ILLINOIS CHAPTER EVENT

Autism Learning Seminar -
Into the Teenage Years and Beyond

Saturday, September 21, 2013

• 1:00 - 5:30 PM
• Home State Bank, Community Meeting Room (on basement level)
  611 S. Main Street
  Crystal Lake, IL 60014
• Driving Directions
• Contact the TACA Illinois Chapter

This seminar is free but RSVP is required. 

Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Government Benefits

Speaker: Sherri Schneider

Learn about SSI, SSDI, DHS, HFS and more. Get all the information you need on the who, what, why and when of government benefits for individuals with disabilities.
For more than 25 years, Sherri Schneider, the founder of Family Benefit Solutions, has been dedicated to helping individuals with special needs and their families. Her career began as a social worker in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) where she helped individuals acquire government benefits, including SSI, Medicaid and food stamps. Throughout her career she has been instrumental in helping eligible individuals across many settings acquire needed government benefits. Sherri now meets privately with families to assess their situation and pursue the appropriate benefit assistance program(s), personally guiding them through the application process. She has over time established and maintained productive relationships with government benefit agencies. Her clients find her expertise to be invaluable as they navigate the government benefit process. 

Job Skills for Teenagers and Adults

Speaker: Robin Rhode

Learn how teenagers and adults with autism spectrum diagnoses can build the job skills needed to find community employment after high school and beyond. Discussion will also include information on the types of vocational options available.
Robin Rhode is the owner of R. Rhode Consulting LLC, partnering with Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) to provide vocational assistance to high school students with ASD diagnoses. She holds Illinois Professional Teaching Licenses in secondary health and special education. Her professional background includes extensive knowledge and experience within the fields of education and employment, including work as Employment Specialist with a local non-profit vocational services agency where she helped many people with disabilities find long-term employment. Robin also worked for many years as Sr. Customer Service Consultant for a national recruitment/advertising agency. She also worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional within inclusive classroom settings. Robin understands the needs of families of children with disabilities as she also has family members with disabilities, including ASD.

What Is This Puberty Stuff and Why Does It Have To Happen to My Child?

Speaker: Dr. Greg Brown

A discussion of the basic physiology of puberty and the challenges it can bring.
Gregory L. Brown, MD is a Board Certified Internist with 18 years experience in Emergency Medicine. He has received Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner training from “Defeat Autism Now” as well as ACAM instruction and certification in chelation therapy and certification in hyperbaric medicine from UHMS. Dr. Brown is a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) and has recently completed training, through ILADS, as a Lyme Literate Physician. He currently sees patients at Serenity Health Care Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

A parent-to-parent discussion of puberty and ASD, hitting all the tough-to-talk-about topics related to puberty and sexuality.

Speaker: Holly Bortfeld (Joining us via Skype)

Holly Bortfeld is a single mother of two adults with ASD. A long-time homeschooler living in Pennsylvania, Holly has been doing biomedical treatments since 1998. Holly is the National Parent Support Manager and lead author for TACA.

**NEW** Coffee Talk - Schaumburg, IL

Friday, September 6, 2013

• 9:30 - 11:00 AM
• Whole Foods Market
  750 N. Martingale Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173
• Driving Directions

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

Coffee Talk - Algonquin, IL

Friday, August 13, 2013

• 9:30 - 11:00 AM
• Panera Bread
  451 South Randall Rd
  Algonquin, IL 60102
• Driving Directions

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

Coffee Talk - Glen Ellyn, IL

Sunday, September 22, 2013

• 4:00 - 5:30 PM
• Panera Bread
  541 Roosevelt Rd.
  (in the Jewel strip mall) Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
  
• Driving Directions
  
  This is a great opportunity to support one another, share information and resources, and sneak out of the house for some adult time, too. Hope to see you there!

For more information contact Erin Micklo

Be a Part of TACA!
Give Back to Your Community!
Become a TACA Parent Mentor!

Are you a parent or primary care giver of a child (or adult) with autism? Do you have at least 2 years of experience implementing biomed? Do you know about your local resources? Would you like to give back to your community and become a volunteer TACA Parent Mentor?

We would love to hear from you. If you meet these requirements and you are interested in volunteering, sign up on our website here:
www.tacanow.org/about-taca/parent-mentor-program/

Thank you!
Moira Giammatteo
Program Manager Scholarships, Mentors
and Parent Support

Join TACA of Illinois on Facebook!

TACA of Illinois is on Facebook! Connect with your old and new TACA friends alike, online!

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How TACA Helps Illinois Families

TACA does not charge admission to the meetings, nor does it assess annual membership fees for families it supports. Meetings feature:

• Free TACA Autism Journey Guides (over 750 pages of collective knowledge gathered from experienced paraprofessionals and parents) are offered to all parents who are attending their first Chapter meeting.
• Speakers on topics ranging from traditional therapies, integrated medical treatments, education, and legal support.
• TACA's Parent Mentors - one-on-one access to experienced families who have successfully navigated the challenges of finding appropriate treatments and educational opportunities for their children, and who receive additional education from TACA's Foundation Office.