Manley, Cappell, La Ha, Lewis Hold Press Conference March 25 as Co-Chairs of the Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus

JOLIET, Ill. – State Representative Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, along with State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, will host a press conference Wednesday, March 25, at 9 a.m. for the Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus (ILNC), with co-chairs State Representative Nicole La Ha, R-Lemont, and State Senator Seth Lewis, R-Bartett. It will be held in the blue room, located in the basement of the Illinois State Capital building.

The ILNC is a bipartisan, bicameral, first-of-its-kind caucus, emphasizing the four cornerstones: support, access, resources, and education,  in an effort to find legislative solutions to obstacles facing those who are neurodivergent, as well as their families.

The focus of the press conference is to highlight March 25 as National Cerebral Palsy Day, as well as to step off April’s Neurodiversity Celebration Month & Autism Awareness Month. April 2 is World Autism Day. 

“The Illinois Legislative Neurodiversity Caucus meets monthly, over zoom, featuring highly-informative experts, to help educate us, legislators, about the realities of what Illinois families face when their loved ones are neurodivergent,” Rep. Manley said. “Neurdivergency includes a vast array of conditions where a person’s brain processes the world differently that those who are considered neuro-typical.”

Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome, dyslexia, and Down Syndrome, are among the countless conditions that are considered neurodiversity.

The ILNC was first launched last year, beginning monthly meetings in January 2026.