Easter Seals Disability Services

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing developmental disability in the world today and typically appears during the first three years of life. There are currently 1.5 million people living in the United States alone who have been diagnosed with ASD. Autism Spectrum Disorder includes a variety of conditions that are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development. Individuals with ASD demonstrate deficits in interactive ability, specifically in sensory processing and management of their own behaviors and social interactions.

With early diagnosis and treatment, outcomes for children with ASD are greatly improved. The occurrence of ASD is on the rise; the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1 in 145 children will be diagnosed with ASD, and the rate of occurrence has been cited as high as 1 in every 88 boys. The condition called "autism" is part of a set of closely related conditions and falls under the broad diagnostic umbrella of "Pervasive Developmental Disorders". These conditions include Autistic Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. There are an estimated 26,000 children with ASD in Illinois.

Easter Seals is the organization best prepared to lead the country in meeting the service needs of the growing number of people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and currently has a combination of services specifically targeting individuals with this diagnosis. Easter Seals is committed to the development of a national network of services in partnership with other organizations to make services accessible to all people with ASD and their families.

Easter Seals Joliet Region (Will, Grundy, Kendall, Kankakee, Ford & Iroquois Counties) provides the following traditional and new services to those with Autism:

Speech therapy including specialized therapeutic services designed to assist individuals in verbal and non-verbal communication development. ( ex: PECS, augmentative devices, sign).

Occupational therapy including sensory integration and therapeutic listening.

Developmental therapy to include social-emotional, communication, and motor skills.

Inclusive Developmental Childcare/Preschool.

Family Support & Assistance (72D) program with determined eligibility by the Department of Human Services, providing from 15-40 hours per week of family home intervention/respite and behavioral interventions.

Applied Behavior Analysis techniques that teach appropriate behaviors while attempting to reduce problem behaviors in small measurable components utilizing principles of reinforcement.

Foster-Adoptive Services

Adult Community Residential Homes with intermittent to 24 hour supervision and assistance with daily living.

Regional ADOS Assessment Center - Easter Seals will provide trained, qualified professionals that can accurately assess children in the identification of autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

National Institute of Mental Health Grant "Pilot Study for Controlled Trial of the P.L.A.Y. Project Intervention for Autism", principal investigator, Richard Solomon, MD.

Easter Seals Joliet Region will serve as a control site with 10 children on the autism spectrum completing pre and post assessments. Phase I study will focus on piloting the procedures to be used in a full clinical trial in Phase II of the P.L.A.Y. Project intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders.

Easter Seals Illinois Autism Spectrum Disorders Service Delivery Network to include the development of services and linkages inclusive of all Easter Seals affiliates in Illinois, a partnership with TAP (The Autism Program funded by the State of Illinois), and collaboration with other service providers. Future projects include Community Visioning (planning), the development of additional diagnostic centers and standardized protocol for Diagnostics, and Family and Community Resource Centers.

National Easter Seals Media Messaging project to develop public information on Autism/ASD. Easter Seals staff members selected for the project.

For more information, contact us.