tap fy 2012 annual report

7/31/2019 TAP FY 2012 Annual Report

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annual reportscal year 2012


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The Ausm Program of Illinois (TAP) and the TAP Service Network of universies and community agencies have been

provided with a number of opportunies this year to demonstrate our commitment to those children diagnosed

with an Ausm Spectrum Disorder and their families. Now in its ninth year, TAP remains an innovave group of

professionals striving to achieve the vision of Illinois as a place where persons with an Ausm Spectrum Disorder

experience the highest level of independence and quality of life possible, with the support of all Illinois residents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as many as 1 in 88 children has an Ausm Spectrum Disorder

(ASD) - an increase of 78% since the 2007 CDC report. Not surprisingly, the CDC has repeatedly described this as an

important public health concern that impacts children and families of all backgrounds. In Illinois alone, over 30,000

school-age children are likely to have an ASD.

We have an established, strong network extending from Carbondale to Rockford, Charleston to Maryville to meet the

growing need for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and educaon. For FY2013 we will be collaborang with addional

agencies, beginning with: Lile Friends of Naperville; the Beth Lacey Center in Cicero; Answer, Inc. in Forest Park;

and Lutheran Social Services in Springeld. Over this past year, the TAP Service Network has trained more than 9000

professionals physicians, nurses, rst responders, educators in the recognion of ASD, as well as providing themwith informaon necessary to assist them in helping those children and their families. TAP Service Network Partners

also provide direct services to children and families; services that are needed yet all too oen not covered by health

insurance or Medicaid.

These opportunies have not come without challenges. As a program funded by the State of Illinois, TAP and

the Service Network connue to share the pain of the states scal crisis. The need and demand for services,

educaon, and resources have grown at an even faster pace than the 78% increase in ASD prevalence reported by the

CDC. The state-wide, collaborave nature of the TAP Service Network has been invaluable in the development and

implementaon of new and innovave ways to meet this increased need by providing high quality services with a level

of scal eciency that could not be otherwise achieved.

These are challenging mes for all Illinois residents and service agencies, with all of us working together to maintain an

adequate capacity to provide valuable and necessary services. The crical need for evidence-based services for ASD

connues to grow, and the TAP Service Network remains the most aordable way to meet this need.

Best Regards,

Bronwyn E. Rains, NSCP, LCPC

Director- The Ausm Program of Illinois


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The Ausm Program of Illinois (TAP) was

formed in 2003 by Public Act 93-0395.

Beginning with three Regional Centers, TAPhas grown to meet the increased need for

training and services; The TAP Service Network

consists of 4 University Partners, 8 Service

Centers, 4 Collaborave Partners, as well as cooperave

relaonships with many other agencies throughout Illinois.

This Network connues to eciently and eecvely serve

children with ausm and their families across Illinois.

our HISTORY


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our MISSIONTo serve and support persons with Ausm Spectrum Disorder and their families, with an

emphasis on services to children, through a coordinated network of providers, parents, and

university programs while developing, ulizing, and sharing best and promising pracces.

our GOALS Have at least one University Partner in each of the four regions of

Illinois with the ability to conduct research and train professionals

who provide services to persons with an Ausm Spectrum Disorder.

Improve the knowledge and skills of educaon and healthcare

professionals in order to increase the availability of Early

Idencaon, Screening, and Diagnosis of Ausm Spectrum Disorder.

Connue to improve collaboraon and communicaon with and

among key stakeholders.


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how we helpThe TAP Service Network provides informaon, resources,and a variety of services to children with an Ausm

Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, without regard

to their ability to pay. Each Network Partner provides a

dierent range of services designed to meet community

needs. Services can include screening, diagnosis,

consultaon, Applied Behavior Analysis, individual and

family treatment, support groups and social skills groups. In addion, Network Partners provide

training for parents and professionals in the community in an on-going basis depending on need.

Aer receiving our sons diagnosis we did not know where to go. We contacted

The Ausm Program at Easter Seals and were linked to the New Diagnosis Orientaon

Program. It was a life saver and provided us with all the opons available to us in the

community. We are so thankful we found this parent training program.


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My son loves coming to YoungAdult Club (YAC). It is oftenwhat he looks forward to all

week. He has made so manyfriends and has learned manyskills from being a part of YAC

highlights of FY2012

Facilitated the development of parent support groups in rural Central Illinois

Increased the availability of support and training for Spanish-speaking parents in the Chicago area

Provided ongoing support groups for students with Aspergers Syndrome at two public Universies

Sponsored a pilot program to train students who are becoming Physician Assistants in screening children for

ASDs

Provided screening tools and support to primary care

physicians and pediatricians in northeast Illinois

Collaborated with the Illinois Department of Children and

Family Services and the Legislature to increase developmentalscreening of children under age 5

Piloted the use of videoconference technology to provide

families at two sites in rural Illinois access to a developmental

pediatrician at a third locaon to obtain medical diagnosis of

ASD when warranted

Worked with Lutheran Family Services of Illinois to increasehousing opons available to adults with an ASD


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It is the fuel that

allows commonpeople to attain

uncommon results

- Andrew Carnegie

The state of Illinois is lled with variety

from the urban hustle and bustle of

Chicago, to the working farms of the South,

the history of old Route 66, and the endless

landscapes surrounding the

great rivers. The needs and

resources of those livingacross the state also vary,

and a one size ts all

philosophy simply doesnt

work.

The TAP Service Networkrecognizes the strength inherent in this

diversity. Each Network Partner works to

meet the unique needs of its community,

while the Service Network as a whole

provides the breadth and depth of

knowledge and experience needed to have

many different specialists available. No

matter where you are located, a

TAP Service Network Partner is

available to you.

TAPs Central Ofce focuses

on state-wide issues, Network

coordination, and distribution of

information and funding to our

Partners. The Central Ofce alsoestablishes priorities for focused research

and services during the year.

from

Illinois benets


11/16network collaboraon

For Fiscal Year 2012, the focus was on Early Identication and Intervention, and threeseparate projects were implemented:

Utilizing telemedicine (videoconferencing), clients receiving diagnostic assessments

through two centers were able to receive a medical diagnosis from a developmental-

pediatrician, even though no such specialists are located near those centers.

In Northeastern Illinois, pediatricians and primary care doctors received specializedtraining and resources on screening techniques and referral options when an ASD is

suspected.

In Southern Illinois, a program of Specialized Training and monitoring was implemented

to provide new Physician Assistants with the training and resources needed for them to

feel condent in their ability to screen and refer children who may have an ASD or other

developmental disability.

This isjust an exampleof the value of statewide planning and coordination, coupled with

local expertise and programming! The value to the state of Illinois of the TAP Service

Network denitely exceeds the sum of its parts.


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My son was diagnosed with Autism in June,

2009. He started social skills group at TAP and

received weekly therapy from October, 2010

until July, 2011. He has now entered third grade

and the differences are vast... I cannot express

in words what a difference this has made in mysons life. Without intervention he would have

probably been moved to a special education

classroom, but due to social skills group he was

able to stay in his classroom and excel.

Introducing and using a schedule with my K/1

students this fall has been life changing. I had

no idea what a positive change just using a daily

schedule can make. All the students are loving

it, and so am I! (a K/1 General Ed Teacher)

Every child deserves a cha

Prov


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Without our

time at TAP/SIU

we feel that

our son would

still be lost.

Families ... were given an opportunity to

pose with Santa Claus. One family of ve

was ready for their photo; however, the child

with Autism struggled to stay in place for the

picture...After six attempts, the family nallyreceived the photo they had hoped to achieve.

The family mentioned that they had never had a

successful family photo prior to this experience,

and thanked the Santa Crew for their

patience!

During my sons time with TAP, weve seen

improved attention to task and enjoyed

more cooperation. He [...] is increasingly

communicative [...] and he allows us to interact

and comfort him more when he is upset or

not feeling well [...] We feel like we are reallystarting to get somewhere! Without our time

at TAP/SIU we feel that our son would still be

lost.

nce

iding chances since 2003


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TAP UNIVERSITY PARTNERS

University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana

Urbana, IL 217-244-1395

University of Illinois - Chicago

Chicago, IL 312-413-9082

Illinois State University

Normal, IL 309-585-0887

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, IL 618-536-2122

TAP COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS

Foundation for Autism Today and Tomorrow (FASTT)

Maryville, IL 618-714-6409

Have Dreams

Park Ridge, IL 847-685-0250

Little Friends, Inc.

Naperville, IL 630-355-6533

Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays

(RCADD)

Chicago, IL 312-746-5447

TAP SERVICE CENTERS

Charleston Transitional Facility

Charleston, IL 217-348-3869

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago

Chicago, IL 312-491-4110

Easter Seals Peoria/Bloomington

Peoria, IL 309-686-1177

Bloomington, IL 309-663-8275

Easter Seals Rockford

A program of Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago

Rockford, IL 815-395-5566

The Hope Institute for Children and Families

Springeld, IL 217-525-8332

Kreider Services, Inc.

Dixon, IL 815-288-6691

Trinity Services, Inc.

New Lenox, IL 815-462-4273

UCP Heartland

Maryville, IL 618-288-2218

TAP CENTRAL OFFICE

5220 South 6th St. Road, Suite 1700

Springeld, IL 217-525-8332

www.theautismprogram.org


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www.theausmprogram.org

5220 S. Sixth Street Road

Suite 1700

Springeld, Illinois 62703

217.525.8332

tap fy 2012 annual report

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