Hattie Larlham FOCUS | 2024

inside this issue

FOCUS a Hattie Larlham publication | 2024

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Together 2

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.

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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.

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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.

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DAHLBERG GIBSON LEARNING CENTER

From just six months old through the final year before Kindergarten, Dahlberg stewards

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

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

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.”

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EMPOWERED BY CONNECTION 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.”

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.

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.

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WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

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

Top: Brad prepares for the dinner rush at Winking Lizard.

Bottom: Tyler and Brad chat while working in the dish room.

through resumé building and interview

have. Brad has been a proud employee

preparedness and eventually on-the-job

of the Winking Lizard Tavern in Peninsula

support once community employment is

for five years now, after utilizing Hattie

secured.

Larlham’s services to seek a job in his community. In his tenure at Winking

Among the hundreds of teens and adults

Lizard, Brad has blossomed and thrived.

who have found direction, fulfilment, and

He continues to impress his supervisors

success through Employment Services at

and demonstrates that disabilities

Hattie Larlham, Brad is a shining example

shouldn’t keep anyone from pursuing

of the long-term impact this program can

what they love.

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“I’ve been employed with Winking

seek permanent employment.

Lizard for about six years now and

Inclusive employment practices aren’t

I’ve been fortunate to see a fair share

only beneficial to the people that Hattie

of people from Hattie Larlham come

Larlham serves. As more employers

through here,” shared Tyler, who is

follow the lead of companies like

Brad’s daily supervisor in his role as a

Winking Lizard, public understanding

dishwasher. “Just seeing the growth

of what is possible for a person

and progression in people, in getting

with disabilities deepens and our

comfortable with the job and their

communities become more vibrant,

surroundings and really getting

welcoming, and prosperous.

that experience in the workplace is great.”

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

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

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

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.

WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

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EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Lizard’s culture. For more than 15 years,

Their alignment with Hattie Larlham’s

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.

10 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

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

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 11

CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

anticipated and made fast friends with

support. Medical care is provided to

Lowry, a fabrication Technician with Miller’s.

alignment and joint health. Additionally,

Second only to his large mobile workshop

the correct fitting has implications for

unit, Dannie’s face is a familiar, almost

respiratory health and a person’s ability

iconic sight at the Center. Several times a

to breathe freely.

week, the mobile workshop will be parked in front of the Center, allowing Dannie to

EMPOWERED BY ACCESSIBIITY

work his magic, building, modifying, and

For some, wheelchairs promote

repairing the wheelchairs of every resident.

independence and serve as an

Mobility and access alone are crucial, but

occupational and physical therapy tool.

wheelchairs serve an important purpose

The Koenigs glowed with pride as they

beyond getting from point A to point B.

shared that Elijah has recently begun

Dannie explained that a properly fitted

operating his own electric wheelchair.

wheelchair will support a person’s spinal

“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!’.”

12 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

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

doing for him what he really needs and what he really wants.”

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

Elijah and his peers are always front and center, but what of the behind-the-scenes work that

Brewer-Garrett supports Hattie

happens to keep everything running smoothly?

Larlham’s mission beyond their work at

The maintenance and facilities team from Brewer-

the Center, too. Brewer-Garrett General

Garrett are certainly the unsung heroes at the

Manager Greg McDonald serves on the

Center. “These guys know that they’re a part of

Hattie Larlham Board of Directors and

something special. This site is unlike any of the

has led the company’s involvement

other places that Brewer-Garrett supports and it’s

with numerous fundraising initiiatives

critical that we take that to heart; that we really

over the years. This kind of immersion

embrace the mission and what we get in return…

with Hattie Larlham’s mission and

there just aren’t really words for how that makes

commitment to going the extra mile

you feel,” said Jim Pemberton, who oversees

is the true marker of a Hattie Larlham

the Brewer Garrett team at the Center. “To walk

partner.

through the halls and see the smiles and hear the 13

WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

EMPOWERED to thrive Hattie Larlham proudly offers a variety

employee will tell you that there’s

of community-based residential options

an abundance of love in the homes

to empower adults with disabilities to

and that everyone truly cares for one

live as independently as possible. Hattie

another.

Larlham operates five Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) group homes in

For Kathy Will, it was a difficult decision

Summit and Cuyahoga counties, where

to move her daughter, Ashley, from their

residents with higher medical and daily

family home into an ICF home. “It’s a

care needs receive round-the-clock

real tough call,” she said. “It took me a

support. Each residence is home to

while to make the decision, but when I

eight people, who live together as a

realized that she would be happier and

family would. Any resident or ICF home

I felt safer having someone take care of

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

her with the equipment she needs and

every resident under her care. When

the therapies, it was the right decision.”

asked about what it takes to be a

Kathy shared that her first month away

DSP at Hattie Larlham, Doreen said,

from Ashley was difficult for her as a

“It has to be a passion. You have to

mother, but she soon felt relief and

care. I’m a caregiver and everybody

gratitude when she saw how deeply

needs someone. So if I can make a

the home’s staff cared for Ashley and

difference, then that’s what I’m going

her housemates. “The staff is great,”

to do.”

she said. “She smiles all the time and is happy. That’s the biggest thing for me.”

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

COMMUNITY HOMES

Doreen Rowell has been a Direct

15 Doreen Rowell assists a resident during meal time.

EMPOWERED BY IMPACT 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 In 2023, Doreen was awarded the ID/

that something special and then some.

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

“We had a group of about 40 people,

they need.”

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.

Top: Okey Ekechi, Doreen Rowell, and Amy Koneval pose at the OHCA awards ceremony. Bottom: Doreen laughs with a 16 residents about their failed game of Jenga.

The work included power washing and

landscaping, building and refurbishing

Thanks to the Convergint team’s labor of

outdoor furniture, installing screens on

love, residents were able to spend much

the outdoor pavilion, painting bedrooms,

more time enjoying their outdoor spaces

and much more. Jessica shared that

throughout the summer and got to relax in

she had volunteered at Hattie Larlham

their refreshed bedrooms and living areas,

previously and wanted to do something

too. The efforts of our volunteers not only

on a bigger scale. “It wasn’t something I

improve the quality of life for residents,

could accomplish on my own, but I could

but also help families feel more confident

accomplish it with a big group,” she said.

about the care and support their loved

“It made a lasting impact for us and

ones receive.

we were able to make an impact for others. It was a really great experience.”

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WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

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 z

to heart and continuously strive to

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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,

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

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,”

Adlai Stein

said Adlai Stein, owner of MacAbee something and they have the patience

educational center in Columbus that

to show you how. “I will push them to

has hosted groups from Addventures

do stuff they’ve never done before and

for many years. Adlai’s own son has

that most people will think they’re not

a disability, and he knows firsthand

capable of. To see their smiles, to see

how unwelcoming some community

their happiness, their willingness to be

spaces can be for those who are

here, to play with fire they’re told never

different. This is in part why he feels

to play with and they love every minute

so strongly about mentoring Thomas

of it...it makes my heart happy.”

and his peers, having seen firsthand the difference it can make when just

Tom and Vicky Reidy have enrolled

one person believes that you CAN do

Thomas in Addventures for many years

ADULT DAY SUPPORT

Metals, a blacksmithing shop and

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During the day, David and Willie attend Hattie Larlham’s adult day program, Constant Companions, where they look forward to trips to their favorite local spots. On weekdays, they’ll board the van that’s stationed at their group home to take the short commute to Constant Companions. After some on-site activities and lunch, they’ll re-board one of Hattie Larlham’s wheelchair-accessible buses to join their friends on a trip to Target or to their favorite nearby metro park. When they arrive back home in the afternoon, they might decide they need to go to the grocery store for movie night snacks or to a dentist appointment across town. And it is because our transportation department, led by Frank Cowans, works diligently behind the scenes that all of these experiences are possible.

“My team’s role as the transportation department is part of the greater picture

A Constant Companions participant arrives for a day of activities and an outing to the local park for some reading time.

Adlai assists Joey while Thomas watches.

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 20

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.”

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

If you know Thomas, you know that he

with a wide variety of classes and

is very vocal and it’s always clear when

experiences. There are music, art, and

he’s enjoying himself. Tom said, “Now

dance classes for the creatively minded

when he sees a climbing wall, Thomas

and gardening and woodworking

will kind of point and gesture like ‘Yeah,

programs for those who enjoy a hands-

I’ve done those!’.”

on experience and don’t mind getting a little messy. For those with exercise

If blacksmithing and rock climbing are a

and movement as a priority, there are

little too daunting, program participants

frequent trips to local fitness centers,

have no need to worry. The quarterly

outdoor walking trails, and even boxing

curriculum at Addventures is curated

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

“Now when he sees a climbing

for partners like Adlai and his team

wall, Thomas will kind of point

at Macabee, who lead by example

and gesture like ‘Yeah, I’ve done

and show us that there’s space for

those!’.”

everyone.

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WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

Miles Miles of of Impact 1,000+ Donations

doubled by partner matches

$636,000+ raised

Signature Events & Five Dollar Friday

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IMPACT STATEWIDE

PROGRAMS & SERVICES Adventu + re 00

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Thriving

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Center for Children

Achieving

Dahlberg Gibson Learning Center

Residents 4 12

Growing

Brighter

Together

...is a reflection of who we are.

COUNTLESS Opportunities 1,600+ people served 11 counties served

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+ Job Seek 0 e 39

Working WE ARE HATTIE LARLHAM

+ Students 0 15

Learning 23

EMPOWERING ALL ABILITIES

Now, watch us in action!

24 9772 Diagonal Road Mantua, OH 44255 | 330-274-2272 | hattielarlham.org