Beliefs Statement
This Website
Autismcc Yahoo Group
IPADDUnite Yahoo Group
What We Do
Accomplishments
Parents Group Coalition
Get More Involved
Beliefs Statement
We believe in the importance of fostering a strong connection between family and community.
We embrace the philosophy that inclusion of all residents in the rich fabric of community life,
events and programs enhances the quality of life for everyone. Those of us who have loved
ones with Autism Spectrum Disorder often want to access and participate in community activities,
but are faced with a unique set of challenges in our attempts to do so. We believe that most
obstacles can be overcome and barriers broken down when neighbors work with neighbors to
strengthen our communities.
This Website
We strive to reduce the stress in your family by being a “one stop shop” for autism information
and community events so you can spend more time getting out with your family and having fun!
Although our primary focus is the Western suburbs of Illinois, anyone who has been touched by
someone on the autism spectrum may benefit from the ideas and information shared on this site.
Autismcc Yahoo Group
We are the largest Yahoo autism group in Illinois. Members include parents, educators and
professionals. When you join our community you will find that you are not alone. The lessons
learned from those who have traveled this road before can make your journey a little smoother.
Go to our downloads page for Q&A from our members on various topics. http://health.groups.
yahoo.com/group/autismcc/
Illinois Parents of Adults with Developmental Disabilities Yahoo Group
Autism Community Connection has created a second Yahoo group to discuss the needs of
parents of adults with developmental disabilities. The purpose of the group is to give Illinois
parents, self advocates, adult sibs and others who care about adults with developmental
disabilities, a dedicated online venue for networking, sharing information, strategies, resources,
progress or roadblocks so that we know what’s happening around the state. Our primary focus
will be on sharing innovative ideas and practices in the areas of employment, volunteering or
other day programming, housing options, transportation, transition and creative funding
strategies that support these efforts. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IPADDUnite/
What We Do
- Work to increase public awareness about the challenges residents with ASD face
- Advocate for increased services in Illinois for children, teens and adults with ASD
- Research, compile and distribute community resources that support residents with ASD
and their families
- Provide opportunities for parent-parent support, networking and friendships within the
community
- Collaborate with local civic and business leaders to increase access to community facilities,
events and programs for residents with ASD
Accomplishments
Resource Directory – ACC works very diligently to put together a comprehensive local
resource directory for families in the western suburbs.
Informational Website – ACC scours the Internet and has built up a correspondence with many
therapy facilities and local organizations in order to give you a comprehensive listing of autism
and special needs workshops. We try to find community events that will interest your children
and web links that can help give you support in the home, school and community.
Advocacy – ACC members actively advocate to local legislators to create autism awareness and
work towards increased services and programs for residents with ASD.
Social Stories - In addition to the resources seen on this website, we have written several of our
own visual social stories to help in areas that were lacking information. See our download
section for links to these stories.
Library – All autism books and related information at our local Naperville public libraries are
listed in our special directory. This makes it easier to find periodicals. Families from other cities
can use this list and order books through the libraries inter-loan program. ACC has also made
many donations of autism books, CDs and DVDs.
Local Businesses – ACC works with local businesses to provide accommodations so that our
children can enjoy the same community events as others. We have worked with local theaters
for special showings of G rated films with reduced sound and lights dimmed during previews so
our children can get used to being inside a movie theater. We’ve held events at various
amusement themed facilities.
Parents Group Coalition
The parent leaders of Autism Community Connection brought together other area special needs
groups to form the Parents Group Coalition. We meet quarterly and share information with one
another so that we may affect change in our area for all special needs families. The Parents
Group Coalition is comprised of the following organizations:
Advocates Network of Kane/Kendall Counties - www.advocatesnetwork.net
Autism Community Connection - www.autismcommunityconnection.com
A Better Life - www.abetterlife.org
Childhood Stroke & Hemiplegia Connections of Illinois - www.cshconnections.com
DuPage Family Disability Network – www.dfdn.org
Gloria Kern – kern75@ispwest.com
Holy Spirit Catholic Community Special Needs Ministry – www.holyspiritnaperville.org
Indian Prairie District 204 Special Needs PTA – www.ipsd.org/ipsn
McHenry County Autism Group – www.mcautismgroup.org
Mums of Southern Fox Valley (Mothers United for Moral Support) - foxvalleymums@yahoogroups.
com
Naperville Asperger’s Parent Support Group - jholman@wideopenwest.com
Parents as Advocates - parentsasadvocates@homestead.com
SEA200 – Special Education Alliance 200 - www.sea200.org
SERC – Special Education Resource Committee - www.district41serc.org
Special Education Parents Group - www.sepg-d303.org
SPIN – 203 parents
TLC Parent Support/Education Group - fiberartist46@yahoo.com
Get more involved:
Community or Legislative Advocacy – This is a cause that affects us all. Do you have an
interest in local government? Perhaps your interest is in doing legislative advocacy at the state
level, in conjunction with other parent groups or statewide disability advocacy organizations? We
need people to get involved. There are many volunteer or advisory committees who make all
sorts of decisions everyday that affect our lives. If they don’t know a person with autism, it is
hard for them to make informed decisions or do sensitive resource planning that takes our needs
into account. Transportation, Fair Housing, Employment, Park District, Special Events, etc are all
City Council Committees with limited or no disability representation. Contact your local town hall
for the schedules of upcoming committee meetings.
What would you like to do? – The ideas are endless and are only limited by your imagination
and commitment. Anything that helps your family is almost guaranteed to help someone else’s
family too.
