Celebrate Differences Disability Awareness Center

Celebrate Differences

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Real Mom Michelle O’Neill shares her life with her son Anthony!

April 2013 Issue 1

More inside!

Celebrate Differences is committed to supporting

individuals with disabilities in reaching their fullest potential by providing positive resources and

information to families, communities and health care providers while promoting a

competent level of awareness and understanding.

Mission

PG.

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See photo s of Anthony on page 4.

I will never forget the day I heard the doctor say the

word “Autism”. I had my two-month old daughter

strapped to my chest in the world’s most complicated

baby wrap ever. Anthony sat under the doctor’s desk

running electrical cords under his nose, doing what I

now know as “stimming”. The doctor handed me a

pamphlet for early intervention services, told me my

son may never talk or toilet train and sent us on our

way. I had never felt so alone in my

life.

Continue reading on page 4.

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Celebrate Differences Upcoming Events!

Fundraising Focus!

Next Chapter Book Club Our Next Chapter Book Club offers young adults an opportunity to socialize out in the community and to gain, or continue, their skill of reading.

Our book club members meet every other week and they choose the books they read. After they complete each book, they participate in an activity related to the book whether it is to see the movie, the play or take a related trip! Whatever they choose to do, it is always FUN! They also celebrate birthdays! Our next book club meets April 11th at 7pm at Panera in Oswego. Our book club is sponsored by Ups for Downs. Thank you Ups for Downs!

Friday, April 5th, 7:00 pm. Autism Support Group.

Sunday, April 7th, Special Cuts by Karen – by appointment only.

Sunday, April 14th, 11:00 am, open play at the Plainfield Gymquest.

Monday, April 15th, 10:00 am, BounceTime at the center.

Monday, April 22nd, 10:00 am, Down syndrome support group.

Thursday, April 11th and 25th, 7:00 pm, Book Club at Panera.

Friday, April12th, 7:00 pm, Mom’s Night in – game night!

Thursday, April 18th, 6:00 pm, 5K volunteer meeting.

Friday, April 19th, 7:00 pm, Celebrate Physical Disabilities.

Sunday, April 28th, 9am, the 5K All programs take place at the center unless otherwise stated. Be sure to visit our website at celebratedifferences.org or our Facebook page to see more details about each event.

Be sure to purchase your raffle tickets. ONLY 500 being sold so don’t miss out! Raffle is for an iPad, iPad Mini or a gray French Vintage table from Chicago’s very own Casa Couture! You may purchase your tickets at http://www.celebratedifferences.org/store.html, from a board member or at Spot4Kids. And if you are in need of t-shirts, bedazzled shirts and/or bags or promotional items, check out Connie’s Creations on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ConniesCreation. For the month of April Connie will be donating 10% of her total monthly business to us in honor of Autism Awareness Month!

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Community Corner Steps Toward A

Brighter Future 5K Celebrate Differences, in cooperation with Road

Runner Sports, is hosting the second annual 5K

Run, Steps Toward A Brighter Future on

Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 9:00AM through the heart of downtown Oswego, Illinois. This event

is for racers, runners and walkers. New this year

is a 3K Walk and a Kids Dash for Disabilities!

Here are 3 ways you can help!

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2.

3.

SPONSOR or DONATE

Please email us at

celebratedifferences@yahoo.com to

ask what we still need!

VOLUNTEER

We need lots of volunteers so

please email us if you would like

to volunteer!

Be sure to like us on Facebook! You can find us at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Celebrate-Differences/48492458671.

RUN OR WALK

Please visit our website at

www.celebratedifferences.org to

register or learn more!

This is the place to see and share events not organized by Celebrate Differences but possibly relevant to you or someone you know. If you have information to share, about your trainings or events, please email the details to info@celebratedifferences.org by the 15th of each month. Please be aware that we have not reviewed or endorsed the suggested events. If you need more information, please contact the individual or organization organizing the event. Plainfield Township Community Expo Saturday, April 20th, 10:00am – 3:00 pm Plainfield Central HS 24120 W. Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL Legislative Forum on Autism Monday, April 22nd, 7:00 pm Batavia Public Library 10 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia , IL

Celebrate Autism The Celebrate Differences Celebrate Autism Support Group meets the first Friday evening of each month at the center located at 5375, US Rote 34, Suite 4, Oswego Il, 60543. The group is currently looking for a co leader of the group. If you are interested in volunteering 3 hours every other month, please send us an email with the words Autism leader in the subject line to celebratedifferences@yahoo.com.

Anthony is 8 years old now. Together, my husband, Mike and I raise 3 beautiful children. We have

Anthony as well, Ella, age 6 and Molly, age 3. We have overcome so many challenges, but the biggest

one would have to be taking on the challenge to get Anthony off the spectrum and into our world. We

have seen over 21 therapists since the official diagnosis. I've tried every therapy possible but I would say

the most successful has been a combination of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and "natural

environment therapy”, which I made up along the way. I forced myself to ignore the stares and

comments and keep Anthony learning as much as possible. We did play dates, went to see movies, the

zoo, etc. You name it and we did it. He’s now mainstreamed in second grade and is doing great despite

being non-verbal until four years old. He’s potty trained and everything! He’s done everything doctors

said he wouldn’t and I couldn’t be any more proud of him … Autism and all. He enjoys his Nintendo

DS, playing outside with his dog, Buddy, and beating Luigi’s Mansion. He’s amazing with math and is

already doing simple Algebra. I never would have imagined he’d come this far. I really believed he’d

always spend 90% of his day stimming away the time.

Today, I use all the skills I’ve gained through our journey with Autism and works as a Lead Therapist in

the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. It is because of my son with Autism that I have dedicated my life

to serving others on the spectrum. I urge every parent out there that has a child with Autism to never,

say never. With the right services and support systems in place, “never”, can easily,

become the “now”. Don’t ever give up.

Miracles happen every day!

It’s my belief that our family is a prime example

of that!

Michelle O’Neill

Michelle is a proud mom of a child with Autism, plus two!

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CelebrateDifferences

This 5K scenic USATF-IL-certified (IL-11050-JW) course takes you through Oswego neighborhoods.