Oak Leyden

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Oak Leyden Serving children and adults with intellectual & development disabilities and delays & their families

Oak Leyden is thrilled to announce that we have been selected to partner with Seven Brew Coffee in celebrating the openi...
10/24/2026

Oak Leyden is thrilled to announce that we have been selected to partner with Seven Brew Coffee in celebrating the opening of their brand-new location in North Riverside. The new store's leaders chose Oak Leyden to be the beneficiary of a 'Caffeine for a Cause' event next weekend, and we are asking our supporters and stakeholders to join us.

Here's how it works: Caffeine for a Cause (CFAC) is a pre-opening, “pay what you want” fundraising event designed to build genuine relationships within the community while giving back to a local charity. During CFAC, a limited menu is served, with 7 Brew donating drinks, labor, and drive-thru access to create a meaningful community experience. Customers are invited to support a special
organization (like us!) by making cash or card donations throughout the event. All funds raised are totaled and added to a check presented to Oak Leyden during the stand’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

So what this means is--if you visit the new Seven Brew stop (located at 7511 Cermak Road in North Riverside) next weekend, you can 'pay what you like' for items on the CFAC menu, with every cent going to Oak Leyden!

If you want to be part of this amazing opportunity, there are lots of ways you can help. Obviously, we'd love you to come and buy a drink next weekend. But we'd also love it if you can share this post, as well as get a group of friends to go with you to Seven Brew! It is basically at the intersection of Cermak and Harlem, so it isn't that far away. And be honest, you're going to have at least one coffee drink next weekend, right?

To learn more about this company and their many offerings, check them out at https://7brew.com/

These types of events have raised nearly 15k at other Seven Brew locations, so let's set that as a goal! Here are the hours that Caffeine for a Cause next week:

Friday, October 30th- 7AM-10AM
Friday, October 30th- 3PM-6PM
Saturday, October 31st- (Halloween) 9AM-Noon
Saturday, October 31st- (Halloween) 3PM-6PM
Sunday, November 1st- 11AM-3PM

Drop by next weekend!

Join us in welcoming Physical Therapist Lauren Beeker to the team! Lauren brings more than thirteen years of experience ...
10/14/2026

Join us in welcoming Physical Therapist Lauren Beeker to the team! Lauren brings more than thirteen years of experience to our multidisciplinary team of Children's Services therapists.

Lauren received both her B.S in exercise science and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University. While she has worked with children of all ages, Lauren especially loves working with infants, toddlers, and their families through Early Intervention.

Lauren is both a newcomer to our team and to Oak Park, and we are excited that she has jumped in to invest in our community's children!

Thank you to Gina Musielski from STARNET for leading an informative and engaging workshop on transitioning from Early In...
10/13/2026

Thank you to Gina Musielski from STARNET for leading an informative and engaging workshop on transitioning from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Education! 🌟

Last Wednesday evening, families learned about the transition process, key timelines, eligibility for services, parent rights, and ways to actively participate in planning for their child's future. We know this transition can bring many questions, and our goal is to ensure every family feels confident, informed, and supported every step of the way.

Thank you to all the families who joined us and to Gina for sharing her expertise and guidance. Together, we can make this transition a positive experience for children and their families. đź’™

At age 3, children transition out of Early Intervention and may be eligible for support through Early Childhood Educatio...
09/23/2026

At age 3, children transition out of Early Intervention and may be eligible for support through Early Childhood Education. If your child is approaching age 3, join us to learn about what this transition entails!

In this family workshop, we'll address:
*Transition steps & timelines and why they are important
*Differences between EI and Early Childhood services
*Eligibility for special education services
*Parent rights under the law governing services
*EI Extended Service option for children with summer birthdays

Childcare is available in the adjacent Oak Leyden Playroom!

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1x39SnBQfLOPvqFTeB4tJzPVOyJj5nFFhnr2AUuHrWOLFig/viewform

Is it too early to start planning Halloween costumes? We say no! We hope you'll join us for the best Community Hallowee...
09/22/2026

Is it too early to start planning Halloween costumes? We say no! We hope you'll join us for the best Community Halloween Party in the known universe on Friday night, October 16th for Boo Fest. This amazing event, thrown by our partners at Leyden Township, absolutely fills Westdale Park (in Melrose Park) with folks enjoying food (and margarita!) trucks, a horse-drawn hayride, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and so much more. We look forward to once again take part to share information about Oak Leyden's programs for individuals with IDD in Leyden Township, including 7 Adult Residential sites providing assisted living services. Can't wait to see all those little painted faces again! See the flier for details.

A Garden in Memory of LashunnLashunn was one of the Training Counselors at Oak Leyden's Hillside Day Program. Her presen...
09/21/2026

A Garden in Memory of Lashunn

Lashunn was one of the Training Counselors at Oak Leyden's Hillside Day Program. Her presence brought warmth, kindness, and encouragement to the lives of the people she served. During her 15 years with Oak Leyden, she became much more than a staff member. She was a familiar face, a trusted friend, and a source of support for countless individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

When Lashunn passed away, the sadness felt throughout Hillside was difficult to put into words. Staff and participants mourned the loss deeply. They remembered her smile, her laughter, her patience, and the countless small moments that made her such an important part of their lives.

As time passed, staff and participants began searching for a meaningful way to honor her memory. A few months before her passing, Lashunn had shared an idea close to her heart. Gardening was one of her favorite hobbies, and she had spoken with Assistant Director Michelle Reynolds about creating a garden at Hillside that participants could help build and maintain together.

Inspired by that vision, staff and participants chose a special place where the garden would take root. They gathered flowers, vegetable plants, soil, stones, decorations, and tools. Everyone found a way to contribute.

Some participants helped prepare the soil. Others planted flowers and vegetables or spent time watering the new garden beds. Michelle Reynolds, Assistant Director of Community Day Services, led the effort and dedicated more than 30 hours to helping create the beautiful space. Participants selected flowers they believed Lashunn would have loved and chose vegetables such as cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, and peppers to grow and nurture. Others decorated the garden with colorful stones and meaningful signs.

There was laughter as everyone worked side by side. Stories about Lashunn were shared between planting and watering. Some memories brought smiles, while others brought tears.

Yet with every flower and vegetable that was planted, grief slowly began to give way to something beautiful.

The garden became more than a collection of flowers and plants. It became a place where memories could grow.

A special memorial bearing Lashunn's name was placed within the garden. It serves as a reminder that although she is no longer physically present, the kindness, compassion, and joy she shared continue to live on in the lives she touched.

Today, the participants at Hillside CDS take great pride in caring for the garden. They water the flowers, pull weeds, and watch the plants flourish throughout the seasons. Staff members continue to maintain the garden alongside them, ensuring that it remains a vibrant reflection of the person who inspired it.

And whenever someone asks why the garden is so special, the answer is simple:

"This is Lashunn's garden."

It was built by many hands, but rooted in one shared purpose: to honor someone who made a lasting difference in so many lives.

The garden has taught everyone an important lesson. Even when someone we love is no longer with us, the love they shared does not disappear. It lives on through kindness, friendship, memories, and the things we create together.

Every flower became a symbol of Lashunn's life.

Every new bloom became a reminder of the joy she brought to others.

And every person who helps care for the garden becomes part of her enduring legacy.

Lashunn may no longer walk through the doors of Hillside or sit beside the people she once supported, but her spirit continues to grow there each day, reflected in every blossom, every harvest, and every act of care shared in her memory.

Her life planted seeds of kindness.

Her memory became the garden.

And her legacy continues to bloom

It was a beautiful day for some lemonade! We are grateful to our friends that came to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ...
09/15/2026

It was a beautiful day for some lemonade! We are grateful to our friends that came to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 700 block of Bonnie Brae, River Forest last Friday. This year all 27 organizations they have supported in the past were invited to participate, including Oak Leyden. 25 years of making lemonAid out of lemons!

What kind of people work with folks challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities?Well, we can't speak for e...
09/14/2026

What kind of people work with folks challenged by intellectual and developmental disabilities?

Well, we can't speak for every agency, but...special people. People with passion, and patience, and big ol' hearts that always find room for one more person to care for.

At Oak Leyden, we are only as good as our front-line team members, especially the Direct Service Professionals that make up the bulk of our staff. Here are the folks that celebrated anniversaries in August and September of 2026.

NAME/YEARS OF SERVICE

August anniversaries

Lonyea Bady 9 Years
Teddy Tingal 8 years
RJ McMahon 6 years
Slayton Goodman 6 years
Alison Keane 5 years
Ingrid Barber 3 years
Jemmica Wynn 1 year
Cora Thaxton 1 year

September anniversaries

Lorraine Hemphill 16 years
Tabatha Moore 14 years
Carrisa Rouse 13 years
Chaunteese Lewis 11 years
Caffie Moore 10 years
Lakeysha Hammond 8 years
Alesia Wade 8 years
Marquita Head 4 years
Lisa Parker-Newman 3 years
Jemmierio Johnson 3 years
Stacie Holloway 1 year
Jaimonea Williams 1 year
Jean O'Brien 1 year

Address

411 Chicago Avenue
Oak Park, IL
60302

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17085241050

Website

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