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Autism

Resources

Blog
  • 06/16/2025

How HB Threads and the Chicago White Sox Are Making a Difference

At HB Threads, we've always believed in the power of meaningful work and the importance of community. That's why we're incredibly proud of our partnership with the Chicago White Sox.

Blog
  • 05/12/2025

What Head Start Gave Me: Jazmin's Story

How a casual walk with her daughter changed the course of one mother's life.

Blog
  • 05/12/2025

How I Discovered My Life’s Purpose: Tanya's Story

Head Start gave Tanya and her daughter confidence, and also directed Tanya's passion toward advocacy.

Videos

Video
  • 11/26/2024

Video: ECR 1 minute end of year giving video

Thank you for your support in 2024. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a beautiful 2025 from Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford.

Video
  • 04/17/2024

Video: All About The Illinois Autism Partnership

An overview video of how the Illinois Autism Partnership partners with schools and school districts to provide individualized coaching, consulting, and training programs.

Video
  • 07/25/2023

Video: CAN TV Clip: Change Agents Featuring The Illinois Autism Partnership

Katie Ellsworth from our Illinois Autism Partnership is featured on CAN TV's Change Agents discussing the services we provide to those with autism through partnerships with school districts, residential homes, and police and fire departments.

From the blog

Blog
  • 06/16/2025

How HB Threads and the Chicago White Sox Are Making a Difference

At HB Threads, we've always believed in the power of meaningful work and the importance of community. That's why we're incredibly proud of our partnership with the Chicago White Sox.

Blog
  • 05/12/2025

What Head Start Gave Me: Jazmin's Story

How a casual walk with her daughter changed the course of one mother's life.

Blog
  • 05/12/2025

How I Discovered My Life’s Purpose: Tanya's Story

Head Start gave Tanya and her daughter confidence, and also directed Tanya's passion toward advocacy.

Guidebooks

Parent Sibling Youth Engagement Guidebook 2019

A Parent's Guide for supporting siblings of individuals with disabilities.

View / Download (pdf)

Podcasts

Podcast
  • 10/16/2024

Episode 8: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Women and Girls

In today's episode, you'll hear from our very own Lori Davie, the Director of The Autism Program at Easterseals, and her daughter Emily, who is on the autism spectrum and also works at the program. Lori and Emily will discuss today their experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder from both the personal and professional perspective. The conversation will delve into identification, diagnosis, and supports for those with ASD, with a special attention to women and girls who are often under-identified or diagnosed later than their male counterparts.

Podcast
  • 08/18/2022

Episode 2: Training First Responders to Understand Autism

Emergency personnel are likely to have encounters with individuals with disabilities and those on the autism spectrum. For example, some law enforcement data have suggested that people with disabilities are seven times more likely to have police encounters than the general population. In this episode,  you'll hear from Shannon Wess, an Autism Specialist with the Illinois Autism Partnership,  about our First Responder Trainings for local police, fire, and ENT departments, as well as public service agencies. Each training focuses on strategies that emergency personnel can use to support and help individuals with autism in emergency situations. They are provided at no cost to the departments involved.

Podcast
  • 08/01/2022

Episode 1: In Conversation with Carter Sanders

Carter Sanders is a person who approaches everything with intention, dedication, and preparation. He is on the autism spectrum and is a graduate of Easterseals Academy, an alternative school placement for students with ASD, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. Carter is currently an Easterseals employee at HB Threads (formerly Harry's Buttons), as well as a Special Olympian and energy ambassador. In this episode, Carter joins Sara Ray Hallman (formerly Stoelinga), President & CEO of Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford (ESCGR) as well as Jason Reis, former ESCGR Employment Services Coordinator, and shares his journey.

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Resources

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