Our Story & Mission
Our Mission
Our mission is to cultivate community and companionship in the Champaign-Urbana area and surrounding Central Illinois communities to drive successful life outcomes for adults with disabilities.
Our Vision
To create a community of inclusive opportunity in the Champaign-Urbana region where successful outcomes and compassionate people come together to change lives. We support highly capable individuals who simply need the right support and equal access to opportunity. There is dignity in work and pride in meaningful contribution.
Our Story
Born from the lived experiences of parents navigating the realities of autism and Down syndrome in the Central Illinois community, our group was founded on a simple realization: for young adults with neurodiversity and developmental disabilities, high school graduation should not be a dead end.
We saw a gap in local programming and chose to fill it. We focus on solving the two most critical daily questions our community faces: Where do we go? And what do we do? By bridging the divide between capability and opportunity, we help create lives defined by purpose.
We believe in the dignity of work and the joy of imaginative volunteerism, ensuring every individual we serve can live a life that is both fulfilling and inclusive.
Our Boys
Meet Chance!
Chance is 20, soon to be 21, and he brings humor, energy, and personality everywhere he goes. He has Down syndrome and loves connecting with people—especially if he can make you laugh. If something makes you laugh once, Chance will likely remember it and repeat it every time he sees you.
He loves pizza, swimming, water parks, and staying in hotels. He’s also very interested in the FBI, SWAT, and law enforcement.
Chance enjoys talking and interacting, though communication can sometimes be challenging. When he’s unsure or anxious, he may become very still or use humor to navigate the moment. He doesn’t always pick up on social cues and may mimic others without realizing it.
At home, he helps with chores—especially vacuuming—and he loves writing words in notebooks, often filling entire pages. He also participates in Special Olympics in basketball, track and field, and bowling.
Chance has two older sisters, two dogs, and two cats who are a big part of his life. He’s full of personality, routines, and laughter—and he has a way of making every day more memorable.
Meet Jack!
Jack is an adult with autism who lives at home and is very active in his community. He attends day programming a few times a week and is always up for a walk. One of his favorite routines is visiting the post office, where he sends letters to his Uncle Sean and looks forward to the DVDs his uncle mails back.
Jack has limited speech, but he connects with others in meaningful ways. He enjoys working on farms, visiting the zoo, being around animals, and volunteering at food banks and senior centers. He has also made many friends through Special Olympics, where he participates in basketball, bowling, and track and field.
He loves camp, eating out, and his daily routines—especially making sure there’s always soda nearby. Jack is kind, well-mannered, and deeply connected to his community.