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85-year-old Margaret Eder vividly remembers a young boy from Chicago with autism spectrum disorder who experienced a lot of bullying at school and even had to face financial and academic struggles after his mother suffered a stroke. Eder puts it in her words that everything was conspiring against him, trying to bring him down at every turn.

Eder could not continue witnessing this young boy struggle alone 

Eder could not continue witnessing this young boy struggle alone; thus, being a counselor, albeit with a master’s degree, Eder made it her mission to help him. The counselor coordinated with family members and teachers to set achievable academic goals for the young boy, even helping address bullying issues that had been a constant source of distress for him.

The counseling sessions played a crucial role in empowering the young boy to believe in himself and his abilities, they instilled courage in him to say I can, I will and I have. The young man now lives confidently on his own and attends Loyola University Chicago, a prestigious institution where he continues to excel in his studies.

United Stand organization

It would be a disgrace to close this story without mentioning the role of United Stand. This organization has brought hope to thousands of children and adolescents in Chicago over the past few decades. It was founded back in the 80s, precisely in 1987, by clinical director  Kim Felician, who, along with the executive director, has dedicated their lives to helping at-risk youth in Chicago schools.

Currently, they work with approximately 50 schools in the area, providing support and guidance to young individuals struggling with stress and bullying. In a brief interview, director Kim Felician explained what motivated her to start United Stand and how it has grown.

As she recalled, “I witnessed firsthand the struggles of many children in Chicago who were having emotional and behavioral difficulties, not because they lacked the ability to learn, but because of past traumatic experiences that affected their social and emotional wellbeing.”

United Stand Collaboration

It was a disturbing reality that she could not ignore: She had to take action.  To ensure that the needs of these children were met, United Stand decided to collaborate with universities in Chicago and provide training for mental health experts who would join their team. These professionals bring a diverse range of expertise, including clinical psychology, family therapy, behavior management, music therapy, play therapy, and brain-informed movement.

To understand how impactful this collaboration has been, one only needs to look at the variety of crises that the team has effectively managed. These crises have included suicidal threats, manifestations of depression and anxiety, disruptive behaviors, and even unexpected natural deaths and medical emergencies.

Through their swift response and expert care, United Stand has proven to be a reliable source of support for schools, parishes, and community organizations in times of need.

At Illinois Autism Center (IAC), we couldn’t be more thankful and proud of counselors like Felica Kim and organizations like United Stand. A large number of Autistic children out there need special care, and unfortunately, most of the time, they are ignored or labeled as “difficult,” and they don’t get the help they need.  With the collaboration between United Stand and universities, these children now receive the specialized care and support they need to thrive. This benefits not only the children but also their families, teachers, and communities as a whole, bringing much-needed awareness and understanding to the neurodiverse community.

Support & awareness in Chicago IL

At Illinois Autism, we share nearly similar values and goals with United Stand. We also believe in promoting inclusion and providing high-quality care for individuals with autism.

We are here to support families and individuals with autism with research-based support, awareness, academic excellence, and community outreach programs.