The National Resource Directory is an online partnership by the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs for wounded, injured, ill service members, veterans, their families, and persons who support them. Federal, state, and local government agencies, veterans groups, not for profit community and faith based organizations, professional associations, academic institutions, and philanthropic organizations provide the information in the online resource. Topics include:

- Benefits & Compensation
- Family and Caregiver Support
- Education, Training & Employment
- Health
- State & Local Resources
- FAQs
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- Services & Resources

You can search for resources by state and local area.

View this presentation to learn about universal symbols and accessibility features that support access to various entertainment venues. Helpful hints in planning an outing are also presented.

View this presentation to learn more about how to use public and private transportation for people with disabilities in the city of Chicago and suburbs. Items addressed include services through the Regional Transporation Authority - CTA and PACE bus, Metra commuter trains, Taxi Access Program, Accessible Van Rental, and Driver Rehabilitation.

Illinois residents who have disabilities and are enrolled in the Illinois Circuit Breaker program can ride free on the CTA, Metra, and Pace buses and trains. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the Illinois Department of Aging are working together to implement this new free program, which went into effect on October 24, 2008. Under the new law, free rides on fixed transit will be provided to persons with disabilities who are enrolled in the Circuit Breaker Program.

Circuit Breaker enrollees who do not have the required RTA Reduced Fare Permit need to fill out an application at the RTA Customer Service Center, 165 N. Jefferson St., Chicago, or at one of the registration centers in the six-county RTA region. Call 312-913-5414 (TTY: 312-913-3111) for more information. After the RTA confirms eligibility, it will issue a magnetic stripe card called a "Circuit Permit" within a month. Persons need to use this permit for free rides.

All current RTA Reduced Fare Permit holders who have a disability and ADA paratransit permit holders will be contacted by the RTA and asked to fill out a short application and return it to the RTA. After the RTA verifies their eligibility, it will issue a magnetic stripe card within a month.

More information about the Circuit Breaker program can be obtained by calling 800-624-2459 or going to http://www.illinois.gov/transit

The CTA developed a video to help individuals with disabilities use the CTA. The streaming video is available by going to the website, TransitChicago, listed below, and clicking on the wheelchair icon "Accessible CTA" in the upper right corner. Then go to the center of the next page and click on Video for Customers with Disabilities.

Topics of the video include:

- Welcome to the CTA
- Before you take the CTA
- Customers with physical disabilities
- Customers who are blind or visually impaired
- Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Contacting the CTA

DVD copies of Accessible CTA may be ordered by calling 1-888-968-7282, prompt 2, or for TTY1, calling 1-888-282-8891.

The video features sound and written explanations about how to plan a route, seating for individuals with disabilities, how to use elevators and call buttons, use of Braille and other signage, and audio bus and rail announcements.