Autism Mclean

AUTISM MCLEAN HAS APPROXIMATELY 240 MEMBERS, WE SERVE ALL OF MCLEAN COUNTY WITH OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LIMITED TO A 60-MILE RADIUS OF TOWANDA, ILLINOIS. IN 2023 WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE STIPENDS, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS, AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND SCHOOLS. WE DISTRIBUTED 12 IPADS FOR CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION NEEDS, 1 EDUCATIONAL GRANT TO A SCHOOL TO HELP DEVELOP A SENSORY ROOM, 1 EDUCATIONAL GRANT TO ISU ATHLETICS TO DEVELOP A SENSORY SPACE, AND SEVERAL RECREATIONAL GRANTS TO FAMILIES, AND 4 POST-SECONDARY AWARDS.WE DEVELOP AND HELP DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE WITH AUTISM. WE HAVE AN EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST OF APPROXIMATELY 450 PEOPLE. MANY TIMES, ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES WILL CONTACT US TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS IN STUDIES. WE WILL DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION AND MATERIALS FOR EVENTS FOR SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.WE RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 250 REQUESTS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND HAVE 1,900 FOLLOWERS ON OUR AUTISM MCLEAN FACEBOOK AND 995 ON AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES FACEBOOK. OUR FACEBOOK PAGES PROVIDE A MEANS TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, ALONG WITH CONNECTING FAMILIES TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER.RESOURCE BOOK - OUR "LITTLE BOOK OF AUTISM RESOURCES" IS PRODUCED BOTH ELECTRONICALLY AND IN PAPER FORM. WE HAVE PRINTED AN ADDITIONAL 500 COPIES AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 450 OF THOSE THROUGH CONFERENCES, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND PHYSICIANS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY TO UPDATE THE BOOK.AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITY (AFC) - WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES TO BE THE GO TO FOR AUTISM RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH OUR AUTISM FRIENDLY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE, WE PARTNER WITH LIFELONG ACCESS, HEAL FOUNDATION, PHYSICIANS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE AWARENESS AND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. WE ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH THE MCLEAN COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM TO HOST A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. THE EVENT INCLUDED SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS EVENT HELPED US REACH THE LARGER COMMUNITY, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND RESOURCES IN AN OPEN AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.SENSORY BAGS - WE CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE SENSORY BAGS THE SENSORY BAGS HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH SENSORY ISSUES TO ATTEND ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY THESE ARE PROVIDED TO AND KEPT AT A NUMBER OF LOCAL BUSINESS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. IN 2023 WE PLACED APPROXIMATELY 160 BAGS INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM TO COORDINATE SENSORY FRIENDLY DAYS SO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM CAN ENJOY THE MUSEUM IN A CALMER MORE CONTROLLED MANOR.CONFERENCE - APRIL - WE CO-HOSTED AN AUTISM CONFERENCE WITH AUTISM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING & UNIVERSAL SUPPORTS AT ISU. THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND LIVE STREAMED. WE INVITED SEVERAL LOCAL COMMUNITY PROVIDERS TO JOIN US BY HOSTING INFORMATION TABLES. WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 75 ATTENDEES.AWARENESS - BIRDHOUSE PROJECT WE HUNG NEARLY 200 BIRDHOUSE ON OUR CONSTITUTION WALKING TRAIL TO BRING AWARENESS TO AUTISM WITH THE HOUSES REPRESENTING THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH AUTISM IS DIFFERENT, MUCH LIKE THE BIRDHOUSES AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DECORATED. WE HOSTED 3 DIFFERENT PAINT DAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ILLINOIS ART STATION.FAMILY ACTIVITIES - THIS PAST YEAR WE ORGANIZED SEVERAL FAMILY FOCUSED COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. THE EVENTS INCLUDED; A NIGHT AT THE ZOO, MINI GOLF, SWIM NIGHTS, SENSORY FRIENDLY MOVIES, GRADY'S FAMILY FUN CENTER, A BOWLING LEAGUE, AND A HOLIDAY PARTY. THESE EVENTS ARE ALL PRIVATE, ALLOWING FAMILIES TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO BRING THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE AUTISM. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE MORE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH AUTISM CAN EXPERIENCE CONTROLLED ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL THE FAMILY IS WHEN THEY ATTEMPT THEM ALONE. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH EASTVIEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR "A NIGHT TO SHINE; SPECIAL NEEDS PROM".SOCIAL GROUPS - A SOCIAL GROUP FOR TEENS AND ADULTS, MEET MONTHLY TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS. THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES USUALLY INCLUDE GOING TO DINNER AT ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS. PARENTS TAG ALONG, BUT SIT SEPARATELY FROM THE YOUNG ADULTS, HELPING THEM TO BUILD NEEDED COMMUNITY SKILLS.WE ALSO HOST A MONTHLY ZOOM BINGO - WITH APPROXIMATE 15 TEENS/ADULTS JOINING EACH TIME.PARENT ADVOCACY - ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL. OUR ADVOCATE CONSULTED WITH APPROXIMATELY 25 FAMILIES TO HELP DEVELOP PLANS THAT WOULD WORK FOR THEIR CHILD/STUDENT WITH IEP OR 504 PLANS.