|
|
Leo Egbers wasn’t making eye contact at 9 months old. By the age of 2, he could only say five words. While chew toys and a spin chair helped soothe him at home, he was too overstimulated at daycare to even eat. During swim lessons, Leo was asked to sit out. Leo’s mom suspected autism spectrum disorder from the very start. At first, she was dismissed, “Let’s see how he develops.” Later, she faced long waiting lists for assessment and treatment, and she found herself driving to three different clinics for speech, motor, and behavior therapies, none of them coordinating with the others. At 2 1/2, Leo still had no official diagnosis, and his parents had no meaningful support. Like many children with autism, Leo was prone to wandering and drawn to water. On May 17, 2024, one month shy of his 3rd birthday, Leo slipped out of the house and drowned in his neighborhood lake. |
In our continued effort to provide impactful resources, expert guidance, and an abundance of hope, Lifelong Access is proud to host the 2026 LEO’S IMPACT: An Autism Awareness Expo. Building on the incredible momentum of our inaugural event in 2025, this gathering serves as a beacon of "light for families in the dark," honoring Leo’s life by ensuring no family has to navigate the complexities of an autism diagnosis alone. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, April 9th, 2026, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Illinois Wesleyan University Shirk Center. We are once again joining forces with several prominent community partners to celebrate our neurodiverse community and provide families with the vital tools and connections they need. This is a free, open-house format event, and we would love to see you there as we work together to support local families and honor Leo’s lasting legacy.
|
|
What if a diagnosis and therapy had been provided earlier? What if more information had been provided? What if resources had been easier to obtain & navigate? Just what if…..?
Leo’s family is determined to help other families avoid facing these difficult questions. After Leo’s passing, they found Lifelong Access and created the Leo’s Library Fund to help distribute resources for families dealing with disabilities and developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder. Right now, there are hundreds of children like Leo in our community whose parents need information and support as they wait for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
Leo’s Library is a heartfelt resource created to support families navigating the challenges of disabilities and developmental delays, including autism. It’s a place of empowerment and understanding, offering guidance and tools to help every family on their unique journey.
Explore our collection of short, easy-to-understand videos designed to support families navigating the autism journey. From expert advice to real-life strategies, each video offers guidance, encouragement, and practical tools; all available anytime, at your own pace. Whether you're just beginning or looking to deepen your understanding, we’re here to help every step of the way. Click on each title below to unlock video:
Token Boards: visual tools used in autism interventions that help individuals understand expectations, track progress towards rewards, and reinforce positive behaviors through a system of tokens earned for desired actions. They are helpful because they provide structure, promote motivation, and aid in the development of self-regulation skills.
Download your own Token Board here-Lego Token Boards, 3 Stars Token Boards, 10 Stars Token Boards, Hybrid Token Boards, and 'I Can Do It' Token Boards.
Core Boards: simple yet powerful communication tools designed to give individuals with limited verbal skills a voice. They empower individuals to participate in meaningful interactions and take charge of their communication by providing a structured set of frequently used words and symbols.
Download your own Core Board here-Core Boards-Version 1, Core Boards-Version 2, Spanish Core Boards
First/Then Visuals: visual aids that depict a sequence of actions, with a less preferred activity ("first") followed by a more preferred activity ("then"), helping to reduce anxiety and increase compliance.
Download your own First-Then Visual here -First-Then Visuals
Break Cards: visual tools for individuals with autism, allowing them to signal the need for a break when feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, promoting self-regulation and reducing anxiety.
Download your own Break Card here -Break Cards
Task Analysis: breaks down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps, making them easier for individuals with autism spectrum disorder to learn and master. This approach is helpful because it promotes independence, reduces anxiety, and facilitates skill acquisition by providing clear, sequential instructions.
Download your own Task Analysis here-Handwashing Task Analysis, Toileting Task Analysis
Contingency Maps: visual tools that help individuals with autism, and others, understand the relationship between their actions and their consequences. They are helpful because they provide a clear, structured, and concrete way to learn about rules, expectations, and the consequences of both desired and undesired behaviors.
Download your own Contingency Map here-Contingency Maps
Change Alerts: involve providing advance notice or visual/auditory cues about upcoming transitions or changes in routine. This helps individuals with autism prepare and adjust to the change, reducing anxiety and potential meltdowns.
Download your own Change Alert here -Change Alerts
Choice Boards: visual supports used with individuals, especially those on the autism spectrum, to present a limited number of choices, making it easier for them to express their needs and preferences. They are helpful because they provide a structured way to communicate, reduce anxiety, and increase independence by offering clear and easy-to-understand options.
Download your own Choice Board here- Choice Board-Version 1, Choice Board-Version 2
Visual Schedules-Routines: visual tools that help individuals understand the sequence of activities and events in their day. They're helpful because they provide structure, reduce anxiety, and increase independence by clearly outlining expectations and transitions.
Download your own Visual Schedule/Routine here- Version 1, Version 2, Version 3
Functions of Behavior: This refers to identifying the "why" behind a person's actions. These functions, which can be broadly categorized as attention, escape/avoidance, tangible, and sensory, help explain why a behavior occurs and how it might be maintained. Knowing these functions is helpful because it informs the development of more effective strategies for managing challenging behaviors and teaching new skills.
Functions of Behavior explained -Detailed Breakdown
|
With a variety of coordinated therapies offered and nearly 70 years of experience supporting families facing disabilities, Lifelong Access is uniquely equipped to carry out this potentially life-saving work. We are truly honored to have earned the trust to do so.
Please consider a contribution today to Leo’s Library or other expansion projects at Lifelong Access.
Thank you!
P.S. 100% of donations support our reach and impact, not our current operations: Donate Here |
|
|