TO GET THE DIGITAL COPY OF SNL THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE TEXT THE LETTERS SNL TO THE NUMBER 55433. INSIDE:
• Meet the Gailey Family
• New Year’s Bash 2022!
• Non-Profit Spotlight: Best Buddies
• Making A Difference: Meet Melony Salla –How the Special Olympics Changed My Life
• Sponsor Spotlight: Connections Case Management
• The ABCs of IEPs: Compensatory Services
• Pastor’s Corner: The Importance of Community
• Local Events and More
Adrenaline is the perfect place for an adventure!
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317-977-2375
317-257-8683
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800-609-8448
877-241-8144
800-545-7763
800-545-7763
Arc of Indiana www.arcind.org
ASK: About Special Kids, Inc. www.aboutspecialkids.org
Autism Community Connection www.autismcc-in.org
Autism Society of Indiana www.autismsocietyofindiana.org
Blind and Visually Impaired Services (BVIS)
Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS)
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) DHHSHelp@fssa/in.gov
800-622-4968
888-673-0002
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911
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Disability Determination Bureau
Division of Aging (IDA)
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Division of Mental Health and Addiction Down Syndrome Indiana
Early Childhood and Out of School Learning (OECOSL)
Easterseals Crossroads https://eastersealscrossroads.org
Emergency
Family Voices Indiana www.fvindiana.org
First Steps INSOURCE www.insource.org
Indiana Department of Education: Office of Special Education www.doe.in.gov/specialed
Turning Neighborhoods Into Communities
AREA DIRECTOR PUBLISHER
Jamie McCabe jamie.mccabe@n2pub.com
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Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) - www.in.gov/fssa/index.htm
Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GPCPD)
Indiana Resource Center for Autism https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
Indiana State Department of Health
Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council (INSILC)
Indiana Works INSOURCE http://insource.org/
Medicaid Disability
Medicaid Waivers
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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Special Education Questions
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Indiana
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)
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Thank you to all the below businesses who have chosen to support Special Needs Living magazine each month!! They would be delighted to help you with your next project or need. If you know of a business that helps those with special needs and would be a good resource for families please let us know. Jamie.McCabe@n2pub.com.
If you run a business and would like to be involved or support this magazine you can set up a time to talk here https://calendly.com/jamie-mccabe/special-needs-living
ABA & COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
K1ds Count Therapy (317) 520-4748
ABA SERVICES
Adapt for Life ABA (317) 383-0188
Applied Behavior Center for Autism (317) 849-5437
Autism Center for Enrichment (317) 436-7080
BehaviorWorks ABA (317) 731-7777
Mindful and Modern ABA Therapies (317) 827-7777
Piece by Piece Autism Center (765) 481-2261
ABA/COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
The Hope Source (317) 578-0410
ACCESSIBILITY PRODUCTS AMRamp (260) 519-1935
ACCOUNTING/PAYROLL/TAXES
Borshoff Consulting LLC. Sherry Borshoff (317) 902-6539
ADULT DAY CENTER
Adult Day Centers Jay Lugosch (317) 296-8815
ADVOCACY/EVALUATIONS
PEAS for Kids (920) 980-1172
ASSISTANCE DOG
Indiana Canine Assistant Network, INC. (ICAN) (317) 250-6450
ATTORNEY
Hostetter & Associates (317) 852-2422
ATTORNEY-WILLS/TRUSTS/ ESTATE PLANNING
Law Office of Elizabeth A. Homes LLC (317) 660-5004
CASE MANAGEMENT
Connections Case Management (317) 440-0637
IPMG - Indiana Professional Management Group (866) 672-4764
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Bastet Cat Care & Sitting (317) 919-1948
CBD SUPPLIER
Indy CBD Plus (317) 961-0191
CLEANING SERVICE
Pristine Cleaning Service (317) 617-5572
COFFEE ROASTER
Tinker Coffee Co. (317) 438-5728
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Mark 2 Ministries (317) 777-8070
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Developmental Disabilities Systems INC. - DDSI (317) 477-8240
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Children’s Dental Center (317) 842-8453
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21 Electric (317) 449-0021
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Charter Advisory Corporation
David Yearwood (317) 844-7416
Munder Financial
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WestPoint Financial Group
Gordon Homes (317) 567-2005
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Wholestic Nutrition (317) 429-0111
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Body by GymRoots Studio (317) 579-9300
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LifeVantage - Team Richards
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Amiable Home Care Inc. (317) 802-1746
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SafeInHome (855) 476-6665
INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK
Adrenaline Family Adventure Park (317) 572-2999
adrenalinefishers1.com
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State Farm
John Cole (317) 430-1958
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Dan Claxton Investment Advisory & Broker
Dan Claxton (317) 250-8080
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Franco Landscaping, Inc (317) 858-3858
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Rigsbee Hall Orthodontics (317) 574-0612
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Johnson County Parks & Recreation (812) 526-6809
PEDIATRIC THERAPY
Wee Speak (765) 446-8300
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Encore Sotheby’s
Patti & Jeff Carroll (317) 809-5839
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Carpenter Realtors-Jeremy Page (317) 413-5311
F.C. Tucker
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Destination ReGen (317) 522-1980
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Dynamic Minds Academy (317) 578-0410
Midwest Academy (317) 843-9500
SCHOOL - SPECIAL NEEDS
The Fortune Academy (317) 377-0544
SCULPTURE, POTTERY & ART
Ripple Mobile Arts (317) 514-8469
SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSULTING
IEP Services, LLC.
Sheila Wolfe (317) 573-9610
SUPPORT SERVICES
Easterseals Crossroads (317) 466-1000
Noble (317) 375-2700
The ALTRUIST Group, LLC (317) 547-3041 x1005
THERAPY & TESTING SERVICES
The Brain Center (317) 748-0034
VIDEOGRAPHY/PHOTOGRAPHY
Deliver Video Eli Walker (765) 602-1046
Piece by Piece was founded in February 2019 to bring ABA therapy services to underserved communities. Since then, we've grown to four locations: Lebanon, Frankfort, Monticello, and Lafayette. We have also recently welcomed Indiana Autism Services to our network of clinics, allowing us to serve clients in Crawfordsville and Greencastle as well. Our Board Certified Behavior Analysts work closely with families and other stakeholders to ensure generalization of skills across all settings, including home, school, and the community. We are passionate about providing high quality services to our families and being a resource for the communities we are a part of. Contact us today to learn more about the Piece by Piece di erence!
MEET THE
KEVIN, JANE, MAX, AND SAM
FAMILY
FFamilies all over the world have a lot more in common than you might think. They spend time with each other, support each other, share traditions, and, most importantly, love each other. The Gailey family, made up of Kevin, Jane, and their two sons, Max and Sam (plus Josie, the family pup, and feline Tashi), is no different. What makes the Gailey family’s story unique is that Max not only joined the family through international adoption but has struggled with both medical and developmental issues.
Kevin and Jane adopted Max from China when he was 3 years old. But Max was not like other 3-year-olds. He struggled to meet typical childhood milestones. He had also been born with a cleft lip and palate, necessitating several surgeries, which taught Kevin and Jane to take each step in the process one at a time. “It is easy to get caught up in the ‘what comes next’ part,” Jane said. “But staying in the moment, recovering from one before concerning ourselves with what comes next, is important.”
By the time he turned 14, Max was also diagnosed with autism, epilepsy, and a gene duplication, all of which have contributed to his developmental delays.
Despite these challenges, Kevin and Jane strive to normalize Max’s diagnoses and provide him with opportunities to explore his interests and build his confidence. He attends Midwest Academy, a progressive school in Carmel for kids with learning differences, and will soon be participating in the Special Olympics. He loves to swim, which he does at the Carmel Swim Academy. He learned how to ride a bike through the ICAN bike program at Easter Seals, and he delights in performing in school programs. He loves game time with his dad especially Sorry, the many versions of UNO and Go-Fish, music therapy, volunteering at the Humane Society, and trips to the library with his grandmother.
Having this kind of parental and academic support can have a huge impact in a child’s life. “[Attending Midwest Academy, where Kevin serves as Head of School] has made a world of difference for Max,” Jane said. The school helps “kids with HFA,
ADHD, and language processing [issues]. Kids from all over central Indiana attend Midwest. It has a strong sense of community and supports families.”
In addition to Max’s activities, the Gailey family enjoys doing things together, too. When they travel to Michigan to see their extended family or go to Sanibel Island or upstate New York, they include Max in the planning process by providing him with travel information and his favorite comfort items.
Close to home, they have a variety of favorite restaurants, which include Bella Pizza, Piada, Coopers Hawk, and Omoni Korean. And they share interests in music (classical and classic rock), movies (Pirates of the Caribbean), and sports (New England Patriots). Every Friday night is traditionally family movie night. At Christmas, they make cookies and spread out reindeer food on Christmas Eve. The family also strongly believes in participating in community outreach programs. They take part in volunteering with LDA of Indiana, coaching Special Olympics and soccer, helping out at the Humane Society, at their church, and for hospice. Inclusion in all facets of their lives plays a large role in their family dynamic.
Kevin and Jane want other families with a special needs child to know that they’re not alone. “Reach out to others,” Jane said. “Make connections. Being with others helps us all feel like we are in this together. Always advocate for your child. You know them best. We learned very early on to let go of expectations based on chronological age. Max is going to get there when he is ready. He is accomplishing things as he is developmentally ready to do so. The timeline doesn’t matter.”
By Maria Smietana
More than two decades ago, Michele Lohmeyer and Laura Fife were both starting their families. What happened after their babies were born would profoundly change each woman’s life forever, and set them on a path to help other families in similar situations.
Lohmeyer, a native of Attica, IN, was working in mortgages when she gave birth to premature twin, one of whom did not survive. After this tragic life event, Lohmeyer found more meaningful work with First Steps, Indiana’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers born with disabilities or developmental delays. Later, she started working in waiver case management. Jacob, her surviving twin, got a good start in life through First Steps and will soon be a graduate of Purdue University! Lohmeyer went on to have two more children, Isabella and Will. Her family now resides in Westfield, IN.
Fife was born in Gary, IN, and after graduating from college, she worked in public relations and writing. Then her daughter Hailey, now 20, was born with a rare chromosome deletion that caused her to have numerous physical and cognitive challenges. Like Lohmeyer, Fife found her employment to be hollow in light of her new reality. She went to work in waiver case management as well as in the residential/support services sector. “It was a welcome change, and I found my niche,” Fife said. She and her husband, Patrick, reside in Noblesville, IN, with Hailey and their other two children, Sara, and Sean.
The two women founded Connections Case Management in 2015. “We provide case management supports and guidance for individuals that use the Family Supports (FS) and Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waivers,” Lohmeyer said. (Indiana’s Medicaid waiver programs make it possible for disabled individuals to receive therapeutic and other supports and services without being admitted to an institution, allowing Medicaid to pay for services in the home and in community-based settings.)
Thanks to their previous experience, Fife and Lohmeyer knew that proper supports were invaluable to the success and happiness of their special-needs clients. “We set out to hire an amazing group of dedicated case management professionals all over Indiana that have many personal reasons and motivations for dedicating themselves to quality case management services and supports,” Lohmeyer said.
“Connections Case Management is grounded in supporting our case managers and providing them with the tools to have work/life balance, a robust training and education curriculum, ongoing supports and resources, and technology,” Fife added. “We know that
a case manager who is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to support our individuals on the waiver is an extraordinary commodity in an interdisciplinary team. We are focused on supporting and developing our case managers so that they, in turn, can do the same for the individuals they serve.”
Both Fife and Lohmeyer encourage special-needs individuals and families to keep looking if they aren’t getting the kind of support they need. “There are so many options and opportunities out there,” Fife said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new and don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is just an opportunity to learn.”
“Choice is integral to the waiver supports,” Lohmeyer added. “You are essentially choosing the people with whom you surround yourself. Your environment and the company you keep profoundly affect your attitude and success. You should always assess the energy and effectiveness of your team and don’t be afraid to shake things up!”
Connections Case Management continually gives back to the community by participating in fundraising and awareness for Special Olympics, FUSE (Families United for Support and Encouragement), Family Voices of Indiana, and The Mozel Sanders Foundation.
“We have also been a sponsor for S.M.I.L.E on Down syndrome for the past several years,” Lohmeyer said. “This past year we held our first resource fair in Johnson County to bring community supports and services to one place and made it free for
everyone to participate. We also provided free education to school systems, parent groups, and other organizations to help ensure that our communities are aware of the Medicaid waiver and all the services it has to offer.”
“We support Special Needs Living because we love to hear about the various journeys that others are on,” Fife said. “The creativity, possibilities, and options [in the articles] are wonderful and really help us to show families that their expectations should be high, and that community and waiver supports can be used toward that success.”
Business Contact Information: Connections Case Management, LLC Laura Fife info@connections-in.com (317) 710-7184 9165 Otis Ave., Suite 217 Indianapolis, IN 46216
At Connections we are adamant that all individuals should have access to options and opportunities, which are essential to growth and progress.
By Melony Salla
Have you ever thought of how Special Olympics changes a person’s life? I am writing this article to tell you how Special Olympics has changed my life and how it can change your life, too. As my coach once said, “I don’t know what Melony would do without Special Olympics or what Special Olympics would do without Melony.”
All my life I was made fun of because I have a disability. I learn differently than others do. The older I’ve gotten the more I realize I’m really not any different from others. My disability doesn’t define me. I’m so much more.
My name is Melony Salla. I’m from a small town in Indiana called Fowler. It’s out in the middle of nowhere. When I was in elementary school, I was bullied, so I had no self-confidence, no self-esteem. I was shy, and just didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere no matter how hard my parents tried to help me fit in. It wasn’t until I hit seventh grade that I met Coach Juanita Garten-Ecret, who told me about Special Olympics. She told me how you become part of a team with other athletes who had disabilities just like mine. How everyone encouraged each other to do something they had never done before. It was something that sparked my interest for a change. I finally found someplace where I felt like I belonged.
Needless to say, Special Olympics has become my passion. When I first started in Special Olympics, I thought I couldn’t be anything more than just an athlete. Well, 14 years later I’m still an athlete, but I’m also a leader. I started out as an athlete and worked very hard, participating in all practices, area games, and state games. Then I started helping the older athletes with their events if they needed help. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was slowly gaining confidence in myself. The younger athletes started looking up to me and I started mentoring them. Actually, I
thought I was just helping them until my coach said I was their mentor. I never thought people would look up to me. Who would have ever thought that I, the shy, no-confidence girl in elementary school, would be doing that?
In 2013, I was nominated by my coach for the Area Athlete of the Year and won. Being the area athlete allowed my name to be put in the hat for State Athlete of the Year. Sure enough, I was named the 2013 State Athlete of the Year. What an honor that was! That title allowed me to light the cauldron at the Summer Special Olympics in June of 2014. It was very emotional because I was the first athlete from Benton County to ever do the lighting of the cauldron. This is where my journey started to the leadership roles that I have now.
Shortly after the summer games, I learned about the Athlete Leadership University (ALU for short). In case you didn’t know, ALU is for athletes in Special Olympics
I DON’T KNOW WHAT MELONY WOULD DO WITHOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS OR WHAT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WOULD DO WITHOUT MELONY.
who want to earn a degree. There are many different degrees--coaching, communications, etc. An athlete signs up for a degree, takes several classes and then does a project that pertains to their degree. Classes meet twice a year and athletes attend with their mentors. ALU sounded interesting, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it. Even though I was gaining self-confidence, I was still a little bit afraid and didn’t know which degree to go after. The communications degree won. After all, everyone needs to learn to communicate. There was one girl in our class that would start to cry if the teacher even just looked at her. I admired her for trying. She kept coming to classes to earn that degree. Today, you wouldn’t know that it was the same athlete. She has opened up so much and her voice is being heard.
I have really put that degree to use. Taking those classes also led me to the opportunity to teach a class at ALU. I have taught several times and it turns out that I love doing it. There again, who would’ve thought that I would be teaching others?
Each county is supposed to have an Athlete Leadership Council (ALC). This council is made up of athletes and a facilitator. The council is to meet at least twice a year to discuss things the athletes want. The topics could range from designing a T-shirt for summer games to coordinating a fundraising event. It’s SO important for the athletes to have a voice in what they want. This is one way their voice is heard. With the help of my coaches, we were able to get an ALC started in our county. I am the chairperson in our county for now. In a few years, I will pass the position on to.
The state also has an ALC. All the county chairpersons participate throughout the year on Zoom and at the State Conference. A chairperson can bring ideas or any suggestions their athletes have and present it to the state ALC. We also help the counties that don’t have an ALC to start one. We have come up with ideas to help. Within the last year, I was voted the state ALC chairperson. The confidence that I have gained through these opportunities has been amazing.
Last year, I decided to put my name in the hat to be on the State Board for Special Olympics Indiana. Guess what? I was voted onto the board. That has been an experience I will never forget. I was very nervous but with the help of others, Special Olympics has led me to where I am today. I have talked at several of the director’s meetings, made a speech at the VIP lunch at the summer games, co-hosted a halftime dance party, and so much more.
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To learn more about how our service dogs help people, contact Sandi Clark, Director of Client Services, at sandi@icandog.org or call
I think the coolest thing yet is that I will participate in the 2022 USA games in Orlando, FL, this June. I will be part of the track and field team for Team Indiana. This is my first time going to any USA games. I’m super excited to go. They are having a million-step challenge for everyone that is going to the USA games (all 50 states). I have been asked to be the challenge leader for Team Indiana. So, I will cheer on my teammates to get their million steps in before May 29th.
Through these past 14 years I have done so many things I never thought I would do. Special Olympics has taught me to speak up for myself and others and so much more. I’ve always said it doesn’t matter if you have a disability or not, you can do anything you put your mind to. The things I have talked about are only a part of Special Olympics. There’s so much more you can discover when you get involved. I invite anyone, with or without a disability, to join Special Olympics and see where it takes you. The journey will be amazing!
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The ALTRUIST Group was founded by passionate professionals who are committed to leading by values to achieve their vision. Because we have family with intellectual disabilities, we empathized with the support and considerations our loved ones deserve. We have made a career of championing vulnerable populations. While doing so, we have brought along staff and team members with the same mission in their hearts.
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Have a story to share
Would you like to share a story in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living? We want to hear from you – to share a story or to nominate someone else to be in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living. Email us your story ideas or nominations to SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com.
To view several story options with quick links to answer questions and upload photos go to Linktr.ee/Community.Stories
Accomplishments/Achievements/Milestones
Looking to Celebrate all Special Needs Individuals
Some accomplishments and milestones take years ... We want to recognize you/them! Are you or your child celebrating a birthday, milestone, achievement, or accomplishment? We want to recognize you – email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com.
Calling all 501c3 organizations that support the Special Needs Community
Each month we will highlight a nonprofit for free to let the community know more about how they support and impact families and individuals with special needs. Do you run a non-profit or know of one that supports the special needs community? Email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com
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Do you run a business that supports the Special Needs Community and are looking to advertise and support the Special Needs Living magazine email: Jamie.McCabe@n2pub.com
Highlighting all Special Needs Businesses
Do you have Special Needs and run a Business? We will highlight all those with special needs who run a business for Free – email us or go to Linktr.ee/ Community.Stories and click on (Special Needs Living – Business Profile Q&A).
Spring break is right around the corner. This means rest, relaxation, and travel for many kids. Vacations are usually fun for the whole family but can be a bit tedious when it comes to gluten-free kids or parents. You never know where gluten will turn up in the foods that are offered while on a trip. Yet, there are ways to ditch the gluten and stay food safe.
My daughter TiTi and I usually don’t go anywhere exotic or extravagant on spring break because I usually have to work. So I like to take her to closer destinations like Fort Wayne or Chicago. The last thing I want while on a mini-vacation is for my daughter to get glutened and end up having stomach issues. In order to prevent that from happening, I have to take a few extra measures before we even drive off to our mini-vacay.
Here are some of my tips on a safe gluten-free spring break.
1. PLAN AHEAD!
Planning ahead is usually the story of one’s life if you or someone in the family has a food intolerance or allergy. I can’t stress this point enough. In order to control your eating environment, you MUST do some pre-planning. This includes picking the hotel that fits your needs and researching what gluten-free options are available in the area where you’re staying. I always make sure whichever hotel we stay in has a full kitchen. That way I can cook just in case we don’t feel like eating out. I also research various gluten-free eateries along the route and in town as well just in case we get hungry along the way or I don’t feel like cranking up the stove.
2. BUY SNACKS AHEAD OF TIME
There are always vending machines at rest stops and in the hotels, but more often than not, there are no gluten-free options to be found. So I like to buy our snacks a few days before the road trip. We usually get gluten-free pretzels, g-f corn chips, g-f lower sodium potato chips, and g-f graham crackers. TiTi absolutely loves fruit. So we also bag up some blueberries, strawberries, grapes, and organic bananas. Fruit cups are great, too. That way you don’t have to worry about peels or seeds in the car or on the plane if you are flying.
3. BYOB: BRING YOUR OWN BREAKFAST
Now, I know this means bringing extra bags or having heavier luggage, but it’s so worth it. I find it easier to find eating spots that offer more gluten-free lunch and dinner options compared to breakfast. I mean let’s face it, eating g-f muffins, toast, or waffles gets old after a while. Utilize that hotel kitchenette
By Christina McGairk
space by scrambling eggs and frying some bacon. TiTi has a bit fancier taste and prefers cage-free eggs and chicken breakfast sausage.
4. JUST HAVE FUN!
Being gluten-free on spring break doesn’t have to be dull and boring. More restaurants are catering to customers who have certain dietary needs. That means more options for gluten-free eaters. Check out the local pizzeria that serves gluten-free pizza. Soak in the ambiance at a cafe that serves gluten-free pastries, nutrient-rich smoothies, and freshly squeezed juices. In fact, just go down the list of your carefully planned itinerary and have a wonderful time on vacation. Just do it safely.
***Disclaimer: I’m not a nutritionist or a doctor. I’m just a loving Mama supporting her daughter and others through their gluten-free journey. If you have questions about the gluten-free diet or celiac disease, please contact your medical professional. Thank you.***
If you would like to share gluten-free tips, tricks, info, etc. in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living, email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com
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By Paul Hathcoat
People need to have a strong sense of belonging in order to have a healthy identity, to be open and vulnerable, to trust and share, to learn and practice effective relational skills, and to be able to be held accountable and hold others accountable. This belonging is best developed in community with others. Let’s look at what community is, what it means to be in one, and how important it is to our spiritual wellness, from a pastor’s perspective.
Studies have shown that a majority of people who identify themselves as Christians feel that they are only “sometimes” a vital part of a community of believers. That word “sometimes” leaves too much room and time for people to feel isolated and unimportant. As a pastor and a natural empath, I want everyone to feel connected, loved, and accepted. God knew that we needed to feel connected to a community when He created us; that was part of His original design. Let’s look at what He says about community to further cement its importance in our own lives.
Acts 2:44-47(NIV) says “all the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold their property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the Temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I don’t know about you but that all sounds amazing! Being connected and known through the people around us creates security, confidence, gentleness, acceptance, and many other qualities that simply cannot grow and develop in isolation.
What is your life like? Are you caring for someone who is living with a disability that may cause you or them to feel isolated? Do you have a feeling of connectedness to your local church or spiritual community? Over time have you become more or less connected to those around you? Why? These questions and more are so very relevant to many of you readers out there. Let me speak from experience and pray that it helps at least one of you.
Don’t quit trying. Even if you have had bad experiences, remember that God has built us for community, and inside of a healthy one, we become our best selves. Be bold in asking others to join yours. You say you don’t have a healthy community to share life with? You are not alone, start one yourself. Find your comfort zone, and take a step past it. Being open to a community often means being open to pain or discomfort. But being closed to community means that we have given up and now have no chance of fully experiencing the joys of life that God has planned for us.
Whatever your current community bubble looks like, I want you to know that we are all part of the same body. We all look, function, and serve the body differently as its individual parts, but we are all the same. We are all God’s children and because of that, we get to rest knowing that one day we will enter His community, and be loved exactly how we are. Bless you all this month!
Do you have a thought, idea or information that you would like to see in this section in an upcoming issue? Email Paul Hathcoat – phathcoat@wrcc.org
By: Amal Akbik, MA, CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disorder characterized by difficulties acquiring reading and writing/spelling skills. Research has shown that children at risk for reading failure can be identified even before starting Kindergarten and struggling readers who don’t receive early intervention tend to fall further behind their peers. In Indiana, schools are required to screen all K-2 students for signs of dyslexia using a universal screener that assesses reliable predictors of future reading performance: phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, sound-letter correspondence, decoding, encoding, and rapid naming skills. Students who are determined to be at risk should receive structured literacy intervention targeting these skills.
Orton Gillingham is one research based structured literacy intervention approach that is explicit (concepts are clearly explained), systematic, cumulative, multisensory, diagnostic, and prescriptive to individual needs. The primary skills that are taught are symbol to sound and sound to symbol correspondences, blending, and putting symbols together to spell words. Symbol to sound correspondence and blending are the basis for decoding, or the ability to read words. Sound to symbol correspondence and putting symbols together are the basis for encoding, or the ability to spell words. A foundational skill for reading and spelling and an area of core weakness for individuals with dyslexia is phonological processing, which includes phonological awareness, phonological working memory and phonological retrieval. Phonological awareness refers to the awareness of sounds and sound structures in a language and includes skills such as identifying syllables in a word, rhyming, segmenting a word into sounds, and blending sounds to form a word. These auditory tasks should be a component of any comprehensive literacy intervention.
Individuals with dyslexia do NOT “read backwards.” Reading and spelling sequence/reversal errors are not due to visual or motor deficits. They happen because of trouble learning and remembering letter symbols for sounds and forming memories for words. Letter reversals are common up to age 7 when children are learning to write.
K1ds Count Therapy offers school-based and outpatient dyslexia screenings and Orton Gillingham services. Contact KCT to schedule a screening or inquire about services!
Additional Resources:
International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/
Reading Rockets
https://www.readingrockets.org/
What a wonderful way for the community to come together during the New Year’s Bash! We are so thankful for all the supporters who helped make this a fun and enjoyable event for all. It was lovely to see all the kids and teens having fun and building friendships while the adults had some of their own and enjoyed several performances.
We had a great lineup, all free thanks to our supporters.
Huge shout out to Adaggio’s Banquet Hall and Conference Centre and Developmental Disabilities Systems Inc. (DDSI) for hosting the event.
For the kids and teens side, we had...
• Glitter tattoos - thanks to Resounding Joy Inc.
• Balloon animals - thanks to IPMG - Indiana Professional Management Group
• Ice-cream - thanks to 21 Electric
Catering thanks to The ALTRUIST Group
• Desserts thanks to K1ds Count Therapy and Autism Services
• Amazing bands who rocked out the event with us, Voyager, Infinity & Hypostasis. We thank them all! What a fun performance from The Mind Tripping Show.
This event was so fun. We had a blast putting it together. Thanks to everyone for coming out and celebrating the start of the New Year with us!
Important Note: Prior to attending any events please be mindful of any COVID-19 restrictions. Please review the state mask executive order. There are exemptions within the order, including that children under 2 years of age should not wear a face-covering due to risk of suffocation; and any person with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability, which precludes wearing a face covering is not required to do so. Since COVID-19 is still among us there is a possibility that the events listed and places to go could be canceled, rescheduled, or closed. Please confirm event status and listed details in case-specific event details that may have changed since posting.
Note: Don’t forget to apply for the Access Pass! The Access Pass Program allows for families that meet the specific requirements listed below to visit the Children’s Museum and all participating locations for $2 per family member per visit, for up to two adults and all dependent youths living in the household. Qualifications include the following:
• Hoosier Healthwise Insurance (Indiana’s health care program for low-income families, pregnant women, and children)
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Apply Here: https://www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/hours/access-pass
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Various Events
February 1st - March 31st
Starting at 10:00 am 3000 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-334-4000
https://www.childrensmuseum.org/visit/ calendar?date=01/08/2022
Conner Prairie-Indiana’s Living History Museum
Various events through March. In 2022 the second Sunday of every month from 10 am-12 pm will be sensory-friendly hours.
Admission is free, and all of the grounds will be open.
13400 Allisonville Road Fishers, IN 46038
317-776-6000
http://www.connerprairie.org/
Indiana Pacers
March 8,15, 20, 23, 28, 30
Various start times
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
125 South Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-917-2727
https://www.nba.com/pacers/schedule
Indy Fuel
March 12, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30
200 South Capitol Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46225-1063
800-323-INDY (4639) | 317-262-3000
The Studio Movie Grill
3535 W. 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46268
317-315-8113
Sensory-friendly screenings of movies! Check the website for movies and times
https://www.studiomoviegrill.com/movie/ special-needs-screenings
Beef and Boards
Kinky Boots
Feb. 10th - Mar. 27th 9301 Michigan Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317-872-9664
https://www.beefandboards.com/Online/default.asp
Jubilate Choir
Butler University, Lilly Hall Room 133
Wednesdays, 6:45-7:30 pm
Director: Lauren Southard
Start Date: September 22, 2021
For more information, contact Lauren Southard at 317-940-8065 or lsouthar@icchoir.org
Gigi’s Playhouse
Rock Your Socks! World Down Syndrome Day
March 21st at 6:00 pm 5909 E. 86th Indianapolis, IN 46250
317-288-8235
indy@gigisplayhouse.org
Grab your best ‘80s gear, dance the night away to raise awareness, and celebrate our loved ones with Down syndrome on World Down Syndrome Day. There will be dancing, snacks, crafts, a photo booth, a costume contest, and more! #WDSD21 #LotsOfSocks
Fortune Academy
“The Epic Defeat of Dys” In this fractured version of Greek mythology, Hercules has ADHD, Perseus dyslexia, and Helen autism. Will they defeat their three-headed enemy Dys-Ability?
Thursday, March 17th at 7:00 pm
Friday, March 18th at 11:30 am and 7:00 pm
5626 Lawton Loop E Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46216
Tickets will be available at: www.thefortuneacademy.org/store
Is
at SpecialNeedsIndy@n2pub.com
By Sheila WolfeIEP Services
As families are finally feeling some relief from the threat of COVID, many of our students with special needs have not recovered from the lack of educational and therapeutic services received during the last year and a half of school. Remote learning is typically not as effective for students as in-person learning. This is even more true for students with special needs. In many cases, schools also did not deliver all the services required by their students’ IEPs. This could
entitle students with IEPs to compensatory services from their school system.
Last month we covered Extended School Year (ESY) services. Compensatory services differ from ESY. Compensatory services are therapies and other special education services that a school failed to deliver as required by the IEP during the “regular” school year. When this occurs, parents can arrange for the services to be “made up” during the summer (in most cases) or after school (if available).
Do you need help getting your child with special needs the services they NEED and DESERVE at school?
Professional Parent Advocate with 20 Years Experience
Specializing in Developing IEPs that WORK Experienced in All Disability Categories Autism Expert
Helping families receive a meaningful education for their children in public schools
Sheila A. Wolfe Special Education Consultant
As an example, let’s imagine Sally, a student on the autism spectrum, has an IEP which provides speech services from the SLP (speech-language pathologist) in a small group setting for 30 minutes each week to receive instruction and practice on social skills. Delivering these services in a remote setting would be very difficult, if not impossible, to do. Sally’s parents could ask for compensatory services to recover the missed services designed to learn and practice social skills with her peers.
In another example, Kenny, a student with multiple disabilities who is confined to a wheelchair, has an IEP which includes 30 minutes per week of direct services from a physical therapist (PT) to improve his core strength. Kenny’s parents can ask that any services not delivered during the school year be scheduled for the summer. If there isn’t enough time to complete the lost services during the summer, they could be made up, in part, during the following school year.
As in all matters concerning special education, every student’s situation is unique. The point of this article is to inform parents that the unusual circumstances faced by
schools during Covid are very unfortunate for all students, but the requirement for each school to deliver the services included in each student’s IEP was not erased because of the pandemic. However, I believe most schools did the best they could in an impossible situation.
Kim Dodson, Executive Director of the ARC of Indiana, reported during an interview with WFYI that there was a huge increase in calls from families requesting guidance in understanding what schools are required to do during quarantine periods when schools transitioned to remote learning. Many families also expressed concern over a lack of appropriate/necessary technology to participate fully in remote learning. Another major concern was student regression, not only educationally, but behaviorally, without the structure and supports provided when the students are in the school building.
Students requiring direct support (1:1) to learn do not do well with remote learning. Trying to navigate technology, pay attention, and absorb lessons can be almost impossible for students with the highest needs. The support available from families varies greatly across households. Providing support for a child with special needs on a day-to-day basis can be exhausting for many parents. Adding the challenge of trying to help these children adjust to the demands of remote learning can be completely overwhelming.
Moving forward, most schools would benefit from providing more training to families on how to manage behaviors and increase student compliance at home. By using an appropriate behavior intervention plan which provides positive behavior supports, maladaptive student behaviors can be greatly reduced and often eliminated. Ideally, behavior plans should be consistent between school and home.
Special education law requires schools to provide training for families. I highly recommend requesting this as part of the IEP to decrease/eliminate any differences between how student behavior is addressed at school and at home. This could help alleviate difficulties when trying to educate students at home during quarantine situations.
In addition, direct training of parents by school therapists can improve student learning during quarantine periods. Parents could then help their child practice skills typically practiced during speech, PT, and/or OT therapy. Schools and parents partnering in this way should increase the student’s ability to generalize and master skills across environments.
The world is changing, and I seriously doubt this will be the last time we face a serious pandemic. Parents and schools must communicate and plan for the times students cannot be in school. Parents need to ask for and expect training from the school, especially if students are expected to learn at home.
Our mascot, the dragonfly, represents the mission of our model perfectly. The dragonfly symbolizes change, adaptability, self-realization, emotional depth, and lightness. Not only can it quickly adapt to it's environment and change it's course, it does so with confidence. We aspire to be like the dragonfly in our journeys of personal growth, even when it seems impossible. The dragonfly has so much strength; it can fly through a storm. Our mission is to help our clients and students with ASD gain knowledge that will build competence in social, academic, and vocational areas of their lives. With dynamic skills they can navigate any challenges they encounter with confidence, just like the dragonfly. -Julie Gordon
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Individual Treatment Plans shaped by your child’s needs and designed to help your child thrive.
Evidence-Based Practices based on the latest research.
State-of-the-Art
By Angela Arlington
Awareness
You may not be able to see it.
You may not be able to touch it.
Therapy Tools & Techniques with progress reports and graphs you can access via our parent portal. Team Collaboration with your child’s physician, other therapists, and teachers to ensure your child is able to reach their full potential.
You may not be able to understand it.
But invisible illnesses and disabilities are real.
Keep fighting, warriors! Your pain is real. Your challenges are hard. Your feelings matter.
By: Angela Arlington
Best Buddies Indiana is a local chapter of Best Buddies International, which has changed lives in 54 countries around the globe.
“Our programs build one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded,” said Mark Lantz, Deputy Director of Programs and Operations at Best Buddies Indiana. “Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other individuals enjoy.”
One on One Friendships:
Best Buddies builds friendships between people with and without IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion. One-to-one friendship happens at our school chapters and through our adult friendship program, Best Buddies Citizens. A participant with IDD is paired with a person without IDD based on location and shared interests for at least one year of friendship. For school programs, matches typically start at the beginning of the school year. Then, buddies participate in activities and spend quality in-person time together at least twice a month for buddy pairs of all ages. Best Buddies offices and chapters plan events,
host group activities, support friendship matches, and provide onsite support. “Some events that happened this past fall were a pumpkin patch visit, apple orchard visit, bowling, cookies and canvas, and many more! Check out our social media to see some events done by our school partners,” Mark said.
Buddy pairs connect by email, phone calls, texting, social media, or written correspondence at least once a week. For e-Buddies©, participants communicate via email at least once a week for a year. Best Buddies staff members maintain regular contact with friendship program participants to ensure the quality of matched pairs.
Integrated Employment:
The Best Buddies Jobs program is focused beyond the typical jobs in which a person with IDD might be placed. Best Buddies focuses on finding work that matches the job seeker’s interests and talents.
“We have participants all over the greater Indianapolis area,” Mark said. “Some great partners are the Children’s Museum, Stone Creek Dining, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, Telemon, Cake Bake, IU Health, and many more! It takes between 2-6 months to find a match after a discovery period. It has to be an excellent match for both the employer and the participant. We will soon have a participant working at Edible Arrangements after the individual showed a passion for food and creativity!”
Leadership Development:
Best Buddies Ambassadors offers people with and without IDD the opportunity to gain the public speaking skills, self-esteem, and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves, their peers, and Best Buddies in communities, workplaces, and government.
“When a Best Buddies participant joins the Ambassador program, they enter into a series of group and private training sessions in speech writing and public and conversational speaking to become advocates for themselves and the disability rights movement,” Mark noted. Once trained, Ambassadors work with Best Buddies staff to identify public speaking opportunities in their local community where they can share their personal stories. Those could be Best Buddies chapters, businesses, legislators, interest groups, and donors.
Each Ambassador is paired with a speech coach, who helps them brainstorm, organize, write, edit and practice a speech and provides one-on-one attention as needed. Throughout their participation in the program, Ambassadors have access to a variety of ongoing advocacy training led by Best Buddies staff. As Ambassadors gain advocacy experience in conversational and public speaking, they have the opportunity to grow into a State or Global Ambassador, where they may be invited to speak nationally or internationally on behalf of Best Buddies.
For more information, email Indiana@bestbuddies.org or visit www.bestbuddies.org/indiana
