Association for Individual Development

12/13/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Jan-Aid Manager Diane Pillar on her well-deserved retirement! 🎉

After years of dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to her team, Diane is closing this chapter and stepping into a new adventure. Her guidance, passion, and steady support have made a lasting impact on the AID clients and staff she’s worked with.

Thank you, Diane, for everything you’ve given to the Jan-Aid team. Wishing you joy, relaxation, and all the wonderful moments retirement brings! 💛✨

12/12/2025

AgeGuide wants to hear from you- share your thoughts today to help improve their services! 📝

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

12/12/2025

❗FIRST WINNER DRAWN MONDAY!❗

🎀🎄The 2025 AID Holiday Raffle Baskets are here!⛄🎁

This year, we have 5 baskets: 4 baskets reminiscent of those from years before, and 1 brand-new jam-packed basket of fun... 👀

With tickets starting at one for $1 and six for $5, we have...
🍫🎄 “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Family Fun Basket 🎄☕
🦌🎄 “Reindeer Games” Family Fun Basket 🎄🛷
✨🎄 “Deck the Halls” Holiday Elegance Basket 🎄💙
🏡🎄 “Home for the Holidays” Entertainer’s Basket 🎄🍷
🎟️ Tickets and details can be found at https://afid.givecloud.co/Holiday-Raffle-Baskets

And the one you've all been waiting for: the 🦁🌆Chicago Museum Package!🖼️🦖
🔭 4 people - 15 museums - 7 days 🪐 This package will grant the winner (literal) tickets to a fun-filled week across some of Chicagoland's greatest museums and attractions! Because of the high value, the tickets for this basket are different at one for $20 or 3 for $50.
🎟️Tickets can be purchased at https://afid.givecloud.co/Chicago-Museum-Package-Raffle

Good luck to all, and to all a good holiday season! 🎅✨

12/11/2025

🍂🍽️AID Barnes House clients and staff recently held a festive and warm Thanksgiving meal! While cooking holiday staples together and enjoying the fruits (or vegetables, rather!) of their labor, they appreciated one another's company and reflected on everything they have to be grateful for. 🤎🧡

12/10/2025

🎉🚚 Today, we officially cut the ribbon on the Flavor Lab!

Alongside the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance, we celebrated this exciting milestone for AID and the communities we serve.

The Flavor Lab is more than a food truck — it’s a mobile culinary experience created to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through hands-on training and meaningful employment. Made possible by a generous grant from the Kane County Riverboat Fund, the Flavor Lab serves bold, mix-and-match dips and delicious dippers, showcasing the creativity and skills of AID clients.

We were honored to hear from:
• Casildo “Casey” Cuevas, Deputy Mayor of City of Aurora, IL, Government
• Courtney Littlejohn, AID Vice President of Community Day Services & Employment First
• Lore Baker, AID President & CEO

A heartfelt thank-you to our incredible AID staff and client attendees, our chamber partners, and Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Illinois for joining us and supporting inclusive employment in our community. Your presence made this celebration even more meaningful.

We can’t wait to hit the road and share the Flavor Lab experience with you — stay tuned for our official opening date and upcoming events!

12/09/2025

🚨 Federal homelessness funding is in jeopardy — and communities are at risk.
TAKE ACTION: https://endhomelessness.org/action/enough-is-enough

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is the primary source of federal homelessness funding across the country. A recent funding announcement introduced sweeping policy and process changes that would displace at least 170,000 formerly homeless households nationwide.

Local communities were forced into difficult decisions without clear guidance or adequate resources. Now, just days before applications were due, the funding announcement has been withdrawn, placing all planning efforts on hold and delaying funds indefinitely.

⏰ The consequences are serious.
Homelessness grants begin expiring in January 2026, with more ending each month after. Delays and uncertainty threaten housing stability for people who experienced homelessness, the frontline staff who support them, community partnerships, and housing providers who rely on rental payments.

📣 Congress must act now.
Our most vulnerable neighbors cannot afford disruption to life-saving programs. Lawmakers need to step in and ensure funding is released without further delay.

Contact your members of Congress today. Enough is enough.

12/06/2025

🎄🎁Recently, the Batavia Illinois Rotary Club came together for their annual wrapping party for AID Holiday Hopes! 🎁🎄

Held at Brother Chimp Brewing in North Aurora, the Wrapping Party is a bright and festive evening bustling with Rotarians carefully wrapping presents, crafting beautiful bows, and mingling amongst friends. Altogether, members of the philanthropic club donated over 200 gifts - bringing joy to the lives of over 200 AID clients during the holiday season. 💝

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Batavia for your continued and generous support!

12/05/2025

🎀🎄The 2025 AID Holiday Raffle Baskets are here!⛄🎁

This year, we have 5 baskets: 4 baskets reminiscent of those from years before, and 1 brand-new jam-packed basket of fun... 👀

With tickets starting at one for $1 and six for $5, we have...
🍫🎄 “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Family Fun Basket 🎄☕
🦌🎄 “Reindeer Games” Family Fun Basket 🎄🛷
✨🎄 “Deck the Halls” Holiday Elegance Basket 🎄💙
🏡🎄 “Home for the Holidays” Entertainer’s Basket 🎄🍷
🎟️ Tickets and details can be found at https://afid.givecloud.co/Holiday-Raffle-Baskets

And the one you've all been waiting for: the 🦁🌆Chicago Museum Package!🖼️🦖
🔭 4 people - 15 museums - 7 days 🪐 This package will grant the winner (literal) tickets to a fun-filled week across some of Chicagoland's greatest museums and attractions! Because of the high value, the tickets for this basket are different at one for $20 or 3 for $50.
🎟️Tickets can be purchased at https://afid.givecloud.co/Chicago-Museum-Package-Raffle

Good luck to all, and to all a good holiday season! 🎅✨

12/04/2025

On Tuesday morning, AID President & CEO Lore Baker was honored at the Three Fires Council, Scouting America Northern Kane County Good Scout Breakfast. ☕🔥

Alongside honorees Kyla Brittain, Elisa Lara, and Mark Seigle, Lore and AID were recognized for community efforts involving developmental, intellectual, physical, and mental health challenges, those who have experienced trauma, those in immediate or chronic crises, those who are chronically unhoused, and those at risk of losing their homes across our service area.

Thank you so much to the Three Fires Council for your gratitude and uplifting of members and providers in our Nothern Kane County community!

| Representative Suzanne Ness | Brittain's Car Wash | VNA Health Care

12/03/2025

🌍 International Day of Persons with Disabilities 🌟

We believe in a world where everyone — regardless of physical, developmental, or mental-health challenges — has the opportunity to live with dignity, purpose, and belonging.

Today, we celebrate the strength and potential of people with disabilities — and recommit to inclusion, access, and respect for all. ❤️

12/03/2025

We came so close to reaching our goal, thanks to the incredible heart of our community. 💗
We’re grateful for every single gift!

Our Giving Tuesday donation portal is still open until Friday at 5:00 p.m. — there’s still time to help us inch across the finish line: https://tinyurl.com/AIDGT2025