Dear Fellow Advocates,

Image: Samantha Alloway and Rocio Perez

This past weekend, I had the profound honor of joining our Illinois Life Span Program Director, Rocio Perez, on stage at Grupo Salto's Learning and Empowering Conference at the Cicero Community Center. Months ago, I had the privilege of meeting Matie M. Ovalle, co-founder of Grupo Salto, whose leadership and vision have created a powerful network of support for Latino families navigating the disability system. Her commitment to community and cultural connection has deeply inspired me!

Grupo Salto is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Latino families of children with disabilities, particularly autism. Since 2005, they have provided essential support in Spanish - honoring culture, language, and lived experience. Their work bridges critical gaps in our system and gives families the tools they need to thrive.

I want to take a moment to recognize Rocio Perez's tireless leadership in championing accessibility across languages. Her work reminds us that accessibility is not a checkbox - it’s a matter of equity. Rocio consistently pushes this conversation forward, making sure that every family, no matter their language or background, can find their place and voice within our services.

Being at Grupo Salto's conference brought this to life in a powerful way. Although I studied Spanish in high school, (many years ago) I found myself only catching every other word during the presentations. I sat beside a mother of a 5-year-old boy with autism, who explained how difficult it is to get him to therapy because she doesn’t have a driver’s license. She was eager to learn how to support him, but the language barrier left her without access to the information she needed. Rocio was there to assist, but it underscored just how urgent and real the gap still is.

This experience left a lasting impression. It reminded me that access is about more than intention - it’s about meaningful delivery. That’s why I’m proud to share that starting now, The Arc of Illinois will offer this newsletter in Spanish every other distribution. This is a small but crucial move in the right direction. And we won’t stop here!

Our goal is to grow this effort. We want to expand to include Chinese, Polish, Arabic, and any other language that reflects the families we serve across Illinois. But we can’t do it alone. If you or someone you know is bilingual and interested in serving as a volunteer translator, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to me at samantha@thearcofil.org. Your help can make all the difference in bringing families into the fold who’ve been left out for far too long.

Access matters. Language matters. People matter. And with your help, we can build a system where every family - no matter where they come from or what language they speak - has a place and a path forward.

En Solidaridad,

Samantha M. Alloway
Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois 

Preparing for Adulthood – A Roadmap for the Future

• Presented by Claire Cook (DSCC Title V Transition Specialist) and Suzanne Aaron, Northern Illinois Outreach Specialist for Illinois Life Span at The Arc of Illinois.

• Live Spanish translation available.

• Recordings and slides will be posted afterward on DSCC’s Family Education Webinars page.

For questions, contact Claire Cook at clairer3@uic.edu or call (800) 322-3722.

Open Call for ART

Click here to submit your artwork.  Submissions due by June 30, 2025.

 

Make sure to use code "Arc50" at checkout to save 50% on the registration.

 

You’re Invited: Join Our Virtual Family Support Group

June 24, 2025

5:00-6:00 PM

We’re excited to introduce you to our upcoming virtual Family Support Group— a space created just for parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Whether you’re here for resources, connection, or just to listen in, we’re so glad to have you with us!

Have a question? Click here to complete a form to let us know the topics you want to discuss. 

Recruitment for the Online "eHealth Parents Taking Action" Curriculum Has Begun for the Latinx, Black, and Chinese Communities!

Recruiting for has begun for Latinx, Black, and Chinese families of children with or at risk of autism for an online curriculum called “eHealth Parents Taking Action”. This curriculum has been proven to be effective among Latino families of children with autism in improving both family and child outcomes. We have culturally adapted it for Chinese and Black families. 

You are eligible if:

• You have Spanish or Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin dialects) as your primary language if from the Latinx and Chinese community, or identify yourselves as Black/African American
• You have a young child at risk or with a diagnosis of autism ( you can be a parent or the primary family caregiver taking care of the child
• Your child is between 2-8 years old
• You reside in Illinois

If interested, click here to fill out this interest indication form so we can reach out to you to screen for eligibility.

[Note: English groups for Black African American families will start soon, Chinese and Spanish groups will start data collection in the summer, but won't start till Fall]

Community Outreach

Alcance Communitario de los Programas

This event is tailored for Spanish speaking families but all are welcome.

Este evento es día de los Hispanos pero todos son bienvenidos.

Recently Received an Early Notification Letter or a PUNS Selection Letter? 

Join us to learn about your options under the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Illinois.

Webinar is free; registration is required.