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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.

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 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!

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners). Do you live south of the Loop and want to bring NPN's Developmental Differences Parent Support Group to your area? Email Amy at amy@npnparents.org to discuss.

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners). This event is in person at Gigi's Play House, 3948 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL 60613. Do you live south of the Loop and want help starting NPN's Developmental Differences Parent Support Group in your neighborhood? Email Amy at amy@npnparents.org to discuss!

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners). The Zoom link will be included in your eticket. Do you live south of the Loop and want to bring NPN's Developmental Differences Parent Support Group to your area? Email Amy at amy@npnparents.org to discuss.

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners). This event is in person at Gigi's Play House, 3948 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL 60613. Do you live south of the Loop and want help starting NPN's Developmental Differences Parent Support Group in your neighborhood? Email Amy at amy@npnparents.org to discuss!

It’s a night to be supported, to ask questions and share resources, and to be with other parents who get what it’s like to deal with special challenges for their kids. Parents of kids with all types of developmental differences welcome (sensory processing disorder, autism, ADD/ADHD, PDD-NOS, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities, medical issues, etc.). Parents/family only, please (no therapists, students or business owners). This event is in person at Gigi's Play House, 3948 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL 60613. Do you live south of the Loop and want help starting NPN's Developmental Differences Parent Support Group in your neighborhood? Email Amy at amy@npnparents.org to discuss!

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.

NPN's annual Developmental Differences Resource Fair brings together therapy providers (speech, OT, PT, DT, etc.), therapeutic schools, medical professionals, enrichment providers, and more all in one place. Whether you have a diagnosis for your child and need comprehensive care or you are looking for services that can treat specific delays or behavioral issues, DDRF is your one-stop shop for solutions. As seen on WGN! Parents: Register for FREE by clicking the green "Register Now" button. (Mobile users scroll down.) Providers: Register to exhibit here. Attend Two Parent Education Sessions 🏛️ 9:00-10:00 AM: Understanding the Proposed/Pending Special Education Law and How to Support Your Child, presented by Matt Cohen, founder of Matt Cohen & Associates 🏫 11:00-12:00 PM: Is My Child's IEP or 504 Good Enough? - Special Education in Chicago Series: Session 3 presented by Emily Winsor, Managing Director of Tuesday's Child Make Connections ✏️ Talk with experts and find resources (see our growing list of exhibitors here) ✏️ Meet a supportive community, connect with other parents and families 🎈 Kiddo fun zones! 🎭 Sample class with Chicago Children's Theatre Red Kite Project at 10:30 🚗 Free, easy parking! 🎉 Plus, the first 25 NPN member families will receive a swag bag of goodies! To qualify for a swag bag, join NPN for just $20 using promo code join45off on an annual parent membership here. Important Info Sunday, April 27, 2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Wolcott College Prep Arts & Athletic Center, 1950 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60622 Free parking in attached lot and easy, free street parking on surrounding blocks Questions? Email NPN Executive Director Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org NPN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We need your help to keep DDRF free for families. Please support NPN's work by becoming a paid member or donating. ❤️ Thank you to our Sponsors

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.