News

Summer is in full swing! With a few months off from school, finding engaging activities for kids to enjoy during summer break can be challenging. Since everyone has different needs, some activities can quickly become overwhelming and unenjoyable,...

  Happy Pride Month!    In June, we celebrate the diversity, achievements, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month offers the LGBTQ+ community a reinforced sense of belonging, equality, and visibility that history has often...

It’s finally that time of year where the weather is starting to get warmer! Whether you love the heat or are already eager for the next round of frigid temperatures (we won’t judge!), it’s important to soak up the sun in a fun and safe...

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month has been celebrated each year since 1987 with the purpose of raising awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. It is a...

  Happy Black History Month!     This year’s theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts! In celebration, let’s take a minute to admire these 5 pieces from influential Black artists throughout time:   Robert Seldon...

Londa joined Lifelong Access nearly one year ago as a Human Resources Manager. She describes herself as determined, resourceful, and hopeful.   “I love working with such wonderful people, who do very important work to support the individuals we...

  We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions, but most of us struggle to stick to them for the whole year. This year, when you’re making your list (and maybe even checking it twice), you can set “SMART” goals to create an effective plan for...

November has officially arrived, which means the holidays are just around the corner! While all of the glitz and glam may be a fun and exciting thing for many of us, it can be hard for those on the spectrum who may have some extra sensory...

  World Kindness Day was November 13th! Just because this international celebration is over, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep showing kindness any day of the year. It is completely up to you to decide when and how you will be kind.   What is...

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? ABA is a scientifically proven therapy that focuses on understanding human behavior and using that knowledge to bring about meaningful changes. It's like unlocking the secrets of behavior to help...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also commonly known as seasonal depression, is a type of short-term mental health condition brought on by the changing seasons. SAD symptoms typically begin to present towards the end of the fall season while...

This month celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness, urging organizations big and small to participate, spread awareness, and improve accessibility and inclusivity in the work force.

You may have seen our Disability Pride Month celebrations happening on social media, so we wanted to take the time to explain what we're celebrating.

We wanted to gain a little insight into what it was like to have a sibling with a disability, so we sat down to chat with Jack Pennoyer, Marcfirst's Transition Coordinator. Read on to learn more about his experience.

As we celebrate Black History Month this February, we wanted to look at some famous African American individuals with disabilities. Black History Month was created to remember and celebrate important people and events that helped shape the United...

It’s the holiday season! These next few weeks are likely full of baking, gift wrapping, and holiday cheer. Here are a few easy ways baking cookies (or any holiday treat) with your little ones can be beneficial to their development.

If you're not sure how to keep the kids entertained, hosting a gathering, or you want to give back this year here are a few ideas to get into the spirit and be entertained.  

The journey of parenting a child with autism begins differently for each family. Children receive diagnoses at varying times and under unique circumstances; and Autism Spectrum Disorder can look different for every child.

For many years the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community were thought to be less than because they were not able to hear.

This month we are celebrating our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). DSPs are essential for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). DSPs have major impacts on individuals with IDDs as they are one of the front lines of...

When I was a little girl, my mother taught me a short song that went like this: “The more we get together, together, together - The more we get together, the happier we’ll be. ‘Cause your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends....

I was 8-years old when my youngest sister was born with Down Syndrome. I recall when my parents brought her home. She was so tiny she could literally fit inside a shoebox.

My name is Grace Rients and I am a Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (English/Spanish). I joined the Marcfirst team at the beginning of June after graduating with my master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in May!

Happy Independence Day! Independence is an important part of all our lives. Here at Marcfirst, we celebrate independence daily.

Happy Juneteenth! This day is a celebration of African American freedom and achievement and promotes learning about African American history and culture. 

Happy Pride month, everyone! We are so excited to celebrate our friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Some of us are more familiar with mental health and mental illnesses than others, but all individuals experience emotions and trauma to some extent.

We are very happy to announce that Marcfirst will be offering Virtual Sibshops, an exciting program just for brothers and sisters of children with special needs.

This month is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month! We want to highlight the experiences and voices of people from this community, specifically of those living with disabilities.

One of the new features of our blog is The UserWay Accessibility Widget.

As we showcase the experiences of people on the autism spectrum to celebrate Autism Acceptance month, we have also come across some fun and helpful comics!

Happy Autism Acceptance Month! We are so excited to celebrate and spread some information from reputable sources about the topic.

Happy Women's History Month! We are so excited to celebrate all of the amazing girls and women in our community and around the world.

“What time did you go to bed last night?” is a question asked by teacher’s around the world when it comes to a change in a child’s ability to focus, concentrate, or learn.

For March, we celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness month! According to the CDC, about 1 in 6 children in the US are born with one or more developmental disabilities or delays.

“How do I make my newborn sleep overnight?” is a question that I have received several times. When your little one comes home from the hospital, they are a bundle of snuggly sleepiness.

We interviewed Megan Downs, who is a credentialed Developmental Therapist at Marcfirst Pediatric Therapy to learn more about her role.

Happy Black History Month, everyone! We can collectively acknowledge that Black individuals experience different roadblocks and dangers compared to others.

We are excited to introduce our Spring 2021 intern, Marissa! She is a graduate student at Illinois State University and has decided to create blogs for Marcfirst in the coming months to build awareness about important topics.

Have you ever felt like there isn’t enough coffee to get through the day after being up with a little one throughout the night?

In the 30 years that I have supervised staff, I have fielded hundreds of calls from employees letting me know they will not be into work due to an illness.

Looking for an activity for you and your family this weekend? Check out this "magic" video with Beth Markwood, a social emotional provider at Marcfirst Pediatric Therapy.

While the world is practicing “social distancing”, and we are required as much as possible to stay at home, what a wonderful time to focus instead on the close and intimate connections between parents and babies!

Love & Logic is a well-known parenting program developed by Foster Cline, child psychiatrist, and Jim Fay, educator.

Feelings and emotions can run high during this time! Talking about your feelings can help make them more managable.

You may have seen the movie Annie at least once on television, at the movies, or while sitting with others at a live musical show.

With the advent of COVID-19, the pediatric therapists from Marcfirst turn to Facebook to provide information to families online.

Reach your potential!