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Autism

Resources

Blog
  • 04/21/2025

Creativity Shines: Easterseals’ Social Theater Group Empowers Children with Autism and Their Families in Countless Ways

From start to finish, participants find comfort on the stage while honing new skills, bonding with family, and making new friends.

Blog
  • 04/10/2025

Easterseals and Head Start: Expanding Early Education and Family Resources in Our Communities

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford collaborates with nearly 40 independently-operated early childhood programs in Chicago and suburban Cook County through Head Start and Early Head Start. These programs provide transformative early learning services to low-income families. For children aged 5 and younger, enrichment is year-round in inviting classrooms led by caring professionals. With favorable teacher-child ratios and an evolving curriculum, children receive the support they need to thrive.

Blog
  • 01/31/2025

The 14th Annual Autism Awareness Night Draws Sellout Crowd to Rockford’s BMO Center

The community turned out in full force last Saturday, January 25, at the BMO Center in Rockford for the 14th Annual Autism Awareness Night. Hosted by the Rockford IceHogs in partnership with The Autism Program (TAP) at Easterseals, the event was more than just an exciting night of hockey—it was a heartfelt reunion for TAP families and supporters and an essential fundraiser for autism awareness and support.

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
  • 04/21/2025

Creativity Shines: Easterseals’ Social Theater Group Empowers Children with Autism and Their Families in Countless Ways

From start to finish, participants find comfort on the stage while honing new skills, bonding with family, and making new friends.

Blog
  • 04/10/2025

Easterseals and Head Start: Expanding Early Education and Family Resources in Our Communities

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford collaborates with nearly 40 independently-operated early childhood programs in Chicago and suburban Cook County through Head Start and Early Head Start. These programs provide transformative early learning services to low-income families. For children aged 5 and younger, enrichment is year-round in inviting classrooms led by caring professionals. With favorable teacher-child ratios and an evolving curriculum, children receive the support they need to thrive.

Blog
  • 01/31/2025

The 14th Annual Autism Awareness Night Draws Sellout Crowd to Rockford’s BMO Center

The community turned out in full force last Saturday, January 25, at the BMO Center in Rockford for the 14th Annual Autism Awareness Night. Hosted by the Rockford IceHogs in partnership with The Autism Program (TAP) at Easterseals, the event was more than just an exciting night of hockey—it was a heartfelt reunion for TAP families and supporters and an essential fundraiser for autism awareness and support.

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 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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