National Council of State Committees on Children and Youth

The Commission for Physically Handicapped Children was created by General Assembly in 1933 to coordinate services to clients provided by Departments of Public Welfare, Public Health and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Commission further was assigned to stimulate efforts for care, treatment, education and social services afforded ; promote special classes and instruction; arrange for special training of teachers; promote vocational guidance, training and placement of physically handicapped children; and to make recommendations for improvement in services provided by state (l. 1933, p. 208). In 1941 Commission was renamed Commission for Handicapped Children, reflecting Commission's new interest in problems of mentally as well as physically handica[[ed. Same legislation also instructed Commission to establish vocational school for temporary training of educable mentally handicapped children who displayed symptoms of delinquency (l. 1941, vol. 1, pp. 311-312).

Commission for Handicapped Children was absorbed by Commission on Children which General Assembly created in 1963. Commission was to study needs of all children of Illinois and help plan most effective use of voluntary and tax-supported programs at state and local levels; study and report on matters relevant to protection, growth and development of children; help coordinate state programs relating to children; make recommendations for needed legislation; promote adequate diagnosis and treatment of children with special medical needs; and publish informational materials relating to Commission's functions. Commission was abolished by Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.