A roster of state services

Helping the handicapped

HIRE the handicapped, help the handicapped — slogans like these have become so common that we take them for granted. But what exactly is being done for the handicapped? Specifically, what is the State of Illinois doing for its citizens who are crippled, disabled or handicapped?

In monetary terms, the six state agencies with major responsibilities in this area are authorized to spend $238,296,114 this fiscal year (1976) for services to the handicapped. Slightly more than a quarter of this total ($61 million) comes from the federal government. Much of this federal money is dependent on still pending federal legislation. The six state agencies and their sub-units are as follows:

1. University of Illinois Division of Services for Crippled Children
2. Illinois Office of Education — local school districts
3. Illinois Department of Public Health
4. Department of Children and Family Services
4a. Illinois Children's Hospital-School
4b. Illinois School for the Deaf
4c. Illinois Braille and Sight-Saving School
4d. Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute
4e. Community Services for the Visually Handicapped
5. Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
6. Illinois Department of Public Aid

The services provided by the above agencies are diagnostic, remedial, educational and vocational. Often, the services of one agency will interlock with those of another in a complementary manner. For example, the Department of Public Health in the course of its vision and hearing tests among school children will often refer students in need of further, more sophisticated attention to the special education directors of local school districts. The students in these special education programs may later become clients of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation when they have completed school and are preparing for work.

The following summaries detail the particulars of each agency's services, the extent of coverage, eligibility and application requirements. According to agency spokesmen, the only group of handicapped in the state not provided with specific services is the adult deaf.

1 University of Illinois Division of Services for Crippled Children
Children from birth to 21 years of age are accepted. The children may have orthopedic conditions such as clubfoot, curvature of the spine, or poliomyelitis; rheumatic fever and other heart conditions; nervous system conditions, such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy; congenital and acquired defects needing plastic surgery; speech defects associated with organic conditions, hearing loss and deafness, cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria or hemophilia.

Services: For those children accepted for care, the division provides a diagnosis and subsequent consultation based on a clinic examination. More than 300 such clinics are held annually in hospitals statewide. These may be general clinics for a variety of disabilities or may be for specific conditions, such as cerebral palsy.

Subsequent services may include hospital and medical care, convalescent care, follow- up services, therapy and assistive appliances, such as braces, limbs and hearing aids.

The agency attempts to provide medical care as near as possible to the child's home. The agency also tries to consider the entire family, rather than restrict care just to the child. In some cases, social services through other agencies may be suggested to help the family.

Eligibility and application: The need for financial aid is a prime eligibility requirement. Questions about family size, income, expenses and other medical bills are used to determine financial eligibility. The illness or handicap of each child must be one which will respond to treatment directed toward prevention or improvement.

Although most referrals to the agency are made by a physician, they may come from anyone. Appointments for an initial diagnostic clinic examination are made through division office personnel in the local area. Agency offices are in Rockford, Chicago, Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, Belleville and Marion. The Central Office is at 540 lies Park Place, Springfield, Ill. 62718.

Current budget
State funds	$5,010,141
Federal funds	1,872,600    estimated pending federal legislation
Federal-special programs	360,000     estimated federal pending legislation
Total	$7,242,741

2 Illinois Office of Education — local school districts
Children ages three through high school are now accepted. Unlike some other states, Illinois law prohibits the use of tax money by the Office of Education to provide services to handicapped children younger than three. (The laws are found in Illinois Revised Statutes (1975), Chapter 122, Article 14 "Handicapped Children.") However, officials say that on a time-and-space-available basis, a younger child may be admitted to some federally sponsored programs.

Services: Special education programs may be provided by school districts individually, or through multi-district cooperatives. The programs vary. Students may attend regular classes — but with some modifications, such as special equipment and materials. An alternate standard program differs from the

12 / June 1976 / Illinois Issues

Except for the adult deaf, Illinois has specific programs to aid almost all its disabled citizens. The services provided are diagnostic, remedial, educational and vocational

regular curriculum, but serves a "proportionately large identifiable segment of the school population."

The standard or alternate standard program may also be supplemented with supportive services, such as small group instruction, speech and language services, school psychological services, therapy or braillists. Instruction provided in special classes which are "largely self-contained or in a special school" constitutes the special program.

Through cooperative programs, handicapped children receive most of their education through the standard or special program. However, their education is supplemented by a work-experience program or shared agency involvement. Another program provides education to a student either in his own home or in a hospital.

Students may be referred to state-operated or private facilities when they have conditions which are "so profound, complex, or otherwise unique that no special education program offered by the public schools can adequately or appropriately meet their needs." If this is the case, the local district must locate the appropriate program and refer the child to it. If a child attends a private facility, the district can pay up to $3,000 annually for the student's tuition, receiving some of this back as reimbursement from the state. The local district is also responsible for paying transportation costs — again partly reimbursed by the state.

During a child's stay either in a state or private facility, local districts must update themselves annually on a child's progress. In addition, when appropriate, provisions are made for a child's return to the local school system. Districts are also required by the state to "seek out and identify all exceptional children" who may need special education. The state is currently dividing $5 million in federal money among local areas to encourage screening of three- and four-year-olds. Eligibility and application: If parents suspect their child has a problem, they may request assistance from their local school district. Information about special education programs is available at each school district office. After parental contact, it is the district's responsibility to provide for testing of the child within 60 days. If special education programs are warranted, the district may wait until the end of the current semester to place the child, but must make interim provisions for the child's education. Current budget   State funds $117,520,163 Federal funds     14,900,786 Total $132,420,949       3 Illinois Department of Public Health Children ages three and older with vision or hearing problems are the primary concern of this program. Through other programs, potential problems in newborns and other children may be diagnosed. Services: Diagnosis and prevention, rather than treatment of handicaps, are the main objectives of the department's services in this area. Once a child is in school, he will be tested for hearing and vision periodically by the school district, through the local health department or even directly by the State Department of Public Health. Testing can also be accomplished through regional hearing clinics, which are conducted in four state locations, but by appointment only. During these examinations parents are counseled about the results and given referrals if necessary. In some cases, referrals are made to a physician and in others to special education programs. Children younger than three are generally not tested for vision or hearing because of maturation levels. If a case warrants, however, younger children may be tested. What is termed a "strong liaison" is developed with the local special education directors through the school-age vision and hearing program. If a child is suspected of having a vision problem, he is referred to a doctor for further examination. If the subsequent diagnostic report warrants, the local special education director is informed that this child may have learning difficulties because of his condition. A similar procedure is followed for children found to have hearing problems. The department also participates in other programs which are more preventative than diagnostic — although in some cases a condition may be found and treated before it grows to the proportion of a handicap. "Medicheck," or the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program, is federally funded and provides health screening services for children of families receiving public aid. A dozen perinatal centers in the state are staffed and equipped to handle problems of newborns who have experienced traumas before, during or soon after birth.

June 1976 / Illinois Issues / 13

Children's Hospital-School in Chicago enrolls up to 100 children ages 5 through 20 with orthopedic handicaps

Eligibility and application: School-aged children should automatically receive periodic vision and hearing tests. However, parents who feel their child has a hearing problem may contact the hearing consultant in the department's nearest regional office to make an appointment for testing. Regional offices are in Aurora, Champaign, Chicago, East St. Louis, Murphysboro, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield.

Current budget
State funds	$3,471,700
Federal funds	1,789,700
Total	$5,261,400

 
  4a Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Illinois Children's Hospital-School, Chicago

A maximum of 100 children ages 5 through 20 with orthopedic handicaps are enrolled at any one time. Students have a variety of conditions, including birth defects, rare diseases such as dermatomyositis, cerebral palsy, paraplegia and post-polio conditions.

Services: The average stay in this "residential educational and rehabilitation center" is about three years. Students accepted in the program attend small classes with individual assistance available. Recreation and social activities are also provided. Specialized medical resources are immediately available since the Hospital-School is located in the Chicago Medical Center.

Eligibility and application: Applications for the Hospital-School are not considered unless the child has been recommended by his local special education district. Although the student's physical condition may have resulted in some impairment of mental and emotional growth, every child accepted into the program must be educable. After application is made, the child's history and needs are examined.

Applications may be made to the Hospital-School superintendent at 1950 East Roosevelt Road in the Chicago Medical Center, or to one of the regional or district offices of the Department of Children and Family Services. The regional offices are in Aurora, Champaign, Chicago, East St. Louis, Murphysboro, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield. The department's state administrative office is at 623 East Adams St., Springfield, Ill. 62706.

Current budget
State funds	$2,094,790
Federal funds	-0-
Total	$2,094,790

 
  4b Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville

More than 500 students between the ages of 4 and 18 currently attend.

Services: Students focus on communications during their first three years at this residential facility. This is an attempt to develop language, speech and vocabulary. By high school, students may enter one of three types of study. Most in the academic track go on to college. Many in the general track continue vocational training with assistance from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The work-study program combines academic study with work experience. Physical education and recreational activities, as well as extracurricular clubs, are an integral part of the overall curriculum. There is also a program for multi-handicapped students.

Eligibility and application: Applications to the school are not considered unless the student has been recommended by his local special education district. Also considered are the student's overall physical condition, mental and emotional development, as well as his learning potential.

Inquiries may be sent to the Superintendent, Illinois School for the Deaf, 125 Webster St., Jacksonville, Ill. 62650 or to offices of the Department of Children and Family Services listed above.

Current budget
State funds	$3,956,384
Federal funds	-0-
Total	$3,956,384

 
  4c Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Illinois Braille and Sight Saving School, Jacksonville

About 170 students from kindergarten through the senior year of high school attend this residential facility. Blind kindergarten and first grade students are often integrated into local schools with other students. Because there are no colleges in the United States for the blind, it is to the advantage of college-bound blind students to return to their local community to complete high school, and most do.

Services: As well as providing a full academic and extracurricular schedule, the facility emphasizes the activities of normal daily life. The school also offers a program for deaf-blind students and diagnostic services and a special curriculum for multi-handicapped blind students.

Eligibility and application: Applications to the school are not considered unless the child has been recommended by his local special education district. Also considered is an evaluation of the prospective student which shows he is "reasonably proficient in self care and can benefit from one of the school's specialized programs."

Applications may be made to the Superintendent, Illinois Braille and Sight Saving School, 658 East State St., Jacksonville, Ill. 62650, or to offices of the Department of Children and Family Services listed above.

Current budget
State funds	$1,938,148
Federal funds	140,000
Total	$2,078,148

 
  4d Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute, Chicago

Most of the 200 persons enrolled in the past year were over 21, had "lost all or a major part of their sight," and had no previous training for the blind.

Services: The average stay is about three months, although some students remain for additional study. The institute is considered a rehabilitation center and services include individual counseling, vocational information and group therapy. The wide-ranging education program may focus on braille, college preparation, crafts, elementary electronics, homemaking, hygiene, life orientation and mobility and industrial arts. The focus of the institute, however, is on exploratory courses and information rather than vocational training.

After the program a follow-up is conducted. A counselor for the State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and a representative of the Community Services for the Visually Handicapped Program work with institute graduates to expedite employment and everyday independent living.

Eligibility and application: Referrals are made through rehabilitation teachers of the Community Services for the Visually Handicapped Program or other agencies. Applicants must have serious visual disabilities, good health and a "determination to become active, independent and self sufficient." Before being accepted for the program, an applicant lives at the institute for a week to undergo medical, psychological, social and vocational tests. These determine how the program can best meet his needs.

14 / June 1976 / Illinois Issues

Applications may be obtained from the Superintendent, Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute, 1151 South Wood St., Chicago, 111. 60612, or through the offices of the Department of Children and Family Services listed above.

Current budget
State funds	$767,064
Federal funds	-0-
Total	$767,064

 
  4e Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Community Services for the Visually Handicapped

More than 2,000 persons were enrolled last year in this program. Generally, the program tends to serve a higher percentage of older persons and is designed for people who cannot or do not want to attend the Visually Handicapped Institute.

Services: Rehabilitation teachers, many of whom are blind themselves, provide much of the supportive thrust of the program. Teachers are spread across the state and even the most remote areas are visited. Instruction can be given in the home, or, if the client is able to travel, in a group situation. Under the program, the client may decide what sort of assistance he would like — learning braille or writing skills, everyday living skills or orientation and mobility, for example.

Eligibility and application: Residents of the state with severe visual loss are eligible. Eligibility is determined by an eye examination. Application may be made at offices of the Department of Children and Family Services listed above.

Current budget
State funds	$674,638
Federal funds	-0-
Total	$674,638

 
  5 Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Handicapped state residents of, or approaching, employable age are served.

Services: The triple emphasis of the division includes medical treatment, training and placement — and these are "laced" with vocational counseling and guidance. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation does not itself provide training or medical assistance. Instead, it contracts for such assistance from other community resources.

Services provided through the division may include medical exams; medical help to improve the person's ability to work; physical aids such as limbs; counseling and guidance, and job training. In some cases, financial assistance is provided for room, board, transportation, equipment, licenses, placement and on-the-job training. Even if a prospective client does not have a financial need, the agency may still give guidance and counseling. Such individuals are directed to the community resources from which they may purchase needed assistance.

Eligibility and application: Referrals are not necessary, but financial need is a requirement. In addition, the disability must be a "substantial handicap to employment." Everyone with the same handicap is not necessarily eligible. For instance, the loss of the use of the legs might be an employment handicap to a construction worker, but not to a company executive.

Although the division tries to help all within the eligibility guidelines, the federal government has mandated that it provide services first to the "severely disabled." These include people with spinal cord injuries, neurological diseases, paraplegia and multiple sclerosis.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Offices are in Alton, Anna, Aurora, Belleville, Benton, Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Danville, Decatur, DeKalb, East St. Louis, Galesburg, Glen Ellyn, Greenville, Gurnee, Harrisburg, Jacksonville, Joliet, Kankakee, LaSalle, Macomb, Mattoon, Mount Prospect, Mount Vernon, Olney, Peoria, Quincy, Rock Falls, Rock Island, Rockford, Shelbyville and Springfield.

Current budget
State funds	$ 5,809,000
Federal funds	42,691,000   estimated pending federal legislation
Total	$48,500,000

 
  6 Illinois Department of Public Aid

Clients may be adults or children.

Services: Payments vary according to individual circumstances under the state's "Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled" program. Any current monthly income, as well as expenses such as shelter, food, clothes and household supplies are used to figure the monthly payment. Any medical payments deemed necessary are made directly to the source of medical care and are separate from the standard payments.

Eligibility and application: Prospective clients must have a physician's statement certifying that they are disabled to the extent that they cannot support themselves. For medically qualified children, payments are computed according to the needs of the family. The client may not have assets such as stocks, savings, cash or non-homestead property worth more than $400 in order to qualify. Application may be made through the local county offices of public aid.

Current budget
State funds	$35,300,000
Federal funds	-0-
Total	$35,300,000     

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