Autism Mclean

PROVIDED STIPENDS, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS, AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND SCHOOLS. WE DISTRIBUTED MONIES FOR IPADS, EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. DUE TO COVID REQUESTS FOR SUCH SUPPORTS WERE GREATLY INCREASED. WE RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 200 REQUESTS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND HAVE 1,748 FOLLOWERS ON OUR AUTISM MCLEAN FACEBOOK AND 921 ON AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES. WE DEVELOPED A RESOURCE BOOK FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY. IT IS PRODUCED BOTH ELECTRONICALLY AND IN PAPER FORM (OF WHICH WE GOT 500 COPIES). WE POSTED IT TO OUR WEBSITE AND DISTRIBUTED 50 BOOKS THROUGH ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES, REQUESTS OR TARGETED DISTRIBUTION BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LINK TO OUR WEBSITE FOR THE RESOURCE BOOK AND SHARE WITH THEIR CLIENTS. THROUGH THIS WE HAVE REACHED AT LEAST 60% OF OUR 200 MEMBERS ABOUT 350 FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR EMAIL LIST. OUR OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS HAVE INCLUDED DISTRIBUTION OF AN ADDITIONAL 12- 15 "SENSORY BAGS" TO FIREFIGHTERS, CHURCHES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WITHIN MCLEAN COUNTY. AS WELL, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A LOCAL 45-MEMBER INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ELECTRONICALLY. THE GROUP IS ANALYZING HOW TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MEET THE NEEDS OF DD INDIVIDUALS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE APPROXIMATELY 2,500 INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. FINALLY, WE SERVED ON A WOMAN TO WOMAN PANEL ADDRESSING INCLUSION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM THAT HAD LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE FOR MID-CENTRAL ILLINOIS INCLUDING AN AIRED INTERVIEW SPECIFIC TO AUTISM MCLEAN.