Funding Opportunities

STAR NET Regions I and III offers funding for families and early childhood professionals to engage in experiences that promote their learning about young children with disabilities. Funding can be used for expenses to attend trainings/events and associated costs including workshop/registration fees, travel, child care, and substitute teacher expenses. Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the event. If approved, a fellowship contract and reimbursement form will be emailed with instructions. Contracts are due two weeks prior to the event and reimbursement forms with receipts are due 10 days after the events.

Family Fellowships

STAR NET offers fellowships of up to $150 to families members of a child two through six years of age receiving Early Intervention services or Early Childhood Special Education Services in Illinois.

Professional Fellowships

STAR NET offers fellowships of up to $150 for professionals who work in an Early Childhood school district program serving children with disabilities ages three to five in Illinois.

Other Funding

The Arc of Illinois, through a grant from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, administers the Financial Assistance for Training and distributes consumer stipend funds to enable people with developmental disabilities and their family members to attend conferences of their choice that are directly related to developmental disability issues. Visit the Arc website for more information.

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program loan program provides loans specifically for individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates and authorized representatives, who are residents of the State of Illinois, to purchase assistive technology for daily living. For more information about the Illinois Assistive Technology Program, visit their website.