Lifeskills Training Center for Children with Autism 

The Lifeskills Training Center is a short-term residential program for children with autism. Children live at the home for up to two years, learning life skills, communication, appropriate behavior and more. The goal of the program is to help the child and their parents learn the skills needed to successfully live together at home as a family.

  Program Description

The Lifeskills Training Center is a home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, that has been adapted for children who have a primary diagnosis of autism or autistic-like behavior. The home is set up as a comprehensive visual training program to teach life skills such as grooming, eating, toileting, dressing, chores and community skills.

Six children, ages 5 to 10, live at the home on weekdays for up to two years, returning home on weekends. Parents come to the home one night per week for hands-on training with their child and staff. Ultimately, the goal is to improve communication, behavior and functional skills so that the child can return to live with their family on a permanent basis.

Goals for children at the Lifeskills Training Center include:

• Self-help skills such as grooming and toileting
• Independent living skills like household chores and simple food preparation
• Communication skills, either verbally or through augmented systems
• Discovering age-appropriate recreational interests
• Developing appropriate behavior at home and in the community

Parents learn to:

• Reinforce skills at home that children have learned at the Center
• Develop programs and create systems to teach their child new skills
• Utilize effective behavior management skills

Geographic Area Served

Families from throughout Illinois may apply for services. Parents must be willing to drive to the Center to pick up/drop off their child each weekend, and must attend training one evening per week.

Eligibility

• Primary diagnosis of autism or autistic-like behavior
• Inability of parents to maintain their child at home, or evidence that admission will prevent or delay permanent residential placement
• Age 5 to 10 at time of admission
• Ambulatory
• Must take medication orally
• Behavior which does not present serious danger to the child or others
• Parent participation in training one night per week at the Center, and attendance at monthly parent meetings

Fees

The majority of costs are paid for by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Families pay $70 per month to cover the cost of community activities and visual systems for their home.

Accreditation

The Lifeskills Training Center is licensed and accredited by CARF...the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission, and by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

FAQ's

• What type of training do your staff have?

Most of our staff are college graduates with degrees in psychology, education, special ed, speech or social work. All receive extensive training in autism from Little Friends.

• How is the program funded?

Children are funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services.

• Can we talk to other parents whose children are in the program?

Yes.

For more information...

For more information or a free brochure, please call the Lifeskills Training Center at (630) 281-1850 or e-mail Ann Muenstermann at amuenstermann@lilfriends.com.