Sunday, July 27, 2008 10:45 PM CDT
Charleston Transitional Facility part of autism network
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — There are several resources available to people with autism and their families, but Alicia Hart has a simple way of summing up the advantages of the program she helps run.
“We just have things about autism here,” she said.
Hart is a family and community resource coordinator for the Charleston Transitional Facility, which works with people with developmental disabilities. Her current duties have her directing social skills workshops, training and other aspects in the CTF’s part of Illinois’ Autism Program network.
With grant funding from the state, the CTF has a location at Northwest Business Park to serve as one of the agencies throughout Illinois administering the program. Because of the grant funding, there’s no charge for any of the program’s services, Hart said.
The office’s small size belies its contents, as the program includes hands-on sessions for people with autism, a library-like resource room with materials on the subject, classes for people who might encounter an autistic person and more.
State legislation created the Autism Program Network and the CTF was able to get a share of $5 million in grant money available during the state’s 2008 fiscal year. Hart said the organization welcomed taking part when the program expanded beyond the state’s research universities.
“They weren’t quite hitting enough communities,” she said.
Autism has increased in recent years, leading educators to take a closer look at it and react in ways such as developing their own autism teams. Bud McMillan, special education director with Charleston schools, said the district will work with the CTF program and might involve it in the district’s autism team.
“It certainly can be a support to parents,” McMillan said. “We can let them know this is a resource for them.”
The CTF program includes a social skills group, which is a nine-week program that works with children ages 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12, and there’s also a “play group” for children younger than 4. Hart said there are different networks for young adults and teenagers, and both mostly let them “do what they want to do.”
“We did notice teenagers are kind of left out,” she said. “Teenagers, even those with autism, do have their own minds. It’s a way to leave it a little more open.”
The office’s resource room features books, toys, games, computer programs and other media. The social skills room looks like a big playground with play equipment and toys, and Hart said she and her family raised money to add sensory equipment that is rare outside of a school autism program.
The program also has monthly support group meetings, not just for family but for others as well, such as “if you have someone in church that has autism,” Hart explained. It also offers training for police to recognize autism and know how to deal with people if their condition means “they have no idea they’re crossing social boundaries,” she said.
The program’s staff also includes Director Kristin Elie, assistant Marie Scholer and two interns from the Eastern Illinois University School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Meagan Matthews and Angelina Berg. Hart said the program is open to volunteers, new interns or suggestions, and anyone interested or wanting more information can call her at 348-3869.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
Jay Grabiec/Staff Photographer
William Jess, 5, watches dyed water drip down a pinwheel while at the Charleston Transitional Facility on July 23.
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williamsmother2003 wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:48 PM:
If ordinary people would become educated I would receive a lot less rude comments and unwanted gawking in public! "