Neurodivergent Family Guide

Bringing this post over to Chicagoland | Neurodivergent Resources. This post was originally posted by Amma Klo | Neurodivergent + Chronic Illness Parenting and edited/fact checked by Kaligirwa.

Big things are brewing at Neurodivergent Family Guide, and we want to co-create them with you!

NDFG is expanding our local footprint, and we are looking for the right partners, spaces, and passionate people to help make these upcoming community resources a reality.

Here is what (and who) we are looking for:

* A Yoga Studio (Wheaton / Glen Ellyn area): so we can add another Ground + Gather location to serve our DupageCo. families.

* A Fall Provider Fair Venue: We need a gym, large community room, or open event space to bring local providers and families together under one roof.

* Volunteers: Passionate about our mission? We are looking for incredible humans to help behind the scenes with Event Planning, Clinical Outreach, or Community Research.

If you own a space, know a business that would be a perfect fit, or want to lend your skills to the team, we want to hear from you!

📥 DM us directly or shoot an email over to [email protected]. Let’s build something beautiful for our community together.

🏊🏼‍♀️COMMUNITY BASED SENSORY-FRIENDLY SWIMS & CLASSES | Summer 2026
Looking for a more comfortable, low-sensory environment for your kids to splash around and build water confidence this summer? The Chicago suburbs have some fantastic adaptive options. From dedicated quiet swim times to free 1-on-1 lessons, swipe through to check out these amazing sensory-friendly pool events across Chicagoland:

📍 Woodstock Water Works (Woodstock)
🗓️ Mondays starting June 3rd (Excludes 7/1) | 10am - 12pm
💵 Free with season pass, $5 without

📍 Sensory Cove @ Otter Cove (St. Charles Park District)
🗓️ Sundays: June 7-28 & July 12 - Aug 2 | 9-9:30am & 10-10:30am
💵 FREE 1-on-1 swim lessons for Autistic youth ages 5–12

📍 Sunset Pool (Glen Ellyn Park District)
🗓️ June 11, July 14, Aug 10 | 7pm - 8:30pm
💵 R/NR Fee: $3 / $4 per person at the door

📍 Romeoville Aquatic Center (Village of Romeoville)
🗓️ Sundays: June 28, July 26, Aug 30 | 10am - 12pm
💵 R/NR Fee: $8 / $16

📍 Devonshire Aquatic Center (Skokie Park District)
🗓️ July 16 | 10am - 11am
💵 R/NR Fee: $5 / $7 (Includes 1 free guardian or aid)

💡 Looking for year-round adaptive options? Be sure to check out local Special Recreation Associations (SRAs) like WDSRA, SEASPAR, FVSPRA, and NWSRA, or ask your local park district about their inclusion accommodations!

[SAVE this post for your summer planning and SHARE it with a local family who would love this!]

Did I miss something? DM any edits, or to be featured!

HIT SAVE to remember these for the summer and beyond, and thank you for the work you’re doing to make our world a more accesible and inclusive place!

Have you downloaded it yet?
📱➡️https://www.kulturecity.org/app/

The IEP process is overwhelming enough, the vocabulary shouldn’t make it harder.

If you’ve ever sat in a school meeting nodding along while secretly googling acronyms under the table, you are definitely not alone.
This quick guide breaks down some of the most common key terms and foundational concepts of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process so you can feel more confident taking your place at the table.

➡️ Swipe through for a quick vocabulary refresher, and hit save so you can keep it handy for future reference!

IEP vs 504 coming next.

How has the IEP process been for you? Let’s talk in the comments!

Starting our summer round up with some Sensory Friendly Events in the Chicago Museums and Zoos. While we are so glad to see some events popping up, we will continue to advocate for more than just a few hours, a few times a year, all families deserve to access spaces in safe and supportive ways.

Intro post!
Hi its me, Amma (AM-UH) + I’m the face behind this account. I have been a social worker for 14 years and therapist for 11. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and NARM Master Therapist, meaning I have advanced and specialized training in developmental trauma. I owned and operated a private practice Brave Enough Therapy + Resonant Healing Co. from 2019- 2025 until taking time off to care for my neurodivergent family. As we’ve navigated life as a multiply neurodivergent and dynamically disabled family things have been hard even with my years of training and experience in the mental health world. I thought that if I was confused and overwhelmed others might be too. NDFG was born to stand in that gap and help families learn, connect and feel empowered in making decisions for their family. For insights on our parenting and family journey you can check out .motherhood. For resources, community gatherings and support services (Chicagoland and beyond) keep it here!
Amma

What if our kids grew up believing their innate human needs weren’t a burden? Or that having higher support needs wasn’t a reflection of their personal worth?

When we look at our neurodivergent family dynamics, it is so easy to fall into old, conditioned scripts about what it means to have and to express our needs. We are often taught to prioritize hyper-independence, viewing any reliance on others as a design flaw. But when we step back, we can begin to unlearn these harmful beliefs and shift our focus toward a healthier, more sustainable framework with our humanity at the center.

Which hits home for you right now?

Bringing this post over to and updating a bit for increased clarity. This post was originally posted by .motherhood and edited/fact checked by

I will continue to bring over relevant resources to support our families in better navigating neurodivergent family life!