Good in 2016

Today’s blog was written by Tessa Barnard, Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at Easterseals Crossroads.
Now is the time of year people look back at the previous 12 months and reflect on what improvements they’d like to see in the upcoming year. One possible resolution is to give your time by volunteering with Easterseals Crossroads. You can make changes in yourself by volunteering to help others. We ask that you resolve to make 2016 the year you do GOOD.
Get involved: Being an active volunteer means that you’re doing your part to make a difference in your community. By volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads you’re helping us achieve our mission of improving lives of children and adults with special needs, disabilities or challenges by promoting inclusion, independence and dignity.
Opportunities abound: There are a variety of volunteer opportunities within Easterseals Crossroads for you to enjoy. You can work directly with children or adults with disabilities or special needs in our summer camps or adult day services. You can also help behind-the-scenes in an opportunity like rebuilding computers in the INDATA Depot. A great way to stay informed on upcoming volunteer opportunities is to apply to become a volunteer so you’ll begin receiving our monthly volunteer e-newsletter.
Optimize your health: Volunteering not only benefits the community, but it’s also good for your individual health. The Corporation for National & Community Services released a report that noted, “Research demonstrates that volunteering leads to better health… those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”
Develop skills and gain experience: Volunteering allows you to further develop skills and gain experience that may help you in your future job search. Employers often view volunteer time equally as valuable as paid work experience when evaluating candidates. For example, you can enhance your childcare skills by volunteering at Parents’ Night Out – a respite program for children ages six months to 12 years with disabilities and special needs and their siblings – in an environment that is supervised by trained respite staff.
If you’re interested in volunteering with Easterseals Crossroads, please visit our volunteer page or contact Tessa Barnard, Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator at tbarnard@eastersealscrossroads.org.

Help Community Day Supports Wish List

Community Day Supports at Easterseals Crossroads provides a variety of day programming for children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities. One day could be filled with everything from exercise classes, cooking skills, discussion groups, gardening, art therapy and more, all to support the individual needs of our consumers. Many of these activities require supplies and financial support to maintain.

Below is a list of items that would assist in our consumers goals for the new year. Donations can be dropped off at our 4740 Kingsway Drive location Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Canvas
Art paper
Art supplies
Colored pencils
Washable markers
Mod Podge
Latch hook kits

Winter gloves
Hats
Sweat pants (any size)
Wallets / coin purses

Bingo prizes
Card games
Board games

Cookbooks
Electric skillet
Crock Pot
Hot chocolate mix
Panini press
Cereal bars

Nail polish
Hair spray
Lotion
Hair ties
Make up
Colognes and perfumes
Combs

Dance DVD’s
Music CD’s
Hand weights
Wii games

Bowling passes
Restaurant gift cards
Movie passes
 Learn more about Community Day Supports.

Board Profile

Today’s post  written by Sara Croft features Harold Tenbarge, who joined the Easterseals Crossroads Board of Directors in 2013. Since then, he has become an advocate for people with disabilities, an active volunteer, and advances the mission of Crossroads Industrial Services.
Current occupation: Senior Director of Global Procurement at Eli Lilly and Company
Educational background: Chemistry, Southern Indiana University
Hometown: Although originally from Evansville, IN, I have lived in Indianapolis now over 30+ years, so Indianapolis is “home”.
How did you first become introduced to Easterseals Crossroads?
My daughter, while going to college, has been providing respite care for a couple of years for a young 3-year-old boy who has autism and I saw how she has made such an impact on his life and his family’s. I came to really understand how this offer of care and support truly impacts people’s lives. I thought, then, I wanted to do more to provide support in the community, and was looking for the best way to do so.
I was first introduced to Easterseals Crossroads by Paula Whitfield Taylor, a Lilly colleague, who has been serving on the Board of Directors for a number of years. Paula shared with me an overview of all the services provided by Crossroads and how many people’s lives are impacted by the organizations offerings and capabilities.
I then met with Jim Vento, President of Crossroads at the time, and Curtiss Quirin, Chief Operating Officer of Crossroads Industrial Services (CIS) to learn more about the organization. With my background in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Procurement, I saw a great opportunity to work with CIS to support the mission of the group.
What has been your most memorable experience as a board member?
Yes, of course, doing work to further the mission of the Crossroads and CIS organization is always gratifying, and to work with the Board of Directors to support the needs of the community create memorable experiences, but I have to say, working side by side with the staff at Crossroads Document Services (CDS), actually getting to know the people doing the work and seeing how committed they are and how important their jobs are to them is truly amazing. For me, that creates motivation to want to do more and more to support all our efforts at Crossroads!
As the committee chair, how do you see your experience lending to the success of Crossroads Industrial Services?
First, CIS have an amazingly talented staff that is committed to the success of the organization. I see the greater potential of CIS/CDS to grow the work that we can do, grow the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and to generate greater revenues that can be reinvested to provide more services to the community at large.
I have been blessed with great experiences and learning during my Lilly career in manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement, that I hope I can leverage and share these experiences and learning, to support the staff at CIS to meet our growth objectives.
How has Easterseals Crossroads impacted your ability to advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities?
I am a firm believer that support occurs one person at a time, one need being meet at a time. Through my experiences as a member of the Board of Directors of Crossroads, I have a much deeper understanding of the magnitude of the needs across our community, and an appreciation of the ability of Crossroads to serve these needs. Our organization focuses on services for the community with disabilities, but does so with a focus on the “ability” of each person served. As I have become to understand that philosophy, it is very motivating to advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities.

Clothing Options

Today’s guest post was written by Case Calvert. Case is a member of Indianapolis’ power soccer team “Circle City Rollers” and was first introduced to Easterseals Crossroads through our driver’s evaluation and training program. His company, Find Signs, produced posters for an Americans with Disabilities Act event in July 2015, and he continues to be an advocate for Easterseals Crossroads. 
Hi, my name is Case Calvert and I have used a wheelchair for more than half my life. Though I have dealt with this struggle for most of my life, it has most recently occurred to me that it is a real pain to go shopping for clothing suitable for someone in a wheelchair. It is quite possible that you have run into similar shopping troubles, like: the awkwardness of fitted shirts, assistance in putting on a jacket, the inability to try pants on in the store, the wrinkles, bulges, and incorrect fit of many types of clothing, pants that ride low in the back, the tight fit of many shoes, and difficulty in finding warm clothing items that don’t limit mobility, etc.
Though I experience a lot of struggles when shopping for clothing, I still like to dress well and I take pride in my appearance. Just because I am in a wheelchair doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice functionality or style.
I want to help make other people feel good in their own skin regardless of their disability. The thought occurred to me that if I have difficulties shopping for clothing, others with disabilities probably struggle as well. So, I wanted to know the answer to the question “How many other people have this same problem with clothes?” In order to answer this question, I put together a survey to understand the need for accessible clothing. Please fill out the survey because it will provide useful feedback about problems in finding accessible clothing! Thank you so much for your time and input.
Accessible clothing survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JSKJQ58
For more information, contact Case at case.calvert@gmail.com.

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy $10,000 Grant

The IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI awarded Easterseals Crossroads $10,000 to build a state-of-the-art, Multisensory Activity Room at their new Thompson Road location.
Designed especially for sensory recreation, the Multisensory Activity Room will provide a safe alternative to a ‘typical’ playground, provide the health and fitness benefits of a regular gym as well as help children with strength, movement, communication, behavior modification, social interactions, and self-care skills.
The need for comprehensive autism services is growing and to address those needs, Easterseals Crossroads acquired a new facility located at 321 East Thompson Road in Indianapolis. The expansion of services includes occupational, physical and speech therapy for children, adult day services, autism services, and comprehensive employment for veterans and adults with disabilities.
The Multisensory Activity Room will house state-of-the-art occupational and physical therapy-based equipment allowing therapists to work with six children at a time with no contact points, and up to 15 children in an open gym setting, group play or obstacle courses. Therapists will be able to assess sensory processing, expressive and receptive communication, social skills, play skills, behavior, language and social development.
“We chose Easterseals Crossroads because the grant completed their program. With the $10,000 of support, they would be able to finish their project in a very quick turnaround of about one weekend. Over 1,400 people will benefit from using this gym, 400 of which are children,” says Anna Powell, student at the School of Philanthropy.
“1 in 5 people have a disability, and disability is the only minority you can join at any point in your life,” said Scott Fogo, Vice President of Clinical Services at Easterseals Crossroads. “This gift might be a final exam for the School of Philanthropy students, but it offers an immediate benefit that can live on forever, for those we don’t even know yet.”

BCBA Certifications

Easterseals Crossroads is proud to announce our newly licensed BCBAs, Amy Miller and Laura Tease. Both Amy and Laura recently completed the certification exam to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) so they can provide behavior analysis within our autism services.
To recognize their achievements, we asked them a few questions about why they decided to pursue their BCBA and what their long-term goals are.
Date of Hire at Easterseals Crossroads:

Laura: March 2013

Amy: February 2012

Date of certification exam:
Laura: May, 2015

Amy: August, 2015
Graduate school and undergrad school:
Laura: Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Indianapolis, Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, Bachelors in Behavioral Neuroscience from Purdue University
Amy: I received my undergraduate degree from IUPUI, and my graduate degree was in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.
Hometown City/State
Laura: Technically Fishers, although I moved here from Lewisville, TX in middle school.
Amy: I am from Carmel, Indiana
Why did you decide to pursue a BCBA?
Laura: I tend to be more of a science-driven person, and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) is a science driven intervention. The logic of ABA really made sense to me; we do everything for a reason and it’s my job to be a detective and find out what that reason is and how to modify it to benefit the individual. Behavior analysts focus on what is appropriate and meaningful for the individual and the success our consumers see is directly related to things that matter to them.
Amy: I decided to pursue ABA following my first job in ABA. I saw the MAJOR difference it can make in a child’s life, and I wanted to continue to grow and develop in this career. I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and I have been able to do that through ABA.
How will your new certification impact you? What will it allow you to do that you couldn’t do before?
Laura: Luckily for me, I was able to see individuals as a mental health provider, but now I can provide actual ABA for more hours per week with our consumers. This opens doors for consumers to get the therapy they need but are unable to access due to transportation, insurance, or a multitude of other factors! Additionally, I can train students on their way to becoming BCBAs for their required supervision hours. I currently have one student and am hoping to add more in the future!
Amy: It will change the types of services I am able to provide. Hopefully, I will able to service more families with my BCBA and will be able to expand upon the type of service I provide.
What’s next after the BCBA? What are your future plans?
Laura: Since the state of Indiana does not have a state license for behavior analyst, I plan to test for my LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) license in April or May; and then I will be finished with credentialing! I hope to continue to provide services to consumers who are unable to access services elsewhere and supervise BCBA students.
Amy: I am always looking for my next challenge. I think for now I will take some time off of school before I decide my next big step.
Learn more about autism services at Easterseals Crossroads.

Photo catches staff member’s attention

Today’s post was written by Laura Medcalf, Social Media Content Specialist with The INDATA Project and Assistive Technology program.
In a recent photoshoot for Interview magazine, Kylie Jenner’s stick-thin, airbrushed figure is found seated in a golden wheelchair. When I first saw the image, I couldn’t help but giggle and think to myself, “Seriously?” Before I continue, please note I do not spend my time “keeping up with the Kardashians” or any celebrity for that matter, because their egregious decisions are, well, their decisions, and do not affect my life. However, the image of 18-year-old Jenner posing in a wheelchair definitely caught my attention as it proves we, as a society, have a long way to go in terms of disability awareness.

I am not at all certain what the wheelchair is meant to symbolize in this photo, but many infer the golden prop is meant to represent the restraints of being a celebrity. I am not directly offended by Jenner, an able-bodied person, posing in a wheelchair. Rather, I take offense to the wheelchair being used as an accessory representing limitations. If the team behind the photoshoot aspired to portray restrictions, they should have used golden handcuffs or some other distasteful restraints.

As I have used a wheelchair a majority of my life, I can personally state that a wheelchair is anything but limiting; it’s how I get around. It isn’t an accessory but rather a part of who I am. It does not define me nor does it limit me. In all actuality, it’s provided me with more opportunities than most can imagine. I have lived independently for several years now. I drive. I was the first of my family to graduate from college. I’ve had a loving boyfriend for more than seven years. And I go to work every day at my dream job.
In conclusion, I don’t believe Jenner’s intention was to offend anyone. I feel her “surreal” photoshoot simply proves lack of disability awareness. If anything good can come from this photo, it’s that she has brought disabilities into the spotlight. She has proven that a wheelchair is not a prop for a photoshoot, but rather a positive tool for conversation.
Laura is the main writer for www.eastersealstech.com and has led The INDATA Project’s social media program since 2013. She studied creative writing at Ball State University and currently lives in Indianapolis with her dog, Winifred.

Reflecting on 2015

Today’s post was written by Patrick Sandy, President and CEO of Easterseals Crossroads.
It is the time of year when, in the midst of all the holiday excitement, I like to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 12 months. The year goes by like a race and without deliberate reflection you can forget all the important and beautiful scenery you have passed.
One of our largest accomplishments this past year was acquiring a building on the south side of Indianapolis on Thompson Road. We have invested substantially in that acquisition so that we can offer south side residents a facility that is outfitted to provide the best services to our consumers. Whether you are looking for Adult Day programming, occupational, physical or speech therapies for children over the age of three, employment or veterans’ services, we now offer an unmatched level of service at our Thompson Road location. Look for our open house early in the new year so you can see this remarkable facility for yourself.
We’ve also updated our Willowbrook location. The children’s lobby on the second floor is being made more family friendly with new décor that offers play areas as well as spaces to do homework for older children. We have resurfaced our parking to provide the best surface possible for persons with mobility challenges. We have increased our building security system because the safety of our staff and consumers is paramount in today’s world. We continue to look for ways to improve our services and our buildings to reflect the high regard we have for the people we exist to support.
As the year came to an end, we learned of National Easterseals’ plan to rebrand itself. We have begun to make plans for implementing this rebranding in 2016. It is a fresh new look for a brand you have always trusted and with its roll out, we hope to raise our profile even higher in the Indianapolis community so that more persons can benefit from the programs and services we are here to provide. This rebranding comes at a significant time for Easterseals Crossroads: 2016 marks our 80th birthday. Look for exciting things to happen during our 80th year.
As always, Easterseals Crossroads exists to provide the highest quality of service to persons with disabilities, special needs and challenges. 2016 promises to be an exciting year for us, one we hope you will want to be a part of.

Support Easterseals Crossroads on Amazon

Do you shop on Amazon.com? Whether you are buying books for your Kindle, ordering back to school supplies or doing your holiday shopping a little early, your purchase can benefit Easter Seals Crossroads. Here’s how:
Go to http://smile.amazon.com/ and type in “Easter Seals Crossroads” under “pick your charitable organization” and click SEARCH.
Crossroads Rehabilitation Center” will then be displayed. Click the yellow “SELECT” button.
That’s it! Each time you make a purchase through Amazon Smile, 0.5% of your total purchase will be donated to Easter Seals Crossroads. If you purchase $100.00 worth of items through Amazon Smiles, $5.00 will be the donation we receive. Can you imagine how quickly that can add up?
Make sure you are shopping through Amazon Smiles and not the regular Amazon homepage. Amazon Smiles offers all of the same products as Amazon. It is just the way for Amazon to know you want a percentage of your purchase to be donated to your favorite charity.

Today’s post was written by Sara Croft.
Jennifer Alka, Community Support Specialist with Deaf Community Services, recently provided an in-service to our staff on Deaf culture, communication and etiquette. She addressed her personal story and shared helpful tips that allow all of our staff to provide the best customer service possible to Deaf individuals.

1. The Deaf community consists of people who use American Sign Language, children of Deaf parents, interpreters, Deaf teachers, and anyone else who wants to be included. Jennifer is second generation Deaf, and her children are Deaf. Her husband is the elementary school principal at the Indiana School for the Deaf. “I wouldn’t wish life to be any other way,” she says.
2. Communication options include:
   • American Sign Language is the predominate sign language of Deaf communities in the US and Canada.
   • Signed English is a sign language dialect that matches each spoken word of English.
   • Cued speech is a type of sign language that uses hand movements combined with mouth shapes to communicate to the hearing impaired.
   • Auditory/Oral uses whatever hearing ability a person has in combination with speech reading and contextual clues.
   • Total communication uses both signed English and spoken English to communicate.
   • Speech reading is often used synonymously with the term lip reading, where you look at the speaker’s lips along with facial expressions and body language.
   • Fingerspelling is the representation of the letters of a writing and numerical system using only the hands.
   • Many people ask Jennifer if she can read lips. Only 20% of verbal speaking can be visual, which makes speech reading very difficult and not the preferred method of communication.
3. Technology has changed the way Deaf people communicate. Everything from the Internet to video phones, closed-captioning for television, TTY, visual ring signalers, and message relay services allow hearing people to communicate with Deaf people. Social media has also played an important role in helping Deaf people communicate quickly and easily with each other.
4. To get a Deaf person’s attention, use one light tap on their shoulder for non-urgent communication. Repeating the tap 2 or 3 times with harder pressure expresses that you urgently need to communicate to them.
5. Hearing people have different cues for in-person communication, where it may be okay to end a conversation by simply walking away or looking in another direction. Breaking eye contact to end a conversation is not acceptable in Deaf culture. You must say why it is time to end the conversation, so that the person you are speaking with knows the conversation is over.
6. Interpreters will sit or stand to the side of a Deaf person and a hearing person should look directly at the Deaf person, not at the interpreter. There is no need to pause or talk slowly, as the interpreter is trained and can follow the conversation easily. Do not hold personal conversations with the interpreter as if the Deaf person is not there.
7.  It is not appropriate to ask or expect a child to interpret for their parents or authority figures.
8. At Easterseals Crossroads, we follow people first language, where the person is always mentioned before the disability. For example, we would say “child with autism” instead of “autistic child.” However, in the Deaf community, the preferred communication is to say “Deaf person” instead of “person who is Deaf.”

“My view as a Deaf interpreter is that I’m helping more hearing people than Deaf people,” Jennifer says.
We are proud to have Jennifer as an employee at Easterseals Crossroads.

A video posted by Easter Seals Crossroads (@eastersealscrossroads) on Oct 14, 2015 at 6:19am PDT

About Jennifer Alka
Jennifer’s education started at the Rochester School for the Deaf in New York, which is well known for the finger spelling method, but they stopped practicing that method when she was enrolled in their pre-school program. She later enrolled at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. for one year and then transferred to the State University of New York at Brockport where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Jennifer is the Community Support Specialist with Deaf Community Services at Easterseals Crossroads.