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Fun in the summer time!  Visit our website for free summer themed structured activities and visual supports.  The downloads are available in both English and Spanish.

Webinar topics include an autism overview, visual supports at home and school, toilet training, social narratives, and social emotional learning.  Click here to register for our free webinars.

Apoyos Visuales para El Aprendizaje Socioemocional

Viernes, 5 de junio de 2026, 12:00 p. m. – 1:15 p. m. CST

Estrategias para apoyar el desarrollo socioemocional en niño/as con autismo para prevenir comportamientos desafiantes. Este taller hablara sobre cuales apoyos visuales pueden ayudar en esta categoría y como implementarlos. Adicionalmente, hablaremos sobre cuando se usa un descanso y como implementar. El taller también dará un resumen sobre historias sociales para ayudar con no solo problemas de comportamiento, pero también para preparar niños/as a cambios que pueden resultar en reacciones grandes.

Todos los talleres son para familias/cuidadores, educadores y otros profesionales a menos que se indique lo contrario.

Se proporcionan subtítulos para todos los talleres. Los certificados de asistencia se entregarán electrónicamente a quienes asistan a la mayor parte del taller.

Visual Supports for Social Emotional Learning

Wednesday, 6/10/2026 12:00-1:15pm CST

Empowering young autistic learners with visual supports for social-emotional growth! Participants will discover practical strategies that foster communication, emotional understanding, and self-regulation. Intended for educators and caregivers alike, this workshop will provide tools to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment where a preferred visual learning style is prioritized. Workshop provided in English.

All workshops are for families/caregivers, educators and other professionals unless otherwise noted. Credits are available for Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Early Intervention, and Illinois Social Workers unless otherwise noted.  In order to receive credit, you must be registered and signed into the workshop under your name.  Closed captioning is provided for all workshops.

Back of the Yards Library Branch Summer Reading Kickoff Event

Back of the Yards Library Branch Summer Reading Kickoff Event

Saturday, June 6, 2026

2:00pm-4:00pm

Back of the Yards Branch

2111 W. 47th Street

Chicago, IL

*Sign up for a library card, free food, and fun activities!

*Hear from Chris Mueller, from the Chicago Fire!

*UIC's Center for Literacy, including the Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD), will be at the event.

Evento de lanzamiento del programa de lectura de verano de la sucursal Back of the Yards

Sábado, 6 de junio de 2026

2:00 p. m. – 4:00 p. m.

Sucursal Back of the Yards

2111 W. 47th Street

Chicago, IL

*¡Tramite su tarjeta de la biblioteca, disfrute de comida gratis y participe en actividades divertidas!

*¡Escuche a Chris Mueller, del Chicago Fire!

*El Centro de Alfabetización de la UIC, incluido el Centro de Recursos para el Autismo y los Retrasos en el Desarrollo (RCADD), estará presente en el evento.

Family Data Leaders Series

Family Data Leaders Series

A 4-part series for parents/caregivers of children with disabilities who are between the ages of 0-5 years.

Learn more about using data and applying information to improve programs and systems that impact infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and their families.

Registration required for series (must attend all 4 sessions)

Thursdays in June

- June 4 from 9:00-10:30am

- June 11 from 9:00-10:30am

- June 18 from 9:00-10:30am

- June 25 from 9:00-10:30am

After completing the series, you will be a Family Data Leader!

Please register for the series at https://cvent.me/OyxY9Z

For more info call 1-866-436-7842

Limes Smiles for Miles Summer Garden Camp- 3 to 6 years old

Limes Smiles for Miles 10 Weeks Summer Garden Camp

Open Saturdays Only — June 6th to August 8th, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

A 10-week summer garden program for children ages 3–6.

Activities include nutrition education, STEM learning, early intervention, physical development, parent group sessions, and support for children with Autism/Down Syndrome.

For more information, please call 773-217-5095.

To register, click here.

Chicago Children's Theatre

Camp Red Kite

Camp Red Kite is a dynamic theatre day camp for young people on the autism spectrum. During three fun-filled weeks, campers ages 8-22 explore drama, music, and visual arts! Throughout each camp day, campers rotate through engaging arts classes with their age-appropriate small groups, growing their sense of community, imaginative thinking, and self-confidence.

Camp runs July 13-July 31, 2026

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:30pm

Location: 100 S. Racine Ave, Chicago

For ages 8-22.

Financial assistance is available!

Click here for camp information.

Spectrum Sailing Camp- Jackson Park

Spectrum Sailing (501c3), the only National Autism Sailing Program, is excited to set sail in Chicago, IL on June 16-18, 2026.

Hosted by the Jackson Park Yacht Club, this 3-day progressive camp will give 20 autistic kids, ages 10-17, the opportunity to develop new skills, make friends, and build confidence, all while enjoying the adventure of sailing in a fun, supportive environment.

Location: Jackson Park, Chicago

20 kids will be selected via lottery.

Camp is 100% free for all participants

Apply here to be entered in the lottery.

***Also offered at Montrose Harbor.  Dates are also June 16-18.

Questions? Visit www.spectrumsailing.org or email info@spectrumsailing.org

RCADD provides free consultations, trainings, referrals, visual supports, IEP focused guidance, and access to a lending library designed to reduce barriers and strengthen everyday practice in homes, classrooms, and early learning environments.

These services are offered at no cost, so they remain accessible to the families and educators who rely on them. Over the past couple of years, our funding has shifted in significant ways. The need for this work has not. We are continuing to show up across all areas of support, and we are now asking those who value this work to help sustain it.

If you are in a position to do so, you can make a donation by following the steps below:

• Go to https://cfl.uic.edu/donation/ and click to make a gift
• Enter your gift amount
• Under Gift Designation, select “Other (Indicate where to direct your donation)”
• Enter exactly: UIC Center for Literacy/Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays
• Complete your information and submit

Your support helps ensure these services remain available to those who need them.

Your feedback is important. This brief survey supports both The Autism Program of Illinois' (TAP) requirements and RCADD’s service reporting and quality improvement efforts. Your responses help us understand what is working well and how we can continue to improve services for the community. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and should take only a few minutes to complete. 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Su opinión es importante. Esta breve encuesta cumple con los requisitos de TAP y también apoya los esfuerzos de RCADD para reportar servicios y mejorar continuamente la calidad de los mismos. Sus respuestas nos ayudan a entender qué está funcionando bien y cómo podemos seguir mejorando los servicios para la comunidad. La encuesta es voluntaria, confidencial y solo le tomará unos minutos completarla. 

Gracias por compartir su experiencia.

RCADD is part of UIC's Center for Literacy, which has been serving Chicago communities for over 30 years. Both are programs of the UIC College of Education.

The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays provides support for those who care for, teach and serve children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or other developmental delays. RCADD serves families currently enrolled in an Early Head Start or Head Start program as well as others throughout the Chicagoland area.

RCADD offers support at no cost to our patrons in the form of resources, referrals, training and ongoing consultations for families and professionals.

Disclaimer: The Resource Center for Autism & Developmental Delays (RCADD) provides educational resources, training, and information to support individuals with autism and developmental delays. Our materials and recommendations are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. RCADD does not endorse specific products, services, or providers and is not responsible for third-party resources. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. 

Questions or comments? Contact us.