Everyone Is Welcome
Advocacy Services

advocate - to speak on behalf of or in partnership with someone else such as a child or parent in order to procure needed services.

Everyone Is Welcome, Inc. . . . ...can help you and your family understand your rights under the law, evaluate your child's current educational status, and determine needed changes.

Alternatives are suggested and explored and an appropriate program outlined to meet the individual needs of your child. Professional Advocacy Services include the following areas:

• Obtain school records and interpreting the educational data. o Educational program assessment that includes the appropriateness of the class setting.
• Identify areas of concern and outline the approach to resolve these concerns.
• Aid families through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, including: - accessing Special Education services - developing goals & objectives - attending the IEP meeting
• Advise parents of placement Alternatives. o Monitor classroom programs, school services and implementation of the IEP.
• Provide assistance through the due process system: - informal meetings - mediation conferences -hearing testimony

Established in January 1996 and owned/operated by Mark W. Doyle, Everyone Is Welcome, Inc. provides individual/family advocacy, technical assistance to schools/providers, staff development to schools/providers, adult supports brokering, grassroots network organizing, workshops/conferences on topics relating to individuals with disabilities, their families and professionals who are working toward the inclusion of people with disabilities into society.

Everyone Is Welcome, Inc, has continued to grow since it began seven years ago. Our team consists of 12 consultants, advocates and support personnel. A major variable that makes us unique in the market place, is not only our contacts in the field, and our ability to provide top quality services by well trained and qualified individuals, but that over half of our team members are parents of individuals with disabilities. Our consultants not only address issues within the disability community, we live it daily. We are not only the providers of service, we are more importantly the users of those services.

Our Staff Includes:

Mark W. Doyle
Mark Doyle currently owns and operates Everyone Is Welcome, Incorporated. Established in January 1996, Everyone Is Welcome, Inc. a consulting company that provides an array of support to increase the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of life and create communities in which everyone is welcome. Mark is nationally known for his work in the area of community integration and inclusion. His experiences include: Program Specialist for Community Integration/Inclusion, Education and Transition for the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities (IPCDD); several administrative and program positions in community support agencies in Illinois; Behavioral/Training Specialist in Wisconsin; and individual/family advocacy throughout Illinois and surrounding states. Mark has supported both adults and children with disabilities in early education, education, transition to adult services, day/community employment/careers, residential/community living, ! leisure/recreation, and services for the aging. Mark is an invited speaker at many workshops, state/national conferences and local parent groups. Mark currently teaches graduate level special education courses as an Adjunct Instructor for National Louis University.

Janet M. Varchetto
Janet M. Varchetto has sixteen years experience advocating and providing technical support for children with special needs and their families. She is trained in several multisensory reading approaches including Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Reading System, and Lindamood-Bell. Jan has co-founded several parent support groups and assisted other communities in forming their own groups. These groups have offered support, education, networking, resources and advocacy to families. She is currently an active member of The International Dyslexia Society, L.D.A., The Magic Foundation, NAPVI, TASH, S.E.R.G., and the Family Resource Center on Disabilities. Jan has served as a board member for The West Suburban Special Recreation Association. In addition, Jan serves on the Executive Committee for the Illinois Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

Chris Scherschel
Chris Scherschel has eleven years experience in Physical Therapy in schools working directly with children with a variety of multiple disabilities in pro inclusion settings, seeing inclusion at its best and worst. Chris has developed goals and intervention plan for children from pre-school to junior high. She has worked to develop modifications and adaptations in classrooms and written annual reviews for children. Chris has attended numerous IEP meetings. She has participated in a sensory-based communication program called "Every Move Counts". Chris has worked with a variety of teams to help promote the best possible programs for children with special needs.

Joe Creedon
Joe Creedon has been involved in the statewide Early Intervention system for 6 years. He has served his L.I.C. in a variety of capacities as Chair of various committees and as Co-Chair of that Council for 3 years. He is a founding member of V.O.I.C.E. of St Charles; a local group of individuals dedicated to the ideals of inclusive education and collaboration with our local schools. He has been a member of our local special education co-operatives Extended School Year committee. Most recently he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Giant Steps School, a school for children with autism and related disorders, and was elected President of the Giant Steps School Parent Board.

Debra Scouten
Debra Scouten has 13 years experience in advocating for children with special needs. Her experience includes attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, nonverbal learning disabilities, apraxia, auditory processing and giftedness. Deb has knowledge of research based multi-sensory reading approaches such as Lindamood-Bell, Wilson Reading Program and Orton-Gillingham. She founded a support group in her community which has worked with the schools administration to provide a more appropriate and supportive atmosphere for LD, ADD, and at risk children. Deb is currently a board member of the Scottish Rite Dyslexia Clinic, board member and officer of the Illinois Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and past board member of the Parent Resource Center of DuPage.

Barbara Chatman
Barb Chatman is a well-known advocate for individuals and families in the central Illinois area. As the Parent Facilitator and Executive Director of People for Inclusive Communities from 1989 through 1997, she provided educational advocacy and support for families seeking appropriate services and educational opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities from early intervention through transition to adulthood. Through advocacy efforts for her daughter, Barb has experienced the transition from school-age services to the adult service provider system. Her experience with vocational assessments, personal assistance options, and the need for community support provides her with first-hand knowledge of this process.