Special Needs Living Parent and Caregiver Empowerment Day and Food Truck Social

from Special Needs Living November 2022 Digital Issue

by Uniquely You

FUNDRAISER AT DISTILLERY 1205

Our one-word takeaway from the day together!

PHOTOS BY ELI WALKER, DELIVER VIDEO

Jason McManus, Wabash Center; Paula LeMaster, SafeInHome; Michele Trivedi, The ARC; Susan Smith, Noble; Terri Gee, New Hope; Karly Sciortino-Poulter, The ARC; Angela Touseull

Aaron Scheffler, Mark2Ministries, https:// www.mark2ministries.org/, speaking during the marriage breakout

Scott Garner sharing his story as a single dad with two special needs sons

Erin Boaz, Heart Centered Reality, https:// www.erinboaz.com/

DeAndra Dycus

John and Shannan Penaflor

Angie Arlington and Scott Garner, leading the single parent and caregiver breakout

What a wonderful experience it was to put on the first Special Needs Living Parent and Caregiver Empowerment Day.

Huge thanks to Pastor Paul Hathcoat and White River Christian Church for hosting this event and providing all the wonderful technology that allowed us to stream this event live on our Facebook page and through Zoom. We have been planning this event for many months, and we enjoyed seeing it all come together. The most enjoyable part was watching so many in the community lean into deep conversations and share with each other in an open and vulnerable setting. We are so thankful for each of the speakers and panel members who showed up to pour into the community. Your preparation and openness were appreciated by all who were there. Our theme was “From Surviving to Thriving.” Erin Boaz kicked us off on the right note, sharing some great insight on how our thoughts affect so much in our life, and sharing practical ways we can incorporate better thought patterns into our daily routine. The mindfulness moments provided by Lindsay Zehren with Resounding Joy were exactly what we needed to remember to pause, breath, reflect and be present in the midst of our busy and stressful days. I wish we had had more time together. At the end of the event, everyone wrote down the one word that they took away from the day, and we then joined together for a group photo. No matter where you are in the journey, it felt so good to come together, connect, build relationships, share stories and learn about great resources. Thank you to each and every person who attended the event. We look forward to doing this again next year. The Food Truck Social ended the event on a high note. We are so thankful to each of the supporters and to Rude Radish & Gals Fresh Fish LLC for joining us for the social.

Lindsay Zehren, Resounding Joy

Caitlyn Dragon and Allison Charette, PEAS For Kids; Esther Whittlesey, INSOURCE; Marty Stone, IN Family to Family, law office of Elizabeth A. Homes LLC; Jessica Garber, Connections Case Management; Julie Gordon, The Hope Source/The Heart of the Spectrum