Resources for Parents
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The Autism Program or TAP’s primary focus is to strengthen the system of care for children with ASD. Parents are at the heart of that system and represent the only constant that follows a child from birth to adulthood. Parents are the best advocates for their children, and parental involvement has been shown to play a key role in successful treatment. TAP is partnering with parents in Illinois to ensure that their children are receiving the best in diagnosis, treatment and education.
TAP 2004 Needs Assessment revealed that early identification and treatment are a primary concern for parents of children with ASD. This concern cannot be addressed by isolated training venues, but requires a strong community presence—TAP is that presence at five sites in Illinois. TAP at University of Chicago, TAP at The Hope Institute for Children and Families (HICF), TAP at SIU-Carbondale, TAP at U of I Urbana - Champaign, and TAP at Illinois State University are providing training, consultation and direct service to families and a variety of providers within the system of care.
Clinical and consultation programs at TAP include diagnosis and assessment; individual and group parent training; school consultation; and a variety of training venues that target key components of the system of care including physicians, daycare providers, respite providers and extended family members. TAP Physician Training, in collaboration with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is molding a generation of physicians who are more sensitive to the diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD.
Because parents play such a crucial role, TAP has focused a large part of our training and support initiatives to meet parent and family needs. TAP provides funding to Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse now boasted more than 2000 resources devoted to ASD. Parents and providers can access these resources at no charge through inter-library loan. Parents requested an easy guide to Illinois resources. The Autism Program Resource Search provides contact information for autism specific programs and programs that can provide general family support. TAP also provides a quick reference and links to state programs that can provide a variety of assists.
Experience has show us that parents will find creative ways of working with their children and that—even in this resource scarce environment---parents will find or create the necessary resources.
We invite to explore our site and become one of the parents who has discovered the power of community.
To request more information by email, send a message to theautismprogram@thehopeinstitute.us.
Recommended Reading
For parents coping with a new diagnosis for a child, or even for seasoned parents, information overload is a significant problem when you are trying to become an informed partner in your child’s care. In order to assist parents in this maze of information, The Autism Program has hand-selected 10 books that we feel are “must reads” for parents. The Illinois Early Childhood Intervention Clearinghouse offers these books and many more that can be borrowed and mailed to you free of charge.
For more information contact the Clearinghouse directly at 800.852.4302.
- Parent Survival Manual: A Guide to Crisis Resolution in Autism and Related Developmental Disorders
edited by Eric Schopler (1995)
- Just Take A Bite: Easy, Effective Answers to Food Aversions and Eating Challenges!
by Lori Esnsperger & Tania Stegen-Hanson (2004)
- Navigation the Social World: A Curriculum for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism and Related Disorders
by Jeannette McAfee (2002)
- Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism
by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green, and Stephen Luce (1996)
- Asperger’s…What Does It Mean to Me?
by Catherine Faherty (2000)
- A Work In Progress: Behavior Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavior
edited by Ron Leaf & John McEachin (1999)
- Asperger’s Syndrome
by Tony Attwood (1998)
- Do-Watch-Listen-Say: Social Communication Intervention for Children with Autism
by Kathleen Ann Quill (2000)
- Autism Spectrum Disorders from A to Z
by Barbara Doyle & Emily Doyle Iland (2004)
- Visual Strategies for Improving Communication: Practical Support for School and Home
by Linda Hodgdon (1995)
Resource Library
Take advantage of Illinois largest collection of books and resources related to ASD for FREE anywhere in the state. The following titles are available through the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse. Simply find the title you are interested in, contact EICIC via e-mail, phone or fax and they will mail you the title free of charge. When you are finished with the item just take it to your local library and the resource will be returned to the clearinghouse through inter-library loan. For additional questions call (800) 852-4302.
(All titles available through the Early Intervention Childhood Clearing House)
Articles on Autism Spectrum Disorders - Books on Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Videos on Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Materials on Asperger's Syndrome
- Child and Family Connections Listing
Statewide Information Resource & Referral for Advocacy & Services for People with Developmental Disabilities
Search for Advocacy/Service Providers
List of Carseats/Harnesses for individuals with special needs