Community Services

Helen M. Galvin Health & Fitness Center

For adults with disabilities, physical fitness is essential to maintaining strength, maximizing function and enjoying the exhilaration and well being that physical activity can bring. The Helen M. Galvin Health & Fitness Center, located near RIC’s main campus, offers personalized exercise programs and competitive sports for a nominal fee. The 4,000 square foot center offers state-of-the-art, fully accessible equipment designed to accommodate people of all ages and levels of ability. Free weights, treadmills, stationary cycles, hand cycles and more are available to center members.

Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program

Through the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program, RIC offers individual and team sports and other organized activities for people of all ages with disabilities, including training programs for Paralympic-level competition. A variety of different competitive and recreational sports are available for of all ages and abilities, including:

LIFE Center

RIC's  LIFE Center  is a unique resource center and Web site designed to help people with disabilities and their families become informed, get connected and be inspired. Part library and part virtual network, the LIFE Center, located off the lobby at RIC’s main campus, offers a large collection of books, videos, magazines and multimedia learning resources geared toward people with disabilities and their families. Community resources, such as support groups, classes and disability-specific organizations and programs are included in our center to connect you to information that spans key topics of life.

Donnelley Ethics Program

RIC's Donnelly Ethics Program is a resource for patients, families and staff members. Clinical ethics consultants are available to provide formal and informal ethics consultation on a case-by case basis. The program provides educational in-services, ethics grand rounds and lectures. It houses a unique collection of disability and ethics resources. The program also monitors patients' rights for accreditation and quality improvement purposes and coordinates the Hospital Ethics Committee.

The Donnelley Ethics Program is actively engaged in:

• Ethics consultation
• Community forums & advocacy for people with disabilities

RIC Vocational Rehabilitation

RIC offers a range of vocational rehabilitation services to employers and people with physical disabilities. Services include Employment Services Coordination, Employment Planning Services, Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation and Community Employment Services. The RIC Business TEAM consists of more than 100 of the most influential Chicago-area businesses, people with disabilities, (dis)ability organizations and vocational staff of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Women with Disabilities Center

The Women with Disabilities Center (WWDC) works to empower women and girls with disabilities to practice self-determination, as well as enhance the availability, accessibility and quality of medical care and psycho-social support for all women with disabilities.

The Women with Disabilities Center (WWDC) has expanded and moved to a new home.  

Effective April 1, 2010, the Center transitioned its operations from RIC to Access Living, a national model and leader for independent community advocacy and resource center. The programs established at RIC such as the girl’s mentorship program, peer support groups and women’s health access initiatives will continue on at Access Living.  

Judy Panko-Reis has also transitioned to Access Living. For more information, please contact Access Living at (312) 640-2100.