estimate of when you might receive state-funded services email: DHS.DDD.PUNS@illinois.gov . Include the name of the person hoping to receive services, their birthday, and their medicaid number (if you have or know it) - this is a 9 digit number, sometimes called a RIN number. ​

Healthcare Professionals Guide to Working with Patients with Developmental Disabilties

A one-page guide to be used in offices of doctors, dentists, counselors, etc. It can also be used to prepare for an appointment with any healthcare professional. Click the image to download the guide.

ED's Newsletter

Ed McManus is a developmental disability consultant working out of Wilmette, IL. His monthly newsletters contain important information regarding disability services in Illinois. The newsletters can be accessed through his Facebook page below:

OAR: Sex Ed for Self-Advocates

​The Organization for Autism Research has an online resource for sexuality education that is designed specifically for people on the autism spectrum age 15 and up.

Lots of people with I/DD don’t have the chance to learn about sexuality and sex in ways that work for them, so OAR created this guide as a starting point to change that!