West Side

• MOKENA, Ill., Aug. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Westside Children's Therapy is excited to announce the opening of their new clinic in Machesney Park, Illinois.
• Located at 1205 West Lane Rd, the clinic will open its doors in September 2023 and provide pediatric services including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy.
• CEO Mark Cassidy says: "We are thrilled to be able to serve families in Machesney Park with our comprehensive therapy services.
• Westside Children's Therapy looks forward to serving Machesney Park families starting in September 2023!

• But not all hot-button topics in education are about what goes on in class.
• Over the past few years, conflict has trailed attempts to establish After School Satan Clubs sponsored by the Satanic Temple, which the U.S. government recognizes as a religious group.
• Organizers have tried to form clubs in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

More ‘science’ than ‘Satan"

• The group emphasizes “the seven tenets,” which celebrate ideas like rationality, compassion and bodily autonomy.
• What often draws attention, though, are the temple’s political and legal activities.
• Therefore, excluding any group because of its views would constitute discrimination, violating organizers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.

Equal access

• The principle that all student-organized extracurricular groups have equal access to educational facilities was established in 1981 with Widmar v. Vincent, a dispute from a public university in Kansas City, Missouri.
• That requirement was extended to secondary schools under the Equal Access Act, which Congress adopted in 1984.
• Officials cannot deny clubs opportunities to gather due to “the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings.” The Equal Access Act specifies that voluntary, student-initiated clubs cannot “materially or substantially interfere” with educational activities.
• The Supreme Court upheld and extended the Equal Access Act’s logic in two major cases.

Expose children to new ideas?

• In an increasingly intellectually diverse world, though, children are bound to encounter ideas with which they disagree – and I would argue each encounter can sharpen their critical thinking.
• As a federal trial court judge in Missouri once observed, provocative speech “is most in need of the protections of the First Amendment.

• Presented by Good Green, the 40 Tons Level Up Career Conference is an innovative employment resource that promotes social justice and brings together employers who encourage equitable hiring practices with diverse job seekers.
• “We’re excited to host the Level Up Conference in Chicago on Juneteenth, an important day of liberation for Black people.
• Good Green works with organizations nationwide, like 40 Tons, to create more employment and expungement opportunities for individuals facing past cannabis convictions.
• “We are proud to partner with 40 Tons to bring the Level Up Career Conference to Chicago,” said Jai Kensey, director of social impact at Green Thumb.

• Planning a family vacation to Disney is an exciting experience, but it can also be daunting, especially when you have a child with cognitive or physical disabilities.
• However, ALL families can enjoy a Disney vacation (or any vacation for that matter) with a little extra planning and flexibility.
• Westside's tips have already helped families with children with special needs make their trip possible!
• If you want to plan a trip to Disney but are unsure of special needs accommodations and want some answers, this is a great place to start!