annual report

fscal year 2012

The Autsm Program of Illinois (TAP) and the TAP Service Network of universites and community agencies have been
provided with a number of opportunites this year to demonstrate our commitment to those children diagnosed
with an Autsm Spectrum Disorder and their families. Now in its ninth year, TAP remains an innovatve group of
professionals striving to achieve the vision of Illinois as a place where persons with an Autsm 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 Autsm 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 educaton. For FY2013 we will be collaboratng with additonal
agencies, beginning with: Litle Friends of Naperville; the Beth Lacey Center in Cicero; Answer, Inc. in Forest Park;
and Lutheran Social Services in Springfeld. Over this past year, the TAP Service Network has trained more than 9000
professionals physicians, nurses, frst responders, educators in the recogniton of ASD, as well as providing them
with informaton 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 ofen not covered by health
insurance or Medicaid.
These opportunites have not come without challenges. As a program funded by the State of Illinois, TAP and
the Service Network contnue to share the pain of the states fscal crisis. The need and demand for services,
educaton, and resources have grown at an even faster pace than the 78% increase in ASD prevalence reported by the
CDC. The state-wide, collaboratve nature of the TAP Service Network has been invaluable in the development and
implementaton of new and innovatve ways to meet this increased need by providing high quality services with a level
of fscal efciency that could not be otherwise achieved.
These are challenging tmes 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 critcal need for evidence-based services for ASD
contnues to grow, and the TAP Service Network remains the most afordable way to meet this need.

Best Regards,

Bronwyn E. Rains, NSCP, LCPC
Director- The Autsm Program of Illinois
The Autsm Program of Illinois (TAP) was
formed in 2003 by Public Act 93-0395.
Beginning with three Regional Centers, TAP
has grown to meet the increased need for
training and services; The TAP Service Network
consists of 4 University Partners, 8 Service
Centers, 4 Collaboratve Partners, as well as cooperatve
relatonships with many other agencies throughout Illinois.
This Network contnues to efciently and efectvely serve
children with autsm and their families across Illinois.
our HISTORY
our MISSION
To serve and support persons with Autsm Spectrum Disorder and their families, with an
emphasis on services to children, through a coordinated network of providers, parents, and
university programs while developing, utlizing, and sharing best and promising practces.
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 Autsm Spectrum Disorder.
Improve the knowledge and skills of educaton and healthcare
professionals in order to increase the availability of Early
Identfcaton, Screening, and Diagnosis of Autsm Spectrum Disorder.
Contnue to improve collaboraton and communicaton with and
among key stakeholders.
how we help
The TAP Service Network provides informaton, resources,
and a variety of services to children with an Autsm
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families, without regard
to their ability to pay. Each Network Partner provides a
diferent range of services designed to meet community
needs. Services can include screening, diagnosis,
consultaton, Applied Behavior Analysis, individual and
family treatment, support groups and social skills groups. In additon, Network Partners provide
training for parents and professionals in the community in an on-going basis depending on need.
Afer receiving our sons diagnosis we did not know where to go. We contacted
The Autsm Program at Easter Seals and were linked to the New Diagnosis Orientaton
Program. It was a life saver and provided us with all the optons available to us in the
community. We are so thankful we found this parent training program.
My son loves coming to Young
Adult Club (YAC). It is often
what he looks forward to all
week. He has made so many
friends and has learned many
skills 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 Universites
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 developmental
screening 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 locaton to obtain medical diagnosis of
ASD when warranted
Worked with Lutheran Family Services of Illinois to increase
housing optons available to adults with an ASD
TOTAL
501
1,053
1,111
654
1,121
159
512
9,074
14
10
5
24
4
4
5
446
6,545
84,925
65,200
1,033
8,190
The Autisn Progran of lIIinois Network Activity FY2012
Dognostc Assessment (unlque count wltbln Quarters)
Iomly Treotment (unlque count wltbln Quarters)
ducotorlIomly Consultoton & Cose Monogement (unlque cllent
count wltbln Quarters)
Tronngs Provded
5ervice VoIunes
Direct 5ervice VoIunes by ChiIdren (unlque count wltbln Quarters)
Screenng l lntoke (unlque count wltbln Quarters)
Chld Treotment (unlque count wltbln Quarters)
Resource & ReferraI: Parent, FaniIy, Provider, & Connunity Outreach
Training Prograns and 5ervices
Clossroom Consultoton (unlque classroom count wltbln Q's)
|CAAP Tralnlng
Tralnlngs Provloeo (count)
Total Partlclpants Tralneo (count)
ADOS Tralnlng
Day Care Tralnlng
Face to Face ano L-Mall Contacts tbrougb FCRRs tbrougbout tbe
Network
Contacts wltb otber agencles, provloers, parent groups wltb tbe purpose
ot bullolng a system ot care or collaboratlve to plan ano conouct events
plannlng ano oellver programs & servlces to reouce oupllcatlon
Attenoees ln collaboratlve contacts
vlslts to TAP Network Partner FCRRs tbrougbout tbe Network
Free Learnlng Alos Provloeo
Larly |nterventlon Tralnlng
Tralnlng ln Autlsm tor Parents ano Protesslonals (TAPP)
Otber Tralnlngs
Telebealtb Consultatlons ano Skllls Spotllgbts Hosteo
Flrst Responoer Tralnlng
FY2012
It is the fuel that
allows common
people to attain
uncommon results
- Andrew Carnegie
The state of Illinois is flled 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 living
across the state also vary,
and a one size fts all
philosophy simply doesnt
work.
The TAP Service Network
recognizes 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 Offce focuses
on state-wide issues, Network
coordination, and distribution of
information and funding to our
Partners. The Central Offce also
establishes priorities for focused research
and services during the year.
from network collaboraton
Illinois benefts
from network collaboraton
For Fiscal Year 2012, the focus was on Early Identifcation and Intervention, and three
separate 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 specialized
training 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 confdent in their ability to screen and refer children who may have an ASD or other
developmental disability.
This is just an example of 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 defnitely exceeds the sum of its parts.
Illinois benefts
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 my
sons 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 chance
Providing chances since 2003
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 fve
was ready for their photo; however, the child
with Autism struggled to stay in place for the
picture...After six attempts, the family fnally
received 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 really
starting to get somewhere! Without our time
at TAP/SIU we feel that our son would still be
lost.
Every child deserves a chance
Providing chances since 2003
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
Springfeld, 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
Springfeld, IL 217-525-8332
www.theautismprogram.org
our CENTERS
www.theautsmprogram.org
5220 S. Sixth Street Road
Suite 1700
Springfeld, Illinois 62703
217.525.8332