By Maria Smietana Photos by Heather Gregg – 21 Vines Photography
Dunklau Family Diane, Caroline, Kiersten, & Bridget Caroline, Diane, Kiersten and Bridget Dunklau
Save the Date! Puppies and Ponies at Sunset
Friday, July 16, 2021 - Hickory Hall Polo Club 7551 E. 100 N. Whitestown, IN 46075
Kiersten modeling the surgery caps we made for the Life Line
As the mother of three adult daughters, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, Diane Dunklau has paved the path for many younger parents whose children have a similar diagnosis. A special education resource teacher at White River Elementary in the Noblesville Community Schools, Diane moved here from Michigan with her now former husband more than 33 years ago. All three of her daughters grew up in Noblesville. “We were among the first families to ‘storm the beaches’ of autism in the school system,” Diane recalled. “We worked to help the girls (Kiersten, now 31, and Caroline, 29) navigate through school and learn independence. Now that they are adults, we are learning to find and secure employment.” Diane’s youngest daughter, Bridget, is neurotypical. She lives and works in Bloomington, IN.
Gates Open at 5 p.m. A family friendly event to benefit the life-changing missions
Kiersten went through the College Internship Program in Bloomington and attended Ivy Tech. Caroline was a member of Project Search at Carmel St. Vincent. Both programs were designed to help students with special needs find their independence and future life.
of ICAN and Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding
Learn more at www.icandog.org or www.morningdovetrc.org 12 Special Needs Living • June 2021
Both young women now work in assisted living facilities, Kiersten in the Lodge at Harbour Manor in the center of Noblesville, and Caroline at Sanders Glen in Westfield. They continue to live at home with Diane in the North Harbor neighborhood where they grew up, along with Ava, the family’s little Maltipoo.
