Journey Autism Group

04/23/2026

Sunshine, bubbles, and connection—yes please ☀️🫧

Join us for our Free Courtyard Play Group at Heritage Square—a relaxed, fun space for kids to play and grown-ups to connect! Starting today!

🍋 Lemonade, water, + fellowship
📅 Wednesdays | 4:00–5:30 PM
🗓 April 22 – June 24 (weather permitting - rain means cancelled!)
📍 Outside Way to Grow

This is the perfect midweek outing to build friendships, encourage play, and enjoy the fresh air together. No pressure—just play 💛

We can’t wait to see you there!

04/17/2026

03/25/2026

Join us for a sensory-friendly evening at the ALPLM 💙

In recognition of National Autism Acceptance Month, we’re offering a special after-hours experience with adjusted lighting, lower sound levels, reduced special effects, and a quiet space for those who need it.

🗓 April 2 | 4:00–6:00 PM
🎟 Free admission | No registration required
🔗 https://ow.ly/qSI350Yyg0B

Come explore at your own pace in a comfortable, inclusive environment.

10/16/2025

🎃👻 FOCUS + HISRA at Peoria Park District's ZOOTOBER! 👻🎃

Join us at the Peoria Zoo for ZOOTOBER on October 17, 18 & 19 — it’s going to be a spook-tacular weekend full of fun and accessibility!

✨ The FOCUS crew will be there with custom-made trick-or-treat bags — perfect for collecting goodies as you explore the zoo!

☕ HISRA will be serving up delicious coffee drinks to keep you warm and energized.

🍬 All three days will feature allergen-friendly candy stops, so everyone can join in on the Halloween fun safely.

🚂 Don’t miss the Eerie Express cart rides, running on October 17, 18, and 19 — designed to make the ZOOTOBER experience more accessible for those with mobility challenges. Link to sign up for the Eerie Express cart rides here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/29341/peoria-zoo-peoria-park-district

🌈 And don’t forget — Sunday is SENSORY FRIENDLY DAY from 1 PM to 5 PM, offering a calmer, more inclusive environment for families to enjoy. We can't wait to see you there!

09/24/2025

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎!

A Space Just for You—Because You’re Not Alone 🌟

📅Upcoming Virtual Family Support Groups
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 | 𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟔:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌: https://qr.link/swMFxq
𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 | 𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟔:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌: https://qr.link/zTBhCJ
𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 | 𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟔:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌: https://qr.link/BQ0f2l

Our Family Support Group is back—this time with a full 90 minutes to dive into the conversations and topics that matter most to families.

👉 Have a topic in mind? Share it here: https://qr.link/6B1zAj
Stay for the support. Leave feeling more informed and connected. ✨

08/23/2025

Join us for resource sharing and support for neurodivergent adults at our monthly Neurodivergent Network meetup next Sunday. Light refreshments will be provided.

This month, we will learn from Mary Phelps Clayton, Professor at Illinois Central College, about executive function, a set of cognitive skills that help people manage their thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve goals.

Sunday, Aug. 24 ~ 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Lakeview Branch, 1137 W. Lake Ave.
Free and open to all adults.

08/04/2025

See you there!

08/01/2025

We are excited to once again partner with the Illinois State Fair to support inclusive, accessible fun for families!

The 2025 Illinois State Fair is happening in Springfield from Aug. 7-17.

Our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) team members from central Illinois will be working at the fair’s Sensory Station through the first weekend of the event.

The Sensory Station is inside the Emmerson Building and is an air-conditioned, dedicated quiet zone with activities and resources to help visitors regroup and refocus. Its features and activities include:

- Calming pods

- Noise-canceling headphones

- A foam block pit

- A stuffed animal “petting zoo”

- A coloring station and more!

The fair is also offering sensory-friendly Sunflower Hours on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

We have a limited number of Sunflower Hours stickers for our DSCC program participants to use to enjoy free amusement rides during the Sunflower Hours timeframe.

Please visit our website for more details at https://zurl.co/48dmA.

You can also see more photos and highlights from the Sensory Station in our 2024 state fair recap video at https://zurl.co/BP81m.

We are proud to help support the state fair's accessibility and inclusion efforts. We hope you'll come visit!

07/22/2025

📣 Back by Popular Demand – 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓!
𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 - 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

The Arc of Illinois is continuing the Family Support Group series! Don’t miss this chance to connect with others who understand your journey.

🗓️ Tonight – Tuesday, July 22, 2025
⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM (CT)
🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ➡ https://bit.ly/3TQd8Ji
💬 Have a topic you want to talk about? 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ➡ https://bit.ly/4krKcmI

Come as you are – whether it's your first time or you're returning, you're welcome here. Let’s support one another and share experiences in a safe, welcoming space.