Illinois

Cohort of freshmen with autism start Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative – Illinois Newsroom

Published

3 years ago

August 23, 2022

Cohort of freshmen with autism start Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative – Illinois Newsroom

URBANA — Fall lessons started Monday on the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

It was additionally the start of the college’s new Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative. This system goals to easy the expertise of school for college students with autism.

INI Director Jeanne Kramer created this system after main an internship pipeline program particularly for College of Illinois college students with autism.

“We thought that after we began opening our arms and saying, ‘We’re right here to assist autistic college students that they’d simply begin lining up, , saying, ‘We’re right here. Assist us,’” Kramer says.

Kramer says college students didn’t line up. After some progress and a few COVID-related setbacks, her new mannequin recruited a cohort of ten college students and their mother and father. They may meet usually and get tutoring and different helps — till they graduate and discover a job.

Though Kramer has concepts for what sort of assist to supply, she hopes the ten freshmen will make the ultimate determination, primarily based on what they need and wish.

Kramer says the College of Illinois isn’t supporting the initiative financially. The Autism Program, a state initiative with an affiliate on the college, is paying her wage. Some U of I departments are providing in-kind assist, like peer tutors.

New social expertise for these with autism and people with out

Applications just like the Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative have gotten extra widespread. One web site lists over 300 completely different schools with helps particularly for autistic college students.

Zoe Gross is the director of advocacy for the Autistic Self Advocacy Community. She additionally has autism.

She says applications like INI are essential — so long as they avoid instructing autistic college students to behave like their non-autistic friends.

Gross says that is referred to as “camouflaging” and is related to exhaustion and melancholy.

“That’s usually not a productive strategy for us to absorb social conditions. It’s usually significantly better to show issues like the best way to discuss your incapacity to others, the best way to advocate for your self,” Gross says.

Gross says socialization lessons ought to go each methods.

“If socialization between two individuals is failing, it’s actually because there’s a mismatch in communication types or as a result of neither has been taught the best way to cope with the opposite communication model, not simply because one individual is doing a nasty job,” Gross says.

Kramer says she absolutely agrees with this sentiment. She is bringing in neurotypical peer tutors to elucidate why they do issues like say a praise they don’t imply.

With permission from her cohort, she hopes to flip the mentor-mentee relationship as nicely to show the neurotypical tutors the best way to befriend individuals with autism.

“As neurotypicals, we’re continuously judging individuals primarily based on how they act socially. Once we somebody appearing socially completely different, we have to rapidly suppose that this individual is processing in another way – and that’s not fallacious,” Kramer says.

For instance, somebody with autism could specific their curiosity in persevering with a dialog in another way than somebody who’s neurotypical, Kramer says. Their cue could also be standing close by with out transferring away, as an alternative of sustaining eye contact or interjecting into the dialog.

On this state of affairs, Kramer suggests neurotypical college students merely ask their autistic peer whether or not they need to proceed the dialog.

Kramer says that professors and friends on the College of Illinois do discriminate towards college students with autism. For instance, professors typically dismiss incapacity lodging for neurodiverse college students as “excuses.”

Kramer says she does see gradual progress in autism consciousness on campus. She hopes the peer mentor relationships within the Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative will unfold that consciousness additional.

Emily Hays is a reporter for Illinois Public Media. Observe her on Twitter @amihatt.

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Illinois

Illinois sets sights on return to Sweet 16 in NCAA tourney matchup with Kentucky

Published

1 hour ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Illinois sets sights on return to Sweet 16 in NCAA tourney matchup with Kentucky – CBS Chicago

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For the fourth time in the last five years, the Fighting Illini have won an NCAA Tournament game. Now the goal is getting back to the Sweet 16, something they haven’t done in consecutive seasons since 2005. Illinois was back at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Saturday, getting ready for their 2nd round matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats.

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Illinois

Kentucky vs Illinois picks, predictions, odds: Who wins March Madness NCAA Tournament game?

Published

13 hours ago

March 22, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky vs Illinois picks, predictions, odds: Who wins March Madness NCAA Tournament game?

No. 6 seed Illinois and No. 3 seed Kentucky play March 23 in a March Madness NCAA Tournament second-round game at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Midwest Region game is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. MST and can be seen on CBS (stream with FUBO).

Who will win the March Madness game and advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA bracket?

Check out these NCAA Tournament second-round picks and predictions for the men’s college basketball matchup.

Illinois is a 1.5-point favorite over Kentucky in the game in March Madness odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. The Fighting Illini are -130 on the moneyline. The Wildcats are +105. The over/under for the game is set at 170.5 points.

Watch Illinois vs Kentucky on FUBO (free trial)

Jeremy Cluff writes: “We think this game is a toss-up and the odds agree with us, the point spread for this game is the smallest one for Sunday’s March Madness games. We picked Illinois to lose to Xavier in the first round. We’re not picking them to lose in the second.”

More March Madness: How to watch games | Announcers | NCAA Tournament odds | Game odds | Printable bracket

Dimers: Illinois 83, Kentucky 82

It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives Illinois a win probability of 55%, while Kentucky has a win probability of 45%.”

Ryan Black writes: “Expect plenty of points in this one. The Wildcats and Illini are among the top 10 in Division I in scoring offense … and outside the top 250 in scoring defense. UK has found ways to win close games all season. Here’s betting Mark Pope’s outfit strikes upon a winning formula in a tight contest featuring double-digit lead changes, ties and swings in momentum before the Illini’s last-chance 3 at the buzzer grazes the rim.”

Wes Huett writes: “Don’t take your eyes off the screen too much this Sunday or you’re bound to miss a basket. Expect a high-scoring showdown here between two high-ceiling teams. Brad Underwood knows how to coach in the tournament — and if Illinois shoots like it did Friday, the Illini move on to the Sweet 16.”

ESPN: Kentucky has a 52.6% chance to beat Illinois

The site gives the Fighting Illini a 47.4% shot at defeating the Wildcats in Sunday’s second-round March Madness NCAA Tournament game.

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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Illinois

Orlando Antigua sits down with KSR ahead of Kentucky vs. Illinois

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2025

Press Room

Orlando Antigua sits down with KSR ahead of Kentucky vs. Illinois

Remember Orlando Antigua? Kentucky‘s old friend with two separate coaching stints in Lexington — the first from 2009-14 and the second from 2021-24, both under John Calipari — is back on the Illinois bench after a previous run in Champaign from 2017–21. Both schools have been a massive part of his life for nearly two decades, and now, they’ll be facing off in the NCAA Tournament.

Now the associate head coach under Brad Underwood, Antigua caught up with KSR shortly after Illinois’ big win over Xavier to catch up on the Cats and his emotions going into the reunion on Sunday.

What are his thoughts on Mark Pope leading the program? How does he avoid distractions with a Sweet 16 on the line? Don’t forget his big-time recruiting win over Kentucky this past cycle, five-star wing Will Riley — he led the Illini with 22 points on 8-12 shooting on Friday. Antigua talked about that full-circle moment, as well.

It’s a must-see conversation that was admittedly a little awkward — everybody loves Coach O, but he’s an enemy on Sunday.

Take a look:

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.

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