William E. McCarthy

Bill-McCarthyParent Advocate

Bill McCarthy has been a parent advocate for persons with intellectual disabilities for the past 24.5 years. When his son was first diagnosed with Down syndrome, McCarthy quickly educated himself with all available literature. He joined the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) and shortly thereafter began serving as a Parent Support Volunteer to assist other families having recently given birth to children with Down syndrome.

McCarthy participated in many activities with NADS including fundraising, governmental advocacy, conference and program development, technical and financial consultancy, and served on its Board of Directors for 10 years (including four as Treasurer and three as President).

McCarthy has volunteered in a variety of Special Recreational and athletic activities. In 2005, he successfully petitioned the Oak Park River Forest High School Board of Education to form a Special Olympics basketball team and served as its General Manager until his son graduated from high school in 2010.

McCarthy currently volunteers for Misericordia, a home for individuals with intellectual disabilities located on Chicago’s north side, in a variety of capacities. He has served on discussion panels and on the technology committee for Misericordia Home. He serves on the Communications committee and is the Membership Director and the Benefit Reservations Chair for the Misericordia Family Association.

McCarthy has been a Special Olympics volunteer and coach for many years. He currently serves as a Speed Skating Coach and Speech Advisor for his son Patrick as a Special Olympics Global Messenger. When Patrick qualified for Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2013, McCarthy traveled with him to Korea to experience the international community of individuals with special needs.

McCarthy worked in the computer technology business since 1985 and retired from the corporate world in 2013. He formed his own technology company, Treitek LLC, in 2013 to continue serving those with specialized technology needs. In his non-volunteering time, he enjoys training for and competing in Ironman triathlon races (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 run). He is married to Laurie McCarthy.