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.

IATTAP offers the Focus Family Support for Autism Spectrum Disorders, a new model 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.
Focus Family Support Description

Regional Resource Teams/Material Centers

Regional Resource Teams are 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. Their members are both school personnel and parents. Contact the team in your area for specific services and assistance they are able to provide. These centers also house ASD resource materials available for loan to parents, professionals and community members. Some sites have materials in addition to those provided by the project. Contact the individual library for assistance in accessing the resources.
Resource Teams and Material Centers Locations

Education

Illinois Experiential Practicum

Each Summer, IATTAP sponsors week-long hands-on, experiential practicum for school teams in various locations throughout Illinois. Coaching and networking meetings are available during the school year for follow-up skill-building and support in implementation of strategies.
Experiential Practicum Flyer

Illinois State University Connection/ASD Courses

ISU IATTAP has developed a partnership with the Autism Spectrum Institute at Illinois State University. Through this partnership, a free on-line training course on autism has been developed which include CPDU and EI credits. The on-line course is also offered for graduate and undergraduate credit through ISU. See Training