HBO & The Autism Program of Illinois present Temple Grandin

Pictures from our exciting premiere of Temple Grandin.

Temple Grandin Trailers

Introducing the latest trailers for HBO Film's Temple Grandin.  To learn how you can attend the world premiere on January 27th at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, visit The Hope Institute website or our facebook page.

The Autism Program partners with HBO for premiere of HBO Film's Temple Grandin

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) has partnered with HBO on the Chicago premiere of the new HBO Films’ production, “Temple Grandin”, which brings to the screen the story of the best-selling author, animal scientist and autism advocate.

The Chicago Premiere will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The event, which is being specially targeted to the autism community in Illinois, will begin with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by a screening of the film at 7:00 p.m. Following the film, a panel comprised of persons with autism, family members, noted researchers and a media representative will discuss the film.

Starring Golden Globe winner Claire Danes in the title role, “Temple Grandin” paints a picture of a young woman’s perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism at a time when the disorder was quite unknown.

Click Here to learn more about the movie, Temple Grandin and to win 2 tickets to the Chicago Premiere!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.