Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Craig

April is National Volunteer Month and each week we’ll be highlighting a volunteer who has made an impact on Easterseals Crossroads and the individuals we serve. This week we talk to Bob Craig. (post created by Tessa Barnard, Community Engagement Coordinator)

Navolunteer Bob Craigme one fun fact you would like people to know about you.
I was a soccer referee for 15 years beginning at age 50, but never played the game.
 How did you first hear about volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads?
I was chaperoning a group of middle school students from our church on a mission trip and we visited the Easterseals Adult Day Care. I noticed they had an Employment Services program and asked Tessa Barnard, Volunteer Coordinator, if they ever needed volunteers. She said we always need volunteers. I think it was the very next day that I got a call from Marjorie Mansfield, Manager of Employment Services, asking if we could meet. As they said, the rest is history.
 How long have you been volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads? About 4 years.
What are some of the activities that you help with while volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads?
I conduct the Job Club and help with the Career Expo.
Name one thing that a consumer has taught you or one thing that you have learned from your volunteer experience.
We were talking about how to address disability in an interview and one of the members of the Job Club said, “Just remember, we are not defined by our disability.” I use that statement all of the time in Job Club now.
 What advice would you give to someone who is a new volunteer?
To always enjoy the people you are working with. They have so much to offer and you can learn so much from them.
 What has been the most memorable moment in your time volunteering with Easterseals Crossroads? Why?
One day in Job Club one of the members said they were having difficulty answering a question on an online application and didn’t know what to say. They told me the question and it was one I had never encountered before even though I had recruited for many years. I had no idea how to answer it. Another member of the Job Club told the individual how to answer the question. They did and they got the job. From that time on, I relied on the members of Job Club to help me teach the group.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Easterseals Crossroads

2021-06-29T12:51:57-04:00April 13, 2017|Our Blog|
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Meaningful Employment through Project SEARCH

Young Adults with Disabilities Gain Meaningful Employment

(post created by Bohlsen Group)
“This is my last free weekend!” Karen Cespedes announced with a wide grin. The 19-year-old had just accepted a job offer in Environmental Services at Community North Hospital after completing a year’s internship there through Project SEARCH.
Karen shares many characteristics with your average teenager. She loves pop music, in particular Korean K-pop. She likes going to the movies and watching Korean soap operas as well as getting outside at the park. She’s excited to find a job where she can enjoy going to work every day, socializing with coworkers and earning her own paycheck.
InYoung woman at work in hospital that area in particular, Karen needs extra support. Like many young adults with hidden disabilities, she doesn’t have an official diagnosis for the challenges she has faced for many years, which include difficulty with speech and clarity of thoughts.
“From the time I was six or seven, I knew I had something wrong with me that my older siblings did not,” she explains. “I felt insecure. I was told I couldn’t do things, and I wanted to prove everyone wrong.”
Growing up, Karen often faced the misconception that she was rude or extremely shy—because her disability was invisible, others couldn’t tell that she wasn’t speaking up because of learning and communication differences. In some cases, she was bullied.
After finishing high school in 2016, Karen was accepted into Project SEARCH at Community North. Project SEARCH enrolls around 15-20 students per year and has a partnership with Lawrence Township School district, where Karen attended school. Easterseals Crossroads holds the local license for Project SEARCH and manages the program at Indianapolis hospitals.
In the program, students begin each day in their classroom, then go on to five hours of work in hospital areas including the cafeteria and environmental services, then finish their day in the classroom again. Over the course of a school year, students complete three 10-week rotations with different departments. During class time, students learn about personal finances, applying for and interviewing to jobs, and other life skills. Easterseals Crossroads staff administer the program, teach the life skills classes, and have case managers that help students adjust to their rotations and contextualize the experience.
In Karen’s case, her case managers were able to help her adjust to her new rotations by converting the job duties into a checklist for her to follow, with both text and images for each step of her shift. Karen often has trouble speaking when she is stressed and can be overwhelmed by her emotions. Her case managers also worked with her on identifying and addressing emotions when she is angry or sad.
After completing the program, Project SEARCH students have the opportunity to interview for jobs at the hospital. If they are not hired like Karen, they are referred to Easterseals Crossroads’ employment services. Approximately 80% of the alumni are placed in a job through one of those avenues.
young woman at copy machineIn her new role, Karen will be performing critical support activities for hospital operations, including maintaining supply inventories, cleaning phlebotomy kits, and delivering linens. She lives at home with her family and “many, many” cats.
Karen hopes to see changes in the way that others perceive individuals with disabilities, including stronger support programs through the school system and community awareness-building and education.
When interacting with someone who may have a visible or invisible disability, she advises: “Be patient, be willing to help, don’t stare, and be kind and talk to them.”
“Project SEARCH has helped me gain confidence, and to know more people,” she said.
To learn more about Easterseals Crossroads and Project SEARCH, click here.

2021-06-29T12:51:57-04:00April 11, 2017|Our Blog|
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Volunteer Spotlight: Miranda

April is National Volunteer Month and each week we’ll be highlighting a volunteer who has made an impact on Easterseals Crossroads and the individuals we serve. This week we talk to Miranda Mellendorf. (post created by Tessa Barnard, Community Engagement Coordinator)
Namphoto of Miranda Mellendorfe one fun fact you would like people to know about you. I earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do when I was 10 years old; it took three years.
How did you first hear about volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads? I learned about Easterseals through Volunteer Match.
How long have you been volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads? I started volunteering at Easterseals in October 2016.
What are some of the activities that you help with while volunteering at Easterseals Crossroads? I’ve helped with childcare in the evenings during autism parent training and in the mornings during class time for kids with autism and their siblings.
Name one thing that a consumer has taught you or one thing that you have learned from your volunteer experience. I have definitely learned a lot more about autism and how every child is unique and they all feel better in different ways. When you discover what makes them happy, it’s a great feeling.
What advice would you give to someone who is a new volunteer? My advice to other volunteers is to be open to all of the kids. Some may be shy at first, many are non-verbal, but once you get to know them, you can tell that they appreciate you’re there to be with them.
What has been the most memorable moment in your time volunteering? Why? My most memorable moment was when I was volunteering to watch the kids in the evening during autism parent training and it was Sylvia [Smith, Autism Resource Specialist], me and three boys and we all threw a ball together for about 30 minutes and everyone was having a fun time together!
Learn more about how YOU can be a volunteer at Easterseals Crossroads

2021-06-29T12:51:57-04:00April 5, 2017|Our Blog, volunteer|
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Power of Play

Tracy Gale, PsyD, HSPP, and Emmaleigh Badeaux, BS |
Play is an essential and cherished part of childhood. As children play, they are building cognitive, social, physical and emotional skills that benefit their growth. Play not only encourages healthy brain development but serves as a protective factor against future emotional difficulties and helps modulate peer relationships. Children can overcome fears, learn to resolve conflicts, practice decision-making skills and gain self-confidence through play. Caregivers who fully engage with their children during play are modeling useful character traits and displaying their unconditional interest and support. Participating in play with children also allows caregivers to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to investigate and explore. Caregiver involvement in child-directed play is essential to healthy brain development!
Participating in play also allows caregivers to practice skills that children may be acquiring in preschool or therapy in a non-threatening and low pressure setting. This is one of the best ways to reinforce skills learned during physical, occupational, speech-language, or behavioral therapies, as it allows for sufficient practice to maintain and improve learned skills. Caregivers are uniquely poised to fulfill this role, as they can provide an environment where children feel confident, thus encouraging continued success and growth.
When engaging in play, remember these tips to promote your child’s development:

  • Allow your child to choose the activity and direct the play. Caregivers can provide guidance, but children learn more when they are given freedom to explore.
  • Dedicate your time and attention to your child’s play. Try to limit distractions as much as possible.
  • Try not to focus on whether your child is playing with a toy in the correct way. Creatively using toys or other objects is an important play skill and encourages cognitive flexibility.
  • Do not immediately intervene if your child struggles with something. This is a good opportunity to teach problem-solving and frustration management skills, as well as encourage persistence and confidence in your child.

At Easterseals Crossroads, we offer activities that help families and children play, relax and engage; view the video below to see how!

2021-06-29T12:51:57-04:00March 27, 2017|Our Blog|
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Profile: Jen Bricker

Don’t Make your Disability your Identity

Jen Bricker on defying expectations (post created by Bohlsen Group)
Born without legs and adopted into an American family from Romania, Jen Bricker hasn’t let her life become defined by a disability. Instead, she defied expectations to become a world-renowned aerialist and motivational speaker.

Jen grew up in a strong Midwest family who taught her to be herself and not let any barrier get in her way. She pursued a passion for gymnastics early in life and became a state champion in power tumbling.
After high school, Jen planned to go to college for fashion, but decided to take a risk and pursue an acrobatic tour with her partner, Nate, instead. Many producers were hesitant about the act at first, and even her partner’s friends discouraged him.
“I knew it would take awhile for people to warm up to the idea, because it was something they had never seen before,” said Jen. Many people hiring would say, ‘Well we kind of like the thought of an aerialist without legs, but we don’t know how people are going to react,’ so I had a lot of doors shut in my face because no one understood it.”
Jen and Nate booked their first performance in Orlando after the original performer fell through, and that opened doors for them to perform worldwide with many other acts, including the Britney Spears tour across North America and Australia.
Growing up, Jen’s idol was Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Moceanu. In a twist of fate, Jen later discovered that Moceanu was her biological sister and reconnected with her. Jen is the author of a book released in 2016 about her life, Everything is Possible.

Jen on Disability

Above all, Jen encourages others with visible disabilities not to let their disability define them. “I want people to see the whole package of me,” she says. “I’m an aerialist, an acrobat, a woman, a performer, an animal-lover, I’m adopted. All of these things make up who I am. I would say that I just want people to perceive me as me. That is a big reason why I chose to write my book, because people only knew about my life from what they saw in the media.”
“Perceptions of me are all over the map,” she says about meeting people for the first time. “Literally from one end of the spectrum to another. I have some people that think I am amazing and perfect and that I never have a bad day, which is so not true! Then, I have other people that pity me and think I can’t do anything. There is praise and sympathy; I can get those reactions all in five minutes!”
Jen also encourages those with disabilities to passionately lead by example to change perceptions of disability: “With people that have physical disabilities, just because our struggle is on the outside does not mean you cannot control the situation. You are in control of much more than you realize. If you are confident, happy, joyful, and real, people aren’t going to see your differences as much.”

Hear Jen in Indianapolis

Jen Bricker is the keynote speaker for Celebrate Ability, Easterseals Crossroads’ 56th Annual Ability Event taking place April 8, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station.
To become an event sponsor or book tickets to hear Jen in person, contact Elizabeth Farley.
Sponsorship Opportunities still available!

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00March 9, 2017|Our Blog|
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Vital Programs help with Independence

Maximize Potential / live independent lives

“Tiki is one of the happiest people I know,” said mom Sarilla. Staff in our adult day program agree; Tiki has been part of our Easterseals Crossroads family for 12 years. “When we began searching for day programs for Tiki, we asked opinions from many people; Easterseals Crossroads kept coming ups as the place to go,” said dad Tony.
Tiki works on improving and maintaining life skills with household chores, handwriting and socialization. “Tiki must use her skills or she loses them. Things like handwriting – if she doesn’t practice, she loses the ability to do this,” said Sarilla.
She has fun with friends and staff members at community outings, as well as when they participate in activities such as gardening and cooking; every day provides opportunities for learning and fun.
“The staff at Easterseals Crossroads are just like cheerleaders for Tiki; they give her the encouragement she needs and that is so important to us,” said Tondy. “Tiki has grown so much socially here and she has gained confidence. Safety is a huge concern for us with Tiki because she is very trusting, which could easily place her in a vulnerable situation. We know that she is safe at Easterseals Crossroads,” said Tony and Sarilla.
From traditional day services with meaningful activities to community services with opportunities to develop and improve life skills, we offer safe, caring and creative options.
View Tiki’s story:

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00February 23, 2017|Our Blog|
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Celebrate Ability with us on April 8

Celebrate Ability image with text about April 8 event

 
 
 
 

The Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station
123 West Louisiana Street, Indianapolis  |  6 – 10 p.m.
Easterseals Crossroads is celebrating ability in an exciting way — please join us! Our evening of ability will feature Jen Bricker, who is a renowned aerialist, author and motivational speaker.
Jen shares her compelling story on her website:

Jen Bricker was born without legs and with her heart on the opposite side of her chest. Shocked and uncertain they could care for a child with two birth defects, her biological parents gave her up for adoption. In her loving adoptive home, there was just one simple rule: “Never say ‘can’t.” And pretty soon, there was nothing that this small but mighty powerhouse set her sights on that she couldn’t conquer: rollerskating, volleyball, power tumbling, spinning from silk ribbons 30 feet in the air. 

And then . . .  from the strange magnetic pull she felt when watching Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu to her discovery that they are biological sisters and their emotional reunion.

Learn more about Jen.
Hear Jen’s story when you join us for an evening to Celebrate Ability including a reception, dinner, dessert, award presentation and fun! 

Sponsorships and tickets are available; contact Elizabeth Farley at efarley@eastersealscrossroads.org or 317.466.1000 x2430.

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00February 15, 2017|Our Blog|
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Valentine’s Day Rose Sale

image of a single red roseValentine’s Day Fundraiser
for Easterseals Crossroads

Sertoma Club of North Downtown Indianapolis is selling high quality, florist roses to benefit Easterseals Crossroads. Order today so you can be a hero on Valentine’s Day to your loved ones and to individuals with disabilities, special needs or challenges at Easterseals Crossroads.
One Dozen Red Roses $45
boxed, fresh, long-stemmed, individual water tubes with baby’s breath and leather leaf; card included
Half Dozen Red Roses $28
includes baby’s breath and leather leaf in a vase
Three Red Roses $15 
includes baby’s breath and leather leaf in a vase

TO ORDER

• Visit www.sertomaindy.org
• Call Pat Spence at 317.698.5589 or email at spence.pat@outlook.com

TO OBTAIN

Free delivery with 5+ orders; $10 delivery with single orders.
(Delivery limited to Marion County and adjacent neighborhoods.)
Orders are available for pick up at Easterseals Crossroads
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis (just north of 46th Street, east of Keystone Avenue — enter south door) on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card
Contact us for more information about the Valentine’s Day Rose Sale.

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00February 6, 2017|Our Blog|
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Career Fair – Construction Trades

Construction Trades Career Fair

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
image of hard hat and construction toolsEasterseals Crossroads Veteran Services is hosting a Construction Trades Career Fair at Easterseals Crossroads (4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46250). If you are interested in the construction trades, this is the career fair for you!
Employers in attendance will have direct hiring authority and can offer on-the-spot interviews! Come prepared and you might just leave with an offer of employment from one of the outstanding companies represented, such as
• Dealers Wholesale Fireplaces
• Mirror Concepts
• Moore Restoration
• Overhead Door
There will be hiring opportunities for a variety of year-round
positions at all skill levels. If you are interested in central
Indiana construction trades, this Career Fair is for you!

  • Administrative / Office
  • Drywall Installers
  • Electricians
  • General Labor
  • Landscaping
  • Plumbers
  • Roofers
  • Supervisory/ Management

Hosted by Easterseals Crossroads and Westport Homes,
an optional Career Fair Prep Class will give attendees the
edge in making the most of the Career Fair.
RSVP to attend the Prep Class | 317.466.1000 x2018
Career Fair Prep Class | January 31, 2017 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00January 25, 2017|Our Blog|
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Play Options for Families

Easterseals Crossroads offers activities that help families and children play, relax and engage.
View Ford’s story by clicking the image below.
play banner with link with child at camp

Ford’s Story

Ford was born four weeks early after a pregnancy that posed not complications for his mom. Breathing on his own was an intitial primary concern; when Ford was released from intensive care, he went home with oxygen and feeding tubes. His medical condition was uncertain; an MRI showed a brain injury and he had metabolic issues as well.
“Our world changed from that point. We connected with early intervention services through Easterseals Crossroads, and they continue to be a great support team for us. Ford’s doctors are amazed at all that he is doing; things he wouldn’t be doing without Easterseals Crossroads,” said mom Whitney.
Ford and his family enjoy recreational time at Parents’ Night Out – a respite event for all family members. Ford and his sisters have fun playing while their parents can enjoy some time to themselves. Ford also attends CampAbility – a summer program that he loves.
“Independence in play is hard for Ford, but CampAbility allows him to focus on that since he is surrounded by people who really know what they are doing,” said dad Alex.
“We don’t take things for granted and we celebrate small victories with Ford,” said Alex. Small victories like playing with a new friend – something Ford has learned to do at CampAbility. Small victories like blowing out a birthday candle – something Ford did for the first time on his 6th birthday. “We have really grown to appreciate the milestones,” said Alex.
Learn more about CampAbility; learn more about respite services.

2021-06-29T12:51:58-04:00January 13, 2017|Our Blog|
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4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205
P: 317.466.1000 • F: 317.466.2000

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