January 2011

Additional Family Support
We are pleased to announce the availability of Perspectives, a resource now available to our families for professional counseling and referrals. Perspectives has been available to our staff as a human resources benefit and is now being expanded for our families. This flyer provides additional information and how to utilize this helpful resource. (Copies will also be available at the front desk). We hope you find this useful and another "added value" for being part of the Helping Hand family! Click here to download the Perspectives flyer.

Children Services
This past summer, the School for Children with Autism expanded it space and increased its enrollment. The school now has 25 students! Our full-day, year-round program is designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum.

Adult Services
Recently Helping Hand Center started providing physical therapy services within the adult day program for selected individuals. We will also be providing occupational therapy. These are great services that are greatly needed!

Special Olympics
Did you know Helping Hand Center now has a Special Olympics Team? The Wildcats Basketball team has already competed in 3 games (1 win and 2 losses). The basketball team will be participating in a tournament on January 30th at either Oswego High School, 4250 Route 71, or Thompson Junior High, 440 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswgo IL . The tournament is from 8 am- 5 pm and they will play 2 games. The final times and location will be available a week before the tournament and will be posted on the hhcenter.org website. Other sports to come include track, floor hockey and bocci ball. We will post game dates and locations on our website at hhcenter.org. Come cheer on the Wildcats!

New Group Home
Recently Helping Hand Center broke ground on another CILA (community integrated living arrangement) in the LaGrange Highlands area. This will be a fully accessible ranch home for eight adults with developmental disabilities. As we move forward building the newest CILA, we are looking for members of our community who may be interested in discussing how they or their company can help. If you, a family member, neighbor, or friend would be interested in discussing how they can help, please call Beth Patterson at 708-352-3580 ext. 228. Below is a list of needed goods and services:

Thank you for considering being a partner with us for this worthwhile project.

Thank you to our Partners in the Community
The following companies and organizations have recently provided Helping Hand Center with grants, donations, discounts, or jobs (for our clients). Please make sure to thank them by using their services or simply saying "thank you" to anyone you know from these organizations:

Best Buy (Countryside store)
Burlington Northern Sante Fe
Cashman Stahler Group
Chariot Automotive
Charter One
Continental Motors
Ebert Photography
First National Bank of LaGrange
Hinsdale Bank and Trust
Infinity Signs & Graphics
LaGrange Theater
Madly Pop'n
Mid-American Group
Mulcahy, Pauritsch, Salvador & Co.
Normandy Builders
NuMark Credit Union
NYCO Products
Opus Corporation
Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete, Inc.
Palmer Place
PNC Bank
Texor
United Way
UPS
US Bank
Walgreens
Wilson and Wilson Law Firm

Bad Weather Closing
With winter already here it is time to remind everyone about weather related closing. If Helping Hand Center has to close due to bad weather, the phone message will be changed to let callers know. Call the Helping Hand main number (708-352-3580) to see if the agency is open or no transportation service for the day. In addition you can go to www.emergencyclosing.com to check the status. The agency will remain open even during bad weather and will only close in extreme cases. Remember there may also be days where transportation services are cancelled but the agency remains open.

Important Dates to Remember
There is always something going on at Helping Hand Center! Please keep the following in mind and on your calendars:

• Family Association meetings: Jan. 26th, 7:00pm and April 2nd, 10:00am
• Spaghetti Supper: Feb. 11th, 6:30pm
• March 12, 2011 - Helping Hand Center Gala, "La Bella Vita" being held at the Burr Ridge Marriott
• Family Association Fashion Show: April 9th, 11:00-3:30, Ashton Place in Willowbrook

Mary Beth Hepp
Helping Hand Center Executive Director