“My grandson calls me the Zoom Queen,” said Gladys who is a recipient of a refurbished laptop computer from the INDATA Depot at Easterseals Crossroads. The Depot refurbishes donated computers for distribution to people with disabilities in Indiana.

Success of this program is dependent on the generosity of businesses in our community. CareSource – a healthcare insurance provider – recently donated over 100 laptops from the Indianapolis location. “At CareSource, we always want to find ways to improve the lives of others; coming together across communities is better for everyone,” said Steve Smitherman, CareSource President, Indiana Market.

Gladys heard about the program and applied for a laptop. As a breast cancer survivor, Gladys is careful with her health and in-person contact especially since COVID. She uses her laptop to schedule virtual doctor’s appointments, as well as meetings with friends, family, church members and craft groups.

“Having my laptop to communicate with people has opened my world. Without it, I think I would be a little lost and depressed. With my cancer, I have been through a lot of things. Being able to see my friends and family through my laptop has made a huge difference,” said Gladys.

Learn more about donating computers or receiving them at the Depot.

Pathways to Opportunity is a new program of Easterseals Crossroads for adults who are seeking a long-term career opportunities. There is a tremendous need in our community for a program designed to assist individuals with disabilities leave poverty and move to an independent lifestyle based on successful, desired employment.

Our director of the employment division Marjorie Duryea answered a few questions about this unique program.

What makes the Pathways to Opportunity Program unique or different from other employment programs?

The program is unique because Easterseals Crossroads will have the flexibility and resources to provide the specific services that each individual needs and desires, without the usual constraints that come with existing funding sources.  The program will allow us to serve those who are currently left out of other funding sources and programs. Easterseals has a commitment from several key businesses to provide opportunities for training, employment and a career path for participants within their companies.

“Easterseals Crossroads has successfully connected people with disabilities to gainful employment for decades, but we’ve recognized that if we are to move the needle  in moving people with disabilities out of poverty, we need to do more than help them find jobs. We need to address all the factors in their lives that have led to poverty disproportionately affecting people with disabilities.

Our Pathways to Opportunity approach will not only serve the whole person, but we will be engaging the whole household,” said David Dreith, President/CEO, Easterseals Crossroads

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How were we able to create and offer this new program?

We responded to a request for proposals from the Lilly Endowment called Enhancing Opportunities.  Through this grant, the Endowment was seeking proposals from organizations to help individuals in Indianapolis overcome the challenges of poverty and financial insecurity.  Based on our experience and programs, we are acutely aware that disability is both a cause and a consequence of poverty, and for this reason determined that this grant was a perfect fit to our mission.

Additionally, while we already offer employment services for adults with disabilities, there are limitations in accessibility to services, what services can be provided and how they are provided due to specific funding streams.  We also know that there are a large group of individuals with disabilities in our community who need employment services and supports, but who are not being served due to the constraints of funding sources.  We saw the need and the opportunity to utilize our expertise and experience with disability and employment using a new and different approach.

What are the program goals and who will be served by this program?

The goal of Pathways to Opportunity is to assist individuals with disabilities as they move from poverty to self-sufficiency through education, training and employment.  This is a five-year project, and we plan on serving 150 individuals.  The program will serve individuals with disabilities who are experiencing financial instability or living in poverty and reside in Marion county.

In addition to these criteria, the ideal candidates will be those who are seeking full-time employment, who are willing and able to eliminate dependency on public benefits and who are willing to commit to long-term participation in the Pathways program.  Services provided will include

• case management
• job skills training
• financial literacy and coaching
• academic tutoring
• building social capital
• job search, job placement and job supports

We will be able to help fund training and educational pursuits and address key barriers that may affect success. Each participant will be assigned to work with a career navigator who will provide individualized, high-touch, comprehensive support to help achieve special career and life goals.  We officially started program planning and implementation in July 2021.  We have hired our program manager and some of the staff and hope to begin enrolling participants by the end of 2021.

How do people sign up for the program? Once a person is identified as a qualified participant, what happens next? 

We anticipate referrals coming from some of our own existing programs, as well as our network of Pathways partners. Each person referred will be interviewed to determine eligibility and program compatibility.  Once that has been established, the participant will be assigned to a career navigator who will facilitate a comprehensive needs assessment and assist in developing a personalized employment plan.

How do we plan to engage other agencies within our community to deliver services? 

Pathways will engage other agencies in our community by developing mutually beneficial partnerships through shared resources and referrals.

What does a qualified candidate look like in terms of success? 

Success will be defined by each individual meeting a specific goal identified in the personal employment and life plan.  This will include securing and maintaining a job that will put the participant on a path to self-sufficiency. A good job will be those paying $18 or more per hour with benefits including health coverage. A promising job is defined as one that puts a person on a path to a good job.

What is success for this program?  

Success will measured in part through the metrics listed below.  Success will also be measured by our ability to sustain the Pathways program beyond the five-year grant period by proving that the model is both effective and relevant in our community to reduce poverty for people with disabilities.  Another long-term success will be achieved when an individual is able to break the cycle of generational poverty within the family.

• 90% of those served will become employed
• 30% will achieve jobs paying $18 per hour
• 90% will realize household income growth from start to end of program
• 80% will maintain employment 90 days
• 75% will maintain employment 6 months
• 90% will complete work readiness training
• 90% will complete financial literacy training
• 30% will complete formal certification training in a specific occupation
• 75% will participate in the Circles program to build their social capital with a high level of satisfaction, and to meet these goals

Contact us for more information about the Pathways to Opportunity program.

This week is Child Passenger Safety Week. Every day across America, parents and caregivers drive young children to and from school, daycare, the store, and around town in car seats and boosters. Yet nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly, which means your child may not be traveling as safely as possible.

The goal of Child Passenger Safety Week is to make sure your child is in the correct car seat, that it’s properly installed and used, and that it’s registered with its manufacturer to ensure you receive important safety updates.

Here is a list of inspection stations; please note that all site inspections are by appointment only.

Automotive Safety Program

1130 West Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Contact: Marsha, Rosy or Erin at 317-274-2977 or autosfty@iu.edu

By Appointment Only; virtual appointments are available

Spanish Speaking Technicians and other language interpreters available.

Request an appointment by completing the Car Seat Education Appointment Request form.

The Rose Project Counseling & Consulting, LLC.

1311 N. Arlington Ave., Suite 102, Indianapolis, IN 46219

Contact: Brittany Veal at 317-931-9338 or brittanyveal.roseproject@gmail.com

By Appointment Only

Empower Inspire Life Changes LLC

4126 East 10th St., Indianapolis, IN 46201

Contact: Nikita King at 317-909-7683 or nikita@empowerinspirechg.org

By Appointment Only

1 Life 2 Live CPR, LLC

11903 E. Welland St.,  Suite I, Indianapolis, IN 46229

By Appointment Only; Inspections Only

Contact: Kiya Beard at 317-983-1210 or 1life2livecpr@gmail.com

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202

By Appointment Only

Contact 317-499-4779 (text or call)

Marion County Public Health Department

3838 N. Rural St., Indianapolis, IN 46205

By Appointment Only

Contact: Constance Cowling at 317-221-2045
Appointments available in Spanish

Indianapolis Fire Department

4155 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46205

By Appointment Only

Contact: Clara Simeone at 317-327-7956

Franciscan Health Indianapolis

8111 S. Emerson Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46237

By Appointment Only

Contact: Sharilyn Wagner at 317-528-5774

Appointments available in Spanish

Decatur Twp. Fire Department

5410 S. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46221

Schedule on-line appointment at www.decaturfire.org

Contact :Brad Jewell

Community East Marion County

1500 N. Ritter, Indianapolis, IN 46219

By Appointment Only

Contact: Kristina Lind at klind@ecommunity.com
Appointments available in Spanish

For additional resources please visit

https://preventinjury.pediatrics.iu.edu/ or

https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/right-seat

In 2014, Camp ROCKS was a new experience for 11-year-old Nathan who was nervous about going to an overnight camp for the first time. Camp ROCKS is offered each summer by Easterseals Crossroads for children and adolescents who have autism. It takes place at Bradford Woods where campers can enjoy activities in a beautiful outdoor setting packed with options from swimming to boating to rock climbing and more. “I felt nervous about going away to an overnight camp, but once I heard that Camp ROCKS was a camp specifically for adolescents and children on the autism spectrum, I felt more confident in my social skills,” said Nathan.

Nathan’s family was very familiar with services at Easterseals Crossroads. Initially, Nathan was connected through First Steps for an augmentative communication device and was involved with various programs since he was 2 years old. Nathan’s grandmother Linda has been involved with Easterseals Crossroads Guild volunteer group and was a founder of the grandparents’ support group for those with grandchildren with autism.

“At Camp Rocks, my favorite activities were swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, riding the zipline and performing in the talent show. I learned that you should always respect the capabilities of your friends and peers, and that you shouldn’t be shy or anxious about having new experiences,” said Nathan. Many of the life skills that Nathan learned at Camp ROCKS helped him in school activities such as forming new friendships, communicating, trying new things and staying focused on academics. Nathan graduated from Lawrence North High School this year with a strong academic and extracurricular performance. Not only was Nathan a National Honor Society member, he also played tennis and was manager for both the girls’ basketball team and the baseball team.

“Camp ROCKS provides campers with a week of fun, outdoor activities. More importantly, Camp ROCKS provides individuals with opportunities to form connections with peers, practice life skills and develop independence. It is unlike any other experience available to adolescents with ASD in Indiana,” said Tracy Gale, PsyD, and director of autism services at Easterseals Crossroads. Easterseals Crossroads has always responded to community needs with program options that fill a void or gap for those with disabilities and hopes to offer Camp ROCKS again in 2022.

“Camp ROCKS was the absolute best. Nathan loved the entire experience and it helped raise his self-awareness. After his first year at camp, Nathan mentioned, ‘Did you know that I have autism?’ This was huge because he had never verbalized that to us. We were able to discuss autism on his own terms,” said Nathan’s dad Troy.

This fall, Nathan is off to college at University of Indianapolis. He feels as well prepared for the new experiences ahead of him. “The advice that I would give other young people with autism is to always be prepared and ready for a challenge every day and work hard in order to be successful and achieve your goals. I would also tell them to not procrastinate and not wait until the last minute to get assignments done. I’ve also learned that the more involved you are outside of academics, the more successful you’ll be not only in the classroom, but in the community as well,” said Nathan.

Camp ROCKS has been a camp favorite for more than 80 children and adolescents each season throughout the years.