Special Needs Living Digital Issue May 2022

MAY 2022

TO GET THE DIGITAL COPY OF SNL THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE TEXT THE LETTERS SNL TO THE NUMBER 55433.

NSIDE: • Meet the Ludlow Family • Deciding to Homeschool • Meet Jennie Irby • Indiana Family to Family: A Perfect Fit • Raising Girls on the Spectrum • Meet the Marth Family • Nonprofit Spotlight: Circle City Clubhouse • Sponsor Spotlight: The ALTRUIST Group Meet Jeanine Coleman.

• Pastor’s Corner • Local Events and More

ON THE COVER:

The Ludlow Family

– Heather, Matt, Cameron, and Adalyn Photos by: Matthew Doudt Photography

­ 2 Special Needs Living • May 2022

More than a Trampoline Park Adrenaline is the perfect place for an adventure!

Have a blast jumping on trampolines (of course), channeling your inner ninja warrior, making it to the top of the climbing wall, or challenging your friends in jousting.

We are the largest indoor adventure park in Indiana, with 50,000 square feet of attractions, including our ALL NEW ropes course, warped wall, stunt fall, all sports course, harnessed climbing wall

and MORE!!

Sensory Friendly Play every Monday from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call or email to reserve your spot!

10080 E 121st St Suite 182 Fishers, Indiana 46037 317-572-2999 adrenalinefishers1.com events@adrenalinefishers.com May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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I M P O RTA N T

N UMBE R S 317-977-2375

Arc of Indiana www.arcind.org

317-257-8683

ASK: About Special Kids, Inc. www.aboutspecialkids.org

317-676-4222

Autism Community Connection www.autismcc-in.org

800-609-8448

Autism Society of Indiana www.autismsocietyofindiana.org

877-241-8144

Blind and Visually Impaired Services (BVIS)

800-545-7763

Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS)

800-545-7763

Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) DHHSHelp@fssa/in.gov

www.n2pub.com Turning Neighborhoods Into Communities © 2022 Neighborhood Networks Publishing, Inc.

AREA DIRECTOR PUBLISHER

Jamie McCabe jamie.mccabe@n2pub.com

317-233-4454

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) - www.in.gov/fssa/index.htm

317-232-7770

Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities (GPCPD)

812-855-6508

Indiana Resource Center for Autism https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca

317-233-1325

Indiana State Department of Health

844-446-7452

Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council (INSILC)

855-641-8382

Indiana Works

800-332-4433

INSOURCE http://insource.org/

800-622-4968

Disability Determination Bureau

888-673-0002

Division of Aging (IDA)

800-457-4584

Medicaid Disability

800-403-0864

Division of Family Resources (DFR)

317-232-7770

Medicaid Waivers

317-232-7800

Division of Mental Health and Addiction

800-772-1213

Social Security Administration (SSA)

317-925-7617

Down Syndrome Indiana

877-511-1144

Early Childhood and Out of School Learning (OECOSL)

877-851-4106

Special Education Questions

317-466-1000

Easterseals Crossroads https://eastersealscrossroads.org

317-871-4032

United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Indiana

Emergency

800-545-7763

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR)

911 844-323-4636

Family Voices Indiana www.fvindiana.org

800-545-7763

First Steps

574-234-7101

INSOURCE www.insource.org

317-232-0570

Indiana Department of Education: Office of Special Education www.doe.in.gov/specialed

4 Special Needs Living • May 2022

1-800-772-1213

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SCAN TO VIEW THE PAST ISSUES OF SPECIAL NEEDS LIVING

SCAN TO GET THE DIGITAL COPY OF SNL THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a N2 Publishing but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Special Needs Living magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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Sponsor I N D E X 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 ACCOUNTING/PAYROLL/TAXES Borshoff Consulting LLC. Sherry Borshoff (317) 902-6539 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 CAT CARE & SITTING Bastet Cat Care & Sitting (317) 919-1948 CBD SUPPLIER Indy CBD Plus (317) 961-0191

ELECTRICAL SERVICES 21 Electric (317) 449-0021 FINANCIAL Charter Advisory Corporation David Yearwood (317) 844-7416 Munder Financial James Munder (317) 238-6621 WestPoint Financial Group Gordon Homes (317) 567-2005 FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Wholestic Nutrition (317) 429-0111 GYMNASTICS Body by GymRoots Studio (317) 579-9300

COFFEE ROASTER Tinker Coffee Co. (317) 438-5728

HEALTH & WELLNESS LifeVantage - Team Richards Kristin Richards (317) 698-5264

COUNSELING SERVICE Mark 2 Ministries (317) 777-8070

HOME CARE Amiable Home Care Inc. (317) 802-1746

DAY / BEHAVIORAL SERVICES Developmental Disabilities Systems INC. - DDSI (317) 477-8240

6 Special Needs Living • May 2022

DENTAL CARE Children’s Dental Center (317) 842-8453

HOME CARE SERVICES SafeInHome (855) 476-6665

NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY Indy Neurofeedback (317) 888-8500

INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK Adrenaline Family Adventure Park (317) 572-2999 adrenalinefishers1.com

ORTHODONTICS Hallmark Orthodontics (317) 773-5515

INSURANCE State Farm John Cole (317) 430-1958 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Dan Claxton Investment Advisory & Broker Dan Claxton (317) 250-8080 LANDSCAPING/LAWN CARE/ LANDSCAPE LIGHTING Franco Landscaping, Inc (317) 858-3858 MORTGAGE CrossCountry Mortgage (317) 666-4679 MUSIC THERAPY Resounding Joy (858) 888-0899

Midwest Academy (317) 843-9500 SCHOOL - SPECIAL NEEDS The Fortune Academy (317) 377-0544

Rigsbee Hall Orthodontics (317) 574-0612

SCULPTURE, POTTERY & ART Ripple Mobile Arts (317) 514-8469

PARKS & RECREATION Johnson County Parks & Recreation (812) 526-6809

SUPPORT SERVICES Easterseals Crossroads (317) 466-1000

PEDIATRIC THERAPY Wee Speak (765) 446-8300

Noble (317) 375-2700

REAL ESTATE Encore Sotheby’s Patti & Jeff Carroll (317) 809-5839 REALTOR Carpenter Realtors-Jeremy Page (317) 413-5311 F.C. Tucker Nicole Lyon (317) 501-0639 REGENERATIVE MEDICINE/ STEM CELL THERAPY Destination ReGen (317) 522-1980

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 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Buttermilk Mountain (317) 987-8450

SCHOOL Dynamic Minds Academy (317) 578-0410

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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YOUR CHILD DESERVES TO REACH HIS FULLEST POTENTIAL AND BECOME A VALUABLE PART OF HIS COMMUNITY

Looking for physical, occupational, or speech therapy for kids? Choose a family-friendly therapy center that makes parent education a priority.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 15% of children between ages 3 and 17 have encountered some form of a developmental delay.

Is your child developing at the "right" pace?

REQUEST A CHILD DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION TODAY! WeeSpeak Lafayette • 765-446-8300 35 Executive Dr, #5 • Lafayette, IN 47905 weespeaktlc@gmail.com • weespeaktlc.com

A.C.E. Is Growing Exceptional Learners From The Ground Up! We recognize that every individual with Autism is unique in terms of his or her challenges and strengths. Whether you are a family who has just received an Autism diagnosis, you have an older child in the later stages of treatment, or anything in between, ACE will create an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy program that will work for your child and your family.

IN HOME & CLINIC-BASED SERVICES In-Network With Most Insurances

www.autismenrichment.com (317) 436-7080 | info@autismenrichment.com

Contact Kristin Richards Today!

317-698-5264 | teamrichards25@yahoo.com 8 Special Needs Living • May 2022

Alyssa Hay, MA CCC-SLP Director of Speech and Group Therapy Services at Kids Count Therapy

At Kids Count Therapy, we offer ABA, speech, occupational, physical and mental health therapy services. We pride ourselves on our collaborative, multi-disciplinary model with all therapy providers working toward a common goal. This year, we launched our first group learning program called SPOT ABA in an effort to serve the whole child as they transition to the classroom setting.

SPOT ABA is an acronym to unite speech therapy, occupational therapy and ABA therapy services. It is our goal to provide our clients a strong transition experience from 1:1 ABA therapy to the classroom setting. Group programming is managed by a member of our behavior analyst team. The SPOT team consists of a lead RBT as well as members of our speech and occupational therapy team providing Social Thinking, language and learning and sensory/movement group opportunities.

Currently, Kids Count Therapy provides four different SPOT offerings: SPOT, Jr; Preschool/Kindergarten SPOT; Elementary SPOT and Intermediate SPOT. These groups vary based on age, social skills, group participation and executive functioning skills.

See the visuals below for more information regarding each specific group. Please contact Kids Count Therapy for more information!

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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MEET THE

Special Needs Living TEAM JAMIE MCCABE Publisher & Area Director

CHRISTIA WOODFORD Publishing Assistant and Local Events

MARIA SMIETANA Editor-in-Chief

ANGIE ARLINGTON Community Engagement Coordinator / Writer and Contributor

HEATHER GREGG Photographer 21 Vines Photography

CHRISTIE AND NATHAN BUONANNO Buonanno Photography

KENDAL FORD Kendal Nicole Photography

ISAAC ROMAN Writer and Photographer

Buttermilk Mountain Making sure adults with disabilities are taken care of in the future and have fun along the way.

Buttermilk Mountain

JANE GAILEY Event Manager

WRITER & CONTRIBUTORS

ANGELICA N. GRAY, MA, BCBA, LBA

AARON OLSON

SHEILA WOLFE

DEANDRA YATES

PAUL HATHCOAT

MATT KNIGHT

DORIE ZIPPERLE

CHRISTINA MCGAIRK Editor and Writer

is excited to offer adults with disabilities the opportunity to create Buttermilk’s Biscuits, all natural pumpkin dog treats. Making the Biscuits teaches the Bakers important life and job skills, including: • FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS • BEING A TEAM PLAYER • COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC

The Bakers sell Buttermilk’s Biscuits at local farmers markets, pet expos and holiday bazaars. Buttermilk Mountain uses the proceeds to host fun events for families with special needs.

317.987.8450 buttermilkmountain.net

buttermilkmountaininc@gmail.com

10 Special Needs Living • May 2022

Amiable Home Care Inc. is a multi-service home care agency.

We specialize in helping individuals from all age groups.

We assist with errands, light house work, medication reminders, bathing, food preparation, and lots more!

Remote Supports FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

We accept A&D and TBI Waivers.

For private pay, ask about our rates.

Providing Behavioral Health Services under the Family Supports Waiver (FSW) and Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver (CIH).

We currently offer Participant Assistance and Care (PAC) Structured Family Caregiver Levels 1, 2, 3 Family and Caregiver Training Wellness Coordination Residential Habilitation & Support and Day Habilitation Attendant Care and Respite

317-802-1746 • amiablehomecare.org

@AmiableHomeCareinc

Scan Me

Empowering people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes and communities using Remote Supports

www.safeinhome.com

1-855-476-6665

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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SPECTRUM Raising Girls on the

My firsthand account, along with other moms raising ASD girls

By Christina McGairk

According to the CDC, in 2021, 1 in 44 children were diagnosed with autism in the United States. CDC data in 2018 showed that 1 in 27 boys had autism compared to 1 in 116 girls with autism.

When my daughter TiTi was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) back in 2015, at the age of 3, little was known about girls on the spectrum. Most of the research pertained to boys, leaving autistic girls under the radar mainly because autism manifests differently in girls.

A 2019 report in Medical News Today found that girls may avoid eye contact like their male counterparts and have repetitive behaviors, but other signs in girls may be overlooked. For instance, delayed speech, being more quiet and withdrawn, and increased irritability and meltdowns are more common in girls.

I had a high-risk pregnancy due to multiple fibroids. When TiTi arrived, she was a happy, normal baby girl. Her abilities to crawl and walk were a little delayed by two months, according to the charts and graphs. She also had a reflux issue after eating, but other than that, she was developing typically. When she turned 1, she was talking up a storm, saying multiple words that she picked up like “Hi,” “Bye,” “Mommy,” and started saying some of the alphabet. Then, about the age of 1 ½, I noticed all of her vocabulary went away. I just figured she got tired of talking or was just shy. When she turned 2, I noticed she walked on her tiptoes. Her doctor believed it was a sensory issue and to keep an eye on it.

When TiTi was 2 ½, my boyfriend at the time said he noticed some of the same traits in TiTi that he saw in his granddaughter, who had a developmental delay. I did my research and got her enrolled in the First Steps program. I had one person come in to work with TiTi with her numbers and letters. Another person helped her with her sensory issues. Then at the age of 3, although she was avoiding eye contact every once in a while before, she completely stopped looking at anyone who called her. Her speech was also still delayed. I babysat a couple of children who had the same issues and were the same age as TiTi and were later diagnosed with autism. I think deep down in my heart, I knew she had autism, but I had to turn over every stone before I made the final step. I had her hearing checked. Her hearing was fine. I had her eyes checked. Her eyes were fine. That’s when I knew I had to take TiTi to an autism

12 Special Needs Living • May 2022

CHRISTINA MCGARIK and TITI MCGAIRK

CHRISTINA MCGARIK and TITI MCGARIK

CHRISTINA MCGARIK and TITI MCGARIK

care specialist to see if she did, in fact, have autism. I took TiTi to Riley, where she went through a battery of observations. They were checking to see how she grasped objects, how she formed her words, how she interacted with them, and if she participated in pretend play. After going over TiTi’s results, the specialist said TiTi was right on the border. She could fall on either side. I took some time to let the news marinate, and I decided that if her ASD diagnosis helped TiTi get the help she needed, that’s what needed to be done.

I’ll never forget that day. I looked at my daughter in the backseat and started crying as I drove out the parking garage. I cried not so much about the diagnosis but knowing she would struggle most of her life and had

a long road ahead of her. After a few days of mourning the loss of what could’ve been, I found this unbelievable strength. I did my research; I made phone calls and appointments for TiTi’s speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. I kept records of everything pertaining to her diagnosis in a huge binder. I became the strong Mama Bear and advocate I needed to be for my daughter and still am.

I spoke with other Mama Bears raising daughters on the spectrum to share their experiences, challenges, and how they overcome it all.

SHARON SMITH, FISHERS DAUGHTER: ADRIANA SMITH, 22 Smith’s daughter Adriana was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when she was 18 months old, earlier than most. She wasn’t surprised by the diagnosis since Adriana’s oldest brother Quinn was diagnosed with Aspberger’s syndrome, and her other brother, Noah, was diagnosed with ASD. Smith said the first sign of autism Adriana presented was not responding to her name, only to favorite TV shows. She also had a fascination with ceiling fans. Like myself, Smith felt like she didn’t have enough information after Adriana was diagnosed. This is what she had to say: Do you feel like you received enough information about Adriana’s diagnosis and how to meet her needs?

“No. Apraxia would better describe the issue. Apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to perform learned (familiar) movements on command, even though the command is understood and there is a

SHARON SMITH and DAUGHTER ADRIANA SMITH

willingness to perform the movement. Both the desire and the capacity to move are present, but the person simply cannot execute the act.”

LISA CANTRELL, FISHERS DAUGHTER: MONET CANTRELL, 14 Cantrell’s daughter Monet was diagnosed with ASD at 4 years old. The autism world was all new to her. She said she had never been around anyone on the spectrum and initially had mixed emotions about her daughter’s diagnosis.

ADRIANA SMITH

SHARON SMITH and DAUGHTER ADRIANA SMITH

What was your reaction when you received Monet’s ASD diagnosis?

“I had many mixed emotions. One emotion that seemed to stick out the most was the emotion of defeat. I felt defeated mostly because I had other children to care for, and they were all close in age.

It seemed almost impossible, but I tackled it each day. I became stronger and wiser on how to care for her and her siblings. She has taught me so much about how to love.”

How did your family react to the news?

“My husband and I both had feelings of denial. As a mother, I thought I could pray it away. It was very hard on our other children. Monet needed a lot of care and attention, and her siblings struggled to understand her needs.”

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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One thing I’m not looking forward to in raising TiTi is puberty.

My mom gave me “the talk” the first time when I was 5, then she did it again when I was 7 but also gave me a book. As for TiTi, I’m not sure if she understands what’s currently happening to her body and beyond. I’ve given her the “stranger danger” and “bad touch, good touch” talk, but that’s about it. She seems to understand it. So how exactly do you deal with the progression of puberty with a daughter on the spectrum? While Smith stated her daughter Adriana is on Depo shots to stop the blood flow, Cantrell took this approach: How did you deal with puberty when it came to your daughter?

“As puberty began, Monet had a variety of emotional behaviors. She cried a lot, seemed depressed, and did not sleep well. When I felt the time was approaching, I started to demonstrate how to care for her menstrual cycle. I explained through visuals and tangible examples.

Monet also learned and adapted from watching her other sisters. She can also vocalize when she is experiencing headaches and cramps.”

TiTi has such a big heart, a contagious smile, and a loving personality. Everyone absolutely loves her. Yet still, I wonder if she will ever find love and be in a relationship–also, if she will ever be able to live independently.

VIVIAN BROOKS: INDIANAPOLIS DAUGHTER: RAYNA BROOKS, 26 Vivian Brooks’ daughter Rayna was diagnosed with a communication delay at 2 years old but was later diagnosed with autism and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified at the age of 5. Brooks said she doesn’t have any concerns about her daughter being in a relationship because the interest is only superficial. But she does have daily thoughts about her daughter’s future.

What concerns do you have, if any, about her future and being independent?

“It’s a daily concern of how her future will look when Mom and Dad are no longer with her. Rayna most likely will not hold a job and will require 24-hour supervision. Her 22-year-old brother is her guardian.

I hope she can live on her own with direct care staff and remote support.

Exploring the option of Safe in Home to ease the burden on my son when the time comes for him to be her guardian.”

14 Special Needs Living • May 2022

VIVIAN BROOKS and DAUGHTER RAYNA BROOKS

VIVIAN BROOKS and DAUGHTER RAYNA BROOKS

I’ve learned about mother/daughter relationships, no matter what spectrum, that they have different dynamics.

Do you notice a different quality of your mother-daughter relationship compared to other mother/daughter relationships you see?

SMITH: “We are super close. She is the youngest of three and the only girl.”

CANTRELL: “I wish I had more opportunities to be around mothers that have a child with autism. I also think that I cannot compare my experience to others because they are so different. Autism is such a wide spectrum. I do notice that Monet trusts me to love her and understand her needs.

She is comfortable with me and willing to confide in me.”

BROOKS: “Absolutely, I noticed, and I had to stop because it would make me depressed. My biggest disappointment was thinking about how she will never be married and have a child. I have two sons, and it’s not the same when they have children. I now focus solely on strengthening our bond and connection. It took me a while, but I’m finally here. Starting Rayna’s Clubhouse this year has brought us closer. She enjoys and participates in the social activity I host for special needs youth of all ages. Rayna’s Clubhouse is a nonprofit. Our mission is to provide a safe place for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to engage in social, recreational, and community-based activities.”

TiTi has shown me how to love on a whole different level.

She has also taught me to be more patient, determined, and persevere. Coincidentally she also taught me how to deal with conflict. I hate dealing with conflict. I’d rather melt away into the shadows when it comes to things like that. BUT, when it comes to TiTi, I play zero games. If I feel something isn’t right about her education, care, or whatever it is, this Mama Bear is ready to defend her. I always say I am her voice, but honestly, she gave me my voice as well.

HERE TO HELP YOUR FAMILY THRIVE & SURVIVE THROUGH YOUR NEXT MOVE.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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Special Needs Planning & Elder Law Attorney

Here to help you put plans in place to give you peace of mind.

Elizabeth A. Homes is a special needs planning and elder law attorney. She has been licensed and practicing law since May of 2014.

Her practice at the Law Office of Elizabeth A. Homes LLC is focused on Special Needs Planning, Guardianships, Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Probate Work. This includes Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Directives, Trusts, Trust Administration, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning, Guardianship, and Probate. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana.

We ask "What If?" so you don't have to ask "What Now?"

Elizabeth A. Homes, Esq., MBA ehomeslaw.com | 317-660-5004 elizabeth@ehomeslaw.com 10412 Allisonville Road, Suite 200A Fishers, Indiana 46038

BASTET CAT CARE & SITTING

Accommodating all feline family members including special medical & behavioral needs.

Teaching and Giving Injections, Medication, Nail Trims and Minor Grooming,Vet Transports, Cat Sitting

Owner AJ Gegenheimer, RVT Bonded & Insured with Pet Sitters Association

(317) 919-1948 | bccs95@gmail.com Serving the westside of Indianapolis, Avon, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Zionsville

16 Special Needs Living • May 2022

Adapt for Life provides a positive learning environment

to help your child learn & grow!

Currently No Waitlist for ABA Therapy Services 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 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.

317-383-0188 · adaptforlifeaba.com · 6640 Parkdale Place, Ste R, Indianapolis, IN 46254

We are committed TO BUILDING BEAUTIFUL SMILES BY FOCUSING ON BEING PERSONABLE, POSITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL! With special training in craniofacial, surgical, and special care orthodontics, the staff and team at Hallmark and Rigsbee Hall Orthodontics is committed to you!

We are excited to see your beautiful smile and have a lot of fun along the way. Call us for a free consultation.

Carmel & Shelbyville IN rigsbeeorthodontics.com 317-574-0612

Noblesville & Elwood IN hallmarkorthodontics.com 317-773-5515

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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featured family

By Aaron Olson Photos by Heather Gregg, 21 Vines Photography

Ludlow Family meet the

HEATHER, MATT, CAMERON, AND ADALYN

H

eather and Matt Ludlow moved to the beautiful Heritage Lake community about a year after their son Cameron was born. The community, located near Coatesville, IN, surrounds its namesake, a private 320acre lake that provides residents with seasonal beauty and enjoyment.

Cameron, now 15, was born at 27 weeks and had to spend about 75 days in the NICU at St. Vincent Hospital. (His twin, Carter, passed away before birth.) Initially, Cameron was given only a small chance for survival, and the family was told that even if he were to survive, he would likely have to be institutionalized. At birth, Cameron suffered a massive brain bleed that resulted in hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy. The Mayo Clinic states that “hydrocephalus is the buildup of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain.” Cerebrospinal fluid normally flows through the ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column, but when excess fluid is present, it increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain. This can damage brain tissue and cause a broad range of disabilities. Cameron also had very underdeveloped lungs and a perforated bowel. Over the years, he underwent several shunt revisions, a near-death experience due to a shunt malfunction, SDR surgery, hip surgery, and countless hours of therapy. Heather attributes their family’s resolve to faith, prayer, and support from their extended family.

Cameron has come a long way since his tentative start in life. He and his sister Adalyn, 11, attend North Putnam Community Schools, where Cameron plays trumpet in the high school band, and Adalyn is on her school’s basketball team. The family enjoys spending time on the water swimming and tubing during the summer months, and they take great pride in their Christmas light displays in the winter.

The family is active in the community. Heather is a REALTOR® for REMAX and Matt works as an aviation mechanic for the Colts. They are members of their neighborhood’s activity committee and help to put on several family-focused events every year like pictures with Santa, “Trunk or Treat,” and the Easter bunny egg hunt.

Heather describes the first happy milestone in their special needs adventure as the day they brought Cameron home from the NICU. She says she will “never forget the mix of emotions from that day.”

Cameron has been incredibly resilient through it all, and despite the

18 Special Needs Living • May 2022

Cover

doctors’ initial prognosis of an institutionalized life, he has shown immense progress both cognitively and physically. Despite still facing some challenges, Cameron is currently a freshman in high school and has moved past using a wheelchair. The family eagerly anticipates a time when he will no longer need crutches!

Today the Ludlows enjoy vacationing on Daytona Beach in Florida.

They go every year, multiple times if they are able. It has taken a great deal of adapting to address Cameron’s specific vacationing needs, but things have improved over the years. Heather recommends doing research when visiting any beach and ensuring the hotels/resorts can accommodate your child’s specific set of needs.

For families whose children use wheelchairs, Heather says it’s imperative to make sure there is a beach wheelchair rental facility nearby, as regular wheelchairs are not made for sand. It is also important to have a portable wheelchair for air travel.

Heather believes being involved in both the special needs and local community is especially important for parent and their children. She says, “I’ve always felt that it is important to be part of your community and [I] want to impress that upon my children as well. I think it’s been a great thing for my son as it’s helped him continue building confidence and show others that he can do just as much as his peers.” With regard to the special needs community, she has this to say to newcomers: “’WELCOME!’ This community is very kind and giving and willing to help out anyone!

Never feel afraid or ashamed to ask for help and come hang out with us! We welcome everyone here.”

We Love Kids!

most dental insurances and Medicaid accepted

5-Star Rated Pediatric Dentistry

• providing tools to use in future appointments • establishing at-home dental hygiene routines • preparing you and your child to work through fear and anxiety Call 317-842-8453 to book an appointment.

9885 E. 116th Street, Suite 100 | Fishers, IN 46037 babytoothcenter.com May 2022 • Special Needs Living

19

HeartSOS

Children, Adolescents, Young Adults with ASD & Related Needs

Mental Health Counseling

Anxiety, Depression, Attachment, PTSD & Relationships

Speech Therapy

Self-Advocacy, Articulation, Feeding, Apraxia & Relationships

Family Guidance

Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, Flexible Thinking & Relationships

Occupational Therapy

Executive Functioning, ADLs, Sensory Processing & Relationships Indy & Terre Haute Clinics 20 Special Needs Living • May 2022

Outpatient Services for Individuals & Families

We Hear Your SOS! Reach out at asdheartsos.com

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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The

ALTRUIST Group

sponsor of the month

By Maria Smietana

Meet Jeanine Coleman

Jeanine Coleman

Long before she launched The ALTRUIST Group, Jeanine Coleman had developed a strong concern for the needs and welfare of others. Growing up in Indianapolis, Jeanine attended a large, urban high school with students from a broad spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds. She began to observe the plethora of problems affecting many of the students and their families. She took this strong desire to help those most at risk to college with her, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work from Indiana State University in 1992.

After supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness in frontline capacities, Jeanine returned to graduate school in 1999 and obtained a master’s degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University. The knowledge she gained from pursuing this degree, along with her goal to be a catalyst for change, offered her a new opportunity to champion the cause in administrative and leadership roles with various organizations. In these roles, she worked tirelessly to implement effective and efficient programming that helped individuals and families gain the information and skills needed to become healthier, wiser, and more self-sufficient.

In every organization Jeanine has worked for, she has led with personal integrity and accountability. Despite the disillusionment she has experienced in the human services industry, she has continued to demonstrate unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

In 2015, Jeanine, along with Lori Kincy, a very close friend, founded The ALTRUIST Group, a home and community-based agency that provides services and support to individuals with cognitive and intellectual disabilities throughout central and southern Indiana. Jeanine and Lori both shared having family members with these disabilities and wanted to build a company culture based on true values and a true vision. However, Lori

22 Special Needs Living • May 2022

chose to leave the company in 2017 to pursue other endeavors, and as a result, Omie Spivey, Jeanine’s mother, purchased Lori’s interest and became Jeanine’s business partner.

“We have made an impact by championing vulnerable populations,” Jeanine said. “Along the way, we have brought on team members with the same mission in their hearts. My mother and I share the experience of having loved ones with intellectual disabilities. This allows us to empathize and consider the quality of support families need for their own loved ones [with disabilities].”

The ALTRUIST Group is recognized as an industry leader, respected for its values, and referred by clients and families due to their satisfaction with the company’s competent, compassionate professionals. The company further sets itself apart for having achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, which is rare for an organization in the human services sector. “Our quality objectives include a customer satisfaction rating of 97%, a client retention rate of 96%, an employee retention rate of 78%, and a client goal achievement rate of 80%,” Jeanine said. “The ALTRUIST Group recognizes that all stakeholders are our customers and therefore are at the forefront of all decisions. We lead the way by serving first. This means that we focus on client/customer development through our client values. Similarly, through ongoing training, we focus on staff development through our team values.”

Jeanine encourages special-needs families to invest in the understanding of broad system issues, as well as local provider issues within the special needs community. “It is important that we recognize and lobby against the roadblocks that make obtaining quality support services so bureaucratic in nature,” she said.

“Some of the issues that we can speak up for as a community include better pay for frontline workers and requiring standardized training for our direct support professionals. Also, once you

founded to give individuals with behavioral health challenges an opportunity for positive personal growth through the four Es of transformation: expectations, experiential learning, employment, and emotional well-being. PWI conducts personal responsibility classes focusing on life skills and vocational training. The organization also facilitates peer mentoring that allows Members who have progressed through the established initiatives to lead by example. Members also give back to their communities by volunteering.

Jeanine is the mother of three adult children, Jordan, Kennedy, and Jacob, and is engaged to Gregory. She is an overprotective sister to her younger brother and a supportive aunt to her four nephews.

“We enjoy supporting Special Needs Living because we love the sense of community and vast network SNL creates amongst families, professionals, and organizations alike,” Jeanine said. “We have truly benefited from the connectivity that the magazine has created.”

have a provider, it is important that you hold them accountable to your family’s standards, their policies and procedures, and the state’s requirements as well.”

When she isn’t managing her business, Jeanine serves as board president of Project WILL Inc. (PWI), the non-profit she

Business contact information: Jeanine Coleman The ALTRUIST Group jcoleman@altruistgroup.net (317) 523-0663 7172 Graham Road, Suite 125 Indianapolis, IN 46250

DO YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS? Are you looking for parenting tools that can help you?

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Noble has been expanding opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities since 1953.

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May 2022 • Special Needs Living

25

MEET THE

MARTH FAMILY

B E N, R O B I N, A N D C L AY TO N What are your family members’ names and children’s ages? Where do your children go to school, and does/do your special needs child/children attend school and/ or receive other educational/ behavioral services? If you have a special needs adult living at home, are they employed or attending a special services program?

Robin and I have been married since 2011; we have one son, Clayton Marth, who will be 9 this July. Clayton attends full-time ABA, speech, and occupational therapies at BACA in Fishers, IN. Do you have pets or service animals? Tell us a little about them.

We have one dog (Moolah) and two cats (Elsa Von Thunderpaws and Maddox).

Moolah is a black lab/retriever mix; she is 7 years old.

Where are you and your family originally from?

Ben is originally from Green Bay, WI, and Robin is originally from Sandy, Utah.

Where do you live in Indiana?

How long have you lived here?

What brought you to Indiana?

As a family, we have lived in Fishers since 2011. Robin has lived in Fishers since 1994. Her family moved here after her father took on a new position with a large corporation headquartered in Indianapolis. Ben originally moved to Bloomington, IN, in 1999 as part of a job promotion. Since then, he’s lived in Texas and New York before settling back in Fishers.

26 Special Needs Living • May 2022

What have been some of the challenges you/your family have experienced, how have you overcome some of these struggles?

The initial diagnosis of Clayton’s autism was devastating to us as parents.

There were countless hours of tears, anger, guilt, and frustration between us. The unknown of what we were to expect was probably the hardest part.

Clayton is non-verbal and has unique challenges, some he has conquered and others he continues to work on. His therapies are covered under insurance; however, maintaining that coverage is becoming more challenging as Clayton gets older. Clayton struggles to interact with other children, and as such, he doesn’t have any friends. Clayton is challenged with undesirable behaviors at times but is mostly a very happy, funny boy. As parents, we find solace in the fact that “Clayton will be Clayton,” and that’s okay.

Any advice you have for others who are experiencing similar situations and challenges?

The best advice for parents with a child with autism would be to know that you are not alone. There are great people and programs that will help you. Ben is involved in Empact Parenting as a parent facilitator. It is an amazing program to help you hone your skills as a parent of a child with unique challenges.

Robin went through the Indiana Partners in Policymaking advocacy program through the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities.

There, she learned how to advocate for not only her child but anyone with disabilities living in the state.

What are some happy memories that really stay with you? Were there milestones or accomplishments you/your child hit that you never thought would be possible?

Our son amazes us daily; his skills and abilities grow constantly. A major milestone that we can recall was when Clayton became potty trained; we didn’t think that it was possible due to his general lack of communication, but he is 100% potty trained. Currently, Clayton is involved in a special needs ice hockey league in Westfield. He is doing a great job learning to tolerate wearing a helmet and ice skates and is starting to get out on the ice with his coach. These are things that we never expected him to be able to do, but slowly, he is.

What college/university did you/your spouse attend? How has school been challenging?

What did you do in school to overcome some of these challenges?

Ben attended college courses in criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay; Robin graduated from IUPUI with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. As mentioned, Clayton attends ABA full-time; he’s never been part of the public school system. We don’t know what we don’t know with regards to his education path, but we always remain hopeful.

What are your profession(s), and where do you work?

Ben is a district manager for a private security firm; Robin works remotely as an editor for a safety and compliance company.

If you have children or a special needs adult still at home, with what activities are they involved?

Clayton is our only child. He is currently involved with the Indy Twisters Special Hockey team.

Everything we do seems to revolve around Clayton, and that’s okay! We like to get outside when the weather allows. He enjoys going to the local parks, and we enjoy walking around the Indiana state parks as well.

Do you have any family traditions?

We eat dinner together most evenings.

Clayton excels with routine, so we try to maintain rigid routines within our home as it pertains to him. We celebrate birthdays and major holidays with family, as this allows Clayton the ability to interact with his cousins and extended family.

Wisconsin and going to the beach on Hilton Head Island. Our biggest challenge is keeping Clayton entertained on long car rides and meeting his dietary needs. In that respect, we ensure we always travel with supports that will make the experience favorable to him, with extra snacks, books, toys, and movies downloaded on his tablet.

Ben is a parent facilitator for Empact Parenting, a tremendous program geared at assisting parents of special needs children in improving their parenting skills. Ben attended the program and now facilitates the autism program, along with a clinician.

Robin continually advocates for our son as a result of the training she received through the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities Partners in Policymaking program.

Activities/Hobbies: Weather permitting, we really enjoy being outside going on walks. We enjoy visiting state parks. We enjoy spending time in our yard hosting BBQs for friends and family. Clayton loves to go swimming when the weather is warmer.

Sports teams: We are die-hard Green Bay Packer fans (the Colts are okay, too). We’ve been to a few Indians games as a family too.

Sitting on the lawn is the best option for Clayton and the most fun!

Tell us about some companies and resources that have helped you and your family navigate through the world of special needs?

When Clayton was first diagnosed, we were connected to an organization called About Special Kids (ASK). A very kind woman named Lisa K. helped us navigate through his diagnosis. We eventually connected with First Steps and started that program until Clayton aged out when he turned 3 years old. Since then, we have been with BACA, where Clayton receives ABA therapy. We have also worked hard to secure the financial future of Clayton (when we are no longer on this Earth) through the help of Gordon Homes and his financial planning firm. Attorney Liz Homes and her legal assistance with establishing a special needs trust.

Restaurants and Food Markets: Since Clayton’s diagnosis, we have chosen to adapt his diet to be gluten/ dairy/soy/sugar-free. We try to limit his exposure to environmental toxins by ensuring that he only eats organic fruits and veggies, and local/grass fed meat whenever possible (and as our budget allows!). This has hampered our ability to go out to eat as a family but has strengthened our ability to cook nutritious food at home. We hope to start going out more often, especially now that COVID appears to be behind us.

Clayton’s diagnosis does not influence our choices on where we go. He has just as much right as any other child to be out in public and experiencing life.

Park/Play area/Hang out: What are some of the experiences you enjoy doing the most with your family/child? What can be challenging when going places?

Clayton enjoys swings and slides at the parks in our area; however, his social challenges hinder him from playing with other children. He enjoys watching other children play. It is a difficult part of being a special needs parent when other children want to play with your kiddo, but your child doesn’t have the skills or abilities to reciprocate play. We tend to go when the parks aren’t very busy for this reason.

Vacation destination: We’ve had great vacations at Brown County State Park, visiting family in

Music: Ben is a fan of punk rock, classic rock, and rockabilly. Robin enjoys almost everything Ben likes but also enjoys country and classical music. Clayton enjoys the theme songs to his favorite Disney movies.

TV show/Movie: Ben and Robin enjoy all types of films; Clayton enjoys Disney movies but usually only certain scenes that he will watch repeatedly.

Family dinner: Dinner is usually a protein and a vegetable, which doesn’t sound too exciting, but Robin does a great job with cooking. We have been very fortunate with Clayton in that he does not follow the standard American kid diet of French fries and chicken nuggets.

He loves kombucha, sauerkraut, steak, broccoli, shrimp, peppers, celery, grapes, salmon, etc. Robin is a master of sneaking vegetable powders into anything Clayton eats and has even been known to put veggie powders on top of Clayton’s veggies!

What do you like to do to relax?

In the summer, we spend many hours on our back deck enjoying the sunshine.

In the winter, we spend time in our infrared sauna, which is nice and warm and has added health benefits for all of us (especially Clayton).

How are you involved in the community?

Is there something you are looking for that may help you/your special needs child?

We are always looking out for recreational activities that Clayton may enjoy. Like most children, he enjoys too much screen time, so we are constantly on the hunt for other activities.

What else should we know about you, your family, and/or your business?

The number one thing we have learned on our journey as Clayton’s parents is that as his parents, it is our job to advocate for him, whether at his ABA center, in public, or around family and friends. An autism diagnosis will be unique for every child and every parent, but your kiddo desires the same things as any typical child, a feeling of love and belonging.

We are a stronger family because of Clayton. That’s not to say anything with his diagnosis has been easy, but we have learned how to adapt and overcome.

Our child continues to surprise us every day, and we remain cautiously optimistic about the future.

What would you tell someone who just moved to your community?

Don’t shelter your child too much. Be involved.

Meet your neighbors. Let your child experience the community in which they live. Fishers has a lot to offer. It also has room to grow and adapt to our children’s needs.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

27

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www.icandog.org May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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By Christia Woodford

LOCAL EVENTS Important Note: Prior to attending any events, please be mindful of any COVID19 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 that 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 event details have changed since posting.

Note: Don’t forget to apply for the Access Pass! The Access Pass Program allows families that meet the specific requirements listed below to visit The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis 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

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MUSEUMS The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Various Events May 1 to May 31 Opens at 10 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 Mother’s Day Brunch May 8 at 10 am Various events through May. 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.

Indianapolis Indians May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Victory Field, Indianapolis, Indiana https://tickets-center.com/search/ Indianapolis-Indians-tickets/ FAMILY FUN Indianapolis Zoo Zoopolis 500 May 25, 10:30 am - 12:30 am https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/ events/zoopolis-500/ FREE FOR ZOO MEMBERS AND INCLUDED WITH REGULAR ZOO ADMISSION. TORTOISES, START YOUR ENGINES! This unique annual event and race-fan favorite includes a morning of family-friendly activities leading up to the “Greatest Spectacle in Tortoise Racing.” https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/ visit/zoo-map/

SPORTS Indiana Fever May 8, 10, 16, 21, 23, 25 Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana May 27, 31 Indiana Farmers Coliseum https://www.wnba.com/schedule/ Indy Eleven May 21 Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana https://www.ticketmaster.com/ indy-eleven-vs-new-york-redindianapolis-indiana-05-21-2022/ event/05005C3FBFB5483D

The Studio Movie Grill 3535 West 86th Street 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

THE ARTS Beef and Boards “Hello Dolly” March 31- May 15 9301 Michigan Road 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 Various classes during the week 5909 East 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-288-8235 indy@gigisplayhouse.org

EVENTS Fortune Academy 20th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, May 14 5:30 - 11 pm Dressy to Semi-Formal - Wear Something Dark Green REGISTER, VIEW AUCTION ITEMS, BID, AND MORE! https://qtego.net/qlink/ celebration20/register Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton https://www.google.com/maps/place/ Embassy+Suites+by+Hilton+Noblesville +Indianapolis+Conference+Center Crossroads Easterseals iCan Bike Camp June 20 - 24 Perry Park Ice Skating Rink 451 East Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, IN 46227 $130 Easterseals Crossroads, in partnership with iCan Shine and Indy Parks, offers this bike program to people 8 years and older with disabilities and special needs.

Over five days, participants learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently.

Register at https://eastersealscrossroads. wufoo.com/forms/pv7ryp70gp65ns/

Advocating for the Foster Child with Special Needs Webinar (Online) May 3, 11:30 am - 1 pm This event will be hosted by Jill Summerlot and Cathy Boswell, IN*SOURCE Special Education Liaisons.

Please register by 4 pm EST on Monday, May 2. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSetXuwJqO7HzfFGcBizro HNyquJ6bUSb_bKeo4ALcfDdUVKmQ/ viewform.

This training is free and open to the public. Certificates of attendance are available for attendees. Professional growth plan points subject to approval from each attendee’s organization. To serve you more efficiently, we require advance registration. Each person must register individually in order to receive a certificate of attendance. Our federal grant requires us to collect demographic information on each attendee.

For more information, please call 800-332-4433 or email insource@ insource.org. If you cannot attend this webinar, similar topics are archived at insource.org.

INSOURCE: What If I Don’t Agree With The School (Online) May 17, 12 - 1 pm Each session will feature an informative presentation, and then speakers will respond to questions from the participants.

Registration is not necessary. Click on this link to join the live meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87517408573.

Is there a local event for the special needs community you would like us to promote in an upcoming issue? Email us at SpecialNeedsIndy@ n2pub.com.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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32 Special Needs Living • May 2022

n e t u l G s San TA C O T U E S D A Y !

By Christina McGairk

I’m a busy Mommy raising a pretty awesome little girl, working full-time, involved in church, and added school into the mix this year. So if I can simplify other areas in my life, I’m all for it.

Recently I took a step towards keeping things simple in the kitchen. I invested in a slow cooker! It was one of the most recent best decisions and freed up my precious time for what really matters. Before, I would either batch cook on the weekends, which still takes a lot of time just to prepare, or try to cook weekday mornings, but that took away from studying time. So when I bought this kitchen appliance, it was a lifesaver. What? You mean, I can spend quality time with my daughter, get some homework done in between, and cook at the same time? I’m in! Since TiTi and I both like Mexican food, I decided to break in my slow cooker with a Mexican casserole that I usually bake in the oven.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS:

• 20 corn tortillas • 1lb ground turkey • 1 package of gluten-free taco seasoning • ¼ cup water • 1 small 8 oz can of tomato sauce • 1 bottle of 10oz taco sauce (You can also use enchilada sauce) • 1 can of 15oz black beans (drained) • 1 can of 15 oz corn (drained) • 2 ½ cups of shredded cheese

1.

Brown ground turkey or meat of choice in a large skillet.

2. Drain; add gf taco seasoning and water and heat for 4 minutes.

3. Mix well.

4. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray; add 4 corn tortillas at the bottom to create a base.

5. Top tortillas with half the beef mixture and ½ cup of cheese.

6. Top it with another layer of four corn tortillas.

7. Pour 1/2 the black beans and ½ the corn over the tortillas; top with cheese.

8. Place four corn tortillas on top of that layer and repeat the layering process.

9. Pour the taco sauce and the rest of the cheese on the top layer of the casserole.

10. Cover with lid and cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.

Since it was a rainy day, I decided to make the process fun for TiTi. Plus, I wanted to work on her vocabulary at the same time. So I created a little scavenger hunt in the living room.

She had to find some of the ingredients for the casserole. So I hid a can of corn, a can of black beans, and corn tortillas. That in itself was fun, as the pictures show.

I think the casserole came out pretty good, and TiTi and I had fun together.

Here is the recipe for my yummy slow cooker Mexican casserole. You can adapt it however you like. For instance, I used black beans that already had spices and green chiles in them. Also, just a heads up if you didn’t know, there’s also gluten-free taco seasoning available in stores.

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.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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CIRCLE CITY CLUBHOUSE

nonprofit spotlight

By Angela Arlington

History: Circle City Clubhouse opened its doors on February 2, 2015. Work to establish Circle City Clubhouse, however, began in 2010 after changes in funding for mental health services in Indiana led to the closure of clubhouse-type programs across the state – including three such programs in the Indianapolis area. Recognizing the loss of support, a working group (including members from clubhouses that had closed) formed to establish an independent clubhouse. In 2013, private donors provided the capital for start-up funds and the purchase of a clubhouse location.

In July of 2014, Jay Brubaker was hired as the executive director, and in the fall of 2014, the initial group of clubhouse members began meeting once a week in space provided by the Woodruff Place Baptist Church.

In December of 2014, Circle City Clubhouse purchased its current location and hired the first program staff in January of 2015. The name “Circle City Clubhouse” was chosen by the initial members.

About: Circle City Clubhouse is an organization dedicated to supporting the recovery and wellness of persons who have mental illness through the internationally recognized, award-winning Clubhouse International model. “Our mission is to afford people whose lives have been drastically disrupted by mental illness (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, chronic anxiety or depression, or other serious mental illnesses) the opportunity to recover meaningful and productive

34 Special Needs Living • May 2022

lives through reintegration with the workplace and the community,” Jay Brubaker explained.

Circle City Clubhouse supports adults recovering from mental illness through a unique and non-traditional approach that provides a supportive community and a place where such individuals are welcomed, valued, and needed. Clubhouse participants (known as members) volunteer and work alongside staff and share responsibility for completing all aspects of operating the organization.

Circle City Clubhouse specifically addresses the issues of social isolation and social stigma that many individuals in recovery from serious mental illness face. “As a result of their illness, many of our members have lost contact with family and friends,” Brubaker said. “They lost jobs or other contacts and connections to the community. This

isolation is not only a symptom of the illness; the lack of connection to other humans often increases the risk and severity of the mental illness itself.” Circle City Clubhouse creates a community that strives to be free from the stigma around mental illness, where members can explore their abilities and interests instead of focusing on their illnesses and deficits and build real and lasting relationships with others.”

The Clubhouse also supports members in beginning the practical work of reclaiming their previous lives in the community at large, with staff and members working together to provide social and recreational opportunities, employment and educational support, and assisting each other with accessing needed community resources such as housing or benefits. Clubhouse membership is open-ended, allowing members to continue to receive support in maintaining their recovery and providing ready access to supports if relapses occur.

“Through involvement in real and meaningful work, members and staff build relationships focused on each other’s strengths and gifts, rather than weaknesses and liabilities – providing the opportunity

Garden

for members to re-conceptualize themselves from patient-in-need to person with skills and gifts,” Brubaker said. Members are empowered to make meaningful choices about who they work with and what tasks they do, enabling them to take ownership of their own recovery process.

Volunteers are always needed.

“Circle City Clubhouse is in need of individuals to help build awareness of our organization, help us to raise funding to cover the cost of providing service to members who do not have Medicaid or another funding source, and to serve on our board and administrative committees and assist with our fundraising events,” Brubaker added.

Upcoming Fundraiser: On June 1, 2022, Circle City Clubhouse will be participating with clubhouses around the world in “Clubhouse Giving Day,” an online fundraising campaign to build awareness of and raise support for clubhouse communities worldwide.

Anyone interested in learning more about Circle City Clubhouse is welcome to join the virtual “Meet Me at the Clubhouse” Zoom meetings from 12 to 1 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.

Meetings include an introduction to the Clubhouse model, sharing by Clubhouse members, and a virtual

facility tour. The link to register is: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZMrdu6sqzguHtWgWdqk BA3pX3vuksUq1wm6 Testimonials: “Hi, my name is Ellen. I found out that I had a mental illness when I was in high school. Growing up, I thought it was normal to want to harm yourself and think about dying. I got very depressed and sometimes would sleep 20 hours a day. I was hospitalized multiple times and attempted suicide.

I became a member of Circle City Clubhouse 4 years ago, and it has helped me a lot. My friends at Clubhouse are like a second family for me – they accept me for who I am and help motivate me to get out of bed in the morning. Last year, I started work at TJ Maxx through the Clubhouse Transitional Employment program.

After completing that placement, Clubhouse helped me get my own independent job at Kohls. I like meeting and working with my co-workers, and having a job makes me feel important.” Ellen S. “Circle City Clubhouse is a place where people were concerned about me, had compassion for me, and where I found self-worth. When I come in the doors, I feel like I can contribute by helping others with their mental illnesses and helping them become the best that they can

Nathan and Tony

Fourth of July

be. I feel that people need a place in mental health [care] where there is no stigma, no rejection, no isolation, and no judgment. That place is Circle City Clubhouse.” Sevella P. May 2022 • Special Needs Living

35

Us

pastor’s corner

By Paul Hathcoat

THE DISTINCTIONS BET WEEN

W

hat is our natural reaction to the distinctions or differences in people around us? How do we proceed when we encounter someone who is wholly distinct and unique in a way that doesn’t compute? Have you or your loved one ever been the peculiar or offbeat vibe in the room that makes others react in a way that stings? Why is that? Let’s talk about why we should celebrate our differences instead of letting them divide us, from a pastor’s perspective.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 12-31, we get a clear picture of how the body of believers is supposed to work together. The metaphor that is used here is the human body. “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!” Verse 21 tells us that “the eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’

The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’” God’s message to us all here is that each one of us matters no more or no less than the others, without exception. So why, then, do so many of us either hide our distinctions or make others feel unloved because of their own?

I think many of us forget that we have value. I believe that many of us, and many of you out there in the disability world, forget that being different is a superpower. People who do not understand someone get scared and even insecure about themselves when confronted with an exceptionally unique person. I think that far too few of us really know who we are in God’s eyes and then, in turn, draw our self-worth from the world instead of our creator.

It took me over 30 years to fully embrace who I was made to be, flaws and all. I realized that I had listened to people who didn’t know or understand me for a long time and allowed them make me feel insignificant and weirdly different with their words and condemnations. I let who God created me to be hide while what I thought the world wanted me to be struggled to fit in and feel

36 Special Needs Living • May 2022

whole. I wish for myself and for all of you readers out there that we all embraced and accepted those around us in a loving way that reunited the one-body approach that God created us all to be a part of.

So how can we celebrate the distinctions in the people around us? Well, I recently had the chance to give this advice to a large group of high schoolers, and it rings true for this article’s approach as well.

(All of my messages have a lens of the disability world in them, as you may pick up here. That is the ministry that God has called me to, and it shines through everything I am inspired to talk about.)

1. Admit when it is uncomfortable; intentionally seek out people different from you.

2. Intentionally ask others about their distinctions. I promise they won’t bite.

3. Choose to celebrate people’s distinctions instead of fear or measure them against your own.

My hope here is to challenge you. I want you to be challenged to help make change in our world. I want us all to rest knowing that we may not understand everyone around us but that we all are one part of the enormous “body” that God is sewing together daily.

And more than anything, I want us all to show up, distinctions blazing, full of worth and self-confidence, being our unprecedented selves, ready to fill the YOU-shaped hole in our world and celebrating each other’s distinctions while accepting our own. Amen!

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.

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37

Deciding to

H OM E S C H O O L A

lishia Watts’s son Jake was diagnosed with ADHD at age 3. He had severe behavior issues that were hard to control at home and at school. He entered kindergarten with an individual education plan (IEP) and was placed in a life skills program. He struggled and was suspended from kindergarten a couple of times. Due to his behavior, Jake did not do well academically and was retained in kindergarten but was only allowed to attend half days in his second year.

Then, in first grade, he was suspended for his behaviors repeatedly. “Being able to attend regular classes depended on his mood and behaviors,” Alishia explained. Jake was miserable at school and hated being there. So, when Alishia got another call from the school suspending him, she decided that was the last straw. “I decided to pull him out and home school him. We worked on the basics at first.

By Angela Arlington

38 Special Needs Living • May 2022

I taught him to read. From May to August that year, we read 75 books!”

Alishia took Jake for neuropsychological testing, and from those results, she realized homeschooling was the best choice for her son.

Researching options, she decided to try Indiana Connections Academy, a free, online public school. “He needed a more structured curriculum than I had time to create,” she explained.

Indiana Connections Academy (INCA) was the right fit for Jake from day one. “The special education department was very supportive and listened to all of my concerns,” Alishia said. “They provided Jake with a supportive one-on-one

class via the computer once a week with his learning support teacher. He needed the one-on-one time because of his difficulty staying focused.”

Jake started to enjoy learning again. “Using the structured curriculum provided by INCA, Jake started to thrive academically, emotionally, and mentally,” Alishia said. “We both made friends. He is still friends with kids he met his first year. We have met a few in person, and he video chats and plays games online with others. He also has friends outside of school whom he has play dates with.

Alishia feels that if Jake were still in public school, he would have had a hard time making friends.

“My husband and I work together to educate Jake,” Alishia said. “I’m terrible in math, so my husband is in charge of that subject. I do all of the other subjects!” Jake has been a straight-A honor roll student since enrolling in INCA four years ago. He loves online school, and Alishia has no plans to put him back into in-person public school anytime soon.

MY TESTIMONIAL ABOUT INDIANA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY

By Alishia Watts

Indiana Connections Academy (INCA) is a free public online school. They provide a self-navigating online curriculum. Classes are provided via Zoom, led by amazing licensed teachers. They provide my son with a highly supportive individualized education plan.

He has accommodations that support his needs, including a learning support teacher (with a special education degree) that has weekly check-ins with him, a social skills therapy group that helps him work on his emotions and making friends, and small group live lessons with his general education teacher. He also has Zoom and video chats with his friends. My son attends state testing with full accommodations, including time and a half, tests read to him, and built-in sensory breaks. He is medicated, so he has afternoon-only testing, which the school supports.

The entire staff, including the principal, are extremely supportive of the students they work with. INCA has made school enjoyable for my son and has brought our family closer together. We have had several projects that involved his sisters and grandfather. My son continues to thrive every day, and I know that INCA was the best decision I ever made for his learning.

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

39

Finding Your

By Angela Arlington

TRIBE

Some may give you advice on everything over and over again.

Some may insist that your child will never be independent.

Some may question your skills as a parent.

Some may suggest that punishment will change your child’s behaviors.

Some may try to force their own beliefs on you.

Some may be in denial and tell you that you are making things up and your child is fine.

Some may not speak to your child if they are non-verbal.

Some may get frustrated when you have to cancel plans because of your child.

Some will stop calling about playdates because they think your child is too strange.

Some may stare at your child in public and say inappropriate things.

Some may allow their children to bully your child.

Some may avoid eye contact with you.

Some may treat your child like an object, forgetting they have feelings.

Some may “forget” to invite you to events.

Some may avoid you and your child as if you were contagious.

Some may change their voice when speaking to your child.

Some may challenge your knowledge about your own child.

Some may insist that changing their diet will “cure” them.

Some may isolate your child from others.

Some may tell you that you caused your child to be different.

Some may criticize you, your child, or your entire family.

Some may have very low expectations of your child.

Some may only see weaknesses in your child.

Some may tell you there is no hope.

Avoid these types of people, even if they are family, friends, doctors, or professionals. It can be hard to walk away from people, but if they make you feel negative emotions, you owe it to yourself and your child to let them go.

Find people who uplift your spirits.

Find people who are on a similar path.

Find people that will listen to you.

Find people who will cry and laugh with you.

Find people who you can trust.

Find people who treat you and your child with respect.

Find people who stand up for you and your child.

Find people who embrace your journey.

Find people who will celebrate each small step made.

Find people who make time for you.

Find people who will brainstorm ideas with you.

Find people who treat your child like every other child.

Find people who will dance with you in the rain.

The best relationships in any form last through good and bad times. These are the people you want in your tribe!

40 Special Needs Living • May 2022

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41

A PERFECT FIT

By Holly Wheeler, MSc, Interim Executive Director

Two organizations that have served children with disabilities, special healthcare and education needs have come together to form a new organization for the benefit of children and families.

Family Voices Indiana and About Special Kids have served families across Indiana for many years combined. On January 1, 2022, they formally joined forces to create Indiana Family to Family (INF2F), a move that strengthens and enhances the health, education, advocacy, and system-navigation resources they provide to parents, families, and professionals throughout the state.

Similar Yet Different Both Family Voices Indiana (FVI) and About Special Kids (ASK) have provided information, training, and one-on-one support statewide to families of children and youth with additional health care and educational needs, as well as the professionals who serve them for many years. This includes children who have physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, or behavioral needs that require care and support beyond that of a typical child. Staff for both organizations was also parents of children with additional needs themselves, uniquely positioning them to help other families and professionals understand the various systems that families encounter related to caring for a child who has additional needs.

Yet, before coming together, each organization possessed its own attributes and services beyond direct parent-to-parent or family-to-family support. ASK was the sole Indiana-based member of Parent to Parent USA, which supports a national network of Parent to Parent programs to ensure access to quality emotional support for families of individuals with disabilities and/or additional health care needs.

42 Special Needs Living • May 2022

FVI was the state affiliate of Family Voices, a national, nonprofit, family-led organization promoting quality health care for all children and youth, particularly those with special health care needs. Family Voices Indiana also served as Indiana’s federally designated Family-to-Family Health Information Center.

Together, they have continued these valued partnerships as well as the services that families and professionals have come to rely on. Many, however, have questions about how the consolidation has changed the way these services are delivered. The Q&A below provides answers: Q. Why did ASK and FVI combine to form Indiana Family to Family?

A. There are multiple reasons we chose to come together as one organization. The primary focus is on what is best for families in Indiana. A goal is to broaden our reach, our overall exposure, and make it a bit simpler for families to find us. We know some families do not know about us. We can expand our marketing to reach more families and professionals and positively affect more children and youth with special healthcare needs with a larger organization.

Q. When did the consolidation go into effect?

A. FVI and ASK officially became Indiana Family to Family (INF2F) on January 1, 2022.

Q. Does INF2F answer the same kind of questions they have had in the past?

A. Yes. The mission of INF2F is to provide resources and one-to-one support to families and professionals involved in the upbringing of

children with complex medical conditions, mental health diagnoses, and physical/intellectual disabilities. Now that the organization is larger, we can offer even more robust information and resources.

A. We are in the process of combining our resources and have no intention of eliminating any fact sheets or information. They have a new look, but the information will remain timely and accurate.

Q. Has the primary contact information changed?

A. There are slight changes to the ways families and professionals can contact us. Our phone number is 844-F2F-INFO or 844-323-4636, or you can email us at info@inf2f.org. Additional ways to connect include the “contact us” page on our website, www.inf2f.org and our multiple social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Q. Is there a charge for services?

A. INF2F’s services are free of charge. There may be costs associated with training, but we work hard to keep those costs minimal.

Q. Are any services no longer available to families?

A. We plan to expand services, not decrease them. Currently, we offer all of the services ASK and FVI have in the past, just with more robust resources and expanded staff.

Q. Does INF2F support the professionals who serve these children and families?

A. The professionals serving our children are vital to the child’s long-term success. We continue to provide technical assistance to professionals from the family perspective.

Q. Are fact sheets and other resource materials still available?

Q. Can I still speak to my favorite staff person?

A. Yes. No staff was eliminated as a result of this partnership, so it is quite likely that your favorite staff person is going to be available for you to talk to. Or you may find a new favorite!

Q. I’m only familiar with one of the organizations mentioned. What changes should I expect?

A. There haven’t been many changes, so you should expect the same service you’ve always received. The goal was to maintain the best of both organizations. Therefore, you’ll likely see only enhancements to the great service you’ve already come to expect.

Q. I have an established relationship with both organizations. How might my interactions change? Stay the same?

A. You should not see any change other than the addition of some services.

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By Aaron Olsen

M E N TA L H E A LT H S T R U G G L E S AND HOW THE CLUBHOUSE G AV E H E R H O PE

MEET JENNIE IRBY Jennie Irby

Jennie Irby is a member of the special needs community here in Indianapolis, and she wants people to know how important it is to get involved with the community.

She currently works part-time at TJ Maxx with the assistance of the Circle City Clubhouse. Jennie was born in Indiana and has three sisters and a brother. She also has three adult children. When Jennie was younger, she attended Ivy Tech and IUPUI, studying early childhood education. Unfortunately, she was not able to graduate as she was diagnosed with bipolar schizoaffective disorder.

Schizoaffective disorder is a condition that shares symptoms with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. When most people hear about schizoaffective disorder, they generally assume the condition is the same as schizophrenia, but this isn’t correct.

Schizophrenia is defined as a chronic, severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Schizophrenia is generally thought to be the most common and disabling “purely” mental disorder. Schizophrenia always involves a form of psychosis, a type of mental illness in which a person can’t tell what’s real from what’s imagined. The severity of schizophrenia varies from person to person and is generally judged by the length, frequency, and intensity of the psychotic episodes. By comparison, schizoaffective disorder generally involves symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder (like bipolar disorder).

Both schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia typically aren’t apparent until a person is 16 and can lay dormant until 30.

In Jennie’s case, her disorder caused her to struggle with hallucinations. Eventually, she was given medication to address this issue, and with the support of the Circle City Clubhouse, she was able to start part-time employment at TJ Maxx. Outside of work, Jennie enjoys singing, listening to music, and watching television. She enjoys the music of Adele and Andrea Bocelli, and her favorite TV shows are Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Law & Order SVU. The Circle City Clubhouse is a not-for-profit located on Office Plaza Blvd. in Indianapolis. Their mission is “to afford people whose lives have been drastically disrupted by mental illness the opportunity to recover meaningful and productive lives through reintegration with the workplace and the community.” The Clubhouse focuses on a structured, work-ordered day. The goal is to help members rebuild connections with others. Members participate in a weekday workgroup and at least one evening activity a week. The Clubhouse staff works with the members to assist them with finding employment, locating safe and affordable housing, and providing an environment of inclusion and acceptance. Jennie’s advice to other people in her situation is to get help and join a community. Jennie says, “[The] Circle City Clubhouse has been a big support and has helped me. As a part of the community there, I know that I am not alone. Getting to sing the national anthem as part of their ‘Polo at Sunset’ fundraising event with Hickory Hall Polo Club has really increased my self-confidence.”

May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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May 2022 • Special Needs Living

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