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FOCUS

Together

This edition of FOCUS highlights the far-reaching impact that corporate and community partners have on Hattie Larlham. Inside, you’ll find stories of growth, achievement, and joy-all made possible by support from our communities.

Together, we empower ALL abilities at Hattie Larlham.

EMPOWERED to learn

Conjuring a mental image of a preschool would certainly include classrooms, smiling teachers, bookshelves and craft tables and, of course, students. But, how many of us would imagine an entire family? A family immersed in the education of their child, connected to resources within and outside of the school, supported by a faculty who take a personalized approach to early intervention education that extends beyond the walls of the school? Luckily for families in Columbus, Ohio this is the core model at Dahlberg Learning Center.

From just six months old through the final year before Kindergarten, Dahlberg stewards students and their families through a thoughtful, specialized curriculum designed to empower them to learn, grow, and achieve together. Beginning with home visits in infancy to increased classroom days as a student ages, each step of the learning journey is focused on supporting not only our littlest learners, but also their families in order to provide the best possible opportunities to succeed.

“To see her happy and learning and growing... I don’t even have the words to describe how it makes me feel.”

For parents like Carmen, this holistic approach to her daughter’s education is deeply meaningful. Carmen glowed as she spoke to us about her experience as part of the Dahlberg family. “I have a little baby with Down Syndrome. Her name is Genesis and she is everything in my life.” With the support of an interpreter- a service set up regularly by the school to help parents whose first language is not English- Carmen explained how impactful hers and Genesis’ experiences have been. She shared that she’s seen Genesis thrive in ways she wouldn’t have expected and that her growth is a result of the one-of-a-kind commitment of her teachers. “The teachers here are incredible,” she said. “They teach with their whole hearts. I just want to say thank you! For helping my Genesis, for helping me…thank you, Dahlberg, and I love all of this.”

Carmen (left) speaks about her daughter, Genesis (below.)

Ashton Solutions provides IT consulting and management services to the entire Hattie Larlham organization- a partnership that is near and dear to the hearts of President Jim Millican and his teams in Cleveland and Columbus.

“We are a very small part of the overall Hattie Larlham organization and family, but we take what we do very seriously because if what we do doesn’t work, then they aren’t able to be as effective and profoundly impactful as they are,” explained Millican. For him, the program at Dahlberg has forged a deep, meaningful connection to the Hattie Larlham mission. His team makes it a priority to visit the school for enrichment activities as a way to give back and immerse themselves in the work. “It’s meaningful and it gives you a heck of a lot more perspective,” he went on to say, getting choked up as he conveyed what this partnership has given back to him and his team. “The opportunity to be of service to the organization is incredibly important. It’s gratifying.”

In addition to their direct volunteer work with the students at Dahlberg, Ashton Solutions is a very generous corporate sponsor and the team makes it a point to attend Hattie Larlham fundraising events and invite other clients within their network to get involved, too. This type of partnership- one that goes so far beyond their service contract, is a shining example of the reciprocal impact supporting Hattie Larlham can have.

Top: Jim Millican and Jim Abbott (Ashton Solutions) assist Dahlberg students with an Arbor Day activity. Bottom: Jim Millican decorates festive fall pumpkins with Dahlberg students.

EMPOWERED to work

Hattie Larlham’s Employment Services program offers a completely customizable menu of services that can be tailored to a person’s needs as it relates to their unique career aspirations and job search. Employment Specialists facilitate services that range from the very beginning with career discovery and exploration, to short-term work trials, all the way through resumé building and interview preparedness and eventually on-the-job support once community employment is secured.

Among the hundreds of teens and adults who have found direction, fulfilment, and success through Employment Services at Hattie Larlham, Brad is a shining example of the long-term impact this program can

have. Brad has been a proud employee of the Winking Lizard Tavern in Peninsula for five years now, after utilizing Hattie Larlham’s services to seek a job in his community. In his tenure at Winking Lizard, Brad has blossomed and thrived. He continues to impress his supervisors and demonstrates that disabilities shouldn’t keep anyone from pursuing what they love.

Top: Brad prepares for the dinner rush at Winking Lizard. Bottom: Tyler and Brad chat while working in the dish room.

“I’ve been employed with Winking Lizard for about six years now and I’ve been fortunate to see a fair share of people from Hattie Larlham come through here,” shared Tyler, who is Brad’s daily supervisor in his role as a dishwasher. “Just seeing the growth and progression in people, in getting comfortable with the job and their surroundings and really getting that experience in the workplace is great.”

Despite being soft spoken and shy, Brad was quick to say that his coworkers are his favorite part of his job. “They’re kind and they help me,” he said, which reinforced the Winking Lizard’s approach to inclusive employment practices. Winking Lizard Regional Manager Melissa Heckman told us that providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities is just part of Winking Lizard’s culture. For more than 15 years, the Winking Lizard has partnered with Hattie Larlham as a community employer- offering their support for short-term work trials and summer work programs for teens, as well as supporting individuals like Brad who

seek permanent employment.

Inclusive employment practices aren’t only beneficial to the people that Hattie Larlham serves. As more employers follow the lead of companies like Winking Lizard, public understanding of what is possible for a person with disabilities deepens and our communities become more vibrant, welcoming, and prosperous.

Their alignment with Hattie Larlham’s mission and their commitment to the partnership earned the Winking Lizard team a high honor in 2024. Jen Sivek, Director of Learning and Development for Winking Lizard Tavern, was presented with the Brighter Futures Award at Hattie Larlham’s annual Bright and Blue Gala. This award is granted to one individual or partner who has demonstrated a dedication to empowering individuals with disabilities through access to employment.

Jen and Melissa pose together with the 2024 Brighter Futures Award.

EMPOWERED to grow

In the fall of 2023, John and Julie Koenig brought their son, Elijah, to live at the Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities. Prior to the move, the Koenigs had provided full-time care to Elijah in their Cleveland home but, at nineteen years old, Elijah’s daily care needs were becoming quite taxing on the family and they sought a solution that would be an improvement for them all. Julie said that the decision to move him out of their home was one of the hardest they had

ever made. They hadn’t ever spent more than a few nights at a time away from Elijah and now they were faced with the reality that he would take up permanent residence in a new home an hour away in Mantua. Julie detailed the extensive research and deliberation that went into the decision to bring Elijah to Hattie Larlham, and said that of all the places they toured, the Center had the most home-like, welcoming feel and that they felt a great connection with the staff.

From left: Elijah and John smile during a visit; Elijah practices dexterity during a therapy session; Julie and Elijah pose together at a holiday party; Sam and Elijah smile together in Elijah’s room.

The Koenigs were apprehensive, but hopeful, when move-in day came. As it turns out, they had nothing to fear. Elijah settled in faster than anyone anticipated and made fast friends with the direct care team. One smiling face, however, stood out from the crowd.

“He adores Sam,” Julie said of Sam Schweizer, Elijah’s favorite DSP. “She’ll text me two, three, four times a week with updates and photos of him smiling. We’ve just been so pleased with his caregivers and nurses. They really do care.”

Elijah is one of 124 residents at the Center who receive round-the-clock

support. Medical care is provided to all residents in tandem with a robust complement of daily living supports, educational and enrichment programs, specialized therapies, nutrition services, and recreational activities. But quality of life doesn’t rest solely in the hands of the Hattie Larlham team. Hattie Larlham has partnered with Miller’s since the 1970s and in the more than 40 years that followed, Miller’s has impacted the lives of countless residents through their work with custom-built mobility devices.

“The work that I do is trying to make people’s lives better,” said Dannie

Lowry, a fabrication Technician with Miller’s.

Second only to his large mobile workshop unit, Dannie’s face is a familiar, almost iconic sight at the Center. Several times a week, the mobile workshop will be parked in front of the Center, allowing Dannie to work his magic, building, modifying, and repairing the wheelchairs of every resident.

EMPOWERED BY ACCESSIBIITY

Mobility and access alone are crucial, but wheelchairs serve an important purpose beyond getting from point A to point B. Dannie explained that a properly fitted wheelchair will support a person’s spinal alignment and joint health. Additionally, the correct fitting has implications for respiratory health and a person’s ability to breathe freely. For some, wheelchairs promote independence and serve as an occupational and physical therapy tool. The Koenigs glowed with pride as they shared that Elijah has recently begun operating his own electric wheelchair.

“Everyone

had come out and they were cheering him on and he was puffing up his shoulders as if to say

‘Yeah, look at me!’.”

Dannie Lowry works on a custom wheelchair modification in his mobile workshop.

His first several attempts were a joyride in a reverse circle. Now, Elijah can spin in a forward circle and is working on driving in a straight line. John spoke of the joy they experienced when a DSP texted them a video of Elijah, using his wheelchair with applause and cheers from his friends in the background. “Everyone came out and were cheering him on. He was almost puffing up his shoulders like ‘Yeah! Look at me!’ He never would have had that opportunity at home,” Julie said. John summarized their journey by saying “Coming to Hattie was the difference between us doing for him what we could do well and now doing for him what he really needs and what he really wants.”

Elijah and his peers are always front and center, but what of the behind-the-scenes work that happens to keep everything running smoothly? The maintenance and facilities team from BrewerGarrett are certainly the unsung heroes at the Center. “These guys know that they’re a part of something special. This site is unlike any of the other places that Brewer-Garrett supports and it’s critical that we take that to heart; that we really embrace the mission and what we get in return… there just aren’t really words for how that makes you feel,” said Jim Pemberton, who oversees the Brewer Garrett team at the Center. “To walk through the halls and see the smiles and hear the

laughter. We make a difference here, but we, too, are changed for the better.”

Brewer-Garrett supports Hattie Larlham’s mission beyond their work at the Center, too. Brewer-Garrett General Manager Greg McDonald serves on the Hattie Larlham Board of Directors and has led the company’s involvement with numerous fundraising initiiatives over the years. This kind of immersion with Hattie Larlham’s mission and commitment to going the extra mile is the true marker of a Hattie Larlham partner.

WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

Dave and Brian (Brewer-Garrett) work on assembling a specialty bed for a Center resident.

EMPOWERED to thrive

Hattie Larlham proudly offers a variety of community-based residential options to empower adults with disabilities to live as independently as possible. Hattie Larlham operates five Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) group homes in Summit and Cuyahoga counties, where residents with higher medical and daily care needs receive round-the-clock support. Each residence is home to eight people, who live together as a family would. Any resident or ICF home

employee will tell you that there’s an abundance of love in the homes and that everyone truly cares for one another.

For Kathy Will, it was a difficult decision to move her daughter, Ashley, from their family home into an ICF home. “It’s a real tough call,” she said. “It took me a while to make the decision, but when I realized that she would be happier and I felt safer having someone take care of

her with the equipment she needs and the therapies, it was the right decision.”

Kathy shared that her first month away from Ashley was difficult for her as a mother, but she soon felt relief and gratitude when she saw how deeply the home’s staff cared for Ashley and her housemates. “The staff is great,” she said. “She smiles all the time and is happy. That’s the biggest thing for me.”

Doreen Rowell has been a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Aurora ICF home for more than eight years. During that time, she has formed a special bond with Ashley and with

every resident under her care. When asked about what it takes to be a DSP at Hattie Larlham, Doreen said, “It has to be a passion. You have to care. I’m a caregiver and everybody needs someone. So if I can make a difference, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Kathy visits with Ashley during a summer cookout at the Aurora ICF home.

Doreen Rowell assists a resident during meal time.

In 2023, Doreen was awarded the ID/ DD Excellence Award by the Ohio Health Care Association, a true testament to her dedication.

“Doreen has dedicated her life to Hattie Larlham and the people we serve,” said Okey Ekechi, Program Director of ICF Homes. “She takes very good care of the residents, as if they were her own family. She always makes sure that they have everything that they need.”

In addition to the commitment of its employees, Hattie Larlham relies on support from volunteers to help bring that extra something special. Over the summer, a group of volunteers from corporate partner Convergint brought that something special and then some.

“We had a group of about 40 people, employees and their families. We were excited to come and do the work,” shared Jessica Ritter, who took the lead on coordinating her team at Convergint for a day of service at the Aurora and Solon ICF homes. When she says day of service, she means it. The group was broken out into small teams that were assigned specific interior and exterior projects at the homes. The work included power washing and

Top: Okey Ekechi, Doreen Rowell, and Amy Koneval pose at the OHCA awards ceremony. Bottom: Doreen laughs with a residents about their failed game of Jenga.

landscaping, building and refurbishing outdoor furniture, installing screens on the outdoor pavilion, painting bedrooms, and much more. Jessica shared that she had volunteered at Hattie Larlham previously and wanted to do something on a bigger scale. “It wasn’t something I could accomplish on my own, but I could accomplish it with a big group,” she said.

“It made a lasting impact for us and we were able to make an impact for others. It was a really great experience.”

Thanks to the Convergint team’s labor of love, residents were able to spend much more time enjoying their outdoor spaces throughout the summer and got to relax in their refreshed bedrooms and living areas, too. The efforts of our volunteers not only improve the quality of life for residents, but also help families feel more confident about the care and support their loved ones receive.

EMPOWERED to achieve

Addventures, Hattie Larlham’s Adult Day Support program in Columbus, is forging community connections one day at a time.

For people like Thomas Reidy, there is a common perception that many activities and hobbies are simply impossible. It’s true that disabilities can be a challenging barrier to overcome, but once concerns of accessibility and safety are addressed, there are few things- if any-that aren’t possible to experience and enjoy. The team at Addventures has taken this philosophy to heart and continuously strive to z

offer unique, enriching experiences to program participants that many have said are impossible.

EMPOWERED BY CONFIDENCE

Fiery forges, heavy metal instruments, protective gear, all within a hazy, cacophonous atmosphere. Blacksmithing can be intimidating to be sure but is also a joyful outlet of creativity for many. For Thomas,

it was love at first strike. “He’s come a long way. He really wanted to do it, but was a little nervous at first,” said Adlai Stein, owner of MacAbee Metals, a blacksmithing shop and educational center in Columbus that has hosted groups from Addventures for many years. Adlai’s own son has a disability, and he knows firsthand how unwelcoming some community spaces can be for those who are different. This is in part why he feels so strongly about mentoring Thomas and his peers, having seen firsthand the difference it can make when just one person believes that you CAN do

something and they have the patience to show you how. “I will push them to do stuff they’ve never done before and that most people will think they’re not capable of. To see their smiles, to see their happiness, their willingness to be here, to play with fire they’re told never to play with and they love every minute of it...it makes my heart happy.”

Tom and Vicky Reidy have enrolled Thomas in Addventures for many years

Adlai Stein

Thomas enjoys a variety of activities and classes through the Addventures program.

and immediately saw the difference in approach from his previous day program. “He was in another program and he didn’t like it,” said Vicky. It was very small and very quiet and they didn’t go out into the community as much.” They explained that the breadth of experiences Addventures has

afforded Thomas is far beyond what they would have once thought possible.

“Would I have every signed him up for a climbing wall?” Vicky joked, still in some disbelief that it’s something Thomas got to do. “They sent me a video…they got him in his chair, and hoisted him up and he was yelling, screaming…just happy.”

Adlai assists Joey while Thomas watches.

Hattie Larlham’s Adult Day Support programs foster community connection and self discovery.

If you know Thomas, you know that he is very vocal and it’s always clear when he’s enjoying himself. Tom said, “Now when he sees a climbing wall, Thomas will kind of point and gesture like ‘Yeah, I’ve done those!’.”

If blacksmithing and rock climbing are a little too daunting, program participants have no need to worry. The quarterly curriculum at Addventures is curated

“Now when he sees a climbing wall, Thomas will kind of point and gesture like ‘Yeah, I’ve done those!’.”

with a wide variety of classes and experiences. There are music, art, and dance classes for the creatively minded and gardening and woodworking programs for those who enjoy a handson experience and don’t mind getting a little messy. For those with exercise and movement as a priority, there are frequent trips to local fitness centers, outdoor walking trails, and even boxing and tai chi classes. Tom laughed as he said, “Thomas doesn’t look like he’d be doing yoga, but he does it and he enjoys it.”

None of this would be possible without the support of community partners who, like Adlai, embrace saying yes and creating more equitable opportunities for everyone to enjoy the vibrant Columbus community. Inclusion is for everyone and we are fortunate for partners like Adlai and his team at Macabee, who lead by example and show us that there’s space for everyone.