City urges parents of students with disabilities to apply for $500 grant before applications close Friday

The city of Chicago is urging parents of students with disabilities to apply for the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund before applications close Friday.

The $5 million fund, launched earlier this year through a partnership with the city and Ada S. McKinley Community Serviceaims to provide financial support to families with disabilities, who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund provides one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery system. Families with two eligible students can receive a grant of up to $1,000.

“This program will impact all of our communities because the reality is that there are people with disabilities in every community here in Chicago, and I can’t think of anything better than that,” said Commissioner Rachel Arfa of the Office for People. with disabilities, said in April when the fund was announced.

There are no restrictions on how the grant can be used.

One parent told the Sun-Times that she would use the money to buy noise-cancelling headphones for her son, to help prevent overstimulation.

Applications for the Diverse Learners Recovery Fund close on November 15.

To qualify, a family must live in Chicago, have a household income less than 300% of the federal poverty level, and have a student in the household with a identified disability.

Students must be enrolled in a public or private elementary school and be on an Individualized Education Plan, a 504 Plan or an Individual Support Plan, or have a doctor’s note confirming their diagnosis.

Parents and guardians can register online at www.AdaMOPD.com.