Have Dreams

04/28/2026

Are you a special education teacher, transition teacher, vocational coach or a parent of a graduate and young adult with special needs? Join us for this informative webinar - Beyond Graduation: Supporting Student Success Through Transition.

Join us to learn practical strategies for building independence, employment readiness and community connections

Guest Speaker: Reanne Rhule LBS1 & 2; teaching young neurodivergent adults for 10 years using best practice methods for maximum success

Date: May 14 via Zoom
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Price: $75

For more information and to register, please click here: https://havedreams.org/trainings/p/transition

04/27/2026

Please join us on May 20 from noon to 1pm for a free presentation on legal and financial planning for individuals with disabilities, including information on Illinois ABLE accounts and special needs trusts. Experts John Gottwald, financial advisor, and Edward Olivieri, attorney, will share insights on planning for your family's future. To RSVP, please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_lURDikO7m-_HfMPmsQA-80W9-QBPWQfXPMv12emBFuxAQQ/viewform

04/24/2026

Educators! Please join us for Structured Teaching Classroom Set-up (CSU) Training, an intensive four-day training designed for professionals who work with neurodivergent students ages 3–22 in classroom settings.

Topics include:

Autism and neurodiversity
Principles and implementation of Structured Teaching
Proactive behavioral strategies
Integrative strategies (communication and social leisure skills)

This Training offers:

Interactive experiences with autistic students of varying ages
Intensive periods of active learning
Presentations and demonstrations of Structured Teaching methodologies
An opportunity to work as a team to set up a classroom using the Structured Teaching Pyramid

Two weeks to choose from!
6/22-6/25 OR 6/29-7/2

This is one of our most popular trainings that sells out every year. Registration is first come, first served. For more information and to register, please visit please visit: https://havedreams.org/trainings/p/structured-teaching-classroom-set-up-csu

04/24/2026

Grab your paddle and play with purpose!

Join us for Serve it Forward, a charity pickleball event at Woodland Park in Park Ridge, benefiting Have Dreams. June 13 will be a day filled with friendly competition, community connection, and BIG impact. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just in it for the fun, this event is for YOU!

*Rally with friends
* Meet new people
* Support individuals with autism

Every serve, every point, every laugh helps create more opportunities for children, teens and adults supported by Have Dreams.

Ready to play?
Sign up here: https://swishtournaments.com/product/have-dreams-fundraiser/

04/22/2026

In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, Director of Clinical Services and Therapist, Lora Slutsky, was on ABC 7 Chicago today to talk about Have Dreams' autism-affirming counseling services. Check out her wonderful interview here:

Lora Slutsky, therapist and director of Clinical Services, joined ABC7.

04/21/2026

Have Dreams' diverse team of therapists is here to provide autism-affirming care to you or your loved one. We're proud that over one-third of Have Dreams' staff, including several of our therapists, identify as neurodivergent, bringing their lived experience to their work supporting clients. More than half of our team has a neurodivergent family member or partner. We bring this sensitivity and care to our work with clients, participants, and families. To learn more about our therapists, visit https://havedreams.org/counseling-team

04/20/2026

For Autism Acceptance Month and National Library Week, we wanted to point your attention toward our webpage, "TJ's Takes". TJ, a Have Dreams Academy graduate and current Training Assistant, has carefully curated and reviewed some of his favorite books. Check out TJ's thoughtful reviews here: https://havedreams.org/tjs-takes

And don't forget about our Autism Acceptance Month page that has a link to TJ's Takes and other free resources! https://havedreams.org/autism-acceptance-month

04/16/2026

Please join us this Sunday, April 19 for Painting for Dreams! Tickets close on Saturday at noon, so register now and get ready for fun on Sunday! https://onecau.se/painting2026

Painting for Dreams is THIS weekend! Please join us on Sunday, April 19 from 2-4pm for this third annual family-friendly fundraiser benefiting Have Dreams!

• Each $40 ticket includes everything you need to make your very own masterpiece with a canvas, brushes, paint and step-by-step instructions by artists from Brickton Art Center.
• Enjoy lemonade and baked good from local in-kind sponsors Cella Sweets and Divine Vending.
• You can also get raffle tickets to win fun prizes!

Come paint, celebrate 30 years of Have Dreams, make a difference and have fun!
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://onecau.se/painting2026

04/15/2026

Have Dreams is offering three powerful trainings designed for educators and professionals supporting neurodivergent individuals at every stage:

Early Childhood Training (In-person, 4/28): Build strong foundations through play, engagement, and developmentally appropriate strategies.

Transition Training (Webinar, 5/14): Support students as they move beyond graduation with meaningful, real-world outcomes.

Structured Teaching Classroom Set-Up (CSU) (In-person, 6/22-6/25): An intensive, hands-on experience where you design and implement a structured classroom from the ground up.

Our trainings are rooted in evidence-based practices and designed to help you create predictable, supportive, and inclusive environments for learners with autism.

Explore all trainings and register:
https://havedreams.org/trainings

04/14/2026

April is Autism Acceptance Month! Did you know that we have a list of book recommendations for kids and adults curated by Have Dreams staff on our Autism Acceptance Month resource page? Check it out and our other free resources by clicking here: https://havedreams.org/autism-acceptance-month

04/14/2026

Painting for Dreams is THIS weekend! Please join us on Sunday, April 19 from 2-4pm for this third annual family-friendly fundraiser benefiting Have Dreams!

• Each $40 ticket includes everything you need to make your very own masterpiece with a canvas, brushes, paint and step-by-step instructions by artists from Brickton Art Center.
• Enjoy lemonade and baked good from local in-kind sponsors Cella Sweets and Divine Vending.
• You can also get raffle tickets to win fun prizes!

Come paint, celebrate 30 years of Have Dreams, make a difference and have fun!
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://onecau.se/painting2026

04/13/2026

April is Autism Acceptance Month! Please join us on this Wednesday, April 15 from 12 to 12:45pm for our next Parent/Caregiver Support Group to connect with others navigating a similar journey. To RSVP, please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwBfPqUkHidbJotYQWoJBQUmDcizdnN9vLYspJdberErZp3g/viewform