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Join Merit’s Wind Symphony for a free concert celebrating a Latin American tradition originating in Mexico, featuring music from Disney's Coco. Audience members are invited to move, dance, make noise, or partake in any way which helps them to enjoy the music. Families and those with sensory processing sensitivities welcome. Join us at Merit for this FREE concert: Hear familiar favorites from Merit’s Wind Symphony Children and adults of all ages and abilities welcome ✨ Experience a sensory-friendly style concert where the audience is encouraged to move around, make noise, take breaks, clap along, and more 👏 Celebrate neurodiversity at a performance that is made for everybody to enjoy ✨ Awesome opportunity for any child’s FIRST concert 🤗 Enjoy music to commemorate Dia de los Muertos and the diverse Latinx cultures represented in our Merit community ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Únete a la Merit's Wind Symphony en un concierto gratuito que celebra una tradición latinoamericana originaria de México, presentando música de Coco. Invitamos al público a moverse, bailar, hacer ruido, o participar de cualquier forma que les permita disfrutar de la música. Las familias y las personas con sensibilidad sensorial son bienvenidas. Acompáñanos en Merit para disfrutar de este concierto GRATUITO: Escucha los temas favoritos de Merit's Wind Symphony Son bienvenidos niños y adultos de todas las edades y niveles de capacidad ✨ Experimenta un concierto respetuoso con los sentidos (de estilo sensory-friendly) en el que se le anima al público a moverse, hacer ruido, tomar descansos, aplaudir, y mucho más 👏 Celebra la neurodiversidad en un espectáculo hecho para que todo el mundo disfrute ✨ Estupenda oportunidad para el PRIMER concierto de cualquier niño 🤗 Disfruta la música para conmemorar el Día de los Muertos y las diversas culturas latinas representadas en nuestra comunidad de Merit. This is a free event, but RSPV is required. Please go here to register. Street parking is available. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: marketing@meritmusic.org.

LDA of Illinois invites you to attend our Fall virtual conference. On Friday evening, Oct. 3, at 6:45 p.m. we will have a panel on “I Have a Kid Who…” This is your opportunity to ask a question of an expert in the field. On Saturday, Oct. 4, everyone is welcome and educators can earn PD credits. We have a full day of sessions for you from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents, grandparents, and adults with learning disabilities are free but must register to receive the Zoom link. Others pay a nominal fee ($20-$40). RSVP is required. Please go here to register This is an online event. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: admin@ldaillinois.org.

This playdate has been canceled. We're sorry for the inconvenience. We hope you can come to a future playdate. You can find them all HERE. Join NPN and LEEP Forward / Quantum LEEP Academy for a Fall Celebration of Creativity and Fun! For children ages 5–10 and their families — siblings welcome! 🍂 Embrace the magic of autumn with hands-on, movement-filled, and creative activities designed to spark imagination, laughter, and connection. 🎨 Art & Creativity Stations Get crafty and create your own Halloween decorations or fall keepsakes to take home and share! From colorful collages and nature-inspired art to playful painting and sensory playdough fun, there’s something for every little artist. 🤸‍♂️ Movement & Play in the Gym Jump, move, and groove through engaging games and activities and don’t miss our bounce house for extra giggles and energy bursts! 🍎 Snacks & Surprises Refuel with healthy, allergy-friendly snacks and enjoy a few festive surprises along the way. Come celebrate the season with us, where creativity, community, and Halloween fun come together for an unforgettable fall afternoon! LEEP Forward/Quantum LEEP Academy is located at 1447 W Montrose Ave.

This event has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Join LEEP Forward and NPN for August Adventures! This sensory-friendly, inclusive event is designed for all children, ages 2-5, with siblings of all ages welcome to join in the fun! Embrace the end of summer with a variety of engaging activities that promote exploration and creativity! ☀️ Children can dive into our Sensory Bin filled with a variety of items and textures. 🖌️ We’ll have a painting station where little artists can create with non-toxic, washable paint, and a playdough station for creative molding and shaping. 📚 For imaginative play, kids can dress up and relax in our Summer Story Corner with cozy blankets and captivating stories. 🌻 Plus, don’t miss our guided Nature Walk, where everyone can collect natural treasures! 🎪We will also have a bounce house for our little adventurers seeking more movement activities. 🎈Our event will also include a ball pit and sensory tables for more hands-on exploration. 😋 Finally, we’ll provide healthy, allergy-friendly snacks to keep everyone energized, and 🎉 Every family will be entered into a raffle for a night of respite or babysitting! Join us for a morning of sensory exploration, connection, and end-of-summer fun in an inclusive environment. We can’t wait to see you there! Location: 1447 W Montrose Questions? Email amy@npnparents.org. NPN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You help us keep these playdates free with your paid membership or donation. Thank you for supporting NPN!

The third annual Double Good Days is a free event that provides all-abilities fun for children with special needs, along with their families and caregivers. Created by the Double Good Kids Foundation, the event aims to provide a special day filled with interactive, sensory-friendly activities while fostering meaningful social opportunities for kids. This is a free event, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Onsite parking lot available at Kohl Children's Museum. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: alexa.durkin@doublegood.com.

Join Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday's Child, in the second of a three-part series on Special Education in Chicago. This session will walk you through the first steps you need to take when entering into special education with your child. You will learn about the difference between IEPs and 504s, the continuum of special education services and learning environments in Chicago, the steps of the IEP/504 process, and what to expect during IEP and 504 meetings. This session was recorded live on 4/16/25.

Join Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday's Child, in the first of a three-part series on Special Education in Chicago. This session will walk parents through the basics of the special education process. You will learn who special education is for, important terms, and Emily's key takeaways on the best way to approach the special education process. This session was recorded live on 4/3/25.

Learn more about Special Olympics programs offered in your community with our presenter Michelle Mark, the Director of Athlete Leadership and Family Initiatives. Special Olympics Illinois (SOILL) provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities as well as health education, leadership and personal development. SOILL is divided into 11 regions throughout the state and is fully integrated into the community in order to transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support. ~ Services for People with Disabilities (SFPD) ~ Presents a free Community Education Workshop Continuing education credits are available for QIDP's. Session may be recorded This event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. or call Kathryn Dougherty at 773-765-3158 to register. You will receive a ZOOM link to participate via email the day prior to the session. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: kathryndougherty@jcfs.org.

Come curious. Come ready to inspire and be inspired. Come be part of the shift. How can stories lead to transformation in Chicago and beyond? Film has the power to help us imagine, dream, and open our minds to a world that reflects our deepest hopes and humanity. Join a panel of storytellers, visionaries, and changemakers who stutter who are using the art of film to address challenges and opportunities to make change in our communities. During our time together, we will hear and see glimpses of projects from the following panelists: Maya Chupkov, founder and executive director of Proud Stutter Reveca Torres, filmmaker and disability advocate The panel will be moderated by Danielle Scruggs, the founder of Black Women Directors. Remarks will be given by Northwestern faculty: Elisha Boxer Magnifico from CSD, David Catlin from the Department of Theatre, and Catherine Carrigan from RTVF. Because Chicago has a rich and diverse community with deep historical roots, and the program will lift up topics that touch different issues, the event brings together distinct but intersectional communities: stuttering, journalism, film, disability, speech-language pathologists, and justice-impacted. Space is limited! This is a free event, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Campus parking lot or street parking available. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: mcsharone@gmail.com.

Peer support, educational, and activity-based groups via Zoom for kids who have a brother or sister with a disability or chronic condition. This is a free, online event. RSVP is required. Please email ahren.hoffman@aah.org to RSVP This is a repeating event with additional dates on May 17, & June 21, 2025, from 10 - 11:30am This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: ahren.hoffman@aah.org.

Join Sitaara as she talks with Natasha Croff and Julie Molina, Parent Support Specialists for Chicago Public Schools, about the CPS application and admissions process for students with disabilities. Natasha and Julie provide expert insights on navigating the system, things to consider when applying to selective enrollment elementary and high schools, available resources and what resources to look for when considering which school may be the best fit. Tune in for practical advice, key steps families should take to ensure their children receive the support they need, and the essential information to help make the admissions journey smoother. This recording is the twelfth episode of NPN's podcast, Chicago Style Parenting. The podcast was published on 3/25/25. For more information and resources about this topic, visit the podcast episode's show notes.

Join the Discussion in the NPN Forum on April 24th (Member's Only Event): Ask Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday's Child, specifics about the IEP process, how to manage your child's challenging behavior or social-emotional challenges, and how to support your child's development. Ask your question here. The thread will open for one day only, April 24th, starting at 5:00 AM. Emily Winsor is a board certified behavior analyst and the managing director of Tuesday's Child. Before joining Tuesday's Child, she served as the Clinical Director at ABA Midwest and the Director of Clinical Services at Reach ABA. She holds a Master of Education (MEd) in special education and teaching from Endicott College. Tuesday’s Child supports Chicago families facing behavioral and social-emotional challenges that hinder their child's ability to thrive at home, in school, and in social settings. Tuesday's Child's evidence-based child behavior and development programs emphasize early intervention, offering essential tools and resources to parents without requiring a formal diagnosis for their children. NPN's Discussion Forum is available to members only. Not a member? Join NPN today!

During your preschool and elementary school search, you may be looking for a school where your child will feel a sense of belonging. In this session we will cover what it means for a school and classroom to be inclusive of all students, why it is important, and how to identify an inclusive school during your school search. We will discuss how schools create a welcome environment for families from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, identities, developmental and physical differences and intellectual disabilities. Come with questions! There will be time for Q & A at the end. This session will take place over Zoom. RSVP for the link. Our panelists include experts from Park West Cooperative Nursery School and Blue Bird Day School. Stay tuned for more!