Description
The Illinois Autism Task Force is an advisory body to the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.
On July 21, 2004, Public Act 093-0773, "An Act in Relations to Persons with Disabilities," was signed into law. PA 093-0773 directed IDHS to convene a special task force, to "study and assess the service needs of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)".
The vision of the Autism Task Force is that In Illinois, people with autism and their families will be able to readily access an array of effective services that meet their functional and clinical needs across the lifespan.
Board/Commission/Task Force Requirements
Training Requirements
Meetings
Regular meetings of the Illinois Autism Task Force shall be held at quarterly. All meetings are open to the public as prescribed in the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
2024
2023
2022
Sub-Committees of the Autism Task Force
Sub-Committees of the Autism Task Force will bring in additional individuals not currently seated on the Task Force that can best inform the topic or sub-committee need.
Membership
IDHS recruited parents of children and adults challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), representatives of state agencies, healthcare professionals, service providers, academic professionals, and members of the legislature to serve on the Illinois Autism Task force (IATF).
Member |
Organization/Affiliation |
Dr. Kruti Acharya |
UIC |
Patti Boheme, Co-Chair |
Wellspring Clinical Associates |
Sasha Boheme |
Hinsdale Township Highschool |
Amanda Brott |
TAP |
Stephanie Brown |
Autism Society Southern Illinois, Parent |
Mo Buti |
Aiepa |
Dr. Tom DiMatteo |
Wellspring Clinical Associates |
Theresa Forthofer |
Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley, Parent |
Dr. Karen Fried |
Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School |
Dr. Ramiro Gumucio |
Parent, Physician |
Kimberly Mercer-Schleider |
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities |
Sherry Healey |
Parent |
Terry Herbstritt |
PACTT, Parent |
Sherry Ladislas |
Trinity Services, Inc, Parent |
Kiya Olson |
ASPB Therapy Pathways |
Nkechi Onwuameze |
Illinois Board of Higher Education |
Zoubida Pasha |
Family Resource Center on Disabilities, Parent |
Aimee Pfister |
DayOnePACT, Parent |
Cari Roestel |
Act Early Ambassador, LEND |
Colleen Shinn |
Autism Speaks |
Ruth Ann Sikora |
DuPage Family Disability Network, Parent |
IDHS Administrative Support
IATF Administrative Contact: Christine Hammond - Christine.Hammond@illinois.gov