We’re Moving!
Hello Families,
Rimland is happy to announce that we are very close to transitioning to the new location of our CDS Program (1101 Gregory in Des Plaines). Tomorrow (4/7/23) will be our last day at our Evanston location for our CDS Program. For the next two weeks, the clients will be at their residence during the day. The plan is then to open our CDS Program in Des Plaines. We also plan to open the new building for an open house for the families soon. More information to come.
Happy spring holidays! This Sunday, the clients will be celebrating at home with a catered dinner and goodies!
The Rimland Team
COVID-19 Update 1.7.22
Dear Rimland Community,
The Evanston Department of Health and Human Services recently published a letter in regard to the surge of COVID-19 cases and the necessary steps we as a community must take to protect our loved ones. Please read the letter below and help us stop the spread of COVID-19!
Thank you
-The Rimland Team
What We Can Learn from the Parents of High-Support Autistic Individuals
Having a disabled child is not particularly rare: Fourteen percent of U.S. public school students in 2017-2018 received special education services. Yet our society rarely addresses disability as a real parenting possibility, which means non-disabled parents like me are usually in the dark about best practices for raising a child with a disability. This state of ignorance is unfair to everyone involved and has made countless kids and parents miserable.
It really doesn’t have to be this way, though. After my son was diagnosed as autistic when he was 3, we embarked through a long, painful learning process to get to a state of acceptance and (relative) peace. No one should have to repeat our steep learning curve, so I’m sharing what made all the difference for us: Discovering, and listening to the insights of autistic adults.
Parents need to hear from people who have lives similar to what our children will experience. These adults can warn us about avoidable mistakes, and they can counter our assumptions about what it means to live a good life — even when that life is complicated.
What autism researchers and advocates want for people on the spectrum
Greta Thunberg has recently drawn attention for being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year and she has openly talked about how her Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis makes her different, and how being different is a superpower.
In politics, Democratic candidate Joshua Collins is running for Congress and would be the first openly autistic member if elected.
With more people on the autism spectrum being open about their diagnoses, we talked to a researcher and an advocate about what should be part of the discussion around autism today.
Holiday Happenings
We closed out 2019 in style, with a celebration of the end-of-year holidays and our annual Parent-Client Luncheon.
At the end of November, we had another fun celebration with our traditional Thanksgiving party. Each year, we cater all of our clients’ favorite Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and of course some apple pie for dessert! Staff pitched in to decorate our Developmental Training Center with streamers and posters, and it was so nice to see everyone get dressed up for this special meal. In the spirit of being thankful, we would like to recognize all of our hardworking employees who worked on Thanksgiving and spent time with their Rimland family. We couldn’t do this without you!
For the Parent-Client Luncheon on December 20, our headquarters was festively adorned with holiday lights and glittery ornaments decorated by our clients and hung brightly from the ceilings. The clients came sharply dressed in holiday attire and ready to celebrate in high fashion! Parent volunteer Mrs. Ann Moltz greeted our visitors at the door and showcased holiday candles and cards created with love by our clients. We were overwhelmed by the generous donations for these small offerings! The conference room was transformed into a winter wonderland complete with special “photo booth walls” for our clients and guests to create some great family memories. After a delicious lunch of mostaccioli, hot Italian beef, and salad (all served by our hardworking staff!), we enjoyed live music presented by Tom Sexton with special performances by some of our clients. Song and dance filled the room with good cheer and smiling faces. As the day wound down, we sampled homemade goodies and sweets before finally saying goodbye to our visitors. We are so thankful to be able to enjoy the holidays with our Rimland families and friends! Thank you to all who made this a fabulous day!
Got SMART
We recently installed three SMART Boards at our Developmental Training Center. SMART Boards are state-of-the-art technology that combine visual displays with touch interaction, leading to an engaging educational experience for users. From the classroom to the boardroom, SMART Boards make learning interactive by being hands-on, flexible, and versatile.
They function as digital whiteboards but also have web browsing and apps. We are thrilled to add this exciting feature to our program suite as a new way for our clients to learn and engage with technology at their own pace and access content that is most interesting to them.
Spooky spirits!
Last month, we celebrated our annual Halloween party. The festive fête featured a live music performance with Halloween-themed songs, clients decked out in costumes, and treat bags filled with milk and dark chocolates for everyone. When Rimland celebrates Halloween, the party is all about having fun, celebrating with others, and getting into the spooky spirit!
Kitchen Addition
We recently added a second kitchen and café to support our growing Developmental Training program. The goal for the café is to provide a safe space for individuals to practice their communal eating and socializing skills in preparation for applying them in real-world scenarios.
Adding a second café is a positive sign of program expansion at Rimland. We also had a great time painting the Disney-themed murals that decorate the kitchen!
Reception Renovations
We recently renovated our reception area, and we are thrilled with the results! As we considered the area where visitors first encounter Rimland, we wanted to ensure that the space represents who we are and reflects renovations we’ve done to the rest of the building. The first order of business was to re-do the flooring. Next, we repainted the walls and adorned them with attractive artwork. Finally, we installed a new reception desk. Post-renovation, the entrance is vibrant, comforting, and most of all, welcoming. HGTV, here we come!
Summer’s Bounty
Summer is in full swing and Rimland’s gardens are blooming!
The gardens are thriving at our residences and at the Developmental Training Center, and it has been such a pleasure to see our clients’ hard work paying off. In addition to growing herbs and potting plants, clients are also growing fresh vegetables and fruits—including tomatoes, zucchini, kale, and collard greens—to enjoy.
On top of the terrific benefits of outdoor activity and creating a sustainable food source, these gardens make Rimland properties all the more beautiful.
Making Evanston more aware and inclusive
On August 10, Executive Director Carolyn Keel represented Rimland at an autism awareness discussion at Evanston’s Ebenezer AME Church. The purpose of the event was to provide a wide range of information on the autism community to members of the church as well as to the broader Evanston community. Carolyn presented information about Rimland’s history and our current programs. Not only is it helpful for Evanston residents to know what autism resources are available, but this kind of exchange is also an important opportunity for the city to be inclusive and to become more aware of its own diversity. Rimland has a longstanding partnership with the city of Evanston and events like these help bring us together. Thank you, Carolyn!
The Gap Map: A New Autism Map points to diagnostic deserts in the US.
Did you know that more than 80% of counties in the United States do not have a diagnostic center for autism?
Follow the link for the story of the many geographical barriers to receiving a diagnosis of autism, as well as associated services.
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/new-autism-map-points-to-diagnostic-deserts-in-united-states/
Home and Gardening
Now that the weather has turned warm and sunny (sometimes!), clients are beautifying their homes through outdoor gardening projects. Seven clients took a trip to the Meinke Garden Center in Niles to purchase vegetables to plant at one of our homes.
Before going to the garden center, clients spent time in their classes learning about and discussing each vegetable.
Once they arrived at the garden center, each client was responsible for picking out one vegetable. Their selections included collard greens, kale, large tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, and bell peppers.
This was a particularly enriching project because it involved education, community engagement, short-term reward (going on an outing), and long-term gratification (the wait until the vegetables are ready to eat). We look forward to incorporating the vegetables into our summer menu!
Healthcare Resources for Adults with Autism
Did you know that AASPIRE (Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education at Portland State University) has developed an online healthcare toolkit for adults with autism, their supporters, and healthcare providers? The website focuses on primary healthcare and is meant to improve the healthcare of autistic adults.
Chocked full of health and medical information, exercise tips, worksheets, and checklists, the site is a trove of useful resources to autistic adults and their family members, health providers, and supporters. Visit the Healthcare Toolkit website now.
April 2 is Autism Awareness Day
For more than a decade, April 2 has been designated as World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations to help raise public support for research and education initiatives and to increase overall understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism. At Rimland, of course, every day is an opportunity to support individuals with autism and raise awareness in the public sphere.
According to Psychology Today magazine, here are three things we can do to support individuals with autism and their families:
- Don’t Judge – Individuals with autism may be judged by others who don’t understand the autism spectrum and attendant behaviors. No matter how constructive you think your advice or criticism may be, be aware that expressing your opinion may do more harm than good.
- Support Research Initiatives – Donate to autism research efforts as you are able. Share information with people you know. Keep abreast of the current research topics and findings.
- Be There – Some individuals or families may feel isolated and alone when dealing with autism in their midst. They may appreciate a sympathetic ear or someone to ask how they are. Show interest and be ready to listen and offer help where needed.
Water Works
On Saturday, March 22, five individuals from Rimland participated in Special Olympics Illinois’ Region B Swimming (Aquatics) meet at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois. Events featuring Rimland participants included the 25 meter freestyle and the 25 meter backstroke. Two swimmers received silver medals and one received gold for their efforts in their respective events.
Competing in the Special Olympics is a longstanding tradition at Rimland and one we look forward to every year. Participants train throughout the year by attending swim classes and exercising. It’s terrific fun for the swimmers but also for the family and staff members who cheer them on. Congratulations to all the participants and their supporters!
Region B Spring Games, including track and field events, will take place May 4 at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. We hope to see you there!
Exploring Future Housing Options for Adults with Autism
Though the range of the autism spectrum is certainly vast, one universal issue individuals with autism face has to do with housing. While Rimland is has been a leader in the effort to provide supportive housing for adults with autism in Chicagoland, other areas of the state are beginning to take action to create housing options for adults with autism. Normal, IL, will be hosting a meeting on March 19th to address the lack of housing for adults with autism in McClean county and to develop action items that will move toward solving the housing crisis in the country. There are an estimated 3,000 individuals with autism in McLean County, and Rimland is glad to see the Normal community taking action to help support these individuals just as we do here in the the Chicagoland area. Follow the link for more on what’s happening in Normal. https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/meetings-in-normal-to-explore-future-housing-options-for-adults/article_32e88e3a-8646-5340-aaa8-17022e5a4acf.html
These moms are building a forever home for their adult autistic children
Rimland provides housing and services for the most severe cases of autism, but waiting lists for such services can be lengthy and the need is growing. Follow the link to learn about a plan developed by some moms in Wisconsin to ensure that their adult children with autism have a home of their own.
Holiday cards are here!
Rimland’s 2018 holiday cards are available for purchase. Each of these cards were designed by Rimland clients and we are so proud to share them with you. If you would like to purchase them, please contact legan@rimland.org to make arrangements. Variety packs are available for $10.00 and include snowmen, Christmas trees, cornucopias, reindeer, and more!