I’m not sure when my family was first lucky enough to stumble across Rockin the Spectrum.  All I know is that it is one of the best stumbles we have taken in a very long time.  Our first experience was a respite time back last summer.  As a parent of an autistic adult, you can imagine the anxiety we have when we drop our daughter Noelle off somewhere new.  Questions such as:   Will she have a meltdown?  Will she be destructive?  Will she be nice to new people?  Will they be able to handle her?  The questions and doubts that constantly creep in were there.  But, from the moment we walked in the door, we felt an unfamiliar feeling….ease.  No one questioned whether she would be okay there, or if they could handle her, or if she would be destructive, or have a meltdown.  It was a simple, “We got her. Go.  Have a good break.”  We left, had a hot lunch in a restaurant, went shopping without feeling rushed, and even got a text from the organization telling us she was okay and doing well.  That is an experience we are not used to.  Again, an unfamiliar feeling, relaxed and at ease.  This is the way it has been every other time since last summer.  Rockin the Spectrum embraces the whole family.  They know the importance of break time, finding resources, and looking for ways to support the whole family.  We have benefited from the lasagna dinners that are donated, and are a saving grace when we can’t do one more thing like make dinner.  Opportunities such as a Windy City Bulls game being offered to attend as a family, a support group for dads, a Christmas party for the family, Mother’s Day activities, and now the Clubhouse,  all additional ways to include the family as a whole are offered.  We look forward to seeing what the Clubhouse will be like, and we look forward to seeing what else this great organization will do in the future. 

Hello All,

I was asked to give an account of my experience with two of the kindest woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Linda and Lindsey doing a time in which I needed support comfort and most importantly respite they care were there. I can't express in words how kind these ladies were to take their time and resources to aide my child who is an adult.

Lindsey and Linda were both under the weather at the time and traveled to help us, we did not know each other before hand this was our first time meeting and they saved for over 10 hours!!!!!

We’ve used the Breaktime service with Rockin’ The Spectrum several times and they have consistently done a tremendous job of providing a fun, safe environment for our 17yo autistic son.  They are truly dedicated to their mission and we’ve come to trust them completely.  RtS has always been very flexible with the unusual circumstances that invariably arise in this sort of work-- they truly “get it”.  Having a group like this in our area is truly a blessing for special needs families.