WFMB Radio interview with Dr. Nyre discussing Hope's campus conversion agreement.

The Hope Institute introduced campus conversion agreement from Communicating Hope on Vimeo.

Stories of Hope: Ryan's Story

This is the season for making wonderful memories.

When Ryan was born, he was just like any other baby. But then something went wrong. His brain stopped growing.


Neurologists from across the country have been unable to determine what happened. “Ryan is waiting for medical science to catch up,” says his dad, Scott.

Ryan doesn’t speak. “He had a couple of words at age three, but ...

Read More

The Hope Institute's Tom LeClair gains fame nationwide

The State Journal-Register published an article on The Hope Institute's Chief Development Officer, Tom LeClair, this past week.  The story has been picked up by Gatehouse Media agencies nationwide, serving as a testament to the selfless actions of Mr. LeClair.  Tom's story has been published across more than 70 news agencies throughout the nation. 

Original December State Journal Register Article

Illinois

• Brookfield Suburban Life
• Glen Ellyn News
• West Chicago Press
• Daily American - West Frankfort
• Wheaton Leader
• LaGrange Suburban Life
• Lemont Reporter
• Clay County Advocate Press
• DuQuoin Evening Call 
• St. Charles Republican
• Lombard Spectator
• Westmont Prgoress
• Berwyn Life
• Woodridge Reporter
• Bloomingdale Press
• State News - Freeport, IL
• Lincoln Courier
• Daily Register - Harrisburg

New York

• Observer Dispatch - Utica
• Evening Times, LittleFalls

Massachussetts

• The Enterprise - Brockton
• Taunton Daily Gazette
• Metro West Daily News - Framingham
• Burlington Union - Concord

Ohio

• Times-Reporter - New Philadelphia

California

• Gridley Herald

Missouri

• Lake News - Osage Beach/Camdenton
• Rolla Daily News - Rolla
• Boonville Daily News - Boonville
• Macon Chronicle

Delaware

• Sussex Countian - Georgetown
• Dover Post

Other Locales
Helena Daily- Helena, AR
Siftings Herald - Arkadelphia, AR
La Junta Tribune, LaJunta, CO
Norwich Bulletin - Norwich, CT
Bastrop Daily Enterprise -  Bastrop, LA
Leesville Daily Ledger - Leesville, LA.
Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI
Crookston Times - Crookston, MN.
Echo Pilot - Greencastle, PA
Wellsphere.com

Plus atleast 28 other papers not including coverage in September and October.

The Hope Institute would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Please help us spread a message of Hope during this season of giving by sharing our video greeting.

Springfield's Own Magazine Article on The Hope Institute for Children and Families

Download or View the article as a pdf by clicking here

or view in a slideshow below (you can click on the icon to make the article full screen).

So Magazine Article Dec 2009

View more documents from The Hope Institute .

Ambassadors of Hope are inducted.

Our newest Ambassadors of Hope were inducted last evening at the Governor's mansion in Springfield.  These gentlemen "dress to impress" and are generous in their support of the children of The Hope Institute for Children and Families. Learn more about the Ambassadors in this December, 2009 coverage from WICS TV 20.

A Season of Giving at The Hope Institute for Children and Families

Dear Friends of The Hope Institute,


This is the season for giving, and the children of The Hope Institute for Children and Families are no exception!

Our children – all of whom have multiple physical and developmental disabilities – have learned the importance of giving back to the community in gratitude for all they have received. It is just one of the many ways in which The Hope Institute prepares youth to achieve their full potential despite the challenges they face.

This year, our senior classes will be serving meals and clearing tables at an agency that helps the homeless. Will, Jamie and Ashley will share Holiday treats and play bingo with residents at a local nursing home, and Drew and Taylor will deliver small gifts to those staying at the local Ronald McDonald House. Jamie, Will, Ashley, Taylor and Drew are not only learning about giving, they are inspiring us all by the ways they are putting those lessons into action!

You are in inspiration to many. Will you continue the legacy of giving by supporting the Children of Hope? Your donation today – using the handy link on our Facebook fan page or our website – will help us continue to teach important lessons of daily life for some of our society’s most vulnerable youth.

More significantly, you will be helping to create a future of Hope for children, families and communities across Illinois. Thank you in advance for opening your heart to our children in this season of giving.

Please share this story with your friends and family

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting Wrap-up (Part 1)

On Friday, November 13, 2009, more than 1,200 participants and facilitators gathered across the U.S. to discuss and develop an actionable platform to address the issues that affect adults with autism. 42% of those participating in the forum were either adults with autism or family members. In addition, 35% were program and service providers, with community leaders representing another 16% of participants. In Chicago, we were joined by numerous community leaders including Mayor Daley, Mrs. Daley and officials from throughout the city.
Participants in Friday's historic event had...Read More

Hope and TAP at the AFAA Town Hall Meeting

Captions will be added over the weekend

TAP sets up for the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting

A look into the setup of the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting at the UIC Forum.

Springield's Ace Hardware offers "Hope Plaques" designed by Hope School Students

Ace Hardware, located on Wabash Avenue in Springfield, recently asked the Hope School Vocational Department if students would help decorate a number of plain stone plaques for Christmas displays as part of their on-the-job training program. Hope students assisted by hand-painting the stone plaques that have now been placed around Christmas trees throughout the store. Ace Hardware has now renamed these newly decorated stones "Hope Plaques" and announced that 100% of the proceeds from the sales of Hope Plaques will benefit the The Hope Institute for Children and Families.

Hope Plaques are available for $5 at Ace Hardware on Wabash Avenue. The Hope Institute would like thank Ace Hardware for their support of The Hope Institute for Children and Families. In addition, we want to recognize the student, staff, and job coaches for their hard work and students whose hard work went into making the Hope Plaques.

Chicago Outreach Radio promotes the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting

Chicago Outreach Radio interviewed The Autism Program of Illinois' Director of Operations, Georgia Winson about the upcoming Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting.  Listen in streaming audio or on video.

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism on Outreach Radio from Communicating Hope on Vimeo.

Examiner: Addressing the needs of adults with autism: Inside the national town hall meeting

From the Examiner: Addressing the needs of adults with autism: Inside the national town hall meeting

...The Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting represents a departure from typical agenda-driven symposiums or conferences. The "town hall" format will not include long-winded speakers or panelists; nor will the "town hall" meeting be driven by a single organization's agenda. Rather, the national town hall format is designed to break down participants into smaller groups, providing each participant the opportunity to provide substantive feedback and address the issues specific to their own experiences. The use of technology will aid in consolidating participant discussions into a clear set of shared priorities and recommendations. Producing and facilitating the event is AmericaSpeaks, an organization that has facilitated dozens of "town hall" style events over the past 12 years.


The AFAA National Town Meeting has brought together more than 42 organizations nationwide including The Autism Program of Illinois, The Hope Institute for Children and Families, Easter Seals, Autism Speaks, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, Alpine Learning Group...read more

The Autism Program releases new video for the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting

Here is the Hope Institute for Children and Families and The Autism Program of Illinois' latest video release to help promote The Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting on November 13th.  Scholarships are still available for the Chicago site and CEU and CPDUs will be available for Illinois participants.  For More information visit our Autism Town Hall website.

The Hope Institute's Rachel Rambach still making headlines

The Hope Institute for Children and Families', Rachel Rambach continues to gain media attention following an article in Monday's State Journal-Register.  This morning another 11 news sources were passed along to us.

Canton Dail Ledger - Canton, IL

Pekin Times - Pekin, IL

SJ-R cover story on Hope's Rachel Rambach picked up by 17 nationwide papers

A story released on Monday by the State Journal-Register featuring The Hope Institute for Children and Families' music therapist, Rachel Rambach, was re-printed Wednesday across 17 newspapers nationwide.  The story, Musician offers lyrical learning with music therapy, was re-printed from Boston to Louisiana.  Great Job Rachel!

Illinois
Galesburg Register-Mail
Olney - Olney Daily Mail

Press Release: Participants Of Chicago's National Autism Town Hall Meeting Eligible For Continuing Education Credit

The Autism Program of Illinois has announced that Illinois participants at the Chicago location of the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting will be eligible for continuing education credits. Illinois-licensed Speech Language Pathologists (SLP), Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers will be eligible for up to 5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for their participation in the symposium. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC)will also be eligible for 5 CEU’s for social workers. In addition, Illinois Educators attending the symposium will be eligible for up to 5 Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs). Under state guidelines one unit will be awarded for each contact hour.

Events Calendar

To add an event to the calendar please please send us an email with the details.

Press Release: Scholarships available for participants of the AFAA National Autism Town Hall Meeting in Chicago

The Autism Program of Illinois and The Hope Institute for Children and Families are pleased to announce the limited availability of scholarships for the Chicago location of the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting.

SJ-R: Music therapist uses songs as teaching aid at Hope Institute

Rachel Rambach has a song for almost every occasion or teachable moment, from "Yummy Summer" and "Friendly Words" to "Fall into Fall" and "Under, Over, In and Out." The 26-year-old Springfield native has composed more than...Read More at SJ-R

Participants Sought For National Autism Town Hall Meeting In Chicago

The Autism Program of Illinois is seeking participants for the November 13, 2009 AFAA National Town Hall Meeting, central hub to be hosted at the UIC Forum, Chicago.

Examiner: Sixteen city national autism town hall to offer unprecedented opportunity for legislative change

During the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of autism-related disorders. A recent Centers of Disease Control report shed further light upon the increase with revised statistics showing that 1 in every 100 American children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Increased prevalence, early diagnosis and awareness initiatives have led to an increase in demand for both appropriate and effective services for adolescents and adults with autism. Unfortunately, such demand has far exceeded... Read More

4 ways you can help The Hope Institute for Children and Families

#1) Suggest - Help us expand our base of supporters by suggesting our fan pages to your friends and family.


#2) Share on FB - Share our stories with those you know and encourage them to pass it on.

#3) Digg it, Buzz it , and StumbleUpon it - Have you ever wondered why a handful of sites tend to dominate the world of search engines and internet news? The answer is simple, they have a dedicated following that shares their stories with news aggregators.

Our objective within the communications department is to maintain positive public perception and increase our engaged base of supporters. You can help spread the mission of The Hope Institute by signing up for a Digg It, Buzz Up or StumbleUpon account. Once you have signed up for an account, when we share a story specific to The Hope Institute, simply click on the Digg It (or other) icon at the bottom of the story. By doing so, you are helping to increase our organization's online exposure and helping to direct individuals searching for special needs information to our organization. With the strength of our employees and supporters, we have the opportunity to spread the message of Hope.

#4) Contact us - If you stumble upon a article pertaining to The Hope Institute, please let us know. We want to maintain a positive image and must be able to properly react to both positive and negative articles published about organization.

We are appreciative of the dedication of all our supporters.