CHICAGO and EVANSTON, Ill. — The Arc of Illinois and Aspiritech announced today they will take on stewardship of IDD Navigator, a free public directory that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families find services and supports across Illinois.
Little City developed the directory with design and development partner Magnetize and funding from a grant from The Coleman Foundation. Launched in August 2025, IDD Navigator lists more than 550 service providers across Illinois and offers guidance on Medicaid waivers, state agencies, advocacy, and support at every stage of life. Governor JB Pritzker proclaimed August 2025 “IDD Navigator Month” in Illinois.
An estimated 30,000 children and adults in Illinois are participating in or waiting for state-funded IDD services — a system families routinely describe as difficult to enter and harder to navigate. IDD Navigator was built to be the front door.
To help shape the directory’s next phase, The Arc of Illinois and Aspiritech have opened a community survey inviting people with IDD, families, caregivers, friends, and providers to share their experiences and priorities for what comes next.
Little City built the IDD Navigator as a public good rather than a proprietary asset, and the transition reflects that original intent: move the directory to organizations whose statewide reach and technical capacity can carry it further.
“We built IDD Navigator to help families find their starting point. With The Arc of Illinois and Aspiritech, it can grow beyond what any one organization could achieve alone,” said Ann Morris, Chief of Communications & External Affairs, Little City.
The Arc of Illinois brings a statewide advocacy network, decades of direct work with families through programs including Illinois Life Span and the Family Support Network, and relationships with providers and policymakers in every region of the state.
Aspiritech brings expertise in software quality assurance, accessibility testing, and web development, informed by its team’s technical skills and lived experience with autism. The people testing the IDD Navigator for accessibility will include people who use tools like it.
“Most technology built for people with disabilities is not built by people with disabilities. More than ninety percent of our team has autism, and accessibility is not a checklist we run at the end — it is who is in the room from the first day. The IDD Navigator should work for everyone who needs it, and we intend to prove that rather than claim it,” said Tara May, Chief Executive Officer, Aspiritech.
Rather than announcing a roadmap, The Arc of Illinois and Aspiritech are starting with a question. The survey asks what is missing, what is confusing, and what would make the difference — from real-time provider openings and plain-language cost information to translations, transition planning, and simply being easier to use on a phone.
“A tool that shortens that search is advocacy. We are not going to guess at what to build next — we are going to ask the people who have lived it, and then we are going to build that,” said Samantha Alloway, Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois.
Survey responses will shape development priorities, and respondents can volunteer to test early versions.
People with disabilities, families, caregivers, providers, and others connected to the IDD community in Illinois are invited to share their experiences and priorities. The survey takes about 5 to 8 minutes.
For questions or help completing the survey, please email survey@aspiritech.org.
Little City supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism across Illinois through residential, educational, therapeutic, and community-based services. Little City created the IDD Navigator with support from The Coleman Foundation. Learn more at littlecity.org.
The Arc of Illinois advocates, supports, and connects individuals with disabilities and families to ensure they can live as they choose. By influencing policy and expanding services, the organization improves accessibility, protects rights, and provides resources, training, and education, empowering individuals and families to thrive in their communities. Learn more at thearcofil.org.
Aspiritech is a nonprofit technology services company headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, that harnesses the power of neurodiversity. Aspiritech provides software quality assurance, accessibility testing and remediation, cybersecurity, data services, and web design and development to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and operates Aspiritech Academy to build career pathways for adults with autism. Learn more at aspiritech.org.
The Coleman Foundation is a Chicago-based private foundation supporting organizations that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with cancer care and entrepreneurship programs. The Coleman Foundation funded the development of the IDD Navigator. Learn more at colemanfoundation.org.
