Scholarships available for participants of the AFAA National Autism Town Hall Meeting in Chicago

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 26, 2009 – From:   ADVANCING FUTURES FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM (AFAA) CHICAGO

   The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)
   Mark Schmidt ♦ 217-588-7660 (O) ♦ 217-306-6123 ♦ mschmidt@thehopeinstitute.us

CHICAGO (October 26, 2009) The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) and The Hope Institute for Children and Families are pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of scholarships for the November 13, 2009, Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting location in Chicago. The AmericaSpeaks town hall format offers a tremendous opportunity to have an Illinois voice in developing a national policy for adults with autism. TAP recognizes that current economic conditions and the costs associated with the event have a direct impact upon attendance. As a result, we have secured a limited number of scholarships to offset the registration fee of the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting for the Chicago location.

The AFAA National Town Hall Meeting offers the once in a lifetime opportunity for participants with a broad range of backgrounds, including adults with autism, family members, caregivers, advocates and community leaders, to participate in developing a national policy agenda for adults with autism. In addition, participants will receive lunch, a 24 page participant guide, and The Autism Program of Illinois will provide a copy of our TAP Autism Resource Directory and a complimentary subscription to Tapped In, our monthly email newsletter for adults with autism, parents, caregivers and providers.

In order to maintain diversified program objectives, scholarships will be awarded on an individual basis. If you would like to apply for a scholarship to attend the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting please complete visit http://www.autismtownhall.blogspot.com .

About AFAA
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) is a national consortium seeking to create meaningful futures for adults with autism that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and supportive communities.   This unique national consortium has united to set national priorities for adults on the autism spectrum and to transform public policy and programming for teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Throughout 2009, AFAA will collect information, develop strategic solutions and advance the national agenda.  
Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, and the New York Center for Autism are the AFAA organization chairs.  The AFAA partners are: Global Communities of Support; Alpine Learning Group; The Autism Program of Illinois; The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation; Easter Seals; Hallmark Community Solutions; Organization for Autism Research; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center; and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

About The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)
Created by the Illinois General Assembly in 2003, The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is the largest statewide autism resource network in the nation.  With 12 satellite locations across the state, TAP impacts more than 16,000 Illinois families each year.
For more information, please visit http://www.theautismprogram.org or http://autismtownhall.blogspot.com