Autism Links

Making Peace with Autism. One of the best books from a parent about their child with Autism.

Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew

Freelance writer and consultant Ellen Notbohm is a columnist for Autism/Asperger's Digest. The article (linked above) is based on her book, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew.

Autism

Here are some latest news, links, and more about Autism.

New Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research

The new one-of-a-kind 86,000 square foot Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research will incorporate a special therapeutic school, ESMC administrative offices and independent living facilities.  The new center will allow Easter Seals to expand its landmark autism program and custom design a facility to meet the needs of students with autism, emotional behavior disorders and severe learning disabilities.  Interior plans and features from special acoustic finishes and lighting fixtures to therapy and gross motor skills rooms will help reduce distractions and promote more effective learning.

This unique facility will be the only one of its kind to combine on a single campus educational, research, training, early intervention, school to work transition and independent living capabilities.  Nowhere else in the country will this “continuum” of services for children with autism be so well integrated at a single campus facility.

The importance of this project is evident in that the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, the Illinois Medical District (IMD), the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Rush University Medical Center communities will all be involved with this Easter Seals project.

Speaker of the House Michael Madigan has secured a $4 million state grant to initiate construction which will begin this fall.  Mayor Daley is in total support of the project.  With the cooperation and support of the IMD Board of Commissioners and Executive Director Samuel Pruett, Easter Seals plans to build the 86,000 square foot facility on land located at the corner of Damen and 13th Street (IMD Block 208).

The location of the new school in the Illinois Medical District will facilitate a natural synergy with the leading researchers in the field.  Working in concert with the researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Rush University Medical Center will lead to the development of breakthrough interventions and strategies for working with individuals with autism.  Dr. Stephen Porges, Director of the Brain-Body Center, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and other researchers will be working on the causes and treatment of autism and will be able to unobtrusively observe students at the school in order to assess problems and solutions.  Research work conducted at the school will be available to other research sites around the entire world via the internet.

It is the ultimate hope of Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago to one day discover the causes of autism working in partnership with the medical and scientific experts at the Illinois Medical District and around the country.

Easter Seals is a premiere agency that currently has two schools in Chicago and Tinley Park that provide educational and therapeutic services to over 150 children with autism.  School districts from all around the Chicago area and suburbs contract with Easter Seals to assist them with educational programs for children with autism that need an alternative school placement.  The services and programs provided in the Easter Seals schools include education, speech, language and communications therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavior therapy, social work, health related services, transitional services from school to work and Special Olympics.

Story and more information available at: Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago