[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 99 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF CAROL MADISON--EXECUTIVE 
               DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS CENTER FOR AUTISM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2004

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the career and retirement of Carol Madison, Executive 
Director of the Illinois Center for Autism for 27 years.
  The Illinois Center for Autism, ICA, is a non-profit, community-based 
mental health treatment, special education center, and vocational 
training site, dedicated to prevent the unnecessary 
institutionalization of people with autism and help them achieve the 
highest level of independence possible in their home, school, and 
community. Students/Clients must be diagnosed as autistic and/or 
exhibit characteristics, such as severe communication disorders, severe 
behavioral disorders, uneven intellectual skills, and socially 
inappropriate behaviors.
  Under Carol's direction and service as the ICA's first Executive 
Director, the Illinois Center for Autism was established in the fall of 
1977 to provide a Special Day School Program. At that time, it was 
serving only eight children with autism.
  In January 1978, the Illinois Center for Autism was incorporated as a 
501c (3) not-for-profit corporation. The ICA's mission then was to 
prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of children with autism. 
ICA received accreditation in 1992 from the North Central Association 
(NCA). To this day, ICA has maintained its accreditation and serves 
both adults and children throughout Southern Illinois.
  In 1992, under Carol's leadership, the ICA began an innovative 
initiative. With Carol's careful hand guiding the program, the ICA 
opened a gourmet Italian take-out eatery called Pasta Fare. Pasta Fare 
provides an ideal site for food service training for the ICA's clients. 
They assist in all aspects of the business, learning to apply their 
functional academic, social and communications skills in a work 
setting. All clients at Pasta Fare are employees of the Illinois Center 
for Autism. Clients are transitioned into the community for further 
competitive employment opportunities and many are placed into food 
service and related occupations.
  Not only has Carol and the ICA been able to prevent the unnecessary 
institutionalization of hundreds of people with autism, she and the 
Center have also helped them to become productive members of society.
  Carol has devoted her life to serving the needs of the disabled 
community. She has served as a Site Visitor for the US Department of 
Education's Blue Ribbon Schools program and as a Hearing Officer with 
the Illinois State Board of Education from 1977-1987. She has consulted 
with the Madison County Association for Retarded Citizens and served on 
the Illinois State Board of Education Advisory Council on the Education 
of Children with Disabilities from 1992-1999. She has served as the 
Director of the National Association of Private Education Centers and 
was the Chairman of the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.
  The future holds great promise for the Illinois Center for Autism and 
the people it serves and we owe a great debt of gratitude to Carol for 
the work she has done on behalf of hundreds of young people in our 
area.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
contributions of Carol Madison and wish her and her family the very 
best in the future.

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