Grace with her housemates at the Grandview home.
The Johnson Family
non-profit spotlight
Every day and every season were meticulously planned. Up at 5:30 a.m. to have Grace ready for the school bus. Make sure someone was home when Grace got out of school. Any extra-curricular activities meant allowing for exhausting preparation and time. Summers were especially challenging to make sure there was coverage for Grace’s special needs and therapies. The weeks were usually lined up with a multitude of day camps. At the same time, the Johnsons were sensitive to the fact that they had two other daughters that deserved attention, too: Grace’s twin sister, Josie, and their youngest daughter, Hadley. It was a house filled with infinite duties, activities, chaos, work, play, and love.
By: Kate Shepherd
All that changed when Grace’s counselor at North Central High School in Indianapolis recommended Grace consider transitioning to a group living setting. The Johnsons immediately thought of New Hope of Indiana.
Serves Up Independence Amy Johnson always thought she would dedicate her entire life to caring for her daughter, Grace, who was born with severe cerebral palsy. She knew Grace would not grow up like her twin and other siblings – learning and achieving independence as she aged. She could not care for herself – dress, bathe or feed herself. She was unable to walk, needed a wheelchair, and could not communicate well. Grace needed constant care. As a mom, Amy never allowed herself to imagine living any other way. Things other parents could justifiably take for granted, like extended vacations, dining out, spontaneous get-togethers, or even sleeping late were mostly out of the question. In fact, it would take some serious logistical planning just to be able to work late at the office.
22 Special Needs Living • June 2021
Tucked behind a fire station at W. 86th St. and Payne Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis, New Hope was the first private residential facility for people with developmental disabilities in Indiana when it opened in 1978. It also became the first facility of its kind to choose in favor of community-based living. Today, it provides residential services throughout Central Indiana and a variety of therapy, day, vocational and transition services. New Hope serves more than 500 individuals with disabilities every year. After utilizing New Hope’s supports for several years, Amy knew that she could trust their services in this new chapter of Grace’s life. In February of 2018, the Johnsons toured the Grandview home, part of New Hope’s Supported Living Program. They found it very charming, clean, warm, and inviting. Despite persistent doubts, they moved Grace into the home in August of 2018, right when school was starting.
