Programs

The Family Resource Specialist Network creates a parent-to-parent connection of parents and famiy members who have children on the autism spectrum in different areas of Illinois. The network gives families the opportunity to contact another parent of a child with autism in their own or nearby community. The Family Resource Specialists organize Saturday parent conferences in thier area and help to develop and disseminate regional resource guides. They are also available to talk with parents by phone or e-mail, offering valuable information and a listening ear from another parent's perspective.

Information in resource guides includes local education and other professional referrals, autism organizations and support groups (local, state and national), community resources, autism support websites, Illinois parent and professional training organizations, educational rights and advocacy groups, newsletters and magazines, books, information regarding financial assistance, teaching aides and safety aides.

The Family Resource Specialist Network helps to connect parents who share the experience of having a child with autism and to distribute valuable resource information from family to family.
Download map of Family Resource Specialists

IATTAP offers the Focus Family Support for Autism Spectrum Disorders, a process of support and technical assistance that was developed by the West Virginia Autism Training Center through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control. This model focuses on intensive family centered support and combines key elements from Positive Behavior Supports with Person-Centered-Planning to achieve positive changes for families with children with autism spectrum disorders. IATTAP helps families develop a support team to work on goals in the home, school and community.
Download Focus Family Support description

These casual groups bring parents together to share their wisdom and experience as we focus on a topic or theme related to raising a child on the autism spectrum. Working in small groups, parents explore important questions and develop their own actions plans. Free child care is provided, but must be reserved in advance.
Parent Café schedule

Regional Resource Teams/Material Centers

IATTAP has established Regional Resource Material Centers throughout the state. These Centers house ASD resource materials available for loan to parents, professionals and community members. Some Centers have materials in addition to those provided by the project. Some sites also have multi‐disciplinary teams that have received extensive training through IATTAP and other sources and are available for training, consultation and technical assistance to schools and families in their geographic locations. Contact the Center in your area for specific services and assistance in accessing the resources.
Resource Teams and Material Centers Locations
Lending Library Materials

Education

ILLINOIS EXPERIENTIAL PRACTICUM AND COACHING NETWORK

As follow‐up to the on‐line course, IATTAP sponsors a week‐long hands‐on, experiential practicum for school teams and parentsin various locations throughout Illinois. Coaching and networking meetings are available during the school year for continued skill‐building and support in implementation of strategies and capacity‐building.

Experiential Practicum Flyer

Illinois State University Connection/ASD Courses

ISU IATTAP has a partnered with the Autism Spectrum Institute at Illinois State University to develop on‐line courses on ASD. A foundation level on‐line training course on autism is available free for CPDU credit. On-line undergraduate and graduate credit courses are also available through ISU. For more information, see training