More information below.

WHAT IS PUNS AND HOW IS IT USED?

• PUNS is a statewide database that records information about individuals with developmental disabilities who are planning for or seeking services.
• The State uses the data to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs

WHY ENROLL IN PUNS?

• To assist with identifying service needs and wants
• register individuals on the PUNS

WHO CAN ENROLL IN PUNS?

• Children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities who need or want services or supports

For additional information: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=41131

¿QUÉ ES LA PUNS Y CÓMO SE UTILIZA?

• La Priorización de la Urgencia de la Necesidad de Servicios (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services, PUNS) es una base de datos estatal que registra información sobre personas con discapacidades del desarrollo que están planeando o buscando servicios.

• El estado utiliza los datos para seleccionar a las personas que recibirán servicios a medida que se disponga de fondos, para elaborar propuestas y materiales para la elaboración de presupuestos y para planificar las necesidades futuras.

¿POR QUÉ INSCRIBIRSE EN PUNS?

• Ayuda a identificar las necesidades y deseos de los servicios.

• Registra a las personas en la PUNS.

¿QUIÉN PUEDE INSCRIBIRSE EN LA PUNS?

• Niños, adolescentes y adultos con discapacidades del desarrollo que necesitan o desean servicios o apoyos.

Para más información: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=47621

This time will provide an inclusive atmosphere for individuals of all ages and abilities to enjoy a meal in a relaxed and crowd-free dining experience with limited people and contact. The sensory friendly hour creates a safe and comfortable environment for people with autism, sensory input disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other physical, cognitive, or development disabilities, and their families, friends, and caretakers.

We want to give neurodiverse restaurant patrons a positive dining experience in a welcoming environment. Patrons can bring fidget objects, noise-reducing headphones, and other sensory tools or devices. Noise will be limited and lights will be dimmed. Our staff provides efficient service with minimal contact but are always available if you need extra assistance.

Chef Sarah designed a special limited menu that eliminates long wait times. (Please be aware that beef dishes ordered well done will take longer to prepare). At 5 pm, the servers will provide all customers with their checks and alert them that the restaurant opens for regular business at 5:15 pm and guests will begin arriving, lights will be turned up, and the music will go on. Guests are welcome to stay as long as they like.

Reservations are required. Please call to make a reservation by the Wednesday prior to your desired dining date. (847) 205-4433.

This specialized performance facilitated by Seesaw Theatre in collaboration with Imagine U will provide a relaxed and safe environment for disabled audience members. This performance is open to all with an enhanced focus on theatrical accessibility.
Modifications to the experience include:

• A detailed social story will be sent to audience members the week of the show. This guide can help prepare your child for the experience of visiting the theatre and seeing Frida Libre
• Select changes to light and sound cues to minimize sudden changes and high-volume effect.
• A quiet space for audience members, if they need a break from the performance at any time.
• Theatre teaching artists with a background in theatrical accessibility will be present.
• Sensory kits (including items such as headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, etc.) will be available to audience members upon request.

All audience members for this performance will experience this sensory-friendly performance. Fidget toys and communication devices will be welcome in the theatre. If there is anything additional we can do to support you and your child’s experience for this performance, please reach out to us wirtz@northwestern.edu

Please join us for a Virtual Open House Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 12:00PM on Zoom

Do you or your child/student need support in:

• Better managing stress and anxiety
• Building executive functioning skills
• Developing social communication skills
• Understanding your autism and how it affects you in school, at work, or in your
• interpersonal relationships
• Navigating a job search, exploring disability disclosure, and gaining confidence in your
• interview skills

Did you know that you can receive support in building these (and many more!) skills

from a licensed professional counselor, and that these services can be covered by

insurance? We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO/Blue Choice and Cigna.

Have Dreams’ Counseling and Employment Services are available for children, teens, and

adults through weekly one-on-one telehealth or in-person sessions. Attend our Virtual

Open House to learn more!

Questions? Contact Lora Slutsky at lslutsky@havedreams.org and check out

www.havedreams.org/events for more information

Using your child’s augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system at home can be the key to helping him or her to communicate successfully in places and with people that are not as familiar. This family-centered workshop will identify evidence-based strategies to encourage the use of AAC systems in the home environment. Participants will discuss how to build on your child’s current communication strengths as you use AAC tools and strategies during existing activities and routines throughout the day.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Registration open through 11/1/2023 7:30 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Presenting

Heather Miller Schwarz, MS, CCC-SLP, Infinitec

Location

Zoom links will be sent after registration.

Join us and learn:

• what’s truly impacting our children
• how to respond when their big feelings take control
• what a parent can do to empower a child in these intense moments

Speaker: Dr. Sonya Sandhu, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Plena Mind Center

REGISTER HERE

Mark your calendars for a new series geared towards teens and young adults (ages 16-35). Please feel free forward this email to your children or grandchildren, ages 16-35, that may be interested in participating. This 3 part series will include the following classes:

• Class #1 Cash Flow - "What is it and How do I Start?" to be held on 10/19/2023 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

• Class #2 Investment Choices - "What are the Differences?" to be held on 02/13/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

• Class #3 Powers of Attorney - to be held on 05/14/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

Full class description provided here.

Registration is required. Click here to register for the first class. Each webinar will be recorded and sent to the registrants.

Looking for a warm and cozy place to hang out on a Monday morning, either by yourself or with friends? Come by to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and fresh scone while you support TrueNorth Transition students demonstrate their amazing job readiness skills at this job training site. We're open for business every Monday that school is in session, from 9-11 am. Curt's Cafe is located at 1766 2nd Street in Highland Park.

"Supporting Mental Wellness"

Back by popular demand. Don't miss our newest The Arc of Illinois IDD & Mental Health Conference, which will be held VIRTUALLY on November 15, 2023. The conference is geared towards professionals and family members who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Topics will help focus on the mental health of those with IDD and the resources and programs available to support mental wellness. The goal is for attendees to walk away with tangible resources, ideas, or programs for themselves or those they support.

Visit the IDD & Mental Health website for the full line up of speakers and topics. Click here for the brochure.

Este mes, The Arc of Illinois busca opiniones de la comunidad de discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo en Illinois para guiar nuestras prioridades legislativas para 2024. Complete esta encuesta (disponible en inglés y en español) visitando este enlace antes del 31 de octubre de 2023. ¡Gracias por ayudar a The Arc of Illinois!

Due to limited availability, only two SoundShirts are available at a time.

Are you worried about what will happen to your loved one as you get older? Do you find the process of planning for the future overwhelming?

If yes, you might be eligible to join the VFIN research study, which is testing the effectiveness of an online future planning training at the University of Illinois Chicago for adults with IDD & their families in Illinois. The VFIN research study will randomly assign families to be part of the intervention or control group. All family caregivers and adults with IDD will complete pre- and post- tests.

• Families assigned to the intervention group will receive a 6-week training with weekly 1.5 hour Zoom classes from October 2-November 6, 2023 on Mondays and two Wednesdays from 7-8:30 pm CT.
• Families assigned to the control group will receive access to the self-paced materials after the post-test is completed.
• 
  

Learn more by visiting our website: go.uic.edu/VFINIllinois and check out a short video to get a taste of the training: https://youtu.be/WUrfmMDonXc

To participate, please fill out this form: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5dukbZuT2l43TZs or contact Katie at: 312-996-1002 or by email at kkeiling@uic.edu

The Illinois Autism Taskforce (IATF) is seeking feedback from parents and guardians on their understanding of the high school (Secondary) transition process.

The Autism Transition Subcommittee is conducting The IATF: Transition Sub-Committee Survey 2023 to assess parent/family knowledge when it comes to understanding services available for the autism population leading up to and during their high school transition years. By gaining understanding of this, the IATF as well as autism-based service entities and schools can target their messaging and parent education to better guide parents, students, and families with the goal of improving student success after high school.

This Survey makes no distinction between educational classification of autism or medical diagnosis, all are encouraged to complete the survey.

The survey will be available beginning September 1, 2023, ending December 1, 2023:

The survey should take 15 minutes and your responses are completely anonymous.

For example, dentists or doctors available to families.

Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.

Listen Here

This fall we will be offering Sibshops for both children and teens at our Northbrook location. We will begin each Sibshop as a large group for an opening activity and then separate into age groups (children and teens).

Fall In-Person Sibshop Dates for Children/Teens, ages 6-16 are as follows:

August 27
October 15
November 12
December 10

All In-Person Sibshops are on Sundays from 1pm to 3:30pm at our Northbrook location, 255 Revere Drive, Suite 200.

Virtual Sibshops, ages 7-12 (will be offered for Teens if there are enough participants)

Thursdays, 6-7pm

September 21
October 26
November 30

*Virtual Sibshops are for children who cannot participate in person AND for siblings who wish to connect between the in-person Sibshops.

In-Person Sibshops are $30 per session; partial scholarships are available. Virtual Sibshops are free of charge. Pre-registration is required for in-person and virtual Sibshops. Please contact Yuto Kanii or Tammy Besser if you have any questions and/or to request registration materials.

Registration is per Sibshop. Virtual Sibshops are free but registration is required to attend.
Children can attend one, two, three, or all of the Sibshop series. To register email: mailto:TamaraBesser@JCFS.org

LOCATION

Elaine Kersten Children's Center

This month's hang-out will be at 7:00pm at Spears in Wheeling.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org with any questions or to sign up for email alerts. No RSVP required.

Are your child's mental health struggles impacting you and your family? Are you wondering how to start finding help?

We recommend seeking support for yourself first with a CATCH Conversation.

Sign up and a CATCH volunteer will reach out to schedule a time to talk, meet for a cup of coffee, or go for a walk to give you a chance to share what's going on and learn how CATCH can support you.

Sign Up Here

Join us for information, resources, tips and strategies on a variety of topics to empower you in your parenting or caregiving journey with your child with autism. Come to connect and interact with others navigating a similar journey! Parents of newly diagnosed children are strongly encouraged to attend.

Lurie Children's Sound Experience is a social experience for families of children with hearing loss. We offer Sound Experience four Saturday afternoons throughout the school year at our Outpatient Center in Westchester.

The program aims to provide:

• A network of parents of children with hearing loss who are going through or have gone through similar situations and to share experiences and information
• Information for families about hearing loss and how it affects our children
• An opportunity for children with hearing loss to meet other children with hearing loss

What to Expect at Sound Experience

• Parents informally share information and stories before the formal breakout sessions
• Children and siblings of all ages are entertained with a dedicated staff of volunteers
• Parents meet in an adjoining room to discuss the meeting’s topic

How to Get Involved

To learn more about Sound Experience, ask your audiologist or contact Cara Donahue at 312.227.3061 or cdonahue@luriechildrens.org.

APH FamilyConnect and The Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families. You only need to register once for this ongoing series. The No ACVREP or professional development credits will not be available.

Register Here

The Association of Parents and Staff (APS) is an organization of parents who have children in any of TrueNorth's 18 member school districts, and the staff who serve them. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our children with disabilities through advocacy, partnership and support. Together with our staff partners, we hope to heighten awareness and understanding of learning differences, provide ongoing training and education, and offer support and connections to all.

Whether children are enrolled in a TrueNorth instructional classroom or receive services through their local school district, all parents of children with learning differences are welcome.

If you would like to connect with your district representative or have questions for our Parent Engagement Facilitator, Nicole Magesis, please email us at apsnewsletter@truenorth804.org