CONTACT: Mary Higinbotham at I-CARE: 708.798.0923 or maryhig@icareinfo.org
OR James Dague at I-CARE Arts for Autism: 708.957.7599 or james@artsforautism.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Good Shepherd and I-CARE Partner to Open Autism Resource Center

HOMEWOOD, IL February 23, 2003 — Illinois Curing Autism through Research and Education (I-CARE), has teamed up with the Good Shepherd Center to open the Autism Resource Center in the south suburbs on April 22. Their joint mission is to supply resources, training and referrals for families with a child or adult diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The Autism Resource Center will be housed in the Good Shepherd Center, at 2220 Carroll Parkway, Flossmoor, IL.

Good Shepherd Center was incorporated in 1963 as a not-for-profit school providing therapeutic services for children with disabilities ages birth to 7 while providing parents and other family members with needed information and support. The agency has since evolved into an Early Intervention program that provides children ages birth to 3 with Physical, Occupational, Speech & Developmental Therapy to improve the overall physical condition of the child, while preparing them to transition into the public school system most effectively.

Additionally, Good Shepherd Center provides other services for individuals with developmental disabilities including pediatric therapy services for children through age 10, an In-Home Respite Care program for those residing in south suburban Cook County, and a Lekotek therapeutic toy lending library for children ages birth to 10 residing in south suburban Cook, northern Will and Kankakee counties.

"We are proud to have our facility offer expanded services to the community," stated Brendan McCormick, executive director of Good Shepherd. "The Autism Resource Center will assemble a networking of resources available in our area so that families and individuals whose lives are affected by autism spectrum disorder can easily get the information or assistance they need."

"We have been working toward the goal of opening a resource center for years and are excited to finally make it happen," said Mary Higinbotham, president of I-CARE.

I-CARE, a non-profit organization comprised exclusively of volunteers, has hosted the I-Run/Walk 5K for Autism Research race for the past seven years. The race and organization were created to fund medical research for autism and to provide educational resources for families of children with autism in Illinois. I-CARE's annual race, which will take place again this June in Matteson, has raised over $130,000. $90,000 has been distributed to medical research in the field of autism, while the remainder is allocated for furthering autism awareness and education. Additionally, I-CARE has been producing conferences in which they schedule experts in the field of autism to educate parents and professionals.

For more detailed information about the Autism Resource Center, or if you would like to be involved, call 708.957.5700 or visit I-CARE online at www.icareinfo.org.

# # #

Home • About Us • Workshops •  About Autism • Resources • Boards  

I-CARE • 15028 Cicero Ave - Suite K • Oak Forest, IL 60452 • 708.798.0923 • mail@icareinfo.org
© 2003-2005 I-CARE - Illinois Curing Autism through Research and Education. All rights reserved.