Developed by the Illinois Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, this guide is intended to help parents and other laypersons communicate more knowledgeably and effectively with professionals who work with handicapped persons, as well as with handicapped individuals themselves. Section I offers suggestions for interpersonal communication with disabled persons and provides guidelines for writing and speaking about disabled persons in print and visual media. Subsequent sections include a glossary of disability-related terms, brief explanations of relevant federal and state statutes, and information on executive and elective offices, state agencies, and commissions in the state of Illinois. Names and addresses of national and state advocacy and consumer organizations, a glossary of disability-related acronyms, and agency toll-free numbers conclude the document. (JW)