Non-Profit Spotlight: Sycamore Services

By Angela Arlington

About: Sycamore Services Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Danville, IN, that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 27 counties, primarily in central Indiana. They provide a variety of programming and services to meet the needs of the participants that they serve, from children to adults.

Highlights of services offered include: · Community activity and integration · Respite care, behavior management, and recreational therapy · Services for the deaf and hard of hearing · Transportation services · Pre-employment transition, supported work, and employment services · Residential and day services

Mission Statement: Sycamore Services, Inc. makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and others experiencing daily challenges by providing individualized training and services to increase independence and enhance their quality of life.

Vision: Sycamore Services, Inc. is the recognized industry leader in making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by providing quality services when and where they are needed in the state of Indiana. Our highly trained staff and collaborative efforts overcome barriers by responding to the evolving needs of individuals, businesses, and communities. We are the agency of choice because of our integrity, positive outcomes, and commitment to those we serve.

Core Values: · Diversity – We embrace the unique contributions of each individual · Integrity – Ethics without compromise is our standard of conduct · Excellence – We continually pursue the highest quality in all areas. Honesty and hard work make things happen.

Sycamore’s zero exclusion policy gives everyone a chance to work/live in the least restrictive environment possible. People with disabilities become people with jobs, people with homes and roommates, people with responsibilities, people who lead productive, contributing lives in their communities.

Sycamore’s continued efforts are based upon the principle that persons with developmental and other disabilities have the same basic rights to human dignity and freedom as all other citizens. We strive to assist the individuals we

serve in the development of their talents and abilities, to enable them to exercise their rights as citizens and engage in meaningful pursuits in the communities we serve.

Spotlight: Sycamore Services Participant Dishing Up Good Eats in Hendricks County

By Matthew Kent

A Sycamore Services participant working toward his dream of becoming a chef is sharing his passion in Hendricks County.

Danville resident John Luecht started his career in the food industry in 2014 at McDonald’s in Plainfield, where he cleaned tables and dishes for nearly six years. He decided to attend Erskine Green Training Institute based in Muncie, which provides post-secondary training for adults with disabilities and offers training programs in food service/restaurant, healthcare support, and hospitality.

Luecht received industry-recognized certification as a kitchen cook through the institute a year ago. And if you’ve visited Charbonos in Avon for an evening meal, it’s likely that Luecht helped prepare your appetizer, pizza, or dessert in the six months he was employed there, until this past May. This past summer, he was a cook at Camp Tannadoonah in Vandalia, Michigan, where he put his culinary skills to good use, in addition to cleaning and sanitizing as needed.

Currently, he is playing a role in feeding more than 1,000 children enrolled at Plainfield Middle School, where he works as a cook making pizzas and cookies during the week.

Luecht has worked closely with his employment consultant, Clay Cramer, who provided support for four job interviews Luecht had in Danville, Avon, Brownsburg, and Plainfield for food service positions.

“John was offered jobs from all four locations. He had the luxury of choosing where he wanted to work,” Cramer said. Luecht and his family ultimately determined that Plainfield was the best choice for him and he began working for the Plainfield Community School Corp. on Sept. 9th.

“John has made an outstanding impression on his managers and coworkers,” Cramer said. “He has already established himself as an important member of the foodservice team at Plainfield Middle School.”

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