Professional Associations and Organizations

Professional and other groups (including parent support, and training and information centers) that provide assistance to infants and toddlers with disabilities eligible under Part C of IDEA and their families.

State Professional Associations and Organizations

Birth to Five Illinois
Birth to Five Illinois works to create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities.

Gateways to Opportunity Illinois Job Board
The Illinois Job Board provides an opportunity for early care and education, school-age, and youth development organizations to post job openings in Illinois. The Illinois Job Board provides professionals and those interested in careers in early care and education, school-age, and youth development with specific information about related jobs in Illinois and the qualifications needed.

Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children
Illinois AEYC advocates for the early childhood workforce, quality care and education for young children and families, and provides leadership and professional development opportunities.

Illinois Association of Infant Mental Health (ILAIMH)
ILAIMH is a membership organization of diverse professionals working with infants, toddlers and their families. Members come from the fields of education, social work, psychology, medicine, academia, public policy, child development, physical and occupational therapy, and other allied disciplines

Illinois Cares for Kids
Illinois Cares for Kids is the one place Illinois parents, grandparents, caretakers, teachers, and child care providers can access information about to early childhood in Illinois.

Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP)
ICAAP is an organization that advocates on behalf of children, families, and health professionals in Illinois.

Illinois Child Find Project
This Child Find Project Website was created to offer information and resources related to the earliest possible identification of young children and their families who may benefit from early intervention and special education services.

Illinois Developmental Therapy Association (IDTA)
The mission and purpose of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association is to provide the highest quality services to children with disabilities and delays and their families through promoting and supporting the interests of Developmental Therapists.

Illinois Division of Early Childhood (IDEC)
The Illinois Subdivision of the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is dedicated to promoting parent-professional collaboration, to advocating for policy, planning and best practice in prevention and intervention, and to supporting those who work with or on behalf of infants and young children with special needs and their families by promoting collaboration and communication among organizations, practitioners and family members, innovations in research and the development of new knowledge, dissemination and use of information about research, resources, best practices, and current issues, and professional development through an array of activities and strategies.

Illinois Early Learning Project
The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.

Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA)
The ILOTA is the official representative of the occupational therapy profession in the state of Illinois. The ILOTA Web site contains Web resources, employment opportunities, continuing education opportunities, and more.

Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA)
IPTA is the Illinois chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association. The site includes articles, blogs, and the latest news related to the practice of physical therapy in Illinois.

Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association (ISHA)
ISHA’s Mission is to support and advocate for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and the individuals they serve with communication, hearing, and swallowing disorders.

Instructional Videos about the Illinois EI System
Provider Connections has developed instructional videos related to the Early Intervention credentialing and enrollment process. These videos are intended to assist providers in completing the application(s) necessary to become either credentialed and/or enrolled as to provide services in the Illinois Early Intervention System.

Resource Modules (Illinois Early Intervention System)
Online learning modules available as a resource to individuals wanting to find out more information about the components of the Early Intervention System in Illinois.

STARNET Regional Offices
Provides training, consultation, and resources to the early childhood community in Illinois.

National Professional Associations and Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics
A professional association for pediatricians. Resources on the health and development of young children specifically for pediatricians but also families and other professionals.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098
USA
847/434-4000 (tel)
800/433-9016 (toll-free tel)
847/434-8000 (fax)

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Professional association for occupational therapists. Multiple resources for professionals.
301-652-6611
4720 Montgomery Ln Ste 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Professional association for physical therapists. Multiple resources for professionals.
703-684-2782 or 800-999-2782
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488

American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)
Professional association for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Multiple resources for professionals.
Members: 800-498-2071; Non-Member: 800-638-8255

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)
Professional association for those who work with or on behalf of young children with developmental delays or disabilities. Multiple resources for professionals.
310-428-7209
3415 S Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA, 90034

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to improve state early intervention and early childhood special education service systems, increase the implementation of effective practices, and enhance the outcomes of these programs for young children and their families.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.

Zero to Three National Center for Infants Toddlers and Families
Resources for families and professionals