New Rental Housing Assistance Program Coming to Kane County

More low-income households in Kane County will be given the opportunity to live independently thanks to a new $662,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority awarded to a partnership of four non-profit agencies in Kane County. A total of 22 apartment units (9 in Southern Kane, 4 in Central Kane and 9 in Northern Kane County) have been earmarked for participation in the three-year program.

Click here for the full press release, and click here for a brochure on this exciting new program!

Weekend Retreat for Adults

October 17-19

The Association for Individual Development's weekend retreat is an overnight retreatexperience for adults age 18 and up with physical disabilities or developmental delays.

The retreat is held at Wild Rose Program Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Wild Rose is a fully-accessible campground equipped with sports fields, volleyball courts, a miniature golf course, and cabin camping facilities.

Click here for more information about the retreat, and here to fill out a registration form. For more information please call Diana at 630-966-4251.

Harvest Moon Magic

Charity Auction September 26

Historically, AID's fall charity auction has been one of our biggest and most prestigious fundraisers, and this year will be no exception.

Join us September 26 at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva and raise your glasses while we raise much-needed funds for our community's most vulnerable population.

It promises to be an exciting evening featuring: +100 silent and live auction items including trips and getaways, eleven raffle baskets, plated dinner, and beverages included. Reservations are required, so please contact Wendy Bialek at 847-931-2294 for more information or to purchase raffle tickets.

Raffle tickets are $5 each, $40 for 10 and $100 for 30. Each basket is overflowing (some occupy multiple tables) with wonderful treasures with a guaranteed value of at least $1,000. Winners need not be present at auction. Tickets can be purchased by sending a check or money order to Ann Gerardo at AID, 1135 Bowes Road, Elgin, IL 60123. You can also call in a credit card number to Ann at 847-931-2293. Please also indicate which baskets the tickets should go towards. The baskets are as follows (click on the title of each to see a list of contents):

What's Cookin'?
You don't have to be a gourmet cook to appreciate this bountiful basket filled with sweets and spices, cookbooks, and such wonderful cooking tools as a 10 speed mixer.

Family Fun
Now's the time to get out and enjoy all that Chicago land has to offer its families. What could be more fun than a day at Brookfield Zoo, Arlington Park Races, Shedd Aquarium or Fun Way??

Time to Smell the Roses
You won't find any thorns in this gorgeous garden basket! Features a beautiful bistro table with two chairs and such wonderful accents as a live orchid plant, glass globed trellises and sundial, gardening books and gift certificates from area nurseries.

It’s All About Me?
And why not? You deserve a little shopping spree in downtown Geneva and St. Charles, a trip to any number of spas and nail salons, and lotions that will ease the most stressed out soul.

Ladder of Success
What better way to climb that ladder than with a brand new laptop with carrying case, a beautiful office chair, and a certificate for a $100 non-credit course at Elgin Community College

Some Enchanted Evening
It doesn't get any better than this! There's enough gift certificates at local eateries to last a lifetime. Eat first then take in a hilarious show at Comedy Shrine, a concert at the Elgin Symphony, a performance at the renowned North Light Theatre or stay the night at Chicago's luxurious Raffaello.

Sports & Games Galore
The fans will be roaring when they see this basket which includes tickets to NIU Huskie, Chicago Wolves and Chicago Storm games, autographed and framed photos of your absolutely favorite players (Javier Vasquez, Mark Buehrle to name just a few), an X-Box 360, Bosu and 3 month membership at Del-Nor Health and Wellness Center.

Halloween Hauntings
The bewitching hour will be soon upon us and the winner of this basket will be able to create the most haunted of all haunted houses. Oversize tombstones, skull and spiders, pirate and mummy props are just a few of the "decorations" you'll win!

Stock the Bar
With hundreds of bottles of fine wine and liquors, you're sure to be everyone's new best friend! Your parties will be famous and you'll have enough bottles to gift all your new friends for years. Also includes accessories such as a wine rack to hold all those beautiful bottles.

Winter Wonderland
Santa and crew will be visiting soon so now's the time to welcome all these warm and cuddly holiday accents into your home. Our snowmen are so cute they're sure to melt your heart! There's even a deluxe Santa Suit (with wig 'n beard) for those wanna be santas and a New Year’s Eve Kit with champagne to welcome in 2009.

Cold Hard Cash
What can we say? $1,000 to the winner of this basket. Better than an economic stimulus check!

Senator Michael Noland

dedicates group home in Elgin

On Tuesday, September 9th at 9:00 am, Senator Michael Noland dedicated the home at 1482 Maple Lane in Elgin, an AID group home for people with disabilities, to the employees of AID. Clients, employees and parents were in attendance. Click here for an article about the event.

Mobility for Ability

2nd Annual AID Benefit Motorcycle Run

On Sunday, August 24th, 36 bikes hit the road to help raise awareness and funds for the Association for Individual Development. The weather was fantastic for a ride, and the almost 60-mile trip with stops along the way seemed to whiz by like yellow stripes along the pavement.

The run started at AID’s Elgin office at 1135 Bowes Road, where breakfast was served. The stops were: Booker's in South Elgin, Knucklehead's in Elburn, Maple Park Bar & Grill in Maple Park, Mott's Lounge in Burlington, Outpost Tavern in Pingree Grove, and Last Shot in South Elgin. AID would like to thank all of the management and staff of these establishments. We would also like to thank our volunteers, IHC Construction, Jason for being our only "2nd year ride veteran" (who braved torrential rain last year), and most of all the riders for coming out and making this event a fun one.

For anyone interested, the pictures can be found here. As a special thank-you to anyone who participated: if you would like a high resolution version of any of the pictures in this album emailed to you (or a paper photo mailed to you), please contact Gus at 847-931-2291.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program:

A Workshop for AID Parents & Caregivers

Join authorized CPI Instructors for AID Terri Davis and Tim Cross on Wednesdsay, November 5, from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm at 309 W. New Indian Trail Ct. in Aurora for a free training on Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.

Please see our flyer for more information.

Empowerment & Recovery

A Vision for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Join AID on October 3rd at Piper's Banquets in Aurora as Patrick Corrigan and Nanette Larson lead a training on Empowerment & Recovery: A Vision for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Click here for more information and to register. Act fast and save on early-bird registration!