Our Community

ASMC recognizes Sponsors, Organizations and Individuals within our community who have made a difference in the success of the Autism Society and in the lives of our children and adults with autism.
Click Here to View the Award Winners!

ASMC was the recipient of the 2003 Communities of Excellence Award

The Autism Society of McLean County is collaborating with local schools, parents, state wide agencies and Illinois State University to provide parents and community members information and training about individuals with autism. Autism is the fastest growing disability within the nation. McLean County and the surrounding areas have experienced this same exceptional growth. While national leaders have considered this growth to be at an almost “epidemic” level, there are few effective educational techniques and strategies. Families, educators, and community agencies struggle greatly to meet the needs of the individuals affected by this disorder and are in need of information and solutions to implement successful approaches.

Families are not only impacted by the stress of raising an individual who has severe difficultycommunicating with them, they also have the financial burden of intensive therapies, medical interventions, and attending educational seminars to learn the latest most effective treatments for their child. All of this accompanied with the fact that because of the type of disability and lack of service providers’ one parent must remain home to care for their child resulting in an overall loss of income for the family.

There is a significant need to not only bring awareness to a variety of individuals within the community, but also the need to provide parents and families effective strategies for meeting their children’s needs.

As the youth of today become the adults of tomorrow, we need to provide an opportunity for businesses, agencies, parents, and other professionals to gain the necessary skills that will better meet the needs of these individuals. By focusing on providing educational strategies, intervention techniques and interpersonal skill development we can help meet the needs of individuals with autism helping to ensure a successful adulthood.

Because of the lack of understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders within the community, individuals on the autism spectrum are limited in their full participation of social and recreational opportunities in the community; they are either unemployed or underemployed where they could be productive members of the workforce.

We are attempting to shape long term solutions on behalf of individuals with autism. This spectrum disorder touches all facets of our community. With effective education and training we can assist everyone in providing a continuum of supports in our effort to help these individuals have meaningful adult lives.

I’ve been tremendously encouraged about the state of autism in Illinois. In this past year many of our community agencies and parents have come together in McLean County and several other parts of Illinois to participate in and develop community visions for autism. We have set aside personal agenda’s to look at the availability of resources, identify gaps in services and map out a plan to meet the needs of families that aren’t being met.

I believe that with this kind of community effort, we will establish a system that is more aware and better prepared to meet the lifelong needs of individuals with autism.

I am looking forward to the continued collaboration with Easter Seals, The Baby Fold/Hammitt School, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, The Marc Center, Heartland Community College, Unit 5 School District, The Autism Program, together we can make our community vision a reality.