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Welcome to the
ASACIC website!

As the Central Illinois Chapter of the Autism Society of America, we are proud to have the privilege to render service to the families, friends, and interested parties who have a connection to a person with autism. By standing together and sharing our hardships and joys, we make a better community for everyone.

Please consider donating to help support our many great activities.

 

 click here

Join Our Mailing List
For Email Marketing you can trust

Carole Ann MacDonald
Monday, August 9, 2010
6:00-9:00 pm
at University of Illinois, Springfield, Brookens Auditorium
(located on the lower level of Brookens Building, One University Plaza, Springfield, IL 62703)

Special education teacher, educational advocate, and adult
with autism shares her experiences teaching children with
autism and her success being on the spectrum.

click here for flyer and details

 

Beardstown Swimming Fun, Friday, August 13, 6 to 7:30 pm Beardstown Community Park District Pool, 6 Armory Lane, Beardstown, Illinois

ASACIC swim event flyer

 

 

Autism Awareness Walk and Fun Day, Saturday, September 25, 2010, Washington Park Pavilion, Springfield, IL

Take a Step for AutismThe on-line registration site for the walk is now available!

We encourage you to register for the walk as a volunteer or set up a team, by visiting  www.firstgiving.com/asacic and following the instructions.

click here for paper registration form for those not registering online

 

 

Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser for ASACIC
Thursday, August 5, 3-9pm

Supporters can come at any time during this
6 hour window but have to say that they are
with ASACIC when they put in their order

Chuck E Cheese fundraiser flyer

 

Back to School Skating Saturday, August 21, 5 to 7 pm Skateland South, Springfield, Illinois

ASACIC skating event flyer

Free to all individuals with autism/asperger’s
and their friends and families
 

Upcoming Local Trainings:

The Sixth Sense: Helping Peers Understand
Your Child and Autism presented by Lyn Becker, M.S. Ed,
parent of a child with autism,
ASACIC professional board member

Satuday, August 7, 9 am to noon, St. John’s Lutheran Church
1225 N. Main St. in Chatham, IL
Sixth Sense flyer

This training will prepare you to be your child's own best advocate by
teaching you how to introduce general education peers to the challenges and gifts associated with autism. This is a great way to get your child's school year off to a great start by increasing potential for acceptance and friendships and decreasing the likelihood of bullying.

 

 

 

    Spring 2010 Edition of "Support and Hope" is here! The ASACIC newsletter is now available and being mailed to our membership upon request.

 

 

2009 Blake Penner Memorial Grant Progam The 2009 Blake Penner Memorial Grant Progam is now closed. The grant is available to help fund the special needs of individuals with autism. Proof of a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (including Aspergers or PDD-NOS) is required at the time of application. Also, you must reside within our membership area.

Yahoo Group

ASACIC also has an online mailing list which you can join. By joining this mailing list you will receive the latest news from ASACIC about events we have as well as be reminded about upcoming support group meetings. You can also use this forum to ask questions in between the support group meetings on any topic pertaining to autism and related issues we all face. support

In Other News:

Girl stands up for autism by sitting on her bike

When Cassidy Johnson, 12, of Springfield overheard a neighborhood boy’s disparaging remarks targeting a child with autism, she resolved to stand up to bullies. The result was a small bike-a-thon that raised money for the local autism association.

Stands up for autism

 

Landmark Chemical Legislation Introduced to Protect the Health of American Families

A broad coalition of more than 200 public health and environmental organizations announced their support for the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010,” introduced April 15th by Senator Lautenberg and Congressmen Waxman and Rush. The long-awaited landmark legislation would overhaul the way the federal government protects the public from toxic chemicals, currently regulated by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The Autism Society, along with the other members of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, hopes that this important step forward will help protect the health of those affected by autism and other vulnerable populations. Read more …

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Advancing Futures with Adults with Autism

On July 15, 2010, the Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) initiative hosted a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. that will bring together federal legislators, national policymakers and advocates for adults with autism – including people who have autism – to discuss priorities for action in the public and private sectors to address the increasing and unmet demand for effective services for adolescents and adults with autism. AFAA has just released the executive summary of the AFAA National Town Hall held in November 2009, which will serve as a guide for the Congressional briefing.

AFAA introduces national public policy agenda to improve quality and availability of services for adults with autism - read more and watch video of Sen. Menendez discussing legislative priorities for this population.

click here for video of Sen Menendez

 

For more information please go to: http://www.afaa-us.org  

  • Bill Status of SB0676

     Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act and the Emergency Medical Services ( EMS ) Systems Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall develop, adopt, or otherwise approve a training course regarding the risks associated with autism and appropriate autism recognition and response techniques. Provides that every person who, after the effective date of the amendatory Act, is seeking certification in a position of firefighter 1 or 2, whose duties involve fire suppression, firefighting, or fire rescue, whether as a volunteer or as a paid employee, must satisfactorily complete an education course in autism recognition and response techniques. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall develop, adopt, or otherwise approve a training course and curriculum with the purpose of informing emergency medical technicians of the risks associated with autism, as well as providing instruction in appropriate autism recognition and response techniques. Provides that before being certified by the Department, each emergency medical technician trained in basic life support services must satisfactorily complete the training course developed by the Department. Provides that every person who, on the effective date of the amendatory Act, is serving in a capacity as a certified emergency medical technician must satisfactorily complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques within 18 months. Effective immediately.

  • Autism Society Applauds New Legislation to Prevent Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

    U.S. Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced  the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) December 9, which would for the first time protect children from restraint or seclusion in schools. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) also introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Read more …

    This week the Senate is drafting its final version of the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, S. 2860. Do you have an opinion on the new legislation? If you want to impact the amendments being written, now is the time to be heard! Contact your Senator now!

  • Comprehensive Autism Legislation Introduced in U.S. Congress

Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Robert Casey (D-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced the Autism Treatment and Acceleration Act of 2009 (ATAA). The Autism Society of America applauds this comprehensive autism legislation focused around enhancing the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Originally drafted by President Obama as a Senator, the bill includes aspects of legislation introduced in previous sessions of Congress, including the Expanding the Promise of Individuals with Autism Act, sponsored by then-Senator Hillary Clinton. Read more …

Autism Treatment Acceleration Act

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