This list of resources was compiled by Grace O’Connor and Ann Garcia, patient advocates at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. Some of these resources are specific to the greater Chicagoland area and/or Illinois. If you are looking for resources in another region, we recommend reaching out to a local Down syndrome parent organization.
Special Recreation Associations Network of Illinois (SRANI)
There are 33 Special Recreation Cooperatives in Illinois serving 210 Communities. The 33 cooperatives represent: 158 park districts, 44 municipalities, and 1 township.
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Special Olympics
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Team and individual sports
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Outings, groups, dances, trips, classes etc.
Chicago Park District - Special Recreation
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21 locations in parks throughout the city
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Special Olympics
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Team and individual sports
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Outings, groups, dances, trips, classes etc.
Down Syndrome Groups
Down in the Southland
PO Box 831
Tinley Park, IL 60477
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Arts programs
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Next Chapter Book Club
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Theater group
UPS for DownS
1070 S Roselle Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60193
847-895-2100
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Walking club
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Next Chapter Book Club
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Theater group
GiGi’s Playhouse
National Office
2350 West Higgins Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
847-885-6149
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GiGiFIT
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Friday Night Friends
National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS)
1460 Renaissance Drive
Suite #102
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Adult Down Syndrome Center
1610 Luther Lane
Park Ridge, IL 60068
847-318-2303
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Zumba
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Art and music classes
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Social skills groups
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Games group
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Summer Nature Club
Theater Groups
A.B.L.E. Ensemble
2139 N Hudson Ave.#2
Chicago, IL 60614
Special Gifts Theatre
PO Box 2231
Northbrook, IL 60065
847-564-7704
EDGE of Orion: Constellation Project
EDGE Headquarters
7742 North Sheridan Road #3L
Chicago, IL 60626
773-387-9237
Other Social/Recreational Possibilities
TotalLink2Community
1200 Shermer Road, Suite 109
Northbrook, IL 60062
224-412-4718
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ArtLab for EveryOne
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Yoga and Healthy Supper Club
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Next Chapter Book Club Plus
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heART Words and Dinner
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Saturday Social
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Saturday Night Out with the Guys
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Girlfriends Group
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Dinner, Discussion and Movie Night Out
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Karaoke Meetup
Center Stage DanceMidweek Teens/Young Adults (Ages 13–21) Group
738 Stratford Square
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
630-529-9080
Buddy Up Tennis.com
Heritage Tennis Club7 W College Dr.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Five Star Tennis Center
11959 Normantown Rd.
Plainfield, IL 60585
Center for Independent Futures
1015 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
847-328-2044
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Walking club
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Book club
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Art club
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Saturday Cinema
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HeARTwords
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Yoga
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Volunteer Club
Center for Enriched Living
280 Saunders Road
Riverwoods, IL 60016
847-948-7001
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Bowling
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Art programs
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Social clubs
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Dances and parties
Best Buddies
101 West Grand Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60654
312-828-9313
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Supports the development of friendships between adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities
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Includes programs for individuals in middle school, high school, and adulthood
Camp Programs
Camp Pals
202-630-5858
Camp Hope
Campgrounds:
26710 West Nippersink Rd.
Ingleside, IL 60041
312-401-4673