Illinois Center for Autism

My child attended this school last yr. It is a very disturbing place.The staff is uncaring towards childrens needs. They put up a good front so becareful. This is not the place for a autistic child to be. They will not get better, they will only get worse. There taught nothing. The children only go down hill. I now have my child at a new school and he has bloomed so much in the last 5mo.
--Submitted by a parent

we really had high hopes for our grandchild in this school, but we sure are disappointed in the way he is treated. in the 3mos he has been there he has regressed backwards. he's been sick and has got to the point where he wont eat nothing except baby cereal. he has quit using his pecs book. we really thought he would get the help he needed. the teachers act so cold and indifferent. sorry ica, but your not cracked up to be what we were told.
--Submitted by a parent

Oh My God! I wasted 2 yrs. of my sons life at this school. Please listen to the others that posted. My son only got worse. He was always a caring, loving little boy until i made the worst mistake of my life and placed him at ica. I even had dcfs at my door due to abuse that occured at this school by a teacher. My son became very aggressive, withdrawn because of that kind of abuse happening to him daily. Do anything you can to keep your child out of this system. I have moved to a bassc orinated school and it has worked miracles for my son. he's back to my happy loving little boy. The teachers from bassc really do care, they will do anything to help a child. Unlike the teachers at ICA. I thank God daily for giving me a way out of that dist.
--Submitted by a parent

Never put your child in this school it would be your biggest mistake it is better to teach your child at home or put your child in a public school anything would be better than this place.
--Submitted by Angelina Cavins, a parent

This is the most uncaring school of professionals that I have every seen. They are cold and unfriendly. They are only there for the job and a paycheck. We are really disappointed in the school. The kids need more of one on one than sitting in a little room all day. This is not teaching our children anything.
--Submitted by a parent

the quality of programming at this 'special school' is very low. This school is for children with autism this school either understands autism very little or just dont care. Its been opened for yrs. and just hired a O/T which is on of the most important therpy. Now 1 O/T for the entire school?? Technically this isnt a school. It seems more like a daytime instituation. Its best to keep your child in the public school setting where they learn from others. They will never let your child go if they can help it. If they let them go then there letting go of money. I had a teacher tell me that she seen kids that didnt need to be there anymore but they wont blend back in to the public dist. and now ICA is where they have no choice but to be, its all they know.
--Submitted by a parent

Dont allow any school to place your child here. this is a autism school yet they know very little about the disease. Theres no caring involved nor does it seem they want these children to mainstream into the community or reg. education.
--Submitted by a parent