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Letter from a Parent at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf We thought we were prepared when we adopted our daughter, however we didn’t quite see her profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss diagnosis coming. We didn’t know anyone who was deaf/Deaf. Should we stick to ASL or only focus on spoken language? Do both? Cochlear implants? What brand? No doubt this was a confusing time. Fast forward to today, almost two years after our daughter’s cochlear implant surgery – Knowing we wanted our daughter to attend public school in the future, we knew we had a big language gap to close – which is where St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf has stepped in. Our daughter receives daily speech therapy and is in a small classroom
setting that enables her to further develop those skills. Her speech therapist is constantly researching different techniques to help our daughter develop speech, and she attends her mapping appointments with us to ensure she has full access to sounds. We are so grateful to the team at St. Joseph Institute for seeing the potential in our daughter and for coming alongside us. At only a “listening age” of not even two years old, our daughter, who entered St. Joseph with no spoken language, now sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and she tells us the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story. We’re amazed at where she has been, and are so very excited for where she’ll be able to go in the future.
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Using the “STOP Method” to Increase Resiliency Life can be hard for kids at any age. Things that happen to kids can seem unmanageable. It can be very difficult for children to navigate conflictual experiences at school, in the neighborhood, in his/her sports, or with friends. Most of the time, they have to learn from trial and error, yet as a parent, you should always be looking for opportunities to teach them resiliency. It can be helpful for you to have some tools in your toolbox to help them navigate tough situations that they can use to improve their lives. It may be necessary to help your children handle conflict by sharing coping mechanisms that can change the way they look at things. So, take note of this technique and share it when it seems appropriate. One of the skills that I ask parents to use when their child comes home and reports that someone has been mean to him or her is the “STOP” method. STOP is an acronym that actually turns a conflictual situation into a healthy one. It provides an opportunity for kids to turn adversity into kindness. The method is as follows: When your child comes home distressed about his friend Alex who chose not to pick him for the kickball game, ask, what was the primary feeling you’re having about “Alex”? Allow him to pick one of the five feelings; anger, sadness, loneliness, fear, or happiness. He will likely tell you that he either feels sad, mad, or lonely and left out. Ask him to use the “S” for stop, and notice how that feels to be left out? Then tell him the “T” reminds him to take three deep breaths, and after the third breath, he is to grin as big as he can with
his eyes closed, and to experience the feeling fluttering all the way down to his toes. “O” stands for observe. Ask him to tell you how that feels in his body to smile that big and have him describe that. He may say, “It feels like Carol Juergensen Sheets smile butterflies are flying around my body,” or “It tickled my belly,” or “I really couldn’t get it to go below my neck.” There are no wrong or right answers. “P” stands for proceed. Proceed or move forward and do something that will show kindness, care, or compassion for Alex. If he’s not ready to do that, because he’s still in that distressed phase, give him lots of permission to wait. You can say, “Then let’s think about somebody else that you can be kind and caring towards so that you let those lonely feelings motivate you to do something special for someone else.” Then together you brainstorm who he might be nice to. Again, this is your choice to teach him that he can turn distress into something positive. When he’s positive in the world, he puts out special energy that he will also get back. That empowers your children to know that they don’t have to stay in that deflated, discouraged, negative place! Be prepared to role model the STOP model for your children so they can hear about how you used the method to change your thoughts. Make sure to share the kindness part, so they can see how you are making a difference in this world. Have fun with the STOP method and enjoy smiling both inwardly and outwardly while you’re making the decision to be the person and the parent you want to be!
Carol Juergensen Sheets LCSW PCC is a psychotherapist and personal life coach. She does motivational speaking and empowerment trainings locally and nationally. To find out more about her services--contact her at www.carolthecoach.com or call her at 317-218-3479. Please say “I found it in the IndyKids’Directory!” Thanks!
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Healing through Arts and Education Throughout COVID-19, Ascension St. Vincent has adapted and enhanced existing programs and services to ensure that patients and healthcare heroes are cared for in mind, body, and spirit. Here are highlights of the good work being completed by two programs thanks to donor support of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation. The Healing Arts Program at Ascension St. Vincent is dedicated to promoting holistic healing through a combination of visual art, music and dance/movement interventions. The program has expanded its normal efforts to support healing throughout COVID-19. • Positivity Boards were introduced around the hospital to bring color, encouraging messages, and uplifting information to patient units. • A fun “Sneeze, Blow, and Throw” song was created to teach hospitalized children the ways to keep themselves and other people safe when they sneeze or cough. • Legacy Prints have been made to help comfort families who lost a loved one to COVID-19, including a digital thumbprint to be shared with family members as a lasting memory. In addition to helping patients, the Healing Arts Program also supports Ascension St. Vincent associates through activities that provide encouragement and stress relief. Along with spiritual care teams, the Healing Arts Program introduced a new “Code Lavender” protocol to provide focused support for associates when they have been involved in a stressful event at the hospital. Carts have been placed in units and include items such as art materials, aromatherapy, scripture, meditation guides, deep breathing exercises, and resources for virtual support. Another crucial program funded by the
supporters of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation is the School Program at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent. This program addresses the educational needs of many patients who are missing time from school as a result of their hospitalization through an on-site school program. The comprehensive assistance provided by the school program helps provide a sense of stability to patients as they battle their respective health issues. The ultimate goal is for all patients who require educational instruction or assistance during their hospitalization to successfully re-acclimate to their home schools with minimal difficulty. When COVID-19 shut down schools in the spring, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital’s licensed teacher, Heather Wiselogle, began to teach remotely, using tools like Zoom and Skype. She developed creative ways to engage students and continued seeing as many students online as she was seeing in person. Through the Paws to Read program, students were able to read their favorite books to therapy dogs virtually. Heather also helped some high school seniors as they were dealing with the challenges of both online learning and their own health conditions during their final semester. She wrote letters of recommendation for scholarships and assisted with requests for accommodations for college. Funding of programs like Healing Arts and the School Program is crucial in supporting the needs of our patients and healthcare heroes. To learn more about Healing Arts, the School Program, and additional programs funded by the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, visit give.stvincent.org or call 317-338-2338.
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Autism Awareness – From Spectrum to Kaleidoscope Awareness is more than gaining knowledge. It’s about changing your perspective. Consider the history of autism. In the 1960’s, individuals diagnosed with autism were often considered unteachable and ultimately sent to institutions. Behavior analysts, using the principles of applied behavior analysis, questioned that perception and began treating those with autism as individuals who simply learned in different ways. Here’s a new perspective for Autism Awareness Month. Autism is more than a spectrum. Autism is a kaleidoscope. A spectrum conjures up images such as a rainbow, with colors moving from red through orange, yellow, green, and blue to finally arrive at purple. The problem with a spectrum is that it makes it seem like one’s position falls somewhere between two extreme opposites. For autism, those extremes are often labeled high functioning autism and low functioning autism. But terms like high functioning and low functioning tell more about our society than they do the individual with autism. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, an evidence-based treatment for individuals with autism, reminds us that each individual is unique. Like a kaleidoscope, our strengths and challenges create a unique pattern of who we are and how we interact with the world. One individual may relish friendships with others yet have difficulty reading social cues that make those relationships last. Another individual may prefer to do things on their own yet have difficulty finding the way to communicate that preference to others. The way we relate to each other does not fit neatly on a spectrum but rather creates a brilliant pattern of light and dark, brightness and intensity, color and form. At the Applied Behavior Center for Autism we remain committed to helping each individual grow by acknowledging who they are, building on their strengths, and overcoming their challenges. Utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis, we seek to create an environment in which each individual is successful, each individual has the opportunity to learn, and each individual has a chance to improve their quality of life. The Applied Behavior Center for Autism - building brighter futures, for a kaleidoscope of individuals. Please say “I found it in the IndyKids’Directory!” Thanks!
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& Access Behavioral Solutions Clinic www.accessbehavioralsolutions.com Info@accessbehavioralsolutions.com 317.802.7447
Access Behavioral Solutions is making ABA services available by bringing the therapy to you- in your home, in your community, or in the clinic.
Applied Behavior Center for Autism Pgs 10, 11 & 20
7901 E. 88th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46256 The Applied Behavior Center for Autism is Indiana's longest running ABA provider. With over 20 years of service, ABC is building brighter futures every day. Each of our center offers unique attributes that allows us to provide high quality treatment to children and teens with autism spectrum disorder. With locations in Greenwood, Carmel, Castleton, Terre Haute, Richmond, and West Indianapolis we offer ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic testing, special needs swim lessons, and so much more! We are now enrolling for part-time and full-time schedules. Find us on social @ABCforAutism to learn more.
www.AppliedBehaviorCenter.org info@ AppliedBehaviorCenter.org 317-849-5437
Proud Sponsors of Resources for Special Needs Natural Valley Ranch www.NaturalValleyRanch.com www.NaturalValleyTherapeuticRiding.org Marie@NaturalValleyRanch.com 317-509-3577 Birthday Parties, Trail Rides, Lessons, Petting Zoo Hayride/Bonfire, Therapeutic Riding
Phoenix Karate www.phoenixrisingkarate.com 317-228-1872
Martial arts are great for children! A psychological study found that children in martial arts have an increased sense of responsibility, a decrease in the willingness to take foolish risks, and a higher sense of self-esteem.
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf Pg 3 www.sjid.org 317.471.8560 Leaders in Listening and Spoken Language.
Supervision Infrared Sauna SupervisionWeightLoss.com 317-849-8446 For treatment of autism.
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September Thursday September 3, 2020 Fort Ben Farmer’s Market 4-7 PM 9230 Memorial Park Dr. Indianapolis. Join us for our fourth
market season supporting local folks. The market will operate as an essential, outdoor location for local food, information to support struggling communities, and a safe place to find food and resources in the open air and sunshine. This will be a GRAB AND GO MARKET ONLY.
September 4, 2020 10-5 Virtual Suffrage Centennial Block Party at the Indiana State Museum. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave most women the right to vote. The Suffrage Block Party aims to create a fun, engaging, collaborative and safe series of events to commemorate the decades-long fight for women to vote and celebrate our achievements.
Friday September 4, 2020 at 12:00pm Sunflower Experience
at Stuckey Farm. Are you ready to be outdoors? Let’s get out and enjoy something amazing! It’s time to pre-order your Stuckey Farm Sunflower Festival tickets! Labor Day Weekend come walk through our 7-acre Sunflower field (that’s 7 football fields!) of amazingly beautiful sunflowers! You will see a dazzling array of over 20 varieties of sunflowers. There is a forest of giant Skyscraper and Mammoth sunflowers that can grow to 15 feet tall, all the way down to Dwarf Teddy Bear sunflowers…we can’t say enough of how beautiful it is out here! Mark it down in your calendar to come visit us Labor Day weekend September 5th, 6th & 7th!
Friday September 4, 2020 Tag it! Exploring Art Together at
the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Become the art critic as you take a closer look at sport art. • Look around and find your favorite sport art • Use tokens to mark your family opinion on the art • Share your opinion with the group Can you all decide on the best piece?
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Saturday September 5, 2020 at 4 PM – 8:30 PM Indianapolis Water Lantern Festival at
Military Park Tickets are on sale for the Water Lantern Festival in Indianapolis. Get your tickets at www. WaterLanternFestival.com before they sell out. Water Lantern Festival is an amazing experience where you'll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water. The Water Lantern Festival was voted #1 Festival by USA Today. Don't miss this beautiful event!
September 11, 2020 Playtime on the Prairie: Things that go!!!
Playtime on the Prairie is an early childhood experience tailored for our youngest guests. Each session is designed to bring Conner Prairie to life in a developmentally appropriate way for children ages 0-5. Attendees will have the opportunity to play, explore, inquire, and learn throughout each session. Themes will represent unique activities at Conner Prairie – both on the historic grounds and throughout the vast natural areas available on our property as well as the changing seasons and some special interests.
Saturday September 12, 2020 The Pirates Treasure Hunt Indianpolis at 10 AM Pirates have
invaded Indianapolis! Cap'n Graybeard needs your help to find his missing treasure map. Beware, mateys, using our proprietary smartphone app you'll encounter VIRTUAL Pirates, Scurvy Dogs and need to collect the Pieces of Eight to ultimately find the location of his treasure? The first city-wide treasure hunt in Downtown Indianapolis allows for safe distancing for teams of up to 6. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes, team name and highest point totals. One ticket ($50 + $2.75 handling) is good for your team of up to 6 people! Tickets are on sale NOW!
September 14,21,and 28, 2020 Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen at
Westminster Neighborhood Services. Westminster's Food Pantry has been modified to a walk-up distribution, and no warm meals will be served.
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2020 Neighbors will have the choice of protein and fresh produce to choose from along with pre-bagged food from the pantry, and with an on-the-go meal. The pantry itself, including restroom facilities, will be closed. We are asking neighbors not to congregate around the front door waiting to be served. We also ask for patience as we figure out the best way to serve you all.
September 15, 2020 Bike Indianapolis at Chapel Hill. At
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church Connect with our community for some biking fun! We are seeking bikes & helmets that are gently used to provide for kids and adults who need them. If you are an experienced rider, we need you, too! Join us on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm. Contact Pastor Dave Buckner with questions.
September 19, 2020 10-1 City Market Catacombs Tour 2020
Advance tickets required. Indianapolis City Market and Indiana Landmarks stage tours of an unusual site usually hidden from public view. Our guided tour of the Catacombs shows you a Roman-looking expanse of brick arches beneath the outdoor Whistler Plaza of City Market.
September 25, 2020 IAS Fall Festival 2020 at Fort Harrison
State Park Plan to join us for a wonderful Fall Festival held during a beautiful time of year. This year the Indiana Audubon Society is bringing you an array of talks, hikes to Fort Harrison State Park on Indianapolis’ NE side. Accommodations and room blocks will be available at the Fort Harrison Inn. This year’s event will include a multitude of hikes, presentations, and an amazing keynote dinner.
September 26, 2020 10:30 – 12:30 Ruditoonz at Conner Prairie Join us for singing, dancing, and musical exploration in our beautiful Treetop Amphitheater! Lift your voice, lift your spirit, clap, shout, stomp,
and holler along with local children’s musicians who’ll share songs for kids and their families. Combining unique and imaginative songs and storytelling come rock out with Ruditoonz! Indiana musician Scott Rudicel (“Rudi” to his friends and fans) is sure to engage both children and adults alike, with music that kids will love and that parents won’t be driven mad by!
Saturday September 26, 2020 10-2 Autism Ability Fest at the
Indiana State Fair Grounds. Join us at the Autism Ability FEST to get more information about local autism services and resources while having family fun. The Autism Ability FEST will have exhibitors ready to talk with you about their local autism services and resources. Plus the Autism Ability FEST will have lots of entertainment for attendees: face painters, balloon artists, photo booth, games, and more! Autism Ability FEST is FREE for all attendees. You do not need tickets! Parking is $8 per vehicle.
Saturday September 26, 2020 Recovery Day: Day of Healing 10-5 At Indiana State Museum Join
us in a day dedicated to healing, selfcare and recovery. Learn about art and music therapy, then try yoga, mindful stretching and guided meditation. Visit FIX to share stories of recovery and resources.
September 27, Farm and Craft Market 12-4 PM at P&D Flower
Farm Come out on a wonderful Sunday afternoon to enjoy a variety of local vendors! *If you would like to be a vendor please contact us at pdflowerfarm@gmail.com*
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