February 2023 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

THE JOY THAT IS MHANI & RJ

PHOTO BY MICHELLE HERDLICK

FEBRUARY ISSUE PREVIEW

(10) Important Community Connections

(19) Mental Health Perspective: Amanda Kostura

(24) Cover Story: Mhani & RJ, Double Trouble

(30) Sponsor Spotlight: First Christian Church in Canton

(32) Family Spotlight: The Lovell Family

(35) Community Employment Success

Story: Andrew Schumacher

(36) Autism Perspective: Dr. Kristine Turko

(39) Professional Perspective: Daniel Anschutz

(40) Nonprofit Spotlight: Carve Your Own Path, Inc

(42) Community Impact: Callie’s Community Project

(44) Technology Perspective: James Warnken

(48) Community Impact Q&A: Courtney Jeans

(52) Pictures Say Thousands of Words

… about Raelyn Braxton

(56) Final Take

Owner/Advertising Inquiries

Rick Miller

330-283-8462

rick.miller@n2co.com

Facebook (@snl.cak)

Instagram (special_needs_cak) www.TheSpecialNeedsLiving.com

Sponsor Spotlight: First Christian Church

Nonprofit Spotlight: Carve Your Own Path

Beauty Belongs to Raelyn Braxton

Community Impact: Callie Carter

Cover Story: Mhani and RJ

Family Spotlight: The Lovell Family

SENIOR SERVICES DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES

GentleBrook provides residential options for seniors looking to age in place.

The HomeStead: Our 49 bed assisted living and memory care facility

The Villas: Our independent living 55+ condominium community

GentleBrook fosters independence for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by offering programs and services through our adult day programs and residential support services, including residential waiver services, and intermediate care facilities (ICF) in Hartville and West Lafayette. In July of 2022, GentleBrook will take over as the provider of adult day services for the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

COMMUNITY

GentleBrook serves the community through two businesses in Hartville.

GentleBrook Greenhouse + Farm:

GentleBrook Greenhouse + Farm has a wide selection of beautiful bedding plants, hanging baskets, house plants & succulents. Open to the public spring through fall.

The SportsPlex: An indoor sports recreation center with a full basketball court and a 7,500 sq. ft. turfed multi-sport training facility for individual and team use.

This section is here to give our readers easier access when searching for a trusted Community partner to use. Get to know the businesses who make this magazine possible. Please support them in return and thank them if you get the chance!

ABA SERVICES

Applied Behavioral Connections

Kristen Maple (330) 309-3133

info@appliedbehavioralconnections.com

ACCESSIBILITY & SAFETY MODIFICATIONS

JTEK Solutions Group, LLC

Jared Chevraux (330) 323-0943

www.jtekgroup.com

ACT PREP & TUTORING

Bright Minds Learning Academy

Sheila Lahoti 5368 Fulton Dr. NW Canton, OH 44646 (330) 966-7226

www.brightmindsla.us

ADULT DAY SUPPORT

Premier Approach, LLC

Christian Manns (330) 312-6909

www.facebook.com/PremierApproachLLC

ADULT VOCATIONAL SERVICES

CLW (330) 546-0057

www.theclw.com

ANIMAL FENCE/TRAINING

DogWatch of Northeast Ohio

Donnie Myers (330) 915-6036

www.dogwatchneo.com

ART STUDIO

BZTAT Studios, LLC (330) 371-3150

www.bztatstudios.com

AUTISM SUPPORT

Autism Society of Greater Akron (330) 940-1441

www.autismakron.org

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING

Paragon Accounting and Business Services, Inc.

(330) 575-2291

www.paragonabs.com

CHIROPRACTIC/WELLNESS

Vogelgesang Family Wellness & Chiropractic Center (330) 818-1212

www.vogelgesangfamilychiropracticinc.com

CHURCH

First Christian Church (330) 456-2600

www.firstchristian.com

The Chapel Green

Amy Troyer (330) 315-5501

www.facebook.com/greenspecialneeds

COFFEE SHOP

Whole Latte Love Cafe (234) 360-2233

www.wholelattelovecafe.org

COUNTY DISABILITIES BOARD

Stark Board of Developmental Disabilities

Lisa Parramore (330) 479-3934

www.starkdd.org

DAYCARE/PRESCHOOL

Once Upon A Daycare (330) 990-1466

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY CARE

Easterseals Northern Ohio

Conor McGarvey (234) 417-0250

www.easterseals.com/noh

The Workshops, Inc

Rachel Doty (330) 497-3399

www.choosetwi.com

DISABILITY RESOURCES

REM Ohio, Inc

Jo Spargo (330) 644-9730

www.rem-oh.com

EDUCATION SERVICES

Jason’s Place

Melissa Hadnett (234) 714-9815

Facebook

Red Line Advocacy (234) 678-9622

www.redlineadvocacy.com

EMPLOYMENT/STAFFING

Express Employment Professionals (330) 239-8709

www.expresspros.com/cantonoh

ENTERTAINMENT AND FOOD

Stark Flavor (330) 704-1227

www.StarkFlavor.com

EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Pegasus Farm

Shelley Sprang (330) 935-2300

www.pegasusfarm.org

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Skylight Financial Group

Kathryn Bryan (216) 592-7319

www.skylightfinancialgroup.com

Travis DeZordo, Modern Woodmen Of America (330) 704-6211

www.reps.modernwoodmen.org/tdezordo

FURNITURE - AMISH

Dutch Craft Furniture (330) 893-4041

www.dutchcraftfurniture.com

HARDSCAPES/ LANDSCAPES

Campbell Landscaping (330) 933-9091

www.campbelllandscaping.com

HOME BUILDER

Charis Homes

Glenna Wilson (330) 833-4527

www.charishomes.com

HOME CARE SERVICES

SafeInHome - Ohio (740) 207-5800

www.safeinhome.com

HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Harvestime Temple (330) 877-6544

www.harvestimeonline.org

INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOL

Wings of Change Therapy Inc

Erica Myers (234) 334-0044

www.wingsofchangetherapyinc.com

INSURANCE AGENT

American Family - Richard Corns

Haley Seifert (234) 714-2300

INTERIOR DESIGN

A & J Arrangements and Design LLC (440) 668-6388

JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES

Creative Rehab (330) 806-0497

www.creativerehab.info

Independent Employment Services

Malcolm Porter (330) 388-5778

www.independentemploy.com

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Carve Your Own Path, Inc. (330) 426-7885

www.carvemypath.org

NON-PROFIT GentleBrook

Francie Kell (330) 877-7700

www.gentlebrook.org

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

GiGi’s Playhouse Canton

Megan Vance (330) 493-9114

www.gigisplayhouse.org/canton

The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio (216) 447-8763

www.dsaneo.org

OUTDOOR LIVING

Kitzmiller Design Solutions (330) 614-4798

www.kitzmillerdesignsolutions.com

PERSONAL LEGACY PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

The Preferred Legacy Trust Company

Tiffany Rockstroh (330) 209-9229

www.preferredlegacy.com

PIZZA DINE-IN & DELIVERY

Bosco’s Pizza Kitchen (234) 258-4800

www.Boscospizzakitchen.com

POOL WATER DELIVERY

Strouble Water Hauling (330) 877-6795

www.stroubletrucking.com

PRIVATE SCHOOL

The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children

Gina Bannevich (330) 493-4400

www.goldenkeyschool.com

REALTOR®

eXp Realty : The Amy Wengerd Group

Amy Wengerd (330) 681-6090

www.amysguarantee.com

RESTORATION & CLEANING

Brahlers Cleaning & Restoration

Stacy Ignacio (330) 834-0008

www.brahlerscrr.com

SCHOOLS - PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Julie Billiart Schools (216) 691-8916

www.juliebilliartschools.org

SUPPORT GROUP Sharing Solutions

www.sharingsolutions.info

THEATRE

Canton Palace Theatre

Laura Strader (330) 454-8172

www.cantonpalacetheatre.org

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER CLEARVIEW DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Dean Miller (330) 224-4403

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DISCLAIMER: This publication is owned by The N2 Company and is not affiliated with or sponsored by any club, developer, or homeowners association. Articles and advertisements in this publication and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of N2 but remain solely those of the author(s) or advertiser(s). The paid advertisements contained within this magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2.

Delivering Neighborhood Connections © 2023 The N2 Company, Inc.

IMPORTANT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Need to know who to connect with to ask a question? This is where you find out who you need to know!

AKRON BLIND CENTER

Phone: 330-253-2555

Website: www.akronblindcenter.org

The Akron Blind Center Inc. is a membership-based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1948 to serve the blind and lowvision communities. They also provide resources, programs, services and classes for Summit and surrounding counties.

AKRON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Phone: 330-543-1000

Website: www.akronchildrens.org

Akron Children’s Hospital has been caring for children since 1890, and its pediatric specialties are ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. With two hospital campuses, four health centers, and 50+ primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, they’re making it easier for today’s busy families to find the high-quality care they need.

ARC OF OHIO

Phone: 234-571-5689

Website: www.thearcofohio.org

The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

AUTISM SOCIETY OF GREATER AKRON

Phone: 330-940-1441

Website: www.autismakron.org

The Autism Society is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots autism organization committed to improving the lives of those affected by autism. The Greater Akron affiliate was founded in 1987 by parent volunteers of children with autism.

BUREAU OF SERVICES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED (BSVI)

Website: www.ood.ohio.gov/individuals-with-disabilities/ services/services-for-the-visually-impaired

MEDINA, PORTAGE, AND SUMMIT COUNTIES

Phone: 330-643-3080

CARROLL AND STARK COUNTIES

Phone: 330-438-0500

BSVI assists eligible people, beginning at age 14, with low vision and blindness by providing direct, personalized

services to assist them in finding and retaining meaningful work and personal independence. Basic services include personal and work adjustment training, vocational training, mental and physical restoration, and placement assistance.

CALL 211

Phone: 211

Website: www.211.org

Serving four counties and covering 1.5 million people in Ohio, the United Way 2-1-1 Help Center provides free and confidential 24-hour access to a compassionate professional who will review your options for help, develop a plan and act as your advocate if you are faced with barriers to service. Simply dial 2-1-1 or chat with us for assistance. Se habla Espanol.

COMPASSION DELIVERED

Phone: 330-575-0996

Website: www.compassiondelivered.org

Compassion Delivered provides medically tailored nutritional meals to people coping with chronic, lifethreatening illnesses and diseases.

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF NORTHEAST OHIO

Phone: 216-447-8763

Website: www.dsaneo.org

The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio is a nonprofit that provides support, education, advocacy, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.

GREENLEAF FAMILY CENTER (DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES)

Phone: 330-376-9494

Website: www.greenleafctr.org

Greenleaf is a nonprofit organization that strengthens families in our community through counseling, education and support. By offering a variety of programs and services, we are here to help families with the many challenges of daily living and personal crises.

HELP ME GROW

Phone: 330-492-8136

Website: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/ help-me-grow/help-me-grow

Help Me Grow is Ohio’s evidence-based parent support program that encourages early prenatal and well-baby care, as well as parenting education to promote the comprehensive health and development of children. Help Me Grow System includes Central Intake, Help Me Grow Home Visiting, and Help Me Grow Early Intervention.

OHIO’S PARENT MENTOR PROJECT

Phone: 844-382-5452

Website: www.parentmentor.osu.edu

It is the mission of the Ohio Parent Mentors to provide the necessary support and resources to families of children with disabilities and the professionals that serve them by connecting families, schools, and the community to the benefit of students with disabilities.

OHIO COALITION FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Phone: 844-382-5452

Website: www.ocecd.org

The OCECD is a statewide nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities in Ohio, educators, and agencies who provide services to them.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID

Phone: 800-324-8680

Website: www.medicaid.ohio.gov

The ODM provides health care coverage to more than three million Ohioans through a network of more than 165,000 providers. Learn more about Ohio’s largest state agency and the ways in which they continue to improve wellness and health outcomes for the individuals and families served at our website.

OHIO DEPT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES

Phone: 800-720-9616

Website: www.jfs.ohio.gov

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is responsible for managing many vital programs that directly affect the lives of Ohioans.

OHIO DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

PLANNING COUNCIL

Website: www.ddc.ohio.gov

Phone: 800-766-7426

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council is a planning and advocacy body committed to community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. It is the mission of the ODDC to create change that improves independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES

Phone: 800-282-4536

Website: www.ood.ohio.gov

This state agency works to empower Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Amoung the many services provided, OOD is responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships with employers.

PEOPLE FIRST IN OHIO

Website: www.peoplefirstohio.org

People First of Ohio is a statewide organization that works with state legislators and builds relationships with other advocacy groups and state agencies. These relationships promote better interaction among people who make decisions in the communities and the state.

PHILOMATHEON SOCIETY OF THE BLIND

Phone: 330-453-9157

Website: www.philomatheon.com

This organization is a gathering of blind and visually impaired people, along with sighted family and friends, with a mission and goal to help the blind and visually impaired in the community to help themselves to remain or to become able to live independently and an active member of their community.

PORTAGE COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Phone: (330) 297-6209

Website: www.portagedd.org

The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities exists to connect individuals and families with the services they need for health, safety, education and a high quality of life.

RED TREEHOUSE — RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY

Website: www.redtreehouse.org

Supporting the well-being of families and children with challenges, disabilities, and health care needs. Finding tools, organizations, and events in the community to meet the needs of families.

SHARING SOLUTIONS

Phone: 330-546-2001

Website: www.sharingsolutions.info

A community of parents/guardians of individuals from transition to adult age with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, professionals who serve the IDD community, caregivers, and policymakers. The focus is to provide information, support, and assistance to all. Everyone is encouraged to play an active role in sharing their resources, knowledge, and experiences.

SOCIAL SECURITY

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION — CANTON

Phone: 877-255-1509

Website: www.secure.ssa.gov

The Social Security Administration assigns Social Security numbers and administers the Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs. They also administer the Supplemental Security Income program for the aged, blind and disabled.

STARK COUNTY BOARD OF DD

Phone: 330-477-5200

Website: www.starkdd.org

Stark DD connects individuals and families with the services persons with developmental disabilities need for health, safety, education and quality of life.

SUMMIT COUNTY DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BOARD

Phone: 330-634-8000

Website: www.summitdd.org

Summit DD offers early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, as well as transition services for students with developmental disabilities to vocational, habilitation and retirement programs for adults.

TRIAD DEAF SERVICES

Phone: 330-768-7272

Website: www.triadds.org

TRIAD Deaf Services Inc is an agency providing services to the deaf community in Stark, Carroll, and Tuscarawas Counties. They provide support services, interpreting, leadership, deaf advocacy and education.

Have a suggestion for an important connection that could be added to this page? Email your suggestion to rick.miller@n2co.com.

MAGAZINE STAFF

Meet the team that builds your Akron & Canton Special Needs Living magazine each month

Malinda Oakes Writer Special Events Coordinator

Rick Miller Owner Mike Sturdivant Content Director

Dave Keller Ad Strategist / Client Services

Calista Fouts Social Media Ambassador

Sarah Smith Writer

Andrea Hurr Writer

Melissa Klatt Writer

Julian Curet Photographer

Michelle Herdlick Photographer

SPECIAL NEEDS LIVING CONTRIBUTORS

February Issue

JOE ALBERT

J. Albert Studios

Joe Albert is an expert photographer with a studio located in the heart of Downtown Canton. He has mastered the art of seeing the world through a photographer’s eye, which, as he states, means “to look for the beauty in everything.” Joe has loved getting to know his clients over the years and takes pride in having those same individuals continue to come to him for the most memorable milestones in their lives, their senior portraits, engagement photos, their wedding and ultimately their children and family pictures. Joe loves nothing more than a good whiskey and cigar and never leaves home without his camera!

DANIEL ANSCHUTZ

Meals by Chef Daniel

Chef Daniel is an Ohio native and graduate of the LeCordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown College. He has worked in the food industry since 1997 and has been an Executive Chef since 2012. Daniel has served small dinners or two and coordinated events for up to 3,000. About Magazine’s Reader’s Choice/Best of the Best named Daniel the top chef in Stark County in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021! He was the runner-up in 2019. He was also the recipient of the Ystark & Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Twenty Under 40 award in 2022. Daniel and his wife, Amanda, founded Compassion Delivered in 2017, a nonprofit in Stark County serving meals to those coping with lifethreatening or terminal illnesses at no charge.

AMANDA KOSTURA

Founder and President, Carve Your Own Path Inc.

Amanda Kostura is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a Bachelor’s of Psychology, a Minor in Child and Family Development, as well as a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Akron. Her experiences in both direct practice and administrative positions have created expertise in treating anxiety, chronic health/pain and developmental and generational trauma. Amanda specializes in a holistic mind-body approach for healing and optimal wellness. She has a strong passion for working with and empowering oppressed/disenfranchised populations. Amanda is also committed to empowering the next generation of wellness professionals through training supervision of social workers and ongoing education of licensed clinicians.

DR. KRISTINE TURKO, BCBA, COBA

Founder and Director of the Spectrum Education Center at the University of Mount Union

Dr. Turko is a professor of psychology and the director/founder of the Spectrum Education Center at the University of Mount Union. Kristine is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and is licensed to practice in the state of Ohio. She joined the faculty at Mount Union in 2006 after earning MS and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology at Lehigh University and a BS degree in Psychology at Drexel University. Kristine’s work at the Spectrum Education Center includes autism intervention, undergraduate training in the field of autism, professional development and supporting area school districts. Her research interests include best practices for autism intervention in adult populations and effective autism intervention training and education for undergraduate students. Kristine lives in Canton with her husband and daughter. She enjoys being outdoors and cooking.

JAMES WARNKEN

Online Accessibility Specialist

James Warnken is a 24-year-old, visually impaired/legally blind online accessibility specialist with a deep background in digital marketing and design. He has recently obtained my IAAP CPACC certification and is currently pursuing the IAAP WAS certification to become CPWA. Over the last few years, working in marketing and online accessibility, James has realized that he has a unique perspective compared to most. Living with a visual disability, seven-plus years in the tech/marketing space, and now almost two years in the digital accessibility space. His mission is to educate, guide and connect organizations so they can own their accessibility initiatives instead of relying on overlays and third-party providers or hoping that it solves itself.

COFFEE WITH A PURPOSE will feature a fun-filled evening with auctions, raffles and so much more! Whole Latte Love Café is raising funds to expand our services and continue providing competitive employment support for people with disabilities. This expansion effort, called WHOLE COMMUNITY, will offer a public rentable conference room, complete with a coffee cart option, as well as an extension of our retail shop and a training room equipped to address individual employment goals.

We would love to have you and your business or company be a part of this new opportunity by partnering to purchase an advertising sponsorship Please see us at the front counter or contact 234-360-2233 or info@wholelattelovecafe.org for more information.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Special thanks to Charis Homes and Stark Flavor for supporting Whole Latte Love Cafe and for sponsoring this ad!

Why Prioritizing Mental Wellness Matters

Exploring the journey to mental & emotional health

WRITTEN BY AMANDA KOSTURA, LISW-S

Mental and Emotional Health is a key factor in our ability to navigate the world around us safely and confidently. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults with disabilities report mental distress almost five times as often as adults without disabilities. This area continues to hold stigma; therefore, we miss opportunities to provide education and prevention services that could improve someone’s life satisfaction.

There’s significant stress experienced by caregivers as well — between 40%-70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression. When we’re experiencing challenges with our mental health that aren’t being addressed, we may notice impacts on our other areas of wellness. Understanding the many dimensions of wellness can help us set tangible goals to ensure individuals and caregivers have a better quality of life.

To assist in explaining this concept, I’d like to reference “The Eight Dimensions of Wellness” as published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This is a tool we use in practice at Carve Your Own Path, Inc. to improve wellness from a holistic approach.

Each of the eight dimensions is arranged in a circle, overlapping and intersecting with one another. The dimensions are Emotional, Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical, Environmental,

Financial, Occupational, and Social. It is recommended to look at these dimensions through a mindful selfinventory lens. Check in with yourself and ask how you’re doing in each area and how the areas are interacting with one another. Once you have this awareness, do not judge it, simply notice and be curious about what that means for you moving forward.

Let me give an example of how these interwoven wellness factors can impact each other, ultimately impacting our overall health and life satisfaction — if we don’t have the skills to effectively cope with life and have meaningful relationships, our emotional wellness is needing attention. When we aren’t coping well with life, we may not be coping well with relationship dynamics, leading to ripples in our social and occupational

wellness. This is where we may notice increased disagreements or irritability with others in our life. When we aren’t coping well, feel unable to authentically connect with others, and don’t have a sense of purpose, we might notice lacking motivation. Loss of motivation can impact our ability to keep up with our environmental wellness activities. Our intellectual wellness can be impacted by unmanaged stress, leading to fogginess and forgetfulness.

Significant stress on the brain can distract from our focus on financial wellness tasks like paying bills. I could go on … but, I think, you see what’s happening here. The overlapping impacts of a depleted dimension of wellness are widespread. This is where we recommend keeping it simple to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Write down each dimension of wellness, ask yourself how you’re doing in that area, and what you’ll need to help you get where you want to be. Go for the lowhanging fruit and keep the focus small and achievable to build momentum. For example, if you notice you aren’t saving as much money as you would like to be, set a target (save $____ by this date _____ ) and actionable steps to reach it (save $____ per week).

Feeling overwhelmed by this process? Working with a mental health therapist can provide safe support for you to process this area and set realistic action steps for you to work toward your goals.

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

DOUBLE TROUBLE!

DOUBLE TROUBLE!

Meet Mhani Varner & Raynell “RJ” Sims Jr.

WRITTEN BY MELISSA KLATT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE HERDLICK

Today’s a special day in that we meet two phenomenal siblings from the Ellet area of Akron, Mhani Varner and Raynell “RJ” Sims Jr. Though they’re brother and sister, they couldn’t be more different in their stories, attitudes and personalities!

ABOUT MHANI: THE STORY WITH TWISTS AND TURNS Mhani Varner is 9 years old and had quite the journey before a fitting diagnosis was found for her. Mom, Sharmba Varner, noticed that Mhani wasn’t talking around 18 months of age. Mhani began speech therapy around age 2, and her mom knew something was off, but they, unfortunately,

The story of siblings with challenges and personalities like Yin and Yang, united by the love and strength of their mother, Sharmba.

hadn’t had a diagnosis for her yet. Initially thought to have Angelman Syndrome, they were able to rule that out through genetic testing.

However, the genetic testing did bring something to light: a variation in chromosome 10, which is seen in some children with autism. Mhani was diagnosed with a learning disability, ADHD, and finally, in January 2019, being on the autism spectrum. She has sensory issues with loud noises such as automatic flushing toilets, fears running water that could overflow, is very literal and struggles with dialogue (blurting what’s on her mind). She’s also a big sister to RJ, whose story comes with even more challenges!

RJ’S STORY: DIAGNOSED 12 WEEKS INTO MOM’S PREGNANCY

Sharmba went through so many emotions throughout her pregnancy for RJ. He was diagnosed 12 weeks into her pregnancy with him, and she had frequent appointments monitoring both of their conditions. She struggled with sadness, fear, depression and grief while the changes pregnancy brought raged on, but had incredible support from her daughters:

“My two older daughters, Haleijah (19) and Halana (15), and RJ’s dad, Raynell Sims Sr, are three of my biggest inspirations,” says Sharmba. “They’re the ones who made me a mom first and the reason I made it through the grief during my pregnancy.”

A rough pregnancy turned even more scary when Sharmba went in for a routine appointment where RJ failed his stress test at 37 weeks of pregnancy. The ultrasound found no amniotic fluid, so she was rushed to the hospital. After 15 hours of attempting to induce labor, RJ’s heart couldn’t take the contractions, so an emergency C-section was performed to deliver him.

RJ spent six weeks in the hospital due to aspiration and had his first surgery at 4 weeks of age (feeding tube). Since then, he’s had two sets of ear tubes, tubes in his eyes, and his adenoids and tonsils removed. He continues to have issues with eating and has a thickener added to his liquids. He also sees various specialists and therapies: ENT, speech, occupational therapy, eye specialists, feeding clinic, and physical therapy. He’s due for another surgery in January 2023 for ear and eye tubes.

Though he’s non-verbal, RJ has begun to use a communication device and learned to walk at age 2 1/2! The family joins in celebrating every milestone RJ hits.

SHARMBA’S SOURCE OF STRENGTH

Though Mhani and RJ know Sharmba as “mom,” she’s much more than that! She’s a beacon of hope and a true measure of the strength of motherhood in the face of challenge:

“The most challenging part for me is watching my kids struggle,” Sharmba reflects. “Mhani used to get so frustrated when others didn’t understand her, but now she’s so proud to tell and teach others about autism. I worry about RJ because I want others to love and accept him as I, his father, Raynell, Sr., and our family do.”

Sharmba’s honesty about her emotions throughout pregnancy and motherhood is what makes her the perfect mother for Mhani and RJ. She encourages them to live their lives to the fullest, taking every chance of happiness and growth they can!

MHANI AND RJ CHASE THEIR PASSIONS

Today, Mhani and RJ are involved with extracurriculars they love. Mhani currently attends the Julie Billiart School and is a strong, spunky, outgoing child who loves to dance and teach others about autism! She’s proud to be different and welcomes any challenge. She has found a passion for art, and she’s been dancing at the Martell School of Dance for seven years doing ballet, tap, acro and modern dance with dreams of being a singer, actress or fashion designer! Mom stated, “The amazing people at Martell School of Dance have become a true second family to us!” Mhani also has taken swim lessons, plays basketball, came in second place in a school race

and recently performed with her older sister and Martell students in a hip-hop routine during the Cavs halftime show.

RJ may be young at 4 years old, but that doesn’t stop him from having fun! He’s a kind soul with a smile that will warm your heart. He did swimming lessons for six months and will start horseback riding soon. The family regularly visits the YMCA and has made it a family affair. Sharmba continues

to encourage them to pursue their happiness and celebrates every milestone!

SHARMBA’S INSPIRATION FOR OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS’ FAMILIES

Sharmba shares incredible insight for special needs’ families really struggling with their emotions:

• “It’s OK to feel sadness when first getting your child’s diagnosis. It’s OK to grieve, worry, and cry ... all those emotions. Get them out, and don’t beat yourself up about it. But once you get them out, begin to love on and appreciate your babies for the perfect humans they are.

They are perfect! It may take them longer to reach those milestones, but they will! And when they do, it will be much more rewarding because we know how hard it was and what it took for them to get there! Lastly, remember they are PERFECTLY made in the image of Christ!”

ENRICHING AND EMPOWERING LIVES

Welcome to First Christian Day Services

WRITTEN BY SARAH SMITH

First Christian Day Services (FCDS) provides an environment where adults, from age 18 to retirement, with mild to moderate developmental disabilities can enjoy recreation and leisure, vocational habilitation, and paid work crew experiences. As a ministry of First Christian Church in Canton, the organization offers programming Monday through Friday that centers around five pillars — faith, fitness, arts, outings and employment.

“One of the key drawing points of our program is that we are faithbased,” said Reena Riley, Day Services Director. “We have weekly faith lessons with Pastor Tim Bussey that are specifically tailored to the individuals we serve. We also provide monthly worship times that incorporate motions and sign language as well as daily morning devotions.”

“Our family longed to plug my brother into a day program that was fun and relevant for him,” Sara H. said. “A faith-based environment where he can be loved for being

himself was important to us. This program offers both!”

FCDS considers inclusion in the community a priority. Outings are a key piece of each week, taking into consideration the ideas and desires of its participants. The organization also considers itself to be a training ground and launching pad for those who are on its work crews. Employment plays a key role in the development and is a place where individuals can gain realworld experience and skills. FCDS believes that honoring the dignity of individuals is very important, so those employed in the housekeeping and maintenance and food service work crews start out at minimum wage.

“I love being here for work and feel good about myself when I earn my paycheck. I have made good friends, and I like helping them out,” exclaimed Jerome

W.

FCDS is passionate that the individuals aren’t just integrated in their community but are included. Through the monthly Ministry Initiative, participants give back to

the community. This ranges from collecting food items for the church’s on-site pantry, collecting laundry pods and dryer sheets for The Laundry Project ministry, giving gift cards for coffee to hospital workers, making cards for nursing home residents, collecting school supplies for underserved populations or simply crafting an encouraging note to go in bags that are distributed to people without homes. Participants have made connections with the Akron/ Canton Regional food bank and their pop-up-pantry; they deliver meals to

shut-ins through Meals on Wheels and collect recyclables for processing.

With a packed daily calendar, no one is ever sitting around waiting for something to do. Each day is structured like a school schedule with a 9 a.m. start and dismissal at 2 p.m.

FCDS focuses on key areas of growth and development: self-advocacy, selfdetermination, skill reinforcement, personal care and more.

Self-determination is the individual’s ability to be offered choices and then to choose what they want. Self-advocacy is the ability for an individual to say what they want.

At FCDS, individuals are given the ability to make choices throughout the day. They are supported by the staff in making those choices, whether verbally, through touching pictures, sign language or using their eyes to gaze at what they want. Skill reinforcement is something that happens consistently throughout the week and is done on an individual basis. Everyone has different things they want to work on while at FCDS. This can range from assistance with communication or mobility devices, fine motor skills, counting money or learning how to better

interact with their peers. Personal care encompasses personal hygiene, eating, mobility, dressing and more.

“In the two years since I started working here, my dad saw how much I changed. My changes have brought new hope to my family. My dad now calls me the leader,” Al S-H. proudly stated.

“Our day program is not here to solely give our individual’s guardians a break. We provide a crucial service by physically, emotionally and spiritually investing in their lives. We believe the environment we provide is ministry; this is kingdom work that has made an impact on our individuals, their families and their community,” Riley added.

FCDS employs 36 and has been operating since Sept. 6, 2011. The company serves 66 individuals and is currently hiring more Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and drivers.

First Christian Church’s mission statement is to reach out with unconditional love to all people and grow followers of Jesus with a vision statement that proclaims Jesus For All People.

More information can be found at www.firstchristian.com/dayservices or by calling 330-456-2600. First Christian Church is located at 6900 Market Ave. N., Canton.

We Believe Jesus is for All People. That means He’s for you. Your past doesn’t disqualify you. Your current circumstances don’t limit God’s desire to work in and through your life. And your future isn’t dictated by your record, your reputation or your reservations. Wherever you are today, you matter to God, and there’s a place for you in His family. FCC is a place where people from all walks of life come together to discover grace, find meaningful community and live with purpose. So, whether you grew up in church or have never been, we invite you to come as you are to experience “church” in a fresh way.

Twin Magic

We are having double the fun as we introduce you to Alexander and Abigail!

WRITTEN BY ANDREA HURR

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JULIAN CURET

It’s double the fun and double the challenges for Jeremy Lovell, father of special needs twins Alexander and Abigail. They’re not just twins but TEENAGE twins, no less. Luckily Jeremy says they light up a room and make you smile. “They are all around lovely, wonderful, great teenagers,” he says.

The twins were diagnosed with autism around the age of 2. Both of them were nonverbal for years, and they both had different needs and were on different ends of the spectrum. It hasn’t been easy, but Jeremy was told they would never talk, and today both can speak — Alexander more so than his sister, but a huge milestone nonetheless. The twins are 14 years old and in the eighth grade. Alexander attends Super Learning Center in Lakemore and Abigail goes to the Golden Key for Exceptional Children in Canton. Alex is a straight-A student and is going to join the Drama Club next year, much

to dad’s delight. Alexander struggles socially, so joining the Drama Club is a huge step for him. Abigail is in her last year at Golden Key, and Jeremy is sad to know that their time there is coming to an end. He’s not sure yet where he plans to send her next year for high school. He poses the question, “Why are there not as many schools for these special, wonderful children?”

In the warmer months, both are part of the Canton Challenger Baseball League. They have participated in this league for about nine years, and watching them develop into players has been a joy. Alex started about a year before Abigail, and it was a struggle for both to learn the structure

of the game. Now they are both excelling at it! Abigail went from needing hands-on assistance to being independent, and Alexander is a team leader whom the younger kids look up to. He has also played catcher. They both state that they want to be doctors of some sort one day when older.

Jeremy wants other special needs parents to know that you are not alone. “We all fail, but it’s what we do to make sure that it never happens again that makes the difference. Just cherish every moment. Never give up, be their voice, their advocate. Accept all the small surprises with your whole heart because these kiddos will always excel in different ways, and they will always amaze.”

THE DETERMINATION & MOTIVATION OF A KIND SOUL

Meet Andrew Schumacher

WRITTEN BY DEBORAH RILEY

Determined, motivated to succeed at everything, conscientious, shows integrity in everything he does, and kind soul are all words used to describe Andrew Schumacher. Andrew has worked at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton since May 2022. He started as a busser in the outdoor Piazza and has since moved to The Bistro now that the Piazza is closed for the season. Andrew says when

in and gets to work in the break room, polishing silverware. He then takes the silverware to The Bistro and heads back downstairs to fold linens. In between, he cleans tables in The Bistro to get them ready for customers and carries the buckets of ice. At the end of his work day, he clocks out before heading home. Andrew takes his job very seriously and shows the utmost professionalism when working, even when family and friends stop in to dine.

Andrew says he did not work with a job development provider to find his job. In fact, the owners of Gervasi are family friends, and they approached Andrew about working. Andrew started working just two days a week but is now up to three days for a total of about 18 hours per week. Andrew says when he first started working, his job coach helped him with learning new skills, such as how to clear off the tables while bussing.

Andrew’s favorite part of the job is being busy. He enjoys working at Gervasi a lot because he likes to get things done and see a lot of his friends. According to Andrew’s mom, he has made so many friends at work, and his work friends always walk him out at the end of his shift when he is picked up. The staff at Gervasi have always been so supportive, respectful and accommodating to Andrew, treating him like family. The most challenging thing for Andrew is when he has downtime because he likes to stay busy, and he doesn’t like it when not a lot of people are there. Andrew’s Autism Therapist, Susan, has worked with Andrew since he was very young and also serves as his job coach as well. Susan says,” [Working at Gervasi] has been such an excellent experience for him. He’s truly an amazing and hardworking person, and

it’s wonderful to see him recognized for that!”

When Andrew is not working, he stays very busy! Andrew attends Clearview Developmental Services Day Program one to two days a week, works out with a trainer four days a week, and is working on learning how to drive. In addition to working out, Andrew is very health conscious and loves healthy eating. Andrew is motivated to succeed at whatever he does, always giving 100%. You only have to show or tell him something once, and he will get it right every time after! I know we’ll continue to see great things from Andrew.

Working at Gervasi has been such an excellent experience for Andrew

RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD

Finding time for relationships while caring for someone with a disability

BY DR. KRISTINE TURKO, BCBA, COBA

It’s February, and love is in the air! Couples eagerly search for the most romantic way to celebrate their relationship as Valentine’s Day nears. This is a fun practice for some, daunting for others, but regardless of which group you fall into, you cannot escape the fact that planning takes time. Time is a luxury that parents of children with disabilities don’t have. So what happens to their Valentine’s plans, or any relationship plans?

LOVE IS IN THE AIR, ALONG WITH SOME DESPAIR.

Relationships are hard. While the divorce rate in the U.S. is on the decline, 2.3 in 1,000 people are divorced (CDC, 2020). Research has found that the top stressors in marriage are work, lack of intimacy, and money (Psychology Today, 2018). One common denominator in all those stressors is that they require valuable time. Time is incredibly valuable to parents supporting a child with a disability. Doctor’s appointments, interventions, and therapies must be attended, all while maintaining all of the ‘normal’ responsibilities and caring for siblings and aging parents. There are only 24 hours in a day, and that’s a constant that cannot be changed, so where can we find more time? One way we can find more time is by finding support and allowing others to help tackle the tasks on our to-do list.

• Respite care provides parents with a break from caregiving. Respite provides those with disabilities opportunities to increase functionality while reducing stress as a family unit. Your family pediatrician or social worker can help find a skilled individual to provide care. Ohio’s developmental disabilities agency can also help find experienced caregivers. For more information, go to: https://dodd.ohio.gov/home/.

• Personal assistance services (PAS) help those with disabilities to do activities of daily living (ADLs), like eating, bathing, dressing and toileting. Ohio’s Department

of Medicaid provides waivers to receive PAS services. To learn more about the eligibility criteria for these waivers, go to https://medicaid.ohio.gov/.

• Parent mentors provide direct help to families with a child with a disability. The mentors provide support, information and training. To learn more about parent mentors, go to https://education.ohio.gov/.

• Early intervention in Ohio provides coordinated services to children under the age of 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. A team creates and Individualizes Family Service Plan to provide support and resources. For more information about early intervention services, go to https://dodd.ohio.gov/about/.

Specific stressors related to disabilities can present unique challenges. If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, then you can recognize that these challenges present growth opportunities. Recent research has found that growth comes in the form of developing healthy coping strategies (Young, Shakespeare-Finch, and Obst, 2020). Set small goals for you and your partner. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Remember that relationship challenges often seem amplified when caring for a child with autism, but successes are amplified as well. So, light the candles and boil some water for a box of mac and cheese. Valentine’s Day expectations don’t have to include all the ingredients of a Hallmark movie; they have to meet your expectations — whatever they may be. So, if you dream of comfort food with a glass of wine — hats off to you and Happy Valentine’s Day. Love, like autism, is unique. Embrace the differences!

Young, S. Shakespeare-Finch, J., and Obst, P. (2020). Raising a child with a disability: a oneyear qualitative investigation of parent distress and personal growth. Disability and Society, 35(4), 629-653. DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2019.1649637.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-it-together/201807/the-top-4-stressorscouples-today#:~:text=To%20sum%20up%2C%20the%20most,is%3A%20They%20 are%20all%20manageable.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm

EAT UP THOSE WINTER VEGETABLES!

Written by Daniel Anschutz, aka “Chef Daniel”

When winter comes, I get excited to cook because of the vegetables available in the winter months that aren’t utilized in the spring or summer. In this day and age, we have greenhouses and import products from around the world so you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want to. However, I highly encourage you to seek out local and seasonal foods. This has proven to help aid in seasonal allergy reduction, as most local flora contributes to allergies. This can also help you with your local immune system.

Two of my favorite winter vegetables are Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts. I’m sure some of you just said, “eww,” but hear me out. First, the nutritional value of unpeeled root vegetables (most of the nutrition is in the peels, so please leave them on) and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc.) is highly known, but many folks can’t stand the sometimes-bitter flavor. And for those of you thinking that a parsnip is just a white carrot, it has so much more flavor! A Parsnip has a spiced flavor like nutmeg and a hit of anise, unlike the carrot. Parsnips are also much higher in Copper, Zinc, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Iron while being less than 25% of the amount of sodium in a carrot! Brussels Sprouts are high in Fiber, Vitamin K, Vitamin C and antioxidants.

I grew up where many vegetables were canned or boiled, leaving very little in the way of taste or wanting to eat more of them. If you are in the same boat, here are a couple of ticks to cooking these two vegetables so that you will want to come back for seconds.

Roasting vegetables is a great way to accentuate the natural flavors and caramelize any natural sugars. This can also help alter the flavor of any bitterness that you dislike. In addition to this, you can add some other natural flavors to entice your palate without deep frying or adding a ridiculous amount of calories.

I like to trim the end of a Brussels Sprout and then make and “X” from the top, three-quarters of the way down. You can then soak them in orange juice (zest, too, if you have a zester) for at least an hour, overnight if possible. The liquid will get between the leaves and add some natural sugars to the vegetable. Then drain off the liquid and put them on a lined tray in the oven with salt and pepper at 400F for about 25 minutes or until you see the sugars caramelizing and the sprouts are fork tender.

In a similar fashion, I like to cut parsnips into thick half-moons and roast them with oil, salt and pepper. Then when they come out of the oven, quickly toss

in a little apple cider and dust with some cinnamon. The parsnips, while roasting, lost a lot of their water content, and when you toss them with the cider, they will soak up the liquid like a little sponge and add just a hint of sweetness and winter spice to the flavor.

Both of these methods are simple ways to add flavor to a vegetable you may have passed on from years of boiling or otherwise being prepared in a manner that wasn’t exactly exciting to your palate. I hope these little changes sparked your interest to try these winter staples again or maybe for the first time. New foods can be a challenge, but keep trying them, and you may just find your next go-to dish!

Helping Overcome the Stigmas of Mental Heath

Holistic wellness services

WRITTEN BY SARAH SMITH

Carve Your Own Path, Inc. envisions a world where mental health stigma is a non-issue. Individuals will seek wellness services without fear of judgment, therefore, being able to utilize skills to empower future generations with the autonomy to manage their own health needs.

Carve Your Own Path Inc. is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 providing

evidence-based, trauma-informed, diversity-celebrating holistic wellness services and professional education and consultation services.

Founder and President Amanda Kostura, a supervising independent social worker, worked in nonprofit social service organizations for over 10 years throughout her social work education and licensing process.

Throughout this time, she experienced and witnessed very nonhuman-focused practices happening in a human service delivery process.

“I felt many of these workplace cultures and policies did not align with the values, ethics and standards of my profession, nor did they support healing through a traumainformed lens. With a long-time

dream of opening a holistic wellness center and my lessthan-great experiences, I decided to become a founder of a nonprofit organization with a vow to do it differently,” Kostura said. “My hopes with Carve Your Own Path Inc. are to normalize mental health and emotions as part of the human experience. I want to de-stigmatize going to therapy for support when needed, making this as normal as going to your primary doctor when you’re not feeling well. We have made an impact on our community through education and validation of normal emotional responses to life’s transitions, celebrations and challenges.”

Founded in November 2018, the organization has three employees offering unique approaches to wellness and healing — from art therapy to yoga, and breathwork approaches.

The practice specializes in treating the whole person from a mind-body perspective for conditions including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic pain/chronic illness, life transitions, selfesteem and more. The group prides itself in being a traumainformed, LGBTQ+ affirming and anti-oppression-informed practice. Current service offerings include mental health counseling, consisting of talk therapy, art therapy and embodied therapy, professional training and consultation, community education and workshops, and holistic wellness services.

“We believe each person has capabilities to live a fulfilled life through empowerment and support,” added Kostura. “We believe in giving folks the emotional regulation, communication and other emotional wellness tools

needed to manage a life they were not taught.”

“I have been working on and off with Amanda for over four years. She is incredibly knowledgeable and thinks outside the box more than any other therapist I’ve known. She has truly changed my life for the better. I struggle to put into words how profound I feel my personal growth has been over the past few years. She has helped to guide me through this journey, and I will forever be grateful for that.” (name has been redacted to protect client confidentiality).

Carve Your Own Path has strategically chosen not to accept insurance. The group finds it creates more barriers and challenges to accessing individualized and specialized treatment services to target root causes for symptoms. In alignment with its mission as a nonprofit to provide accessible, affordable services to all, the organization offers a sliding fee scale based on gross annual income and can also offer a superbill for clients to use outof-network insurance benefits.

Financial donations are the organization’s primary need. Donations can be made by check to Carve Your Own Path, Inc. or via Venmo: http://www.venmo. com/carveyourownpathofficial. Carve Your Own Path regularly requests specific items needed for upcoming community events, workshops, or services. Follow Carve Your Own Path on Instagram or Facebook or by joining the email list to be notified of these requests. The group also has a podcast, Grow Your Path to Wellness and a vlog on YouTube.

Carve Your Own Path, Inc., is located at 840 Rothrock Road, Suite 203, Copley. More information can be found at www.carvemypath.org or by calling 330-426-7885.

INTRODUCING CALLIE CARTER

Leading a fulfilling life through Callie’s Community Project

WRITTEN BY MELISSA KLATT

Callie Carter, 9, resides in the countryside of Holmes County, deep in the heart of Amish country. At her young age, she’s a symbol of determination, as she doesn’t let the challenges she experiences with cerebral palsy and autism stand in the way of growing Callie’s Community Project.

BUILDING LIFELONG SKILLS THROUGH ACTION

Mom, RaShelle Carter, knew Callie would face challenges in her life. She

didn’t want the challenges Callie would face getting in the way of her quality of life, so they started Callie’s Community Project, an organization to grow her skills and set her up for a better, more inclusive future!

“We knew from a young age that Callie would struggle her whole life, and we didn’t want the difficulties she would face to affect her quality of life,” says RaShelle. “In March 2022, Callie was transferred from our local public school to a specialized school. At that point, we really started to focus on

lifelong skills for Callie and how we could connect her to the community. We started Callie’s Community Project, where we work together to make t-shirts, in hopes to help Callie increase functional/job skills, all while being a part of something with her family. We want Callie to lead a fulfilling life and to be an asset to her community.”

HOBBIES INCLUDE SPENDING SUMMERS ON THE MOHICAN RIVER

Some of Callie’s favorite hobbies include swimming and playing in the

water! So naturally, to incorporate more of that fun for the whole family, everyone came together to convert a camper to better accommodate Callie’s needs as they go camping. This past summer, they spent camping on the Mohican River, which Callie absolutely loved! Callie tubed down the river with her parents pulling her by kayaks. She had a blast, and the whole family has treasured memories to hold onto forever.

During the rest of the year, you’d probably catch Callie in her specialized racing chair playing with her buddy, Sarah!

NEVER STOP FIGHTING: A MOM’S WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

RaShelle shares the three words she lives by in her journey of motherhood: never stop fighting. “Be the voice for your child and their number one cheerleader,” she says.

do, and encourage others to always see your child as someone who can accomplish anything. It’s easy to feel defeated in the hard moments, but a year from now, you look back and say, “Wow, look at how much we have truly accomplished.”

RaShelle also attributes so much love and admiration for Susan, the behavioral support person they lean on! “Several years ago, our family was introduced to a wonderful behavioral support person: Susan. She has truly been the biggest blessing to our family. She has helped us find resources and supported our needs as we have encountered different obstacles. She helped guide us through different transition periods with Callie. She has been someone we can confide in, as we know she always has our best interest at heart. She loves our family and Callie as much as we love her. We would not be where we are today if it was not for Susan. We always say, “Every family needs a Susan in their life.”

ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS!

It’s gotten easier to make a website, but harder to make them accessible

BY JAMES WARNKEN

In a world where anyone can log in and build a website in a matter of hours without knowing any code, this has made the job of making those websites accessible to everyone more challenging than ever before. It also does not help that many platforms do not offer much support in guiding the author to make accessible design decisions during their creative process. I am a huge fan of how easy it has become to make a website that brings ideas in your head to life, but I do wish they considered accessibility a bit more. Unless you have experience working within the accessibility space, chances are you have no idea what is accessible and what is not.

The drag-and-drop builder is not the issue; it is more about providing feedback to the author to make choices that ensure equal opportunities and experience for all users, including those who cannot see, have a hard time seeing, have a hard time perceiving colors, have a hard time using common input methods like a mouse, or have a hard time hearing. It is highly unlikely and somewhat unfair to the author of the website to have to know all the details in order for their website to be accessible to everyone. Now, in some cases, our creative minds make accessible decisions like avoiding “click here” for links or using colors that clash when paired together. But on a more technical note, the structure and semantics of some elements require a bit more thought and consideration.

Let’s look at links, for example! Many builders offer the ability to make the plain text a link right within a paragraph, but customizing that link to make it visually distinct isn’t always available to the author. If text can be clicked on to go to a new destination, it should stand out from the rest of the words around it, right? The obvious answer is yes, so why can’t we customize it to make sure it is distinct? Building on this, many builders use “buttons” as a primary element for linking to things. The issue is that buttons and links are not necessarily the same thing. From a blind user’s perspective, if the language says “click the button below,” but that button is actually a link, users might not know which one is referenced. In this case, it causes confusion and is not the fault of the author, but because the builder calls it a “button,” but the code in the background tags it as a link.

What should we do as authors? I think the first step should be to spend some time understanding the basics and fundamentals of accessibility so that we don’t need

to rely upon the builders to guide us. Secondly, we should be spending some time to see which builder offers more accessible solutions or asking the platforms to integrate some of the accessibility features for us to use. Lastly, we should be connecting with accessibility specialists and people with disabilities to learn how to improve the experience for everyone, not just those with certain disabilities. The task of digital accessibility may be a bit daunting and overwhelming, but once you lean into it, you’ll quickly realize it is not nearly as complex and technical as most make it seem.

to Digital Accesibilty LIVE

CONTINUING THE ACCESSIBILITY CONVERSATION NO MATTER WHAT

Apex Communications Network spent several months working with local organizations throughout Stark County to host an in-person digital accessibility lunch-n-learn at the Stark County Plain Branch library; and the weekend before the event was scheduled, some of the team tested positive for COVID-19. While this might seem like the timing couldn’t be worse, the Apex team came together and quickly shifted everything to a digital event in just 3 days. Instead of a lunch-n-learn, it now was going to be a Livestream on YouTube. With the help and understanding of MentorStark, Pinnacle Press, Cherry Blend Coffee Roasters, and Maks Munchies N More, Apex was able to make the shift and had just enough time to spread the word about the unexpected changes.

When the time came, the Livestream started and Jan, RJ, and James delivered the same content they planned to share in person. They lead the conversation by explaining what digital accessibility is and why it is so important for every organization to integrate it into their

everyday work. Following that, they dove into definitions, key terms, statistics, and showcased what the current landscape looked like. The second half of the presentation was dedicated to introducing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 and walking through some “easy wins” that can turn an inaccessible website into something everyone can access and engage with. While they did not have time to cover every detail, they made it a point to show some great examples of assistive technology in action and how it works when being used in accessible and inaccessible environments.

Regardless of the situation, the show must go on and the conversation must continue. Apex is leading by example and helping several of our local organizations to incorporate accessibility into their daily activities to ensure everyone, regardless of abilities, has the opportunity to access and engage.

Watch the playback of the Livestream by searching for Apex Communications Network on Youtube.

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH COURTNEY JEANS

Intervention specialist at North Canton City Schools

Question: Where do you work currently?

Answer: I work in North Canton City Schools, running the Transition U program located at Walsh University.

Question: What is your job title here?

Answer: Intervention Specialist — Moderate/Intensive

Question: How long have you been employed with your current job?

Answer: This is my eighth year running the Transition U program, my 10th year teaching

Question: What were your previous jobs in the industry?

Answer: During my first two years, I was employed in the district as an Individual Small Group Instructor, co-teaching various subjects.

Question: Educational background.

Answer: I obtained both my Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at Kent State University. I am licensed to teach as a K-12 Intervention Specialist (Moderate/Intensive). My Master’s degree is in Intervention Specialist (Moderate/Intensive) with the Transition to Work Endorsement.

Question: What do your day-to-day job responsibilities include?

Answer: I spend time at Hoover each morning working with the teachers and students who run the school’s coffee shop, called Hot Spot. Then my day consists of teaching various life skills lessons and activities to my students, such as budgeting/money management, time management, nutrition,

social skills, grocery shopping, cooking, employability training, etc. Tuesdays and Thursdays are considered “workdays,” where students use SARTA Proline to get to and from work. We currently have two amazing worksites the students go to for a couple of hours that allow them to work on developing employability skills. Fridays are our grocery shopping days, where we go to a local grocery store and students purchase items to pack their lunches for the following week.

Question: What is the inspiration behind why you work in this field?

Answer: My inspiration goes back to middle school, during “Eighth Grade Career Day.” That day, I shadowed a family friend who, at the time, was an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher at a specialized Early childhood program in Stark County. I was tossing a ball back and forth with a student, and he started talking to me. I later found out that was the first time his teachers ever heard him speak. It was a defining moment that impacted my life greatly and made choosing a career path very easy. Years later, after I became a teacher, it all came full circle, and I had the privilege of seeing him again and working with him at the high school.

Question: What part of your job are you most passionate about?

Answer: I love watching my students’ confidence in themselves build over time. From their first day in the program to the day they graduate, there is this momentum of confidence building that takes place in each of them that I hope never stops.

Question: What advice would you give to someone new to your field?

Answer: To give yourself some grace when you have tough days. Also, take the time to learn from your colleagues who have more experience.

Question: What is your favorite success story you have seen?

Answer: I think each time we celebrate students and have a graduation ceremony is a success story in itself. Whether the students are heading into employment or found a program that suits their needs, it is worth celebrating their new beginning.

Question: Do you feel like you’re making a difference in your job and why?

Answer: I do. However, it is not by my effort alone because I have amazing Educational Assistants. Also, this collaboration between North Canton City Schools and

Walsh University is one of a kind. Providing such a unique opportunity for students to continue to work on developing various daily living skills and employability skills before making that transition out of school.

Question: What advice would you give to parents in your field to help navigate?

Answer: The last few years of your students’ educational career can be daunting, to say the least. But you do not have to navigate this transition period alone. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and The Board of DD are great resources to invite to IEP meetings in high school.

Question: What has been the biggest factor in your career success?

Answer: I am blessed to work and collaborate with some amazing people on a daily basis. My Educational Assistants, past and present, have played a huge role in the success of this program, and they never get enough credit for all they do. I am also grateful for the support the program has received from the school district and Walsh University.

Question: What is your favorite nonprofit organization or volunteer opportunity?

Answer: I have always loved Gigi’s Playhouse! It is on my list to hopefully volunteer there someday!

Looking For Fun & Exciting Ways To Spend Your Day?

We o er a variety of community activities, all of which are chosen by participants of the program. At Premier Approach you’ll enjoy a fun, friendly & relaxed atmosphere. Get out and enjoy the things you already love, while also exploring other new and exciting opportunities.

Beauty Belongs to Everyone

Introducing Raelyn Braxton simply through images

FINAL TAKE

PHOTOS CAREFULLY SELECTED BY MIKE STURDIVANT

Callie’s Community Project

Meals By Chef Daniel

First Christian Day Services

The Lovell Family Raynell RJ Sims

Raelyn Braxton

Andrew Schumacher

Mhani Varner

Wings of Change Therapy, Inc. provides therapeutic day programming for youth between the ages of 5 and 21.

Our therapeutic day program provides educational and therapeutic services to children of all ability levels. The licensed therapists work alongside the intervention specialists within the classrooms and provide individual therapy.