Kayla and Chris

Easterseals Crossroads is proud to celebrate ability with the accomplishments of Chris and Kayla – two individuals who have used our services during the year.
Nine-year-old Kayla is a busy, happy girl – she enjoys school, church and playing with her sisters. Her mom LaShaunna brings her to Easter Seals Crossroads where she works on physical, occupational and speech-language therapy.
When Kayla was 1 1/2 years old, she sustained a traumatic brain injury after an accident – a dresser fell on her while she was playing with her twin sister. While she was in the hospital, she contracted meningitis. Doctors told her family that Kayla would not be able to walk or speak, but after many therapy appointments and hours of hard work, Kayla is walking and learning to communicate.
Kayla’s Story

Chris developed a tumor on his spinal cord. Once removed, Chris was paralyzed from the waist down. Very soon after his surgery, Chris knew he wanted to get his life back on track as soon as he could.
“Driving was my number one goal because I knew if I wasn’t driving again, there were a lot of things I wouldn’t be able to do. I did not want to be a burden on my family or friends and driving seemed like it would be the way to relieve some of that burden,” said Chris.
“Easterseals Crossroads made that process possible for me. My whole life has definitely changed. When my 8-year-old son asked me if these changes were going to be forever, I told him that being different isn’t a bad thing.” said Chris.

Chris’ Story

Chris and Kayla represent 2 of the 6,500 individuals in our community whom we have served; individuals who never thought about needing us – until they did.

Ability Lunch

Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Dallara IndyCar Factory, Speedway, IN
With Keynote Speaker Sam Schmidt
Presented by Community Health Network
Held at the amazing Dallara IndyCar Factory during the most exciting month in Indianapolis, the Ability Lunch features keynote speaker Sam Schmidt. Sam, former IndyCar driver and current co-owner of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, has made a huge impact in the racing community. While practicing for a race in 2000, Sam sustained a C-3/4/5 spinal cord injury — hear his inspiring story at this year’s lunch!
The lunch and program begin at 12 p.m., but plan to arrive at 11 a.m. to see the Dallara IndyCar Factory and complete your race experience. You can even picture yourself alongside a race car in a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity (limited to the first 50 people).
Buy your ticket(s) today! ($100 each)
Silent Auction – Now Open
Andretti Suite tickets for the Indy 500 are up for grabs, along with race wear and race experiences. If you cannot make the Ability Lunch this year, you can still bid on these one-of-kind experiences during the online auction that is now open and will remain open until Friday, May 6, at 12 noon.
We are excited to use GiveSmart at this year’s event to make the whole process of bidding easy for our guests. Donations in support of Easterseals Crossroads can also be made through the GiveSmart site. Happy bidding!
>Ready? Set? Bid (and Give)!

Career Expo

Thursday, May 12, 2016 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Easterseals Crossroads Conference Center
4740 Kingsway Drive | Indianapolis, IN 46205
Easterseals Crossroads has partnered with the State of Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health and Sycamore Services to bring employers and qualified candidates together for a one-day career event.
For Employers
Career Expo is the place to find employment candidates and add diversity to your workplace! Join other organizations and explore our Career Expo as an alternative recruitment strategy. Central Indiana businesses from a variety of industries will be represented to meet our qualified individuals with disabilities seeking long-term careers.

For Job Seekers
Career Expo 2016 is the place for job seekers to find employment opportunities as there will be central Indiana businesses from a variety of industries represented to meet qualified individuals with disabilities seeking long-term careers.
Registration is now closed for Career Expo 2016.

We love our Volunteers!

National Volunteer Appreciation Month is an important month at Easter Seals Crossroads because it gives us the opportunity to recognize an amazing group of people who contribute greatly to our organization. Throughout the year, we depend on our volunteers to help us accomplish many things that would literally not be accomplished without the time, talent and knowledge of so many individuals.
National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 to recognize the important role that volunteers play for many businesses and organizations. This year, National Volunteer Week is the week of April 10 through April 16.
Easterseals Crossroads has benefited from 700 volunteers who have generously donated their heads, hearts and hands for us. These 700 volunteers have donated over 2,440 hours of their time to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities and special needs.
Thank you to our many volunteers for being part of our mission and choosing to spend your time with us. Your presence makes a greater impact than you could ever know!
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Easter Seals Crossroads.

Ready or not for Toilet Training?

Recently our own Tracy Gale, PsyD, and Laura Tease, BCBA, wrote an article for Indy’s Child Parenting Magazine – our partners and friends. Specifically for parents and caregivers, the article addressed the always timely topic of readiness for toilet training.
Read the article here (page 38).

Toilet training can be a complicated process for parents and children. Here are some tips to make it easier for everyone:
Watch for signs of readiness
Children are ready for toilet training at different times. If your child is staying dry for longer periods of time, awakening in the morning with a dry diaper, and showing interest in going to the restroom, it may be time to start toilet training.
Find your reinforcers
Teaching your child to potty train is similar to teaching other skills, and strong motivators are essential to success. Think about using small items such as M&Ms or a short video, and try to stay away from items that require you to remove them after a period of time. Be sure to verbally praise your child during the toilet training process.
Make sure you are prepared
Potty training is a labor-intensive process for both you and your child. Some children may take a longer time to train than others, and your persistence is key! Seek support from friends, partners, and therapists during toilet training.
Keep data
No one likes being forced to do things they do not need to do, so make sure that your child needs to use the toilet. Keep track of how often your child’s diaper or pull-up is wet and consider using this schedule when you toilet train. This will ensure that your child actually needs to go to the bathroom.
Reward, don’t bribe
Think about rewarding toileting rather than punishing when your child does not go. Your child should be motivated to use the toilet rather than scared not to! Do not shame or reprimand your child for accidents or bribe with statements like “We can’t get ice cream if you don’t go potty.”

Meet John Nick

John Nick recently joined Crossroads Industrial Services as the Sales Manager for Document Services. Crossroads Industrial Services is a division of Easterseals Crossroads. John is excited to be part of an organization where his background and interests are well-suited to the mission. He has experience working with document imaging and he brings this background of working with all types of organizations (everything from county offices to Fortune 500 companies) to his current role. He looks forward to helping grow the division to make an even bigger impact within the overall organization financially.
John’s typical day involves him meeting potential customers and spreading the word about how our Document Services division can offer them comprehensive document management solutions. Many customers are not familiar with alternative paper record solutions that result in affordable, easy-to-access, secure archiving of their information.
Within just a few weeks, John has learned and seen that Crossroads Industrial Services is a quality organization with exceptional service and commitment to our customers. He was impressed with the employees from the very beginning:
“The people are terrific. I have been a part of several different work environments, yet I have never been in a place where everyone seems to be so committed to the greater good of the organization. This is an opportunity where I think I can really contribute and make a difference,” said John.
John was born in Philadelphia, but he moved around quite a bit growing up. He attended Brebeuf Preparatory School during his high school years and later went to the University of Dayton and IUPUI for college. Outside of work, John enjoys anything that has to do with watching or playing sports.
John brings his knowledge and his strong sales background to the position of Sales Manager for Document Services. A great match for his role in the agency, he is eager to meet new customers and show them how we can archive their information safely and easily accessible for their day-to-day needs.
Contact us to learn more about Document Services at Crossroads Industrial Services.

Volunteers are Key to Success

iCan Bike is a bicycle camp for people with disabilities to learn how to ride a conventional bicycle. The program is offered in partnership with Rainbow’s End Optimist Club, Indy Parks and Easterseals Crossroads and is brought to our area through iCan Shine.
Israel is an 11-year old boy who participated in iCan Bike in 2015. Israel wanted to learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle, but he was having some difficulty making that happen. His family turned to iCan Bike and found that the team approach to learning from professionals was a really good option. “We wanted Israel to learn how to ride for a number of reasons. It builds confidence, independence, inclusion – all those things,” said Israel’s father.
iCan Shine operates its iCan Bike program with partners all over the country. Since its inception in 2007, the program has successfully taught 20,000 people with disabilities how to ride a conventional two-wheel bicycle. The program further states that it operates with an 80 percent success rate.
How it Works
Riders participate in the same 75-minute session each day for five days during the iCan Bike program. Riders use adapted bicycles at the beginning of the week and gradually move toward more independent riding on traditional bicycles as they progress. In Indianapolis, the program offered in partnership with Easterseals Crossroads and Rainbow’s End Optimist Club uses an IndyParks facility – Perry Park Ice Skating Rink. This enclosed, circular arena works very well for beginning riders.
The day-to-day progress of the participants is fun to watch. There is a huge difference in many of the riders as the week moves from day one to the final day. On that final day, typically 80 percent of the participants or more are successfully riding on their own and the remaining group has made tremendous progress.
Volunteers Truly Make it Happen
Riders are assigned to a team of volunteers who literally run/walk alongside the riders throughout the entire learning process. This method assures the riders that someone is right there at all times, which has a tremendous effect on building confidence and trust. The same rider is paired with the same team of volunteers each day furthering that element of trust for the riders.
Easterseals Crossroads works diligently with Rainbow’s End Optimist Club to provide 80 volunteers during the week of iCan Bike. We specifically look for running clubs, track teams, cross country teams and other sports teams to fill the volunteer needs for iCan Bike. We have been lucky to engage high schools and middle schools who take this volunteer role very seriously and do a great job for us. Perry Meridian, Roncalli, Center Grove and Southport have provided us with terrific volunteers for the past several years.
It is difficult to judge who is most proud at the end of the week; the riders surely, but the effect on the volunteer spotters is worth noting. Everyone feels the impact of the week, from the parents and caregivers to the entire program staff (iCan Shine, Easterseals Crossroads, Rainbow’s End Optimist Club).
After volunteering for a week at iCan Bike, volunteers have been eager to let us know their thoughts about what they have liked best:

• “I loved being able to see my rider progress each day.”
• “I really enjoyed helping someone learn to ride a bike.”
• “It was so fun to see my rider smile after she learned that she could do it.”
• “I liked knowing that my rider trusted me to help him achieve his goal.”

Individual success is the goal, but with that accomplishment comes the realization that a group can often accomplish so much when the goal is so rich.

High Level Accreditation

Easterseals Crossroads recently achieved another three-year accreditation from CARF International. Attaining and maintaining CARF-accredited status requires a significant effort, strong teamwork and a high commitment at all levels of the organization.
Employees and the agency are dedicated to provide quality services and enhance the lives of the people whom we serve. CARF accreditation demonstrates to our funders, payers and other stakeholders that we are committed to continually improving the quality of our services and that we focus on outcomes and consumer satisfaction.
Easterseals Crossroads has consistently maintained CARF accreditation for more than 30 years and has never failed to earn less than a three-year accreditation, which is the highest possible accreditation.

Our programs that are accredited include:

• Assistive Technology Services and Supports
• Behavioral Consultation Services
• Community Employment Services: Employment Supports
• Community Employment Services: Job Development
• Community Integration
• Transition Services
• Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Programs for Children and Adolescents

Congratulations to all our the hard-working staff members at Easterseals Crossroads on this achievement and their commitment to delivery of quality programs and services to our community.

Century 21 recently released their 2015 fundraising statistics as they relate to Easterseals affiliates across the country. Century 21 Scheetz is the local partner to Easter Seals Crossroads.
Century 21 Scheetz ranked in the top ten in their national rankings as top fundraisers for Easter Seals affiliates. Easter Seals Crossroads is proud and honored to be the recipient of $43,804 due to hard-working efforts of Century 21 Scheetz.
Collectively, the Century 21 system raised $2.9 million for Easterseals affiliated around the country during the 2015 calendar year. Their grand total now surpasses $114 million!
According to the press release dated February 16, 2016, Rick Davidson, president and chief executive officer of Century 21 Real Estate LLC, stated
“The generosity and commitment of the Century 21 system to the individuals and families touched every day by the Easterseals organization mirrors the professionalism and highest level of quality service our brand ambassadors deliver to home buyers and sellers in local markets throughout North America. What makes me most proud is knowing that the brand’s value proposition is backed by actions like these that provide support to communities and to people so they, too, can realize their full potential.”
Read the full press release from Century 21.
 

Camp Options

Summer camps are just around the corner! Easterseals Crossroads offers several camp options for your child with special needs – they fill up quickly, so now is a good time to consider summer camp.
CampAbility is a traditional summer day camp for children ages 4 – 10. CampAbility takes place at Hilltop Developmental Preschool (1915 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis) and you can sign up for any one of three, two –week sessions. Or you can sign up for all three summer sessions – lots of families do! Parents feel so good about leaving their children at CampAbility, where they know there will be lots of fun activities, outings, theme-days and friendships. Activities have been designed by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and special education teachers. And the kids? They just have fun – growing, learning and playing!

Camp R.O.C.K.S! is an overnight camp for individuals on the autism spectrum who are 10 – 18 years of age. This camp takes place at Bradford Woods and is a 5-night, 6-day camping experience that our campers return to year after year. Aside from being in the great outdoors swimming, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing – campers also have fun inside with skit-nights and talent shows.

 
Camp FUEL was created so that adolescents ages 11 – 17 could enjoy a summer day camp during their teenage years. Campers enjoy field trips, peer mentoring, special guests and hanging out with their friends at Camp FUEL. There are two, two-week sessions of Camp FUEL this summer; both take place right at Easterseals Crossroads.

iCan Bike is a bicycle camp for people with disabilities to learn how to ride a conventional bicycle. The program is offered in partnership with Rainbow’s End Optimist Club, Indy Parks and Easter Seals Crossroads and is brought to our area through iCan Shine. Participants enroll in the same 75-minute session each day for five days and enrollment is limited to 40 participants. iCan Bike takes place at Perry Park Ice Skating Rink (451 E. Stop 11 Road).
If you are considering summer camp for your child with special needs, consider Easterseals Crossroads this year. We have been offering camp programs for several years now; our families agree that we really do make growth and development look like child’s play!