2014 Upcoming Events The Giant Steps Advocate Spring 2014 Giant Steps Spring 2014 SUPER Event - WHOLE Month of April Giant Steps Prom Benet Academy Comes to Giant Steps April is Autism Awareness month! Giant Steps invites Put your dancing shoes on, get dressed up, and come Benet Academy’s campus ministry program, SALT (Serving and Loving Together), has teamed up with Giant your church, boy/girl scout troop, high school club, or out for this highly anticipated event! Our secondary Steps, allowing Benet students to volunteer at Giant Steps’ recreation center. Each Benet volunteer gets paired up any organization to hold a fundraiser, such as a bake students and staff dance the afternoon away celebrat- with a Giant Steps student and helps support them during their rec center activities, such as swimming, Special sale, car wash, rummage sale, etc - it’s up to you! Pro- ing this end of the year event! Olympics basketball practice, music therapy, tutoring, social groups, making crafts, theatre practice, and much more. ceeds to benefit Giant Steps for the whole month. Autism Community Resource Fair End-of-the-year Backyard BBQ Giant Steps is one of Many of the Benet volunteers come back to Giant Steps week after week, volunteering their Come visit with local organizations that all have one It’s the end of the year, and it is time to celebrate with time during rec center camps and on days when they are off from school. Benet volunteers thing in common - AUTISM. Learn about the most re- students, staff, volunteers, families, and community my favorite places coordinate their volunteer schedule with Tara Oetting, Giant Steps’ Rec Center Coordinator. cent research and information for parents and profes- supporters! Food, music, games, and fun all in Giant to spend my time. There are between three and six volunteers at the rec center on a weekly basis. All Benet sionals, helping better understand the barriers and chal- Steps backyard! volunteers were trained about autism and Giant Steps programming by our training team. lenges that people with autism face on a daily basis. Giant Steps’ students really enjoy spending time with our Benet volunteers. They enjoy socializing and interacting with new people. Rich Harvest’s 4th Annual Charity Golf Classic Golf-a-Thon Kickoff - 88 Holes Golf-a-thon. We are very grateful for this wonderful group of people. They have volunteered their most valuable time to our students and rec New and Exclusive Opportunities at Rich Harvest center. They are dependable and reliable every week, becoming invested in our students, and in turn, Giant Steps’ students have Play any number of times, on your own schedule, on Farms this year! Foursome Overnight Retreat - in- your own courses, and with whomever you want. A become invested in them. Tara described the Benet volunteers as high caliber, reliable, and engaging people. They show up when cludes green fees, lunch, exclusive dinner in Plantation they say they are going to show up, they really engage our students and they are always looking for new ways to help or get involved. $35 registration fee per person includes a Giant Steps House, overnight private accommodations, breakfast, Swings for Autism T-shirt, golf ball, and visor. and an afternoon of golf, fishing, and horseback riding. Callie Sharp, a Benet volunteer, describes her volunteer experience, “I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GIANT STEPS. I have four cousins with mental disabilities, two of which have autism. I know that these children are sometimes isolated Raising the Stakes Casino Night and in need of friends. I love going to Giant Steps and just hanging out with the kids. When I see them advance and Put on your poker face and join us for Giant Steps’ A Giant Step Ahead 5k & One Mile Activity Path make progress, I get so happy and proud. Giant Steps is one of my favorite places to spend my time. It brings me joy.” May Casino Night hosted by the Junior Board at the Hilton in Enjoy a day with family and friends along a beautiful 5k path located on St. James Farm, along with a one 3 Lisle from 7pm-11pm. $100/person includes open bar, Jacqueline Bedore, Benet’s Director of Campus Ministry, said “Benet is so grateful for our relationship with Giant Steps - food, and $50 in chips to play at this mini-version Las activity path for the kids. After party to immediately follow. Start thinking about your teams! we love the ability to be involved with the students in hands on experiences, we love that it is so close to our school and Vegas event. All proceeds will benefit Giant Steps. community, we love that we can help both here at Benet and there at Giant Steps, we love that we can share our individual passions -acting, signing, swimming, helping, etc. to make life better for someone else. I love how Giant Steps seems like a family atmosphere the minute you walk into the door and that you have invited Benet to be a part of that family.” In spring 2013, Garrett Slemmons, Giant Steps Director of Community

May 3 Services, approached Benet Academy with the idea of partnering together I love how Giant Steps seems like a to give both Giant Steps and Benet students the ability to build relationships family atmosphere the minute you with each other. Jacqueline Bedore and several new board members met with Garrett about potential volunteer opportunities. Annalisa Tarrizo, one of the walk into the door and that you have students who attended that meeting, loved the idea and became the student invited Benet to be a part of that family coordinator for the program. During the fall of 2013, Garrett and Jacqueline started scheduling training for students who were interested in volunteering at Giant Steps. The training prepared Benet students and helped them understand the situations they may encounter while volunteering at Giant Steps. It also made them feel comfortable coming to Giant Steps knowing more about autism than they have in the past. Giant Steps thanks the volunteers of Benet Academy for getting to know our students and appreciating each student’s uniqueness. If

you would like more information about the rec center, please contact Tara Oetting [email protected] or (630) 864-3853.

Lisle, Illinois 60516 Illinois Lisle, 2500 Cabot Drive Cabot 2500

lifeskills ׀ recreation ׀ therapy ׀ training ׀ autism education

2500 Cabot Drive ∙ Lisle, Illinois 60532 ∙ Phone: 630-864-3800 ∙ Fax: 630-864-3820 ∙ www.mygiantsteps.org Eye on the Spectrum Dealings in Development Spring 2014 Giant Steps Spring 2014 Giant Steps Autism Training Center at Giant Steps Our development team continues to work hard on upcoming projects and events. The Autism Training Center at Giant Steps was invited to present at the Illinois Associate of Park • St. Charles Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Campaign donated $1,800 to Giant Steps in September. Districts/Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IAPD/IPRA) Soaring to New Heights Conference on • A Giant Step Ahead 5k Walk and One Mile Activity Path raised $48,000 for Giant Steps programming in October January 25, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. There were thousands of people from all over the state 2013. in attendance, ranging from therapeutic recreation staff to park district commissioners, and about 30 – 35 • During our Kohl’s Bowl events, we raised $2,500. Thank you to the participating Kohl’s stores for bowling on our people participated in the informative three hour workshop, Making Your Park District Autism Friendly. behalf. • Giant Steps Junior Board hosted its’ Second Annual Cocktail Reception raising $9,500. Susan Hamre, Autism Training Director, and Joy Cooper, Autism Training Specialist, discussed topics, Meet the Flockers including general information on autism, suggestions for a variety of equipment and facilities to have • Our newest campaign has raised $1,100. available in parks (e.g. shaded areas, fenced in playgrounds, easily accessible family bathrooms, sensory • The 2013 End of the Year Appeal raised $22,000. equipment, and a variety of swings), as well as strategies to use when supporting participants with • Giant Steps inducted 104 members into Giant Steps Champions, supporters of Giant Steps raising/donating autism in park district programs. This workshop provided current information about autism and how $1,000 in one year. it could affect public park districts. Additionally, information regarding best practices when working • Giant Steps received the following grants: $2,500 grant from USG Foundation, $250 from Meadwestvaco, $2,000 with someone with autism was presented along with how to make your park district autism-friendly and from Jocarno Fund, $500 from Kardos Family Foundation, $30,000 from Wesley Luehring Foundation, $2,000 inviting to the public. from Harris Family Charitable Fund, and $120,000 from an anonymous foundation. • Giant Steps held its’ 18th Annual Auction for Autism on February 22, 2014 at Bobak Signature Room in Lisle, The learning objectives for this conference were to allow participants to gain an understanding of autism grossing over $260,000. and how best to work with someone on the autism spectrum, and to also learn how to include individuals with a diagnosis of autism into park district programs with ease.

Susan and Joy were very happy with and excited to be part of the workshop; it was an engaging learning experience for the participants and the trainers alike. The participants brought interesting questions to the table, and reported that they would like to have autism trainings for their entire park district.

The training department at Giant Steps is looking ahead to April, which is autism awareness month, and they wondering how they might be able to support individuals diagnosed with autism by offering training to the greater community. They have had the opportunity to share information about autism with the Morton Arboretum, Chamberlain Nursing College, various police and fire departments, park districts, bus companies, churches, museums, libraries, and other public venues. If you know of a place or event that could benefit from receiving some basic training in autism, please contact the training team at Giant Steps! Susan Hamre (630) 864-3803; [email protected] or Joy Cooper (630) 864-3809; [email protected] FUNDRAISE FOR GIANT STEPS’ SUPER EVENT 2014 Giant Steps invites you to choose a day, a weekend, a week, or the entire month, and host a fundraiser(s) or Upcoming Parent Training Community Resource Fair friendraiser(s) to support Giant Steps during the month of April for Autism Awareness month. You can have Sensory Systems April 12, 2014 your church, boy/girl scout troop, high school club, restaurant, or any other organization hold a fundraiser. The 9:00am - 1:00pm fundraiser can be any size and in any format - a bake sale, car wash, rummage sale, March 19, 2014 tips from your restaurant, percentage of sales from your business, etc. - it’s up to you! 9:30 - 11:00 Join us at Giant Steps and visit with a variety Proceeds to benefit Giant Steps. Presenter: Maria Rattin, Occupational Therapist of local organizations that all have one thing in common - AUTISM. Learn about the We encourage you to take photos and share them with us. We will be promoting your • Review basic concepts of sensory processing and most recent research and information for fundraiser before and after the event via social media, emails, and our website. sensory systems parents and professionals, helping better • Learn techniques to use at home without expensive understand the barriers and challenges that All donations are appreciated one week after the event. No minimum donation equipment people with autism face on a daily basis. required - every little bit counts! A thank you letter will be sent out once the donation • Be introduced to visual supports to help with is received that can be used for tax purposes. This form is due by March 24th, 2014. sensory regulation For more information, please contact Lisa Cummings Ewers at 630-864-3804 or email • Get inspired about new ways to encourage her at [email protected] independence at home

lifeskills ׀ recreation ׀ therapy ׀ training ׀ lifeskills autism education ׀ recreation ׀ therapy ׀ training ׀ autism education 2500 Cabot Drive ∙ Lisle, Illinois 60532 ∙ Phone: 630-864-3800 ∙ Fax: 630-864-3820 ∙ www.mygiantsteps.org 2500 Cabot Drive ∙ Lisle, Illinois 60532 ∙ Phone: 630-864-3800 ∙ Fax: 630-864-3820 ∙ www.mygiantsteps.org