I am honored to be named President/CEO of Cornerstone Services, and I am extremely excited about this opportunity to lead a wonderful organization committed to improving the lives of people of disabilities. A great foundation has been established at Cornerstone, and I plan to build upon our past successes to meet the needs of individuals in the future. Cornerstone has an outstanding, proud tradition of quality services, and I am inspired to be part of an excellent team committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities.
While there are significant challenges facing the disability field in Illinois, this is also a time of change and opportunity. The State of Illinois is embarking upon some important initiatives to serve individuals in community based settings as an alternative to costly institutional care. The quality of life of thousands of Illinois citizens will be greatly improved through the provision of new community-based services over the years as a result of these state initiatives. As in the past as opportunities present themselves, Cornerstone will participate so people can live as independently as possible in the community.
I look forward to working with you to improve and enhance the lives of persons with disabilities.
Ben Stortz
UPS for DownS does the most fun and meaningful things for people!
A magical ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Jack Ford and Lindsy Pazerunas are Beauty and the Beast.
By the way, Jack’s mom is Terri Devine!
United Parent Support for Down Syndrome (UPS for DownS) and Gymkhana’s White Room Theater have partnered to bring together youth of all abilities to perform “Beauty and the Beast.”
The brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her provincial life — and her brute of a suitor, Gaston. However, Belle gets more adventure than she wanted when she becomes a captive in the Beast’s enchanted castle.
Dancing flatware, menacing wolves and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills.
This production features youth with Down syndrome performing alongside theater peers in this fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another and learning how to love.
This performance is part of a theater program with goals that include increasing self-esteem, developing drama skills, creating personal expression, promoting community inclusion, and providing theater opportunities to youth, regardless of ability.
This program is sponsored by UPS for DownS, a Schaumburg-based, parent directed, not-for-profit organization, which has been providing support for families and children with Down syndrome for more than 25 years, and Gymkhana, a gymnastics, dance and theater studio in Hanover Park.
Th show’s director is Orion Couling.
To find out more about UPS for DownS programs, visit upsfordowns.org.
On Monday, April 30th at 3pm EST, The Arc hosted a Twitter chat with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)and other organizations to talk about the latest data on the prevalence of autism and the resources available to people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
They explored topics like the early signs of autism in a child, the latest research, including the CDC’s new prevalence data, and resources available through The Arc’s Autism NOW Center.
Following the chat on Twitter was easy even for me! First, follow @TheArcUS and @AutismNowCenteron Twitter.
The Arc’s “Living with Autism Conference’ will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Tinley Park Convention Center. In addition to Temple Grandin, Ph.D. we will feature Dr. Andy Bondy, Dr. Paula Kluth and Barbara T. Doyle, MS. Plan to join us now! Here is a link to the full program: Living with Autism Conference.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
