Hanover Township holds disabilities expo

Getting through the day to day can be a challenge, especially for those with disabilities. But no one needs to go through it alone.

The second annual event entitled "Life Changes: Disabilities Expo" is open to all and will be hosted by the Hanover Township Mental Health Board from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at its Senior Center, 240 S. Route 59, Bartlett. Through workshops and speakers, the organizers hope to reach out to anyone who has been affected by a disability.

Rather than focusing on one disability in particular, the Life Changes expo focuses on topics that all special needs families must face.

Throughout the day, a series of workshops and keynote speakers are scheduled. The workshops include parenting classes, information on legal issues and rights for the disabled and how to effectively advocate for the disabled in school or work environments.

In addition to these workshops, many local groups will be setting up booths to provide parents with resources.

The keynote speaker at 11:15 a.m. is Maurice Snell, 26, who is living with autism spectrum disorder, but nonetheless has a college degree and a job.

Workshops include advocating on behalf of your child by Linda Picchi with the National Association on Down syndrome and her daughter, Angie Picchi; financial planning for someone with special needs; autism research with Dr. Jeffery Lewin of the Alexian Brain Research Center; aging issues and what it means to be a caretaker.

In addition, there will be a short play on autism and Miss Illinois International, Jennifer Naida of Bartlett, will appear. The closing speaker is Dr. Timothy Hayes of C&H Consulting on "It isn't Selfish to Want Relief."

For more information, call Danise Habun or Shirley Bassett at (630) 837-0301. Partnering agencies are Hanover Township Mental Health Board, Out of Box Group, Easter Seals of DuPage and Fox Valley Region, National Association on Down Syndrome, Special Education Advocacy Center, NAMI, Clarewoods Academy.