# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/541 "2016-02-19T03:17:05Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _The Autism Clinic_ at _The Hope Institute for Children and Families_ is the central office of _The Autism Program_ (_TAP_), located at the _Noll Medical Pavilion_ in Springfield, Illinois. _The Autism Program_ (_TAP_) is a statewide network of nonprofit agencies and universities… > [@](#): > > The Rockford IceHogs, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, announced today that they have donated $40,000 to The Autism Program (TAP) Service Center in Rockford, a program of Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago. The check was presented earlier today at a press conference held at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, where TAP is located. > > TAP Service Center is an inclusive and trusted resource for evidence-based information on Autism Spectrum Disorder and referral services across the lifespan. TAP in Rockford provides screenings, diagnostics, consultations and trainings… > > “The generous donation from the IceHogs comes at a critical time as we wait for Illinois legislators to approve a budget. Autism Spectrum Disorder not only impacts the child, teen, or adult who has been diagnosed, but it impacts the whole family,” said TAP Assistant Manager Lori Davie. “Families, caregivers, and providers need to be able to seek services and resources in their own communities. Autism Awareness Night with the Rockford IceHogs has helped us bring awareness and raise money…” > > “The Autism Program provides a great service in this area and we are pleased to be able to donate funds through the generous support of our fans,” said IceHogs Director of Business Operations Mike Peck. “Over the years we’ve had the opportunity to meet and befriend some of the children that have utilized TAP, and seen firsthand the positive impact that this organization makes in our community.” > > The IceHogs and TAP joined forces on March 22 of last season to host Autism Awareness Night in conjunction with the team’s 16th Annual Jersey Auction. IceHogs fans helped the team set a franchise record with $79,921 raised for local initiatives. After 16 years of the event, the IceHogs organization has raised $809,231 for Rockford-area charities… Here is a link to photos, from a few years ago in Springfield, of ‘TAP Fest - The Autism Program Benefit’ which featured kids activities, BBQ and live music: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151150226972557.475847.79622152556&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151150226972557.475847.79622152556&type=3) (source: [Official Website of the Rockford IceHogs: IceHogs News](http://www.icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=4800)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 6:41am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/542 "2016-02-20T06:41:00Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. The _Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders_ (_CASD_), located on the campus of _Southern Illinois University_ in Carbondale, Illinois, is a _TAP_ (_The Autism Program_) partner. _The Autism Program_ (_TAP_) is a statewide network of nonprofit agencies and universities… > [@](#): > > Ben Harsy, 5, plays with a dinosaur on a chair in his family’s living room in their house… > > As his mother, Crystal, sits on the edge of the footstool in front of her son, Ben continues to concentrate on his dinosaur, immersed in his own world. > > At 12 months old, Ben said his first word, “bye-bye.” He would look at a person and even wave. His vocabulary expanded to “ma-ma” and “dad,” but somewhere between 15 and 18 months, development stopped. Ben would no longer make eye contact with anyone except his parents and his grandmother, and even that was a struggle. > > When taken out in public, he wouldn’t smile. Though he was a happy child at home, when in public, people would remark on his somber demeanor. His mother didn’t understand why Ben seemed to be pulling away from the world. > > “You could almost start to feel this emotional disconnect,” Crystal said. > > When he turned 2, Ben was most content on his own; unlike a typical child his age, he wasn’t getting into things or causing trouble. He never seemed to seek interaction. When playing with toys, instead of imitating the sounds of cars or racing them around the house, he would line them up in a row. > > Crystal said that any time she would suspect there was something wrong, Ben would seem to be fine. However, the red flags piled up until the Harsys could no longer deny them, especially since his speech hadn’t developed past a few words. > > “The hardest part is when you’re doing the research, wondering what it could be,” said Brice, Ben’s father. > > They began early intervention speech therapy, but no one mentioned autism until Ben was almost 3 years old and visited [CASD]… > > “I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s second to losing your child in death,” Crystal said of the change in Ben from the first year of his life to the third. > > “It was like his soul was taken away from us and we fight every day to bring him back.” > > …In Southern Illinois, the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders is the only option for treatment outside of limited services available in schools or traveling to St. Louis or another metropolitan area. > > “We are the place that provides assessment of children with autism, we get the call from the mother or we get the referral from the physician or other service providers,” [said Dr. Anthony Cuvo, a professor of behavior analysis and therapy at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and the director of CASD.] > > They also provide a variety of intervention or therapy services, as well as teaching, research and serving as a resource for area schools. If they’re lucky, they get the kids at 2 or 3 years old, where early intervention is critical. > > After a semester of individual therapy, where staff will get to know the children, their strengths and areas that need work, the children will then be taught basic skills, working one on one and with a group, the goal being full inclusion in a classroom setting. > > “We’re just lucky to be in the vicinity of a treatment service facility,” Crystal said. “These are services that aren’t even close to > being widely available.” > > Ben was originally diagnosed in the moderate range. He had very limited communication skills, some sensory issues, some repetitive behaviors and a limited capacity for social interaction. > > “His communication and social interaction have seen the greatest strides,” Crystal said. "Both of those areas still have the furthest to go. He’s learned to greet people, make eye contact and speak first. > > “He’s learned to play with kids his own age, appropriately. Before, he just wanted to stay in his own world. He was very content, happy, a loving child - but he did not care to interact with the rest of the world.” > > …The Harsys believe they did everything new parents were supposed to do; read books on care, took Ben to the doctor and followed every instruction carefully. > > “When you start to notice something isn’t going right, you feel like you’ve failed somewhere as a parent,” Crystal said. “We still don’t know why, so we still wonder what we might have done to make it different.” > > …“They should be initially concerned about any developmental delay,” Cuvo said. > > Anomalies parents might notice in motor behavior, language acquisition and social behavior might not be related to autism, but should be brought to the attention of a pediatrician. > > “The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with a recommendation that children be specifically screened for autism, that this should be part of ‘well baby’ checks at 18 months and 24 months, that they be screened for autism in addition to the normal developmental screening,” Cuvo said. > > …For [CASD], Dr. Cuvo would like to see more space and resources to be able to treat more children. However, in a larger sense, the parents need to be empowered. > > “What we need is for parents to have the resources so that they can shop for or obtain the kinds of services they need for their > children,” he said. > > …“One of the things we know is that the parents of children with autism are an extraordinarily strong group,” he said… > > “Good things are happening nationally in terms of autism and I think that the insurance and funding will follow.” > > Ben has only been in treatment a short time. At this point, in a casual setting, one would never guess he is autistic. > > “I can look back and say it was only two years ago he didn’t speak at all,” Crystal said. “Now he’s kind of like every other typical kid…” > > The Harsys worry about Ben’s future as any other parent would about their child. They’re optimistic because of the growing awareness of autism… Here is a link to a video, produced by _CASD_ staff, on visiting the dentist for children on the Autism Spectrum: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUAnRhO8Xp4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUAnRhO8Xp4) (source: [Pulling away from the world: The struggle with autism | News | thesouthern.com](http://thesouthern.com/news/pulling-away-from-the-world-the-struggle-with-autism/article_a7ac3a9d-d24d-5d0b-a72f-ba235e605eb9.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/543 "2016-02-21T00:32:07Z")
The subject of yesterday’s post was the _Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders_ (_CASD_), located on the campus of _Southern Illinois University_ in Carbondale, Illinois, which is a _TAP_ (_The Autism Program_) partner. _The Autism Program_ (_TAP_) is a statewide network of nonprofit agencies and universities. To the north, _The Autism Program_ (_TAP_) _Service Center in Rockford, Illinois is a program of the nonprofit Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago—Rockford Region. The program provides diagnostic, educational, and community resource and information for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Lori Davie, Assistant Manager of the Rockford Center_, works to educate families of children on the Autism Spectrum and also tries to help the community better understand Autism while Colleen Shinn is Training Specialist/Manager of _The Autism Program Service Centers_ Chicago and Rockford… > [@](#): > > This weekend families can get information on dealing with autism. Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall invites people in on Saturday, July 14th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. > > There will be a chance to learn about programs available in the Rockford area for children and adults with autism. > > Parents can also find out what the signs are, as well as what options they have moving forward. > > At 12:15, you can hear from a young boy named Andrew, the Ambassador for The Autism Program Service Center in Rockford, as well as his parents about what they have been through, and how they have been successful. > > …There will be activities available for children who come to this event, so they can have fun while you collect information or listen to the speakers. > > The session also includes a silent auction. > > Proceeds from that, as well as any other donations, will go to The Autism Program Service Center to pay for programs that help the community. Here is a link to photos of the 2014 edition of _Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago_—_Rockford Region_’s ‘Walk With Me’ fundraiser: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152866886542497.1073741851.300912937496&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152866886542497.1073741851.300912937496&type=3) (source: [Autism event provides information for parents and families - KWWL - Eastern Iowa Breaking News, Weather, Closings](http://www.kwwl.com/story/19020705/au)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/544 "2016-02-22T04:53:42Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. The _National Lekotek Center_ is a Chicago, Illinois-based non-profit that provides an array of services to improve the lives of children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, through the utilisation of toys and play. The _National Lekotek Center_ is a division of Chicago’s _Anixter Center_, a provider of educational, vocational, and health care services for individuals with disabilities… > [@](#): > > Like most 5-year-olds, Nicholas loves to play. But not every toy is fun for Nicholas, who is autistic. > > “It’s hard to find something just for him. It’s pretty aggravating shopping for toys for him, at times,” said his mother, Jennifer Navarro. “Some toys that are meant for his age group are too complicated, but some are too simple.” > > Two years ago, Navarro got some help in finding good choices for Nicholas by consulting a guide compiled by experts at the nonprofit National Lekotek Center and distributed by the New Jersey-based retailer, Toys R Us Inc. > > “I thought it was wonderful. I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said Navarro, 32. > > The latest version of the free guide will be available Monday at Toys R Us stores and online. > > The family, which lives in Naplate, Ill., did not have good luck with items from catalogs aimed at special needs children. > > “He’s advanced over a lot of those and they don’t hold his interest,” Navarro said. And Nicholas also wanted to play with toys like those used by his brother, Peyton, 3. > > Navarro said the right toys help with the development of Nicholas, an active boy who loves to play outside as well as with laptop computer learning toys such as LeapPad. > > “If I gave him a set of blocks, instead of making a building or making a castle, he will line them up from one end of the room to the other,” Navarro said, adding that this is typical of many autistic children. Nicholas will also line up other toys, such as miniature cars. > > “He doesn’t play with them (toys) like other kids,” Navarro said, so she has found toys that help him learn to read and speak… > > The 85 toys in the guide are sold nationally, with just six available only at Toys R Us stores, said company spokesman Kelly Cullen. > > The company is printing 600,000 copies of the “Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids,” about 100,000 more than last year, and absorbing all costs, which will not be disclosed, Cullen said. Wayne-based Toys R Us started the guide in 1994. > > …Each toy in the 52-page guide includes a detailed description of how it can be used, along with icons indicating whether the toy can stimulate development in such areas as creativity, self esteem, vision or hearing. > > The guide can be useful to people buying toys for many …children in the United States who have disabilities… > > The [Chicago-based National Lekotek Center], which operates 38 therapeutic play centers in eight states, evaluated some 200 toys over the past nine months to select those included in the guide… > > Certified play specialists observe families and children with the toys, and determine which would work, for example, for a child who is blind, or for a child who can’t close their hand… > > …The criteria include toys that are easy to handle or manipulate, and don’t have a “right way” of being used… Here is a link to photos of the _National Lekotek Center_ hosting Sensory Story Time play groups at libraries in the Chicago metropolitan area: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.585535161470491.1073741829.182055281818483&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.585535161470491.1073741829.182055281818483&type=3) (source: [Guide focuses on toys for special needs kids - Health - Children’s health | NBC News](http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14991889/ns/health-childrens_health/t/guide-aims-pair-special-needs-kids-toys/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/545 "2016-02-23T05:12:51Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Easter Seals Therapeutic School and Center for Autism_ in Rockford, Illinois is part of the nonprofit, _Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago_. The goals of _Easter Seals_ Autism Therapeutic Schools are to empower each student to achieve peak academic performance, increase social and vocational skills, develop an effective means of communication and foster the acquisition of functional life skills for independence in the community… > [@](#): > > …For Autism Awareness Month we take a look at a local school that’s helping autistic kids overcome challenges. > > “I’m too shy,” says 9-year-old Eli McKinley who has autism. His mother Kim didn’t officially find out until he was 3-years-old. > > Kim McKinley said, “I think I was in denial, I thought ‘these people are seeing things I don’t see’ but by the time he was three there were so many differences that deep down I knew.” > > Kim says as Eli got older, school became difficult for him. > > …They’re all things that have changed. Eli’s behavior has improved since transferring from his public school …to Easter Seals Autism Therapeutic School in Rockford. > > Jacque Ruch from Easter Seals Autism Therapeutic School said, “Children with autism often have very good levels of skills but they have splinter skills pieces that are missing and so we work on filling in the blanks.” > > The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 80 percent. That’s why Easter Seals works with kids to develop skills at a young age. > > Ruch said, “We look at the whole child, what is their outcome, where are they going to live as an adult what kind of education, work skills life skills, all of those things we address even when we get children at 5.” > > Teachers address those issues in small classes with a maximum of six students with a goal of reintegrating kids back into their home schools. > > Easter Seals is free for parents. School Districts pay for the tuition. The center serves 26 different school districts and serves kids from three… Here is a link to photos of the main annual fundraiser for the school, the ‘Easter Seals Walk With Me Rockford’, from about 15 months ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152866886542497.1073741851.300912937496&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152866886542497.1073741851.300912937496&type=3) (source: [A Look at Teaching Children with Autism at Easter Seals Autism Therapeutic School](http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/A_Look_at_Teaching_Children_with_Autism_at_Easter_Seals_Autism_Therapeutic_School__149296495.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/546 "2016-02-24T02:41:41Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. Burr Ridge, Illinois-based _By Your Side Autism Therapy Services_ serves the needs of individuals with Autism by providing a multidisciplinary team of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and board certified behavior analysts in a variety and/or combination of settings: center, home, and schools. _By Your Side Autism Therapy Services_ has been an exhibitor at the annual ‘Chicago Autism Walk’ hosted by the nonprofit organisation, _Autism Speaks;_ _By Your Side_ had a booth providing information about its services to the Autism community and fun sensory activities for kids… > [@](#): > > …Less than three years ago, By Your Side opened a unique autism language center that offers therapy in an home environment. > > Two months ago, they opened a second center and they expect it to grow rapidly with amazing outcomes. > > The new By Your Side center is located in Schaumburg. > > “We started with Burr Ridge and Ridge really grew by leaps and bounds and we were getting a lot of demands from some of the suburbs from up here in this area,” said executive director Julie Martin. > > "We were fortunate to be able to open the second one. > > “We specialize in children with autism, but we do work with kids with other disabilities. We have majority speech therapists on staff and behavior therapists on staff. We’re able to meet other needs, and one of the things we always tell people we are an autism-specific center.” > > This center focuses on social functions. > > “We want you to learn how you’re going to do things in your house, which is why we made all this look like rooms in your house,” Martin said. “We want you to learn to sit around the kitchen table, to sit around the TV and family room, play the Wii and play with your siblings.” > > Ron and Eunice McConville’s son, Chip, is 7 years old. He is autistic. > > “He was diagnosed when he was 18 months old,” Eunice McConville said. “We just knew because he wasn’t talking or really connecting with people.” > > He started at the Burr Ridge location when it opened and has made great progress. > > “He was not verbal and he was very frustrated,” Eunice said. “He pushed people quite a bit because he couldn’t use words, and now he actually does not.” > > “He’s able to express himself in such a way that he doesn’t get as frustrated and he’s much happier because he can do that,” Ron McConville said. > > Christine Sipe’s son, Matthew, is 9 years old. He is also autistic. Matthew participates in a social group at the center. > > “He has problems with social cues and expressive language and coming here, he has a way to rehearse it,” Sipe said. “You know if he’s doing something wrong, you know the therapist stops him right there and says this is how you should approach this.” > > …“We definitely see ourselves growing,” Martin said. “We always need a center to kind of settle its roots and as we do that, we want to continue to grow and we will like to continue in the Chicago area.”… Here is a link to a _By Your Side_ video showing creative ways that bubbles can be used in Autism Therapy: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4hBVd0jJ0s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4hBVd0jJ0s) (sources: [Agency expands to serve people with autism | abc7.com](http://abc7.com/archive/8637389/); [s4story - Meet the BY YOUR SIDE Team at the 2015 Chicago Autism Walk - 10225643](http://s4story.com/story/10225643)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/547 "2016-02-25T03:38:42Z")
The subject of the recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Have Dreams_ (Helping Autistic Voices Emerge) is a Park Ridge, Illinois-based non-profit whose mission is to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders learn, function independently and socialise so that they may realise their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities. Many families refer to _Have Dreams_ as a ‘haven of hope’ because its extracurricular programs help their child gain important life skills… > [@](#): > > …children on the autism spectrum are now being identified at a much younger age, sometimes as early as 16 months. > > In response to this need, Have Dreams offers the Wee Dream Program. The goal of the program is to foster social and school readiness skills as well as support communication. > > The Wee Dream Program is a center based program for the youngest children with autism. This early intervention program helps children 16 months of age through five years to develop skills of attending, waiting, turn- > taking and other important skills to build readiness for their entry to school. Each child is engaged in individualized social learning situations and activities. These learning centers include table games, art, music, circle activities and 1:1 instruction. > > Sarah Liddell’s son Franklin started attending Wee Dream when he was only four. “Franklin truly LOVES Have Dreams. Even though he is verbally limited, he fully expresses himself through his actions…and gets extremely giddy, excited, ecstatic every time we even mention Have Dreams! He always eagerly walks then runs into the building every Monday afternoon. He absolutely loves his peers and teachers. ..the sky is the limit with Have Dreams!” > > Wee Dream programs also provide opportunities for parents who are dealing with a new diagnosis to meet with professionals to discuss questions or concerns about their child during their child’s class time. > > Research has borne out that early intervention programming can help ameliorate the affects of autism. > > A six-month, group-based early intervention program with a special emphasis on social development can improve some of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children as young as two, according to a study… > > “One of the earliest core symptoms of autism is a lack of social imitation [and] toddlers with autism who received this supplemental intervention improved in their ability to imitate others,” Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of the advocacy group Autism Speaks and a research professor… says in an email. “Even this brief intervention resulted in improvements in at least one aspect of social behavior, namely imitation. This is encouraging because it suggests that relatively small changes due to early preschool programs could be of some benefit to young children with autism.” > > With almost 75% of our Wee Dream participants needing some scholarship assistance, Have Dreams relies on community support from our Night of Dreams Gala and grants from the George L. Shields Foundation, Park Ridge Community Fund and the Woman’s Club of Evanston. Our thanks to these organizations and the many individual donors who ensure that early intervention is an option for every child in our community. Here is a link to photos of the _Have Dreams_ team at the ‘Chicago Marathon’ from over five years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.159215617433866.30223.158957734126321&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.159215617433866.30223.158957734126321&type=3) (source: [http://havedreams.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summer-2014.pdf](http://havedreams.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Summer-2014.pdf)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/548 "2016-02-26T05:30:08Z")
The post from a couple of days ago mentioned the annual ‘Chicago Autism Walk’ hosted by the nonprofit organisation, _Autism Speaks_. Sarah and Shane Hamilton were Chicago Walk Co-Chairs for 2013 and 2014… > [@](#): > > A South Elgin couple is hoping to bring autism awareness to the [region] as co-chairs of the 10th anniversary Chicago walk for Autism Speaks, a nationwide research and advocacy organization. > > Walk Now for Autism Speaks has never been chaired by [local] residents and has always held the majority of its pre-walk events closer to Chicago. Sarah Hamilton and her husband Shane want to change that. > > Hamilton said her son Cole, 6, has developmental delays consistent with the autism spectrum – he was diagnosed four years ago, after which the family connected with Autism Speaks. > > “When you first hear that your child is autistic, it’s like any other thing – you don’t know what to do,” Hamilton said. “You don’t know what to do with that information and where you’re supposed to go and where to get help.” > > Once the South Elgin family connected with Autism Speaks, they got a First 100 Days kit to help in the months after the diagnosis and tapped into a network of other parents going through similar issues. > > After four years of recruiting a couple dozen friends and family members to participate in the Chicago walk for Autism Speaks, the Hamiltons have stepped up to the plate to lead the organizing. > > Two kick off parties are planned for the [region] – two more than have been held in this area in past years. > > “We really hope to bring more awareness to the …area and understanding of families and people affected by autism,” Hamilton said. > > …The Chicago walk aims to raise about $1 million for research and advocacy work throughout the year. > > The three-mile walk will be held May 18 …Teams can register for free at any time and volunteers are encouraged to get involved in coming months. The kickoff events will start in March… Here is a link to photos from the 2014 ‘Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks’: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152408828356998.1073741868.100685171997&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152408828356998.1073741868.100685171997&type=3) (source: [http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121105/news/711059664/](http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121105/news/711059664/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/549 "2016-02-27T03:43:11Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Little City_ is a Palatine, Illinois-based non-profit that provides services to individuals with Autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Serving students from the age of 3 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well with severe and profound needs on the Autism Spectrum, _Little City_’s ChildBridge Center for Education provides an adaptive sensory-sensitive facility designed to reduce anxiety… > [@](#): > > [A student with Autism] jumped up and down as he approached the colorful new playground on the campus of Little City Foundation in Palatine. > > Without hesitating, he ran up its steps, tried out the slides, and climbed up its miniature rock climbing wall. > > Although he is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum, [he] cried out in delight each time he tried out a new piece. > > One of his therapists, Brandie Geary, watched him play and breathed a sigh of relief. > > “Finally, he has a place to climb where it’s appropriate,” Geary said. “This is just what he needs.” > > The 2,500-square foot playground is designed to meet the diverse therapeutic needs of children with autism, with its different sensory zones and soothing environment all wrapped up into one. > > It took months of planning, and only moved forward after receiving grants from Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods, and KaBoom!, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe play spaces. > > …Vincent Foglioli, 8, approached it somewhat tentatively, but once he tried climbing the steps up to the lower slide and mastering it, he went down, over and over. > > Others gravitated toward the swings, while nearly all of them tried out both slides incorporated into the system… Here is a link to photos from a _Little City_ ChildBridge Center for Education art therapy class from a few years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150841821698242.521273.62958748241&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150841821698242.521273.62958748241&type=3) (source: [Autistic-friendly playground at Little City – Daily Herald](http://prev.dailyherald.com/story/?id=412791)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/550 "2016-02-28T01:52:20Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. The _Northern Illinois Center for Autism_ (_NICA_) is a Lake in the Hills, Illinois-based non-profit that provides recreation, resources, services, support and education to families who live with and /or care for a loved one on the Autism Spectrum. _NICA_ serves hundreds of residents where it is located in McHenry County, and the nonprofit also serves families in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin including: Kane, Lake, Dupage, Winnebago, and Cook counties… > [@](#): > > Annette Gallagher sits on the steps of the Northern Illinois Center for Autism, waiting for a friend to come unlock its front doors Tuesday, and looks at photos of two of her sons as infants. > The photos show the young boys, Samuel and Mason, looking toward the camera with smiles and no hint of the changes that soon would take over. > Gallagher shares the story of discovering that her sons were autistic with precise detail, mimicking hand movements, glazed eye contact, and unresponsive gestures that signaled the disorder. > > …Gallagher puts forth her efforts as president of the Northern Illinois Center for Autism to ensure that families have the resources to live their lives as normally as possible, Gallagher said. > “What we are trying to do is help our families get back to living the life they were supposed to live if their children did not have autism,” Gallagher said. “Get them back out into the world doing what they were supposed to be doing: being social, going out to eat, going to movies, working a job, getting married and having families. > “[It’s] what we all dream of for our typical children…” she said. “We want that for our kids too, and they’re capable if they get the support that they need.” > This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Northern Illinois Center for Autism moving into its center in Lake in the Hills. The center today serves more than 1,250 people and is run entirely by volunteers, Gallagher said. > Since its inauguration, the center has updated its sensory room, which provides the stimuli to prepare some with autism for higher levels of thinking, as well as its fitness room, offices and tutoring room, said Annette Stoner, vice president of the organization. > The Northern Illinois Center for Autism handles people with different levels of autism and is able to reach those who might have been passed up by other systems, Gallagher said. > “Here we’ve got the low functioning because of their severity that will never make it to independence,” Gallagher said. “And we’ve got the high functioning that should be making it to independence but often don’t because they don’t get the help that they need. > “That’s a whole lot of people not making it to an independent level in life, and the economy is going to crumble if we have to support them all,” she said. “And it’s just wrong.” > The center accommodates people of all ages with autism and provides services to help them… The Northern Illinois Center for Autism also teaches family members to provide the proper support to keep the learning going after they leave the center, Gallagher said. > > …“[Renting out the banquet hall] is our only source of revenue to help us pay for the center,” Stoner said. “Anything extra that we can collect from our fundraisers also helps provide outside activities … and helps keep the fees reasonable for the families.” > To continue meeting its members’ needs, the Northern Illinois Center for Autism started applying for grants to hire in-house therapists, to be open full time, and to expand programs. > “I’m often amazed by how long we’ve been there, how many people we’ve served and how many people still don’t know we’re there,” Stoner said. “We do need to provide more outreach to allow other families to come in. With more people, we’ll then need to provide more services and availability.” > This Sunday, the Northern Illinois Center for Autism will host “Rock 4 Autism,” which will include live music, face painting and auctions, among other activities. The event starts at noon… Admission is $15; children 12 years old or younger get in for free. > For 7-year-old Nathan Larsen, whose expressive smile is noticed long before the stumble in his walk caused by autism, the event is another chance to hang out with friends that he has made in the center. > For his mother, Gia Larsen, secretary of the Northern Illinois Center for Autism, it’s the opportunity to keep supporting families like her own. > “We survive based on the help of others,” Larsen said. “We offer programs that no one else in the area offers. … It’s important to keep those types of opportunities open for the community because they wouldn’t have them otherwise.” Here is a link to a video on the ‘Rock 4 Autism’ benefit from four years ago for _NICA_ at Cubby Bear North, in Lincolnshire, Illinois: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VVLM1upS1Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VVLM1upS1Q) (source: [Autism center in LITH strong 5 years in | Northwest Herald](http://www.nwherald.com/2012/04/25/autism-center-in-lith-strong-5-years-in/a6dw11z/?page=1)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/551 "2016-02-29T02:56:21Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Easter Seals DFVR_ is a Villa Park, Illinois-based non-profit that is a leading provider of services for children with disabilities and delays. The non-profit, has opened an Autism Diagnostic Clinic that focuses primarily on very young children… > [@](#): > > “Being able to identify children within early intervention who have specific impairments or medical conditions helps to get them into appropriate therapies as early in their life as possible, which both improves the children’s long-term outcomes as well as decreasing the stress of the family,” said Dr. Smith. > > When Alexis Hersh welcomed twin boys in 2012, she soon realised her boys had developmental delays that led them to Early Intervention. > > As the boys did not have a formal diagnosis, their EI Coordinator began to look for a diagnostic clinic. > > “We were afraid we would have to travel far, which is hard for us to do, and heard that there are long waiting lists for these clinics,“ said Alexis. > > When the Coordinator found the new Medical Diagnostic Clinic at Easter Seals [DFVR], the family was thrilled. It was close to their home in Glen Ellyn and they were able to come in for an appointment quickly. > > This new Clinic, formed from an exciting partnership with the university of Chicago and launched in early March, provides long-awaited answers to families whose children have medical complications and delays but do not have a diagnosis. > > Developmental-behavioral paediatrician, Dr. Peter Smith, teams with a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, developmental therapist and parent liaison from Easter Seals [DFVR] to provide a multi-disciplinary evaluation. > > “Working as an interdisciplinary team both improves our “product” the sum is greater than the simple addition of the parts and allows us to learn from each other’s unique skill set,” said Smith. > > Alexis first brought two-year-old James into the Clinic who was diagnosed with Autism. > > She was nervous to bring in James as he has difficulty with new people. > > Her nervousness soon dissolved. > > “Everyone was so nice and made us comfortable. I really liked how positive they were too. I think James understood their caring vibes and we really like Dr. Smith,” said Alexis… Here is a link to photos from an _Easter Seals DFVR_ event at _Legoland Discovery Center Chicago_ from a couple of years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.787723294571434.1073741850.146660875344349&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.787723294571434.1073741850.146660875344349&type=3) (source: [http://www.eastersealsdfvr.org/file/ESBegin2015Final\_lowres.pdf](http://www.eastersealsdfvr.org/file/ESBegin2015Final_lowres.pdf)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/552 "2016-03-01T02:26:26Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Alexander Leigh Center for Autism_ is a Crystal Lake, Illinois-based nonprofit, full day, year-round therapeutic day school approved by the _Illinois State Board of Education_ for children from the ages of 3. The _Center_’s mission is to provide an environment where children on the Autism Spectrum can develop their potential academically, emotionally, socially, communicatively, and physically… > [@](#): > > …Kelly Weaver… received the news that her two-year-old daughter, Gillian, was severely autistic. Frightened and unsure of what the diagnosis meant, Weaver started researching… > > …“I always tell people to trust their parent gut,” Weaver says. “Never give up, and do whatever it takes to provide the way for your child.” > > …Weaver teamed up with another mom, Dorie Hoevel, who was homeschooling her own autistic son, Zachary. Together, they decided to create a school to help other parents in the area who were struggling with how to educate their autistic children. “By offering a school, other parents wouldn’t have to hire, fire and train [in-home educators],” Weaver says. “That would all be done for them.” > > …After securing funding, forming a nonprofit, developing a board and getting Illinois State Board of Education approval, the school was ready to open in 2007. They added three more children the next year, and today there are 27 children …attending [Alexander Leigh Center for Autism] (which was named after Gillian “Leigh” and Zachary “Alexander”)… > > …Some parents travel over an hour each way every day so that their children can attend this school, where the staff of five teachers and dozens of coaches, therapists, and other experts intimately understands the special academic, social and developmental issues children with autism face in an educational environment. > > …the demand for specialized education is high. The non-public [Alexander Leigh Center for Autism] works in partnership with districts to provide appropriate educational programming for students with autism in a highly, intensive therapeutic setting. As [the Center] focuses on children with autism, their programs are designed to fit the individual needs of each child. “[My son] Luke was in the early intervention program at the local public school,” says Tom Bardwil, father of an 8-year-old who has been attending [the Center] for two years. “The school district is well respected and staffed, but Luke was in need of individualized attention. Alexander Leigh was one of three schools that we were able to visit for outplacement. Through one-on-one attention combined with a variety of therapies throughout the school day, Luke has shown progress in life skills, pre-academic skills (he still has a long way to go), and overall improved social behaviors.”… Here is a link to photos from the _Alexander Leigh Center for Autism_: [Photo Gallery](http://www.alcacenter.com/inside-alca) (source: [After Her Daughter’s Autism Diagnosis, Impassioned Mom Creates a Special Needs School - Yahoo News](http://news.yahoo.com/her-daughters-autism-diagnosis-impassioned-mom-creates-special-200500582.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/553 "2016-03-02T03:16:12Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. Eight years ago, Kerri Elliott and Jillian Swinford, educators who worked together at the time with youth in Chicago, travelled to the Moshi area of Tanzania on a volunteer mission. There they met Grace Lyimo, a former health professional who had struggled for years trying to get some help for her autistic son. The three created the nonprofit _Autism Connects Tanzania_ and began to educate teachers, social workers and caretakers about Autism and other often co-occurring conditions… > [@](#): > > On August 10th, our outreach program, Autism Connects Tanzania, touched a population that is virtually ignored in this region. Parents, teachers and professionals from Arusha, Rau, Majengo, Mabogini, Korogoni, Kibosho, Siha and Bomag’ombe joined together for the first Autism Informational Workshop hosted at the Kilimahewa school. > > The EdPowerment team of (Mama) Grace Lyimo, Kerri Elliott and Jillian Swinford, its local supporters, and the Kilimahewa staff worked tirelessly to get the word out about this first meeting for those impacted by autism. A tent, projector, flip chart, white board and other portable facilities were assembled behind our little school. Transportation costs and lunch, as well as notebooks, pens, autism informational handouts in Swahili and flip cards for picture communication were distributed to attendees. > > The result – another milestone for the community! Nearly 70 parents and professionals were able to share their experiences, learn more about the condition and begin to build strategies for working with autism. All participants took away valuable information from the instruction led by Kerri, a special education teacher. For example, the few special needs classes that do exist in Tanzania today simply bundle all students in one classroom. The workshop introduced the concept of “differentiation” (a fundamental practice in the U.S.) to attending teachers, who can now consider some specific strategies to use among students with varied disabilities in their classes. > > Moshi’s pioneering therapist in this area also shared her insights while waves of assent rippled through the audience as individuals described behaviors that mark their autistic loved ones. > > In these communities, autism generally is not even identified. Therefore, autistic individuals can be misinterpreted as drug addicts, drunkards or other social pariahs. Today’s meeting was literally the first opportunity for many of these people to experience some kind of public acknowledgement of their daily struggle – to know that they are not in this alone. > > Suggestions were many for future workshops, community support groups and educational seminars. Today was the first small step. Here is a link to photos of an _Autism Connects Tanzania_ teacher training with Kerri Elliott and Jillian Swinford from a couple of years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151652006668114.1073741831.363364953113&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151652006668114.1073741831.363364953113&type=3) (source: [EdPowerment-Our story, their stories: Shedding light on autism](http://edpowermenttz.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/shedding-light-on-autism.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/554 "2016-03-03T04:28:14Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _L.E.E.P. (Lorell’s Early Education Programs) Beyond_ is is a Chicago, Illinois-based nonprofit designed to fill a critical need: a sensory-safe, educational and recreational environment for children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. It was created a few years ago with the assistance of developmental therapist, Lorell Marin, and a teacher at the _Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum_… > [@](#): > > A number of Chicago’s cultural institutions offer a day designed for children with special needs. One of them is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. > It’s called “Breakfast with the Butterflies,”… It’s an amazing experience for children and their families. > > Breakfast with the Butterflies started last spring. It is held the 3rd Sunday of every Month from 8 to 10 a.m. > > “They’re not here when it’s very, very busy,” said Rafael Rosa, vice president of education at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. “The last two years we’ve been working with a school that works with students on the autism spectrum. We started bringing those students to the museum and really saw them engage with nature, so we then started opening it up to parents with children across that spectrum.” > > In addition to crowd control, “We also reduce the noise levels in the museum and the light levels for those students who have issues with sensory,” said Rosa. > > Jennifer Okonma and her son Jude, who is three-and-a-half years old, love it here. Jude is autistic. > > “He has trouble with eye contact, with other people, if they get too close he gets very nervous. He has a lot of defensiveness around being touched. He is very sensitive to light and to unexpected sounds,” said Okonma. “We came last spring in May for the first time to the Breakfast with the Butterflies. It was so quiet. There were only about three other families there, which is actually what we needed. We needed it to have low noise and not a lot of people.” > > “It’s not a free program because we are opening early, but if they want to stay longer than two hours they’re welcome to after the museum opens as well and we also provide a breakfast for the students as well for children coming 'cause we know its early,” said Rosa. > > “It’s just a total sensory wonderland in here. There’s birds, there’s turtles, there’s fish and all of the butterflies of course,” said Okonma. > > The next Breakfast with the Butterflies is next Sunday. Here is a link to photos of a _L.E.E.P. (Lorell’s Early Education Programs) Forward_ field trip to the _Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum_ from a few years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150900585129934.423050.106946284933&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150900585129934.423050.106946284933&type=3) (sources: [L.E.E.P. Beyond offers classes for kids on the autism spectrum](http://www.timeout.com/chicago/kids/activities/l-e-e-p-beyond-offers-classes-for-kids-on-the-autism-spectrum); [Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum offers ‘Breakfast with the Butterflies’ for children with special needs | abc7chicago.com](http://abc7chicago.com/archive/9390432/); ‘Breakfast with the Butterflies’ serves up a buffet of children’s activities ([http://newsarchive.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news-219027-print.html](http://newsarchive.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news-219027-print.html))) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 7:28am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/555 "2016-03-04T07:28:03Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. _Soaring Eagle Academy_ is a Lombard, Illinois-based nonprofit that offers a new look at children with Autism and related disorders as individuals with great potential for interacting, communicating and thinking. It is the only school to integrate Developmental Language Models and DIR/Floortime approach principles and is dedicated to providing its students, including early childhood aged 3 to 5, with a nurturing social and academic environment which respects their individual differences… > [@](#): > > A new school for children with autism opened last fall offering a an educational-teaching method that is the first of its kind in the Midwest. > > The Developmental Individual Difference Relationship-based model, or DIR, is the focus at Soaring Eagle Academy. It promotes social, emotional and intellectual abilities of children with autism. > > Located in Burr Ridge, Soaring Eagle Academy only has 10 students. > > “Our students have autism spectrum disorder and other related disorders and can be anywhere from moderate to profoundly impaired,” said Deanna Tyrpak, one of the school’s founders. > > “The heart of the DIR model is what’s called floor-time and while many look at it as just simple play, it’s more than that,” said Tyrpak. > > “It’s amazing process to watch as a parent or a teacher truly engages as a child and gets at their level and meets them where they are, following their lead and their interest while also challenging them and their emotional, their social and their intellectual capacities,” said Tyrpak. > > “We have a multi-disciplinary team. It’s a comprehensive intensive approach. So, there’s a special education teacher in the classroom. Every child has a one-on-one assistant that is their floor-time player that engages them in interaction all through the day. Then, we have a host of speech therapists, occupational therapists, music therapists, art therapists, recreational therapists and consultants that support the team,” said Tyrpak. > > Jennifer Horvath’s 7-year-old daughter, Rachel, is a student at Soaring Eagle Academy. The mother says within the few months, she see significant changes. > > “Everything, I think most of all I guess, that she can she has a connection with everybody in her life now, and they have a connection with her,” said Horvath. “I mean, her brothers now, she plays with them all the time. But she never did before. No, she didn’t know how.” > > Amanda Shadduck’s son, Adam, is 5 years old. > > “I had a friend of mine who said you should try floor-time because the two components of Adam’s challenges are sensory processing and communications. So, Adam has a lot of issues with sensory things around him. He doesn’t have a filter like we can filter out things, where Adam can’t really do that. Things just sort of bombard him and he kind of doesn’t know how to handle his own body,” Shadduck said. “He’s doing really well.” > > “He is engaging more with people around him. He’s definitely talking more. He’s developing his personality like things are coming out” said Shadduck. > > …“You may find a child who is excited about lions, tigers. So, their math project is adding lions or reading books about lions. It’s all about following the child’s lead in their interest and trying to weave in Illinois learning standards in the process,” said Tyrpak. > > The cost of education for children who attend Soaring Eagle Academy is paid by their children’s local school districts… Here is a link to photos of the ‘End of Year Party’ at _Soaring Eagle Academy_ from four-and-a-half years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268052036545659.83352.154369837913880&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268052036545659.83352.154369837913880&type=3) (source: [https://blogsnap.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/new-school-for-autistic-children/](https://blogsnap.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/new-school-for-autistic-children/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/556 "2016-03-05T04:21:53Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Illinois. To the west, _The Homestead_ is an Altoona, Iowa-based nonprofit that, through its campus and community services, seeks to enrich the lives of people with Autism through work, play and community. _The Homestead_’s programs work not only to help people with Autism adapt to mainstream society, but also to help mainstream society better adapt to people with Autism… > [@](#): > > Sarah Muhs of Newton suspected very early that her son, Cameron, had autism. By the age of 18 months, he didn’t point or wave bye-bye. He was throwing tantrums and losing words and sounds he had previously known by the time he was three. “He just couldn’t do it anymore,” she says. > Her suspicions were confirmed by an evaluation and eventually she and her husband, Cody, were able to enroll Cameron, now 4, in an intensive program called the Children’s Autism Project (CAP) at The Homestead in Altoona, an organization that serves the needs of both children and adults with autism. The program is funded through a partnership with the state of Iowa to provide research-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs to young children with autism. > Today, after a month in the program, the Muhs are seeing great results. Cameron can communicate with picture cards, is learning to do puzzles and take turns with fellow classmates. “He has fewer meltdowns,” Muhs says. “The instructors here are wonderful. He loves them and loves being with them.” > > …[Cameron] is making significant strides in The Homestead’s CAP program, according to his clinic supervisor, Lisa Daniel. “We’ve seen an increase in socialization, appropriate play and responding to people in general,” [she] says. “He’s better at meeting others, taking turns and exploring the world. This is pretty big for him.” > CAP instructors work one-on-one with children ages three to eight, five days a week for two and a half hours a day. When children first come into the program, they work in a small room with their instructor and eventually, as their skills improve, they join other children in a bright room filled with games and puzzles. Parents also receive training so they can reinforce their child’s learning at home. > “Autism interferes with living,” says Evelyn Horton, youth community services director at The Homestead. “If you don’t learn things like how to stay in a chair, what to pay attention to, how to follow instructions and how to problem solve, your future is limited. That’s what we’re trying to change.” > Steve Muller, executive director of The Homestead, says results of the program’s first year have been phenomenal. “The children are showing increased communication and social skills,” he says. “This allows them to better function at school, home and in the community.” Muller notes that IQ scores have improved and some children initially diagnosed with mental retardation fall into a normal range after intensive ABA services. > An added bonus is that the early intervention can save taxpayers millions of dollars over the course of a child’s lifetime. The cost of autism is about $3.2 million per person for that time span, according to the Autism Society of America. That cost can be drastically cut when early intervention helps the child to grow into an adult who can live on his or her own and gain employment. > “Research suggests that we are creating for children an improved developmental arc – somewhere between where the child would be with no extra supports and where a typically developing child would be,” Muller says. “If we can decrease the need for expensive and life-long services by 50 percent, that savings could be millions over the child’s lifetime.” > > …Chuck Palmer, director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, states, “Services for children with autism are clearly important. Early intervention for these children and family members has been shown to be highly effective in addressing many of the symptoms of autism. We continue to learn more about this condition, and programs like The Homestead’s Children’s Autism Project have demonstrated an ability to make significant differences in these children’s lives.” > “It’s a perfect private and public partnership,” Muller says. “In the end, we’re all working together to create a better, more productive life for persons with autism.”… Here is a link to a video on the ‘Children’s Autism Project’ at _The Homestead_: [The Homestead 4 minute version](https://vimeo.com/26491283) (source: [Program Helps Children with Autism & Saves Taxpayers](http://www.thehomestead.org/program-helps-children-with-autism-and-saves-taxpayers/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/557 "2016-03-06T01:38:29Z")
The subject of yesterday’s post was _The Homestead_, an Altoona, Iowa-based nonprofit that, through its campus and community services, seeks to enrich the lives of people with Autism through work, play and community. _The Homestead_’s programs work not only to help people with Autism adapt to mainstream society, but also to help mainstream society better adapt to people with Autism. _Easter Seals Iowa_ is a Des Moines, Iowa-based nonprofit that provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. _Easter Seals Iowa_’s ‘Bob & Billie Ray Child Development Center’ provides education in an integrated setting where children with and without disabilities ages six weeks to five years old have the opportunity to learn and grow together in a fun and unique environment… > [@](#): > > Our daughter Rio was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, on the autism spectrum. > > Wanting to continue her education in the summer, we decided that the Easter Seals Iowa Bob & Billie Ray Child Development Center was the best place for her. > > Not only did it allow her to interact with her peers everyday, but her staff also worked with her on her goals from school in the course of her daily activities. > > Her Easter Seals Iowa staff went out of their way to engage Rio and make sure she did not miss out on any social interactions. > > Both summers that Rio attended the Child Development Center, we noticed marked improvements in her behavior. > > She made her first friend there and was so excited to come home and tell us about her. > > Her language blossomed and she also became adept at managing a schedule and making transitions. > > She also began to use words to explain her feelings, telling us she was sad instead of throwing a tantrum. > > Most people take for granted being able to have a conversation with their child, for us it was a gift. > > Rio loves attending the …Child Development Center, or “Camp” as she calls it since it is located at Easter Seals Iowa Camp Sunnyside. > > She tells everyone about the boating and the horses. > > Being able to send our daughter somewhere where her abilities were cherished and her disabilities were accommodated has been a blessing. Here is a link to a video on the ‘Bob & Billie Ray Child Development Center’ at _Easter Seals Iowa_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZaqowjiCQU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZaqowjiCQU) (source: [Easter Seals Iowa | A Parent’s Perspective](http://www.easterseals.com/ia/who-we-are/stories-of-hope/local-stories-of-hope/a-parents-perspective.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/558 "2016-03-07T02:59:10Z")
The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Iowa. _ChildServe_ is a Johnston, Iowa-based nonprofit that offers specialised health care services to children from birth. _ChildServe_’s ‘Autism Day Health’ is a program that services children ages two through five utilising the ‘Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research’ curriculum to focus on language, functional routines, pre-academic skills, play and social concepts… > [@](#): > > … [The program] combines all the services a child and their family may need in one place. > > They are able to provide these life changing services with the help of a grant from Variety the Children’s Charity. > > ChildServe asked parents of children with autism what they needed most to help their kids succeed. > > With that feedback, they came up with a plan that combines research based therapies, socialization and family training all in a preschool type setting. > > The goal is to help children with autism and their families live a “normal” life. > > Sarah Lancaster says she has seen a big difference in her 6 year old son Donovan since he started at ChildServe. > > “It’s been super exciting seeing all of the progress he has made over the past couple months. The amount of language that is popping through is amazing.” > > Local 5 is proud to help more children like Donovan through the Variety the Children’s Charity Telethon this Saturday and Sunday. > > The telethon is Variety’s largest fundraiser… All the money raised through Variety stays in Iowa… Here is a link to a video on _ChildServe_ with an Autism-specific story from 5:45-6:40: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-EkMjTOJTE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-EkMjTOJTE) (source: [Spotlight on a new ChildServe program to help children with](http://www.weareiowa.com/news/local-news/spotlight-on-a-new-childserve-program-to-help-children-with-autism)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/559 "2016-03-08T02:42:46Z")
The subject of the last few posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Iowa. _Special Kids Special Love_ (_SKSL_) is a Mason City, Iowa-based nonprofit support group designed to provide information and resources to families impacted by Autism and special needs. _SKSL_ also aims to provide a sensory-friendly environment and sensory-friendly events to children on the Autism Spectrum… > [@](#): > > Many of us have probably had a case or two of cabin fever this winter, but a local organization has created a new outlet for curing that cooped up feeling, designed specifically for kids with autism. > > This unique play area, complete with inflatables, toy trains and even a ball pit, is an indoor playground located at Southbridge Mall in Mason City. > > It’s called Sensory World and the whole idea is to bring kids with special needs together in a safe and social environment. > > “Reggie, my son has gross motor sensory needs and fine motor sensory needs,” says Noelle Zobeck of Rudd. > > The two have been coming to the play area since it opened a couple of weeks ago, and Zobeck tells us she’s thrilled to have an outlet like this available in the north Iowa area. > > …Not only is this a dream come true for Zobeck and Reggie, but it’s also a great milestone for program coordinator, Kathy Steenblock. > > She’s a committee member on the board of Special Kids Special Love, and says this project is something she has been wanting to tackle for a while. > > “It’s hard for autistic kids to be in social environments,” Steenblock explains. > > “It might be overwhelming or, it might be too stimulating and sometimes it’s hard because others don’t understand their condition, so they don’t feel as comfortable, but we are hoping to provide a comfortable place where they can be themselves and have fun with other kids.” > > Steenblock says that none of this would have been possible without help from the community. > > Southbridge Mall officials donated the space to the group so they could build the play area, and one hundred percent of the toys, inflatables, markers and trinkets were donated to the cause as well… Here is a link to photos of _SKSL_’s first annual Autism awareness walk in downtown Mason City, Iowa at Southbridge Mall from almost a year ago: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.463106447174664.1073741831.117980498353929&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.463106447174664.1073741831.117980498353929&type=3) (source: [New ‘Sensory World’ provides active outlet for autistic kids | KIMT 3](http://kimt.com/2015/01/10/new-sensory-world-provides-active-outlet-for-autistic-kids/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/560 "2016-03-09T04:29:54Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Iowa. _Opportunity Village_ is a Clear Lake, Iowa-based non-profit that supports individuals with disabilities to achieve success at home, at work, and in their communities. _Opportunity Village Children’s Autism Center_ (_OVCAC_) offers hope for families raising children on the Autism Spectrum… > [@](#): > > When autism advocates gather on April 2 for the 3rd annual J. Brooks Walk-A-Block fundraiser benefiting Opportunity Village Children’s Autism Center, they will meet one special little girl supported by the organization who has touched the lives of many. > > Kori will lead the event as the first Autism Ambassador and the face of J. Brooks Walk-A-Block. Kori was selected after her parents submitted an essay on why they felt she would be a good ambassador and how the Opportunity Village Children’s Autism Center has made a difference in her life. > > Kori’s parents write: > “Since Kori started to smile as a little baby, people used to say that she has the most beautiful smile they’ve ever seen. At school, her teachers, peers, and other school staff say the same thing. … Kori is a sweet, loving little girl! > > As her parents, we believe love is the most powerful remedy for her autism. Proof of that is how, every single day, Kori loves to give us hugs and kisses. Now that we have a new baby, Kori doesn’t feel frustrated or mad. She kisses her baby sister whenever she wants and it’s such a touching moment for us. > > Kori’s behavior has improved thanks to the Children’s Autism Center staff. It’s a blessing in our life to have people like Christina (Maulsby), Tess (Whitehurst), and Tiffany (Riley). Thanks to them, our daughter is better. We know we have a long way to go – we know it can be hard and difficult for Kori sometimes, but we know that LOVE, patience, and all the people who help Kori are the keys for our little one to overcome autism.” > > Join Kori, her family, and other autism advocates at the 3rd annual J. Brooks Walk-A-Block on April 2 from 9-11 a.m. The event will be held at Clear Lake City Park… Here is a link to photos of last year’s 2nd annual ‘J. Brooks Walk-A-Block’, where several hundred people walked around Mason City, Iowa’s Central Park for Autism acceptance: [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1136018086464662.1073741844.660042607395548&type=3](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1136018086464662.1073741844.660042607395548&type=3) (source: [Opportunity Village : News & Events : Stories & News : More News](http://oppvill.org/news_events/stories-news/more_news.html/article/2016/03/04/meet-kori-our-j-brooks-walk-a-block-ambassador)) [Previous page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=27) [Next page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=29)