Services for children with developmental disabilities are accessed through the Early Intervention system before age 3 and through special education services through local school districts, primarily, after age 3.  New services for children can now be accessed through the Independent  Service Coordination (ISC) agencies by completing the PUNS (Prioritization of the Urgency of the Need for Services).  These are also known as Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) agencies. Independent Service Coordinators or Pre-Admission Screening agents will complete a PUNS form as an interview process with families of children who appear to be eligible for services as children with developmental disabilities. 

Individuals interested in services available through the Division of Developmental Disabilities must contact their ISC and ask to complete a PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) Form. This form is completed by interview and is the document that enters an individual into the system of services for prioritization and eligibility.  Additional information about the PUNS form and process is available in the Documents/Resources section of our website.  Once an individual is selected from the PUNS database, eligibility is determined, and if that person is found to be eligible, referrals are made to the appropriate Service Providers.

To find your local ISC on the Illinois Life Span website, click on:

1.      Search for Advocacy/Service Providers in the blue section in left hand column

2.      Service Type: Disability Services

3.      Service Sub-Type: Independent Service Coordination (ISC)/PAS Agent

4.      County: Your County

For more information on the Children�s Waiver for Home-based Support Services click here: New Children's Waiver Information.

For more information from the Adult & Children�s Waiver Manual, click here:  Waiver Manual.

For more information regarding Frequently Asked Questions collected by our friends at the Family Support Network during their Dreaming New Dreams seminars throughout the State, click here:   Frequently Asked Questions.