Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD)

12/11/2025

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE RCADD 2026 WEBINAR SERIES! https://cfl.uic.edu/overview/rcadd/ -for-any-rcadd-workshop

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, Your Support Helps RCADD Continue Supporting Families

At the Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays (RCADD), each workshop, visual support, and outreach initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to families, educators, and professionals who support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and or developmental delays.

This year, many people connected with RCADD by visiting our center, attending training, downloading materials, or reaching out for guidance. In all these moments, RCADD was present because people like you believe in this work.

If RCADD has been meaningful to you, your program, your school, or your family, Giving Tuesday is a chance to help us continue offering accessible resources to the community.

How Your Gift Helps

Your contribution supports:

- Free workshops for families and educators
- High demand visual supports used at home, in classrooms, and in professional settings
- Bilingual materials tailored to diverse communities
- One on one assistance for caregivers navigating available services
- Collaborations that strengthen support networks across the city and state

How to Give

Your gift helps RCADD remain a dependable, no cost resource for the people who rely on us.

GIFT DESIGNATION HERE: https://payment.give.uic.edu/campaigns/48417/donations/new

*Under Gift Designation Select "Other" and write Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays as your preferred designation

Thank you for supporting RCADD and the communities we serve.
Your generosity makes a meaningful difference.

12/01/2025

Family Matters PTIC
2025 December Trainings

FMPTIC does presentations to educate, empower, and support families, youth, and professionals in understanding special education rights, services, and transition planning.

This month, we highlight behavioral supports and interventions under IDEA. During the holiday season, when routines shift and emotions run high, we offer tools that help students feel secure, supported, and ready to thrive.

11/24/2025

RCADD Statement on CDC Language Regarding Vaccines and Autism

The Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays (RCADD) remains committed to providing families, educators, and healthcare professionals with accurate, evidence based information about autism and developmental delays.

For more than two decades, global research and peer reviewed studies have consistently shown no causal link between vaccines and autism. This conclusion is supported by leading health authorities worldwide, including:

World Health Organization (WHO): “There is no evidence of a causal association between vaccines and autism.”

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): “Vaccines are safe, effective, and do not cause autism.”

National Institutes of Health (NIH): “Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with genetic and environmental factors not vaccines.”

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors not by vaccination. Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for preventing serious infectious diseases and protecting community health.

Recent CDC Website Changes:

The CDC recently revised its website language, suggesting that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence based. RCADD emphasizes that this change does not reflect the scientific consensus. Over 40 high quality studies involving millions of participants have found no association between vaccines and autism.

Why This Matters:

Language that implies uncertainty about vaccine safety risks spreading misinformation, undermining public trust in immunization programs, and stigmatizing the autism community. Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for preventing serious infectious diseases and protecting public health.

RCADD’s Position:

• Vaccines do not cause autism.
• Autism is not preventable through vaccination decisions.
• Spreading myths about vaccines and autism harms both public health and individuals with autism.

Call to Action:

RCADD urges families and professionals to:

• Rely on credible, peer reviewed research and trusted health authorities.
• Continue routine immunizations to protect children and communities.
• Reject misinformation that stigmatizes autism or jeopardizes public health.

11/21/2025

Unlock Your Child’s Full Potential with the IEP Process
Monday, November 24, 2025
10:00 am11:00 am
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tVs3PIBoS_-TA5l_mNaSOA #/registration
Is your child in need of specialized support to thrive in school? The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a powerful tool designed to ensure your child gets the personalized education they deserve. Through a comprehensive evaluation, a dedicated team of experts will create an IEP that targets your child's unique learning needs. This plan includes tailored goals, specific accommodations, and ongoing support, helping them succeed at their own pace. Don’t navigate this journey alone, join us in this session to learn about IEP's and partner with Family Matters PTIC who can help to understand the process and can guide you every step of the way to maximize your child’s educational experience.

11/11/2025

S*xuality and the Spectrum: Lessons on S*x, Dating, and Love, Autism Style

Date & Time
Dec 11, 2025 03:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)

Description
Individuals on the autism spectrum are s*xual beings, yet teachers and clinicians across disciplines have struggled to rise to the challenge of helping autistic people learn skills related to dating and s*xuality. This presentation, which features an autistic woman sharing her firsthand perspective, will discuss how and why clinicians and teachers have fallen short in addressing dating skills, and the development and implementation of AASK, a s*x education curriculum that can be used to teach these skills to autistic college students and young adults. Strategies and resources will also be offered to help professionals and parents begin conversations about relationships and s*xuality with their children and clients.

REGISTER HERE:
https://illinoisstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LXuvcS9zQR2ZlcJjxX6Law #/registration

10/31/2025

We Got You ILLINOIS

Use our mapping tool to find grocery and meal programs that are close to you and match your schedule.

https://wegotyouillinois.org/find-food/ (en%7Cen)

Search the map to find free groceries or a hot meal at community organizations throughout Illinois. Use the map filters to find a location that is open today or on the day that works best for you to visit.

https://wegotyouillinois.org/find-food/ (en%7Cen)

10/27/2025

Study Title: Evaluating Technology Designed to Assist in Special Education Advocacy:
IRB #24-2309
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PI: Professor Karrie Karahalios, Department of Computer Sciences

The purpose of this survey is for individuals to indicate their interest in participating in a study. If you are a parent of a child with special needs (who may or may not receive accommodations from schools or the government to assist them) based in Illinois, have attended an Individualized Education Program/ Individualized Family Service Plan (IEP/IFSP) meeting before, and are fluent in English, you are eligible to participate in this study.

This survey will take approximately 2 minutes to complete. You will be asked to provide your email, so that the research team can contact you to schedule an interview for this study.

For questions, comments, or concerns, please email Ali Zaidi (aliz2@illinois.edu) and Professor Karrie Karahalios (kkarahal@illinois.edu). This is a study organized by the University of Illinois Computer Science Department.

https://illinois.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1SvApSVvKE1cKNM

10/22/2025

💙💙💙 Families we are back to offer you the support you need. Please join us for our virtual parent support meeting. Where we will discuss the following topics : How to deal with parent burnout and You have the diagnosis what's now what's next.

Topic: Chicagoland Autism Connection Zoom Meeting
Time: Oct 25, 2025 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97537767102?pwd=xM0VCGZ0Jl3mlbNudLjEKxVmM02Ikk.1

Meeting ID: 975 3776 7102
Passcode: 766198

10/21/2025

Acerca del programa:
A través de reuniones semanales en vivo por Zoom, los
participantes podrán:

- Aprender 12 estrategias prácticas de comportamiento para apoyar el desarrollo de su hijo/a
- Practicar habilidades de Entrenamiento en Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) para aumentar la flexibilidad como padre/madre/cuidador
- Fortalecer las interacciones entre padres e hijos
- Aprender estrategias semanales de autocuidado
- Conectar con otras familias locales
- Acceder a recursos en línea gratuitos para apoyo a largo plazo

Quiénes pueden participar:

- Padres o cuidadores mayores de 18 años
- Que hablen inglés o español
- Que tengan un hijo/a con una discapacidad del desarrollo, de aprendizaje o cognitiva (según lo informado por el cuidador)
- Que puedan asistir a 8 sesiones semanales por Zoom (de 60 a 90 minutos cada una)
- Que tengan acceso a internet y a un dispositivo para Zoom

Las familias interesadas pueden completar este breve formulario: https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cus2c2dajLFRNwW

10/21/2025

About the program:
Through weekly live Zoom meetings, participants will:
Learn 12 practical behavioral strategies to support their child’s growth

Practice Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) skills to increase flexibility as a parent/caregiver
Build stronger parent–child interactions
Learn weekly self-care strategies
Connect with other local families
Access free online resources for long-term support

Who can participate:
Parents or caregivers age 18+
English or Spanish speaking
Have a child with a developmental, learning, or cognitive disability (as reported by caregiver)
Able to attend 8 weekly Zoom sessions (60–90 minutes each)
Have internet access and a device for Zoom
Families who are interested can fill out this short form:

https://uic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cus2c2dajLFRNwW

10/17/2025

"A federal judge temporarily halted a U.S. Department of Education plan to gut its special education office, but advocates say that the future of services for students with disabilities remains uncertain".

A federal judge temporarily halted a U.S. Department of Education plan to gut its special education office, but advocates say that the future of services for students with disabilities remains uncertain.