Building Bridges

Located in Lanark, Ill., Rolling Hills Progress Center is a private, nonprofit agency that serves adults with disabilities who are of 16 years of age and above. Founded in 1975, it owns and operates various small businesses, including retail, dining and orchard operations, and imprinted novelty items, golf tees and accessory sales. The center offers various programs, such as developmental training, remunerative employment, education, counseling and skills development. It operates a food pantry and provides a variety of facilities and services, including transportation, a lunch program, financial assistance, participation in the Special Olympics, and planning and coordinating various field trips. The center also provides various golf products, educational puzzles, pencils, magic slates and novelty items.

Since opening our doors in February 2006, Exceptional Care for Children has been delivering a new and innovative model of care to medically-fragile / chronically-ill children which allows them to experience their highest physical, intellectual and spiritual potential while improving the quality of life for them and their entire family. Exceptional Care for Children provides top-quality, pediatric care for children referred from our region's leading Pediatric Hospitals including A.I. duPontDE, Children's Hospital and Johns Hopkins, MD. Palliative Care and End-of-life Comfort Caring for children with chronic or terminal illnesses and caring for each child's physical, emotional, developmental, spiritual, and social needs. Each nature-themed patient room at ECC is hand-painted with the professional artistry that each of our patients deserves. With state-of-the-art medical, therapy, developmental, educational, and play equipment, ECC is well- equipped to handle the needs of children with unique needs in a less medically imposing environment. Rooms specifically designed for therapy, multi-sensory stimulation, education, and entertainment further enhance the experiences of ECC patients and family members. With the addition of a brand-new Outdoor Adaptive Playground, a new Classroom providing our kids with daily, high-quality on-site academic instruction and with the hope of rehabbing our indoor pool facility soon, so we can start to provide aqua therapy services and/or to just allow the kids to experience the simple pleasures of playing in a pool,

Abilities Plus, founded in 1959, is a nonprofit charitable organization, providing health care services to children and adults with disabilities in Henry, Stark and Western Bureau counties in Illinois. The organization provides staff supervision to clients in need of residential support and operates three community integrated living arrangements in the city of Kewanee. It offers developmental training in the areas of self-help, fine and gross motor, communication, prevocational and social skills, as well as recreation, personal hygiene and community integration. Its job placement program imparts job seeking skills classes, vocational exploration, job coaching and assistance in securing employment. The organization teaches work skills to its clients under the work services training program by subcontracting with businesses and community organizations. Abilities Plus is a member of Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Services and is headquartered in Kewanee, Ill.