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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Debra Nauman, the founder
4of Giant Steps, on her years of tenacious work for the autism
5community; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Debra Nauman, a single mother with two children on
7the autism spectrum, began her journey 23 years ago; motivated
8by her son, Riley, who was not receiving the services he needed
9at school to effectively learn, she realized he needed a
10program that understood him and autism; her dynamic personality
11led her to start Giant Steps, the first school in Illinois for
12students with autism, in 1996; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Without alternatives for programming, Debra
14Nauman turned to her local legislator, former U.S.
15Representative Judy Biggert, for assistance; subsequently,
16former State Representative Patti Bellock continued to support
17Giant Steps; with their help, the initial funding to start
18Giant Steps was secured through the Illinois General Assembly,
19making Riley the first student at Giant Steps Day School; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Today, Giant Steps serves over 200 students and
21adults from across northern Illinois; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Giant Steps autism services now include the
2Transition Day School program in Lisle, where there are 165
3students attending from over 60 public school districts in
4northern Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Canopy Adult Day Program located in Sugar
6Grove provides vital continuing education for adults with
7autism who have aged out of the public school system; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Christine's Dream Equestrian Center at Rich
9Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove offers therapeutic riding lessons
10and vocational opportunities focused on experiential education
11and recreational skill development for students and adults from
12across northern Illinois; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Recreation After School Center in Lisle is a
14program that addresses two needs for families; first, it
15provides engaging and educational and community opportunities
16for students and adults after school; second, it provides camps
17for students during holidays that offer exciting and engaging
18activities designed to support learning; and
 
19    WHEREAS, These programs have helped countless individuals
20living with autism by offering new educational and therapeutic
21programs and enriching their daily lives, and Giant Steps has
22grown into a national leader in the world of autism; therefore,

 

 

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1be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we congratulate Debra Nauman on her years of untiring work as
5the founder of Giant Steps and commend all she has done to help
6families across the State who are living with autism; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to Debra Nauman as an expression of our esteem and
10respect.