Advocates For Acceptance

10/31/2026

10/20/2026

Advocates For Acceptance video speaking to New Lenox 122 School Board ahead of tonight’s meeting.

While our special education classrooms face severe, chronic staffing shortages and vulnerable children are denied basic services, NLSD 122 is sitting on a staggering $51 Million cash hoard.
Their own official financial records prove they $8.48 Million operating surplus—yet they refuse to use that money to pay competitive wages to staff our classrooms safely.
Advocates for Acceptance has officially bypassed the local system and filed a formal Civil Rights Complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Justice Watch the full video breakdown to see the exact math and help us demand accountability for our kids!

10/11/2026

At Advocates For Acceptance we believe every child belongs and deserves the right to a meaningful, inclusive education. Right now, a special needs Manhattan family needs our community's strength as they navigate a challenging journey for their daughter’s education.

We are asking our community of special needs families, advocates, and allies to join us at the upcoming school board meeting. Let’s fill the room to show this family they have an entire village behind them and to remind our leaders of the importance of inclusion for all students.

Date: October 14th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: 15414 Smith Rd.

When one of our families faces a barrier, we stand together to build a bridge. Please join us, show your support, and help us advocate for inclusive education in our community.

Please share our post!!!! Let’s help this sweet girl stay in school with her peers where she belongs!

09/25/2026

Big news! A new IEP app by Norbridge is coming soon, designed to simplify special education planning and tracking. So excited to be collaborating on this journey alongside this incredible team of experts, and to see the meaningful impact it will make for families!

09/20/2026

Welcome to the team our newest Director Amy! 💙

We are incredibly excited to announce our newest leadership role at Advocates For Acceptance:
Director of Community Safety and Inclusion.

Amy brings a powerful and unique perspective to our organization, serving our community not only as an advocate but also as a dedicated local police officer. Her extensive background in law enforcement gives her a deep, first-hand understanding of safety, community dynamics, and the critical importance of building trust.

Amy’s dedication to protecting and serving, combined with her heart for advocacy, makes her the perfect fit to lead this vital new chapter.

09/17/2026

https://patch.com/illinois/manhattan/manhattan-family-continues-fight-special-needs-daughters-education-district-114

Kelli and Michael Femrite's plight for support for their autistic daughter in Manhattan public schools has hit a wall.

09/09/2026

We attended the New Lenox Community Park District's ADA accessibility meeting yesterday, and it was packed with great information!The Park District genuinely wants to hear from anyone and everyone in New Lenox who has a connection to special needs or disabilities. Whether you are an individual with a disability, a family member, a caregiver, or someone who works with the special needs community—your perspective is incredibly valuable. They want your input to help make our local parks, facilities, and recreation programs more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

If you couldn't make it to the sessions, you can still share your thoughts! Please scan the QR code on the image below to take their brief survey and make sure our community's voice is heard.

Please share this post so we can reach as many New Lenox families and community members as possible! 🗣️💙

09/04/2026

📢 WE’RE GROWING OUR TEAM!

Board Director Opportunity volunteer position 💜💚

Are you a special needs parent passionate about inclusion, advocacy, and building stronger local support for our families?

Advocates For Acceptance is looking for another Board Director, and we’d love for you to join us!

We are specifically looking for a mom or dad of an individual with special needs who brings personal insight, compassion, and lived experience residing in one of our local communities:
New Lenox, Manhattan
Mokena, Frankfort or Homer Glen

What the Role Involves:
Occasional events & collaborations: Representing our organization and working alongside local community partners.

Helping at hosted events:
Attending and assisting with Advocates for Acceptance events when they come up.

Voting on assistance requests:
Reviewing and voting as a board on design plans or monetary requests made for community assistance.

Finding the Right Fit!! Because our mission is so close to our hearts, we do include a review process for all applicants. This is simply to ensure that your passions and goals align perfectly with the heart of our organization so we can thrive together!

Family Comes First!!🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

We fully understand that being a special needs parent is a beautifully intense, time-consuming journey. Your family always comes first. We structure this role so you can attend and help when you are able to. There is no pressure—just a shared passion for making a difference.

How to Connect:
If you are interested in making an impact or know another parent who would be a great fit, please send us a direct message or email us at [email protected] to chat.

Please like and share this post to help us reach our local community! 💚💜

Thank you for helping us to make this world a little more inclusive!