About us
Success Stories
For nearly 50 years, Aspire has changed thousands of lives through our commitment to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. At Aspire, we celebrate every milestone, whether great or small!
- Tristan Smiles
Tristan was born with extra fluid in his brain and, as a result, has delayed motor skills and some vision problems. Worried about his social and physical development, Tristan’s parents turned to Aspire for help. Aspire came together with Tristan’s day care center to make a big difference in his life. Read More - Valerie Comes to Work Ready Every Day
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It takes fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination to assemble the rotators that Navistar will place in one of their International trucks. It takes a quick worker like Valerie Peacock. Work is important to Valerie. She comes to her job ready to
work and with a smile on her face
every day. Read More - Jasmine Finds Her Voice
Jasmine stopped talking when she was 15 months old and soon after was diagnosed with autism and severe speech delay. Eleven years later, Jasmine is improving her communication skills in Aspire's assistive technology program. Read More - Employees as Volunteers: Coca-Cola
More than 20 Coca-Cola employees from all over the nation came to Aspire looking for a one-of-a-kind volunteer opportunity. They were to paint three murals telling the story of Aspire’s vision. Watch a video on what volunteering for Aspire means to them. Read More - Denise Moves Up
Denise worked at a sandwich shop. Then she bagged groceries at a major grocery chain for 10 years. About three years ago she told Lisa Dziergas, Director of Community Employment Services at Aspire, that she “didn’t want to be a bagger when she turned 50.”
Denise just turned 50 in August and she’s moving up.
She just celebrated her three year anniversary at Mike’s Market. Read More - Sylvia Takes Steps Toward Independence
- Sylvia Kinder was afraid of walking unattended. She was so fearful that, whenever she was led by someone, Sylvia would hang on tightly, pulling the person back as he tried to move forward. Staff at Aspire knew getting Sylvia to walk on her own would help her become more independent. Enter Susan Ottlinger, Sylvia’s caseworker for the past three years, who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Read More
- Volunteer Spotlight: Nazareth Academy
Stop by the community homes in La Grange and Forest Park on almost any Saturday and you will likely see a group of enthusiastic teenagers baking cookies, playing cards and games or doing seasonal crafts with equally enthusiastic residents.
Since last fall, students from Nazareth Academy have been visiting with the adults.
Read More - Sean Learns Life Skills
It was a hot day at the Brookfield Zoo and Sean Farrelly was ready to go home. He was tired and feeling miserable. Sean and his cousin headed for the exit. But when Sean spotted a group of people with disabilities nearby, Sean perked up. He spent two more hours at the zoo with his new acquaintances. Read More - Early Success Shapes Natalia’s Future
When Natalia was an infant, her parents Sonia and Jaime were concerned about her future. Natalia was
diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She started receiving therapy at Aspire
and
she reached important milestones like holding her head up and grasping things.
Her mother continues to see progress. “I can see Natalia walking someday, going to school and on to college. Aspire has made a huge impact on her life.”
Read More - Kejuan Plays With Others
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One day Juanda Morror noticed her 18-month-old toddler wasn’t paying attention to her when she talked to him. He avoided interactions with other children and didn’t speak. She sought the advice of several specialists and her son Kejuan was diagnosed with severe autism. When Juanda heard the autism diagnosis, her journey to help her child led her to Aspire. Read More - Chicago Fire Foundation Teams Up With Aspire!
The Chicago Fire opened its doorson May 31 and helped raise more than $1500 for Aspire. Aspire volunteers took to the aisles of Toyota Park during the Chicago Fire game to sell “split-the-pot” raffle tickets. Read More - William Makes Choices
Julie Doran says her 61-year old brother William Walsh has found his bliss.“William is a proper and gentle man,” says Julie of her older sibling. “Now that he is living in an Aspire community home, he feels more peaceful and mellow.” Read More - Joel Rides Roller Coaster
Yolo and Donald Adams wondered if their son Joel was just going through the “terrible twos,” but Aspire confirmed Joel did have delayed sensory issues. He was hyperactive and afraid of slides at the playground. After only a year of therapy at Aspire, Joel is able to express his feelings without screaming. He recently went to Kiddieland and was able to ride the roller coaster. Read More- Employees as Volunteers: Banco Popular
Aspire has enjoyed a long-term and fruitful relationship with Banco Popular, the Rosemont-based community bank . The employer and its staff have generously supported Aspire’s programs for years. Employees of the bank serve as volunteers in its “Caring Around the Year” program. Read More- Todd at Home in the Community
When Todd Fritz was born in 1963 his mother Elizabeth was told her newborn, diagnosed with Down Syndrome, wouldn’t live past the age of 2. Todd is 46 now and relishes his shiny red walker, which he pushes with cheerful abandon, despite the ill effects of having severe arthritis in one hip and three open-heart surgeries.
Read More - Volunteer Spotlight: Judy Lorch
Volunteer extraordinaire Judy Lorch has racked up some pretty impressive stats in her many years “on the job” at Aspire.
She’s donated 750 hours to Aspire on Broadway (AOB), our resale shop in Melrose Park and last year alone, she sold 376 donated items on eBay and raised $12,000 for Aspire. Read More - Employees as Volunteers: TradeLink Care
Every year, the employees of TradeLink LLC, an asset management and trading firm in Chicago, are given three days of time off to engage in volunteer work. Aspire is fortunate to be on the receiving end of the good deeds offered by that charitable and forward-thinking company. Read More - Participant Spotlight: Meet Michael
Michael Bevan, an in vitro baby, was born three weeks early just nine months ago. His sibling twin didn’t survive, a heartbreaking outcome of the third pregnancy for the Bevans of River Forest. Read More - Answering the Call, Filling a Need
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Barb and Doug Prine have been involved with Aspire since their son Ben, who contracted meningitis as a newborn, was just three months old. The hospital’s intensive care unit staff suggested the Elmhurst couple investigate physical therapy when it became apparent Ben had vision impairments and developmental delays. Read More - Volunteer Spotlight: Fraternity Brothers Lend a Hand
- So, what does Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at DePaul University in Chicago have in common with Aspire? As it turns out, quite a bit. When Paul DiMasi and his fraternity brothers investigated community service opportunities, they chose Aspire. Read More
- Camden Reaches for the Future
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When Cris Shepard was pregnant with her second child, testing revealed her unborn son would have developmental disabilities. Camden Morris was born 19 months ago with a cleft lip and palate and a chromosome disorder (he has a partial duplication of the 9th chromosome). Read More - Sally Soars
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When Margaret and Herman Schult found out their daughter Sally was born with a birth defect that had caused brain damage and mild retardation the year was 1950. It wasn’t until Sally exhibited behavior problems when she was 27 that her parents were told she needed to learn socialization skills and have some distance put between herself and her parents, her lone caretakers. Read More - Employees as Volunteers: Playing Santa
- What’s on your holiday wish list? Winter boots, a Chicago Cubs calendar, an Elvis Presley CD, and a manicure set are a few gifts National Van Lines donated to individual men and women at Aspire, making their holiday cheerful. Read More
- Emerson
Emerson was born with a rare chromosomal disorder resulting in
in intellectual disability
and ongoing heath problems. “Throughout our journey we’ve been fortunate enough to have Aspire as our support and shoulder to cry on (literally),” says mother Candi. Read More - Sarah's Story
- Sarah was one of the first participants to live at Aspire on Eastern—our intermediate care facility for adults. Like many residents there, it was the first time Sarah lived outside of a state institution. Read More
- Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating Life Through Service
This year Aspire volunteer Steve Motykiewicz is celebrating his one hundredth birthday, but it’s Aspire that is receiving the best gift of all: Steve’s dedicated service to our Melrose Park resale shop, Aspire on Broadway. Steve and his wife Mary became involved with Aspire more than 25 years ago when a friend of Mary’s encouraged her to come out and work at the store. They have worked in various capacities at the shop, from bringing in donations to pricing and organizing the store. Read More - Employees as Volunteers: UPS “Make a Difference”
- On Martin Luther King Day, January 21, a crew of 25 staff members from United Parcel Service in Hodgkins donated their time and talents to benefit Aspire. UPS has a corporate philosophy of community involvement and on that day UPS employees participated in service projects at human service organizations throughout west suburban Chicago. Read More