Naperville, IL - Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is proud to announce a series of events honoring Autism Acceptance Month this April. With the support of the Naperville City Council and local businesses, Turning Pointe aims to highlight the importance of understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals and families impacted by Autism.

City Council Recognition

On Tuesday, April 2nd, Mayor Scott Wehrli and the Naperville City Council officially proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month at the City Council Meeting in Council Chambers, marking the City of Naperville’s encouragement of all citizens to help raise awareness and support for those affected by Autism. Turning Pointe Autism Foundation will lead the effort in the community, including:

Test Drives for Autism Awareness

Throughout the month, Turning Pointe will partner with local car dealers including Naperville Toyota, Naperville Chevrolet, Lexus of Naperville among others, for the "Test Drives for Autism Awareness" initiative. For every test drive taken at participating dealers, $20 will be donated to Turning Pointe, directly supporting programs and services for individuals with Autism. Learn more about participating in this unique fundraising opportunity at Test Drives.

KidSnips Makes a Difference

In addition, KidSnips is stepping forward to make a difference. Turning Pointe has been selected as the beneficiary for their April fundraiser, with $1 from every haircut during the weekdays in April donated to Turning Pointe. This initiative is taking place at seven KidSnips locations around Naperville. For more details and to find a participating location, visit https://kidsnips.com.

Open House Resource Fair

On April 27th, Turning Pointe, in partnership with Sloomoo Institute, will host an Open House Resource Fair from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This event, open to the public, offers a day full of interactive, sensory, and adaptive play. Attendees can gather information from local resources like DuPage Children's Museum, Shine Pediatric Dentistry, Riverwalk Adult Day Services, and WDSRA (Western DuPage Special Recreation Association), among others.

“Many caregivers and families rely on therapies and community-based supports to meet their daily needs,“ says Barb Brauer, Turning Pointe Advancement Director. “We would love to have families and caregivers join us on April 27th to meet the many resources in our community. People can find out more about the resources open house on our website at https://turningpointeautismfoundation.org/.

Best Practice Continuing Education

Turning Pointe continues its commitment to providing best practice learning by welcoming the Practice Advisory Board to its campus on April 17th, 18th, and 19th. Esteemed experts including Dr. Timothy Vollmer, Dr. Stephen Walker, Dr. Jonathan Fernand, Dr. Natalie Andzik, and Dr. Brandon Perez will consult with our Behavior Analysts and provide continuing education, furthering our mission to offer exceptional support and learning opportunities.

“Our recognition of Autism Acceptance Month includes more than just awareness events - it's about real change in the lives of those Turning Pointe Autism Foundation serves,” said Carrie Provenzale, Executive Director of Turning Pointe. “Mary is a great example of an employment training participant who went from never having worked to a five-year career of opportunities with Walgreens.”

Provenzale extended an invitation to the community to get involved in Autism Acceptance this April. “We want to encourage the community and local families to join us in supporting and lifting up the growing number of individuals living and learning with autism,” she said. “Our family and friends living with autism need each of us to be involved in rethinking how we work and live. By accepting and celebrating the remarkable talents of our colleagues with autism, we can lift up the entire community.” For more information on Turning Pointe Autism Foundation and how you can get involved, visit https://turningpointeautismfoundation.org/.

About Turning Pointe Autism Foundation

Established in 2007, Turning Pointe strives to raise the quality of educational supports for children and young adults with autism. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, we rely on the partnership of volunteers, donors, school districts and Employment Partners to build a thriving center for students learning with autism. Visit

https://turningpointeautismfoundation.org/ to learn more.