CAYR Connections

09/03/2026

Are you homeschooling — or considering homeschooling — and looking for a supportive community for your child?

Join us on Tuesday, September 15 for a CAYR Co-op Open House!

CAYR Co-op is a small, flexible, neuro-affirming learning community for children ages 5–12. Our days include hands-on projects, creative exploration, movement, outdoor time, play, shared learning, and lots of opportunities for kids to follow their interests and connect with others.

At the Open House, families can tour the CAYR space, meet our team, learn what a typical Co-op day looks like, ask questions, and connect with other homeschooling families.

You don’t need to be ready to enroll to come! If you’re exploring homeschool options, looking for more community within your current homeschool routine, or simply curious about CAYR, we’d love to have you.

See the flyer for details, and visit www.cayrconnections.org/co-op to learn more!

09/01/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the people and organizations who helped us furnish every corner of our home. Swipe to take a look at how our space came together! ➡

Pics 1-4 showcase the amazing contributions from Designs for Dignity, including acoustic panels, storage cabinets, carpet squares, a smartboard cart, modular tables, rolling whiteboard, whiteboard desks with kick bars for wiggly feet, wobbly sensory stools and fun pebbles for flexible seating. These pieces helped us create a space that is sensory-friendly, adaptable, and absolutely gorgeous. Shout out to Catherine for helping us load our U-haul and making our visit to the D4D warehouse an absolute blast!

Pics 5-6 feature the generous donations from the Office Furniture Warehouse: our comfy red sectional, green folding chairs, welcoming entry bench, and comfy ottomans. These have transformed our common areas into warm, inviting spaces where people can gather, relax, and feel at home.

To both teams: thank you for seeing our vision and helping us bring it to life. Your support means the world to us and to every person who walks through our doors. We couldn't do this without community partners like you! 💙

08/24/2026

LOOKING FOR NEURO-AFFIRMING AFTERSCHOOL CARE? We’ve got you. CAYR Camp Afterschool offers a welcoming, play-based space where neurodivergent kids can connect, decompress, move, create, and be themselves after the school day.

📍 Located in the River Forest Community Center building
🚌 Transportation available from D90 schools
💛 Financial assistance available
✅ CCAP accepted

Come as you are. Stay for the fun!

08/11/2026

CAYR Clubs are inclusive, trauma-informed afterschool spaces where neurodivergent tweens and teens can connect with their peers, explore interests, get homework support, play games, create, or simply decompress after the school day. There’s no pressure to socialize or participate in a particular way. We make space for different communication styles, energy levels, interests, and ways of connecting.

✨ Middle & high school students
🎲 Games, projects & shared interests
📚 Homework & executive functioning support
🛋️ Time to connect, recharge & decompress
📍 River Forest, IL

Learn more about schedules, tuition, financial assistance, and enrollment at www.cayrconnections.org/camp

08/11/2026

Summer's not over quite yet, but we can't wait to show you what’s happening at CAYR this fall!

Join us for our Fall Open House on Thursday, August 27 from 5:30–7:00 PM. Stop by to see our space, meet our team, ask questions, and learn more about our fall programs for neurodiverse kids and teens.

We’ll be sharing information about:

🏡 CAYR Co-op — our small, inclusive learning community for ages 5–12

🌿 CAYR Camp — neuro-affirming afterschool and days-off-school programs for kids in grades K–4

🎲 CAYR Clubs — supportive afterschool spaces for neurodivergent middle and high schoolers to connect, create, play, get homework support, or just decompress

Whether you’re actively looking for a fall program or just curious about CAYR, you’re welcome to come by, explore the space, and get to know us.

📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 8020 Madison Street, 2nd Floor, River Forest, IL
🔗 RSVP here: https://www.cayrconnections.org/event-details-registration/fall-programming-open-house

Come as you are. 💛

08/10/2026

Looking for a flexible, interest-led, neuro-affirming learning environment for your child?

CAYR Co-op is an inclusive, trauma-informed cooperative learning community for kids ages 5–12. Starting September 1st, we'll meet Monday through Wednesday for hands-on learning, creative exploration, movement, nature, play, and plenty of opportunities to connect with peers.

Our small group setting is designed to support different learning styles, communication needs, sensory needs, and ways of participating. Drop-off is available, and family participation is always welcome but never required.

CAYR Co-op is a great option for homeschooling families looking for more community, structure, and shared learning during the week. It’s also an exciting step toward our longer-term vision: building a full-time microschool rooted in the same values of authenticity, agency, belonging, and joy.

✨ Ages 5–12
📅 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (choose 1, 2, or all 3 days)
🕤 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
📍 River Forest, IL
👥 Small group of up to 10 learners

Learn more about tuition, financial assistance, and enrollment at www.cayrconnections.org/school

08/09/2026

If you homeschool in the greater Chicago area, we’d love to hear from you!
Register here: https://www.cayrconnections.org/event-details-registration/cayr-co-op-focus-group-for-homeschooling-families

This fall, we are launching CAYR Co-op, our small, neuro-affirming learning community for children ages 5–12. We’re hosting a virtual focus group on Zoom to get homeschooling families' input on things like schedules, social opportunities, community outings, enrichment, academic support, flexibility, and what you wish existed for your family.

You do not need to be considering CAYR Co-op to participate. This is an opportunity to share your experience and help us better understand the needs of our local homeschool community.

💻 Zoom
📅 Thursday 8/20/26
⏰ 9:30 - 10:30 AM
🔗 Register at the link above to receive the Zoom link via email

Please share with other local homeschooling families who might want to add their voice!

08/03/2026

CAYR Camp has been a blast this summer, and we’re excited to continue the fun into the school year!

Our small-group, neuro-affirming afterschool program gives kids space to play, create, connect, decompress, and follow their interests with plenty of support.

CAYR Camp meets Monday through Thursday in River Forest, and families can choose the days that work for them.

Learn more at cayrconnections.org/camp

08/02/2026

Navigating the healthcare system can be confusing, exhausting, and especially difficult when it was not designed with neurodivergent people in mind.

Join the Chicago Neurodiverse Social Club for Navigating the Healthcare System, the second workshop in our six-part community education series. Led by researcher and autistic self-advocate T.J. Gordon (aka The Black Autist), this interactive three-hour workshop will explore:

• Strategies for navigating barriers in the U.S. healthcare system
• How to choose a provider, specialist, or therapist
• Insurance coverage and other payment options
• Practical tools and tips designed for neurodivergent adults

📍 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Oak Park
611 Randolph Street, Oak Park
♿ The building is ADA accessible. Please enter through the ramped entrance on Randolph Street.

**Pre-registration is required, and space is limited to 20 participants.** Joining the event or waitlist does not guarantee a seat. After RSVPing, please complete the registration form linked in the event description.

Oak Park residents receive priority admission at no cost. The fee for non-Oak Park residents is $25. Participants will be moved from the waitlist to the confirmed RSVP list once residency or payment has been verified.

Already registered for a previous workshop in this series? Join the waitlist and message the organizer. Your registration information may be transferred without completing the form again.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

This workshop is supported by a grant from the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township

07/10/2026

We are so grateful for the support of the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township! Their funding is helping us make both CAYR Camp and the Chicago Neurodivergent Social Club more accessible to our community.

We are proud to partner with local organizations that believe in creating more affirming, inclusive spaces for neurodivergent people to connect, play, and belong. 🌿

CMHB is proud to support CAYR Connections and its mission to provide accessible, neuro-affirming resources for neurodivergent individuals and families in the greater Chicago area.

A new grantee this year, CAYR is receiving CMHB support for the Oak Park Chapter of their Chicago Neurodiverse Social Club (CNSC). CNSC offers community connection, education, and skill building by hosting neurodiversity-affirming practical skills workshops, covering topics such as financial literacy, mock interviews, cooking, dating, and internet safety.

CMHB also supports CAYR's new inclusive, neuro-affirming summer day camp program, serving children in grades K-5. This specialized camp fills a gap left by conventional summer day camps that typically have large group sizes and lack the flexibility needed to accommodate sensory sensitivities and deep interests. This program is funding program scholarships for Oak Park families with financial need as well as staff training and therapeutic supports provided by a licensed speech language pathologist and occupational therapist, supporting staff in creating sensory-friendly spaces and facilitating small groups on regulation, fine/visual motor skills, and functional independence within the camp environment.