1. Community Resources for the Disabled
By Brian Bergstrom
Mental Health Awareness Team

2. What does it mean to be disabled?
Focused on abnormalities and physical limitations
Focus has shifted on what the body is capable of doing relative to the demands placed upon it.
The World Health Organization defines a person who has a disability as:
“an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives” (2013).

3. Examples of Difficult Tasks
Making a phone call
Attending appointments
Unable to cook for one self
Express Needs to Others
Waking up on time
Maintaining Structure
Budgeting/Money Management
Hygiene
Inability to access resources

4. What Resources are Available?
Safelink -
Food pantries
People’s Resource Center
Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation
Benefit Access Program
Community Center

5. Safelink – FREE Government Phone
Obama Phone
1 per household
500 free minutes & texts for 4 months
350 free minutes every month + unlimited texting
Cheap quality phone 

6. Food Pantries Free food Serves people with low income
Many exist within DuPage County
Promotes Healthy Eating
Usually can go once a month
Proof of residency
Income based
Utility Bill
GREAT Volunteer Opportunity

7. Food Pantries in Dupage County

8. Food Pantries in DuPage County

9. People’s Resource Center (PRC)
Food Pantry
Rental Assistance
Financial Assistance
Computer Training
Job Assistance
Clothes Closet

10. People’s Resource Center
Westmont
Wheaton
People’s Resource Center 104 Chestnut Avenue Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: (630)
People’s Resource Center 201 S. Naperville Road Wheaton, IL 60187
Pantry Hours
Monday
8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Tuesday
8:30 a.m. – 11: 15 a.m.
Wednesday
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday
Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Pantry Hours
Tuesday
8:30 a.m – 11:15 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday
8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Thursday
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday

11. People’s Resource Center

12. People’s Resource Center
Attend classes = free computer + repair for life
Classes:
Intro to Computers
Windows Fundamentals
Word 1
Word 2
Excel 1
Excel 2
Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate

13. People’s Resource Center
Clothes Closet
Must be a PRC Client and live in DuPage County
Decent Selection
“Each month, PRC client families receive 5 points per person to use in the Clothes Closet (A family of 5 would get 25 points.) Clothes typically cost 1 – 2 points. Clothes Closet points do not ‘carry over’ from one month to the next.
All of the clothing provided comes from community donations.  We do our best to offer high-quality, seasonal clothing throughout the year.”

14. Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation
Call three days in advance
For all medical appointments, you will be picked up one hour in advance. Please be fully dressed and ready at pick-up time.
If needed, an aide or family member can accompany you.
The driver is only required to wait 10 minutes for you.
The drivers are not allowed to accept any tips.
The driver is not allowed to take you to any location other than your home on the way back from medical appointments.

15. Benefit Access Program
Illinois Department of Aging
Must have a permanent disability
Apply online
Click Benefit Access
Based on income (tax returns)
Process takes a while

16. Benefit Access Program
Apply on the Benefit Access Application if you meet the following requirements: Note:  Use of the word spouse also includes a civil union partner.
Age
you must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year; or 
you must be 16 years of age or older and totally disabled before January 1 of this year.
Residency
you must live in Illinois at the time you file your application
Income Limit Eligibility for the License Plate discount and/or Ride Free Transit Card: Your total income last year must be less than
$27,610 for a 1 person household (yourself only); or
$36,635 for a 2 person household (yourself and your spouse, or yourself and one Qualified Additional Resident); or
$45,657 for a 3 person household (yourself, your spouse and one Qualified Additional Resident, or yourself and two Qualified Additional Residents).
Expiration Eligibility is good for two years under the Benefit Access Program. The two-year period starts at the time your application is approved. You may file again beginning 90 days before your eligibility expires.

17. NAMI DuPage Community Center
115 County Farm Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60187

18. Community Center

19. Community Center Living Room Safe and Peaceful Place
Alternative to ER room
Calm relaxing environment
No one will be turned away due to financial circumsatnces
Run by people personally impacted by mental illness
Hours 3 P.M. – 10 P.M. Daily

20. Resource Links Safelink – http://www.safelinkwireless.com
DuPage Pantries -
People’s Resource Center -
Benefit Access -
Community Center -