093_HR0247

                                     LRB093 11599 HSS 14935 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Giant Steps Illinois, Inc. is  a  model  program
 3    for autism education and family support; the mission of Giant
 4    Steps  is  to provide educational and therapeutic services to
 5    individuals  with  autism  spectrum   disorders   and   their
 6    families; and

 7        WHEREAS,  The  Educational  and Therapeutic Day School of
 8    Giant Steps began serving  12  full-time  students  in  1997;
 9    today, it serves 30 children with autism, ages 5 to 13; it is
10    located  in  Burr  Ridge  and students currently come from 17
11    different communities; and

12        WHEREAS, The Autism Center for Excellence of Giant  Steps
13    provides a multitude of services; the Stepping Stones Program
14    is  a  community  outreach  program  that offers family-based
15    classes for children with autism spectrum disorders from ages
16    2 to 14; and

17        WHEREAS,  The  Autism  Center  for  Excellence   provides
18    consultative  services  to  ensure  that children with autism
19    spectrum disorders are provided  with  necessary  therapeutic
20    and educational supports for success in the least restrictive
21    environment;  the  services  are available at cost for school
22    districts  and  families   within   the   home   and   school
23    environment;  the  Center also provides professional training
24    and workshops as well as internship training; and

25        WHEREAS, The core values of Giant  Steps  Illinois,  Inc.
26    are family focus, innovative services, excellence, inclusion,
27    collaborative    partnerships,    and   community   outreach;
28    therefore, be it

29        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
30    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
31    we recognize Giant Steps Illinois, Inc. as  a  model  program
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11599 HSS 14935 r
 1    for  autism  education  and  family  support  and commend the
 2    organization for its work in  the  area  of  autism  spectrum
 3    disorders; and be it further

 4        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
 5    presented to Giant Steps Illinois, Inc. as  a  token  of  our
 6    respect and esteem.