What is the Children's Habilitation Clinic (CHC)?

The Children's Habilitation Clinic, founded as the Center for Handicapped Children in 1956, is a multidisciplinary clinic which provides care for children with developmental disabilities and education for health professionals in the care of children with disabilities.

Who can be referred to CHC?

Children from birth through twenty-one years of age with known or suspected impairments involving movement, self-care, communication, and learning are appropriate for care. This includes children with acquired disabilities and degenerative problems, as well as children with congenital problems. Special clinics are held for children with spina bifida, and the genetics program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) sees children with metabolic disorders and other genetic problems. Most of our patients have multiple impairments, most commonly cerebral palsy, but a specific diagnosis does not make a child eligible or ineligible for care at CHC.

Children can be seen with any type of financial support, including public aid.

What services are provided?

CHC evaluates and provides ongoing care to children with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to accurately diagnose the child, understand the child's current level of function, and help the child and family improve functionally and maintain the highest level of health possible. We provide disability related medical care including equipment evaluation, medical management, resource counseling, family and patient education, community referrals and limited amounts of therapy to children with disabilities to age 21.

Helping the child and his/her family understand their problems, learn how to find appropriate community services, and learn how to cope are very important aspects of care. These issues are explored in every visit and at times in special family conferences.

How can a child be referred?

A family, physician, health care provider, school, community agency, or other interested person can call the clinic. The child's parent or guardian must be aware of the referral and consent to the care provided at the clinic. If there are questions about whether this clinic is the best one for the child, we will try to find the most appropriate resource for the family.

Who are the clinic staff?

The core team consists of a developmental pediatrician, social worker, and clinical nurse specialist. Other on-site staff include a speech-language pathologist, psychologist, physical therapist, and nutritionist; other services are available on a consultation basis within the UIC clinics. UIC has a number of outstanding services for children with special health care needs within the Children's Center and in other areas including, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Assistive Technology Unit.

How Do You Find Out More?

Contact us at the Children's Habilitation Clinic for referral or for more information:

Children's Habilitation Clinic (CHC)
University of Illinois at Chicago 
UIC Medical Center
1801 W. Taylor St.- 2 East (M/C 681)
Chicago IL 60612-7311
Phone: (312) 996-7202
FAX: (312) 413-3445
CHC Administrative Offices:
1919 W. Taylor, Room 808 (M/C 681)
Chicago IL 60612-7311

Our Families page has a listing of frequently asked questions (FAQs) which may be helpful.

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