CBS News - Turning Pointe helping people with autism gain life and work skills - Turning Pointe Autism Foundation

CBS News – Turning Pointe helping people with autism gain life and work skills

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (CBS) — Have you visited the Chicago Auto Show yet? Here’s something you might not know. Besides all the shiny new cars, each year the Auto Show raises money for several local charities.

 

One of this year’s recipients is a not-for-profit school in Naperville that is educating individuals with autism.

First grader Jason enjoys his lessons thanks to his many teachers at Turning Pointe Autism Foundation.

The day school works with students from Chicago and the suburbs, from ages 5 to 21.

Serving 70 kids on a daily basis, the school also supports hundreds of families – helping students to become more independent.

“We get to see our students have so many firsts. So we have students who come to us in middle school, and they’re telling mom for the first time, ‘I love you,'” Turning Pointe executive director Carrie Provenzale said.

The idea for Turning Pointe – now celebrating 15 years – came from a Naperville family. Kim and Randy Wolf wanted a better support network for their son.

“Teaching kids to communicate is probably one of the best things I think we can do,” Turning Pointe faculty director Angela Williams said.

Several years ago, Walgreens added a mock store to the Turning Pointe campus to train future employees. Dozens have been hired so far.

“An adult with autism can learn all the ins and outs of working at a Walgreens, without the distractions of being in a real store,” Provenzale said.

“Students are able to succeed in a setting like this, because they know that everyone around understands them and cares about them,” Williams said. “They just break down those barriers every day, and it’s really quite rewarding,”

Turning Pointe works with school districts throughout Chicago and the suburbs. They’re able to operate thanks to generous donations.

 

tpaf-color-medium
  1500 West Ogden Avenue

Naperville, IL 60540

  contactus@turningpointaft.org

   630.570.7948

4Star 234×60

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Foglia Family Adult Services is a Certified Autism Center by the IBCCES and the Adult Day Pilot is accredited by CARF.

Our organization does not discriminate in employment or the provision of educational services on the basis on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Angela Francisco

Crisis Interventionist

Angela Williams

Faculty Director-AD/DS

Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)

Ashlee Hare-Hunter

Lead Intense Behavior Interventionist

Ashley Hurst-Kim

Speech/Language Pathologist

Alissa Krusoe

Intense Behavior Interventionist

 

Barbara Brauer

Development & Operations Director

Bernadette Bassett

School Administrator/Compliance Director-AD/DS

Bianca Edmeier-Frost

Program Director

M.S., BCBA

Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)

Carolyn Bonessa

Foundation Coordinator

Carrie Provenzale

Executive Director

Celia Kaiser

BCBA/BA

Christina Pallack

RBT

Clare Jahnke

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Claudia Leiva

Registered Behavior Technician

Corrine Murray

Instructional Coach

Debra Kolak

Occupational Therapist

Drew Dresden

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Edel Vaca Jr.

Special Education Teacher

Elissa Holzwarth

Special Education Teacher

Guadalupe Sanchez

Intense Behavior Interventionist

 

Hilary Antolak

Intense Behavior Interventionist

 

Isaac Rodriguez

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Jessica Bain

Registered Behavior Technician

Jack Wolf

Enterprise Employee

John Higgins

School Bus Driver

Kaitlyn Wheaton

Lead Intense Behavior Interventionist

Kathleen Krieger

Nurse

Kehinde "Kenny" Ogunfowokan

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Kristen Skala

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Lacey Landmeier

Speech/Language Pathologist

Lexi Earll

Special Education Teacher

Lindsey Luther

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Mackenzie Muersch

Occupational Therapist

Mackenzie Cryder

Intense Behavior Interventionist/RBT

Marea Rosedale

Speech/Language Pathologist

Marina Romanelli

Teaching Assistant

Mary Brandner

Behavior Analyst

Mary Butler

Family Specialist

CCLS, CFLE

Maura McNamara

Special Education Teacher

Megan Kugach

Registered Behavior Technician

Melanie Saunders

BCBA

Melissa Cleary

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Megan Dobrolinsky

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Melissa Welsch

Lead Intense Behavior Interventionist & RBT

Michael Petrusky

Enterprise Employee

Nancy Santoro

Special Education Teacher

Nicole Cyrier

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Nicole Lombardo

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Paul Gardner

Special Education Teacher

Raymond Rivera

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Raymond Ziecina

Intense Behavior Interventionist

RaeAnne Rhule

Special Education Teacher-AD

IBCCES - Autism Certificate (AC) 

Rebekah Osterman

Intense Behavior Interventionist

Robin Karling-Reece

Respite Intense Behavior Interventionist-AD

IBCCES - Autism Certificate (AC)

Samantha Blackwell

Clinical Coach

Samantha Camacho

Program Coordinator

Behavior Analyst

Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)

Sarah Bormann-Mayo

Lead/Scholastic IBI

Sarah Cammack

School Secretary

Seth Mathewson

Admin Specialist

Sonia Galicia

CNA

Stefan Krueger

Systems Specialist

Sydney Coyle

BCBA

Tara Willing

Speech/Language Pathologist-DS/AD

Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)

Taylor Parus

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant/COTA-Part Time

Tiara Mitchell

CNA

tpaf-color-medium
  1500 West Ogden Avenue

Naperville, IL 60540

  contactus@turningpointeaf.org

   630.570.7948

4Star 234×60
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Foglia Family Adult Services is a Certified Autism Center by the IBCCES and the Adult Day Pilot is accredited by CARF.

Our organization does not discriminate in employment or the provision of educational services on the basis on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

2021 Turning Pointe Autism Foundation. All Rights Reserved.