Peoria-Area Community Impact Guide 2022-2023

THE AUTISM COLLECTIVE The mission of The Autism Collective is to end the isolation of autism by uniting experts and connecting families.

507 East Armstrong Avenue Peoria, IL 61603 Phone: (844) 910-0770 Email: info@TheAutismCollective.org Website : TheAutismCollective.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Kelly Nimtz-Rusch, DNP

BOARD MEMBERS: Chris Chadwick Jason Rodeghero, PhD, MBA Jim Runyon, MS Ed Sarah Stewart de Ramirez, MD Jeanne Marshall, MS Ed Wendy Burdo-Hartman, MD

HOW TO HELP There is never a charge for families to access The AutismCollective services. Community support and grants make this critical work possible. You can ensure that this lifeline is available to more families by donating today at TheAutismCollective.org. You can also support themission of The Autism Collective by sharing information about the organization with physicians, educators, community leaders and others in your network, because ending the isolation of families impacted by autism takes all of us, working together.

VISION The Autism Col lective, ini tial ly a collaboration of Easterseals Central Illinois and OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, recently added the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria, and continues to grow. The Autism Collective is working to end the isolation felt by those living with autism and their caregivers by uniting experts and connecting families. WHAT WE DO Ending the isolation of autism demands a collective effort. The Autism Collective unites caregivers, educators and advocates to find an expert diagnosis, quality therapy, evidence-based services and ongoing support. We bring together a broad spectrum of expertise, so families can access game-changing treatment and resources close to home. And we’re here to help families navigate the complex web of care compassionately and efficiently. DID YOU KNOW?  It is estimated that approximately 1 in 44 eight year-old children have been identifiedwith autismspectrumdisorder according to the CDC 2022.

 Since its launch in 2019, The Autism Collective has supported over 1,000 families from across 50 counties in Illinois.  The Autism Collective has hosted two rounds of ECHOAutism for primary care physicians, helping spread knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder into rural communities.  In 2022, the AutismCollective launched ECHO Autism in the Classroom, a first- of-its-kind program focused on helping educators better support students with autism and their families.

peoriamagazine.com 13