Staff News - Sept '24
- Laura Bohnke
- Sep 2, 2024
- 6 min read
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Admin and Programs
Linzie, our Director of Behavior Quality Assurance, has been building several resources for our community, our staff, and our clients.
Autism Pre-Screening Assessment using ADOS-2 and CARS-2
This new program will assist families and individuals who want feedback on the likelihood that traits they possess indicate autism. We will be able to provide them with a letter of recommendation to take to their family physician to strengthen their case for a referral to a diagnosing physician. We are able to discuss traits and experiences empathetically and offer insight into navigating services if they would benefit from them.
Ableism Language Awareness Training
This training will help participants understand the history and significance behind many terms they may take for granted. We will help them be more aware of how their words matter and provide guidance on words to use instead. Our aim is to build a positive understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities in our community.
Behavior Training for Waiver and Employment Services
This training will help our Waiver and Employment staff strengthen their ability to respond to behaviors with methods that are built on ethical research and informed by a compassionate understanding of autism and other disabilities.
ABA
We just completed a valuable training discussing trial minimums. Keep up the hard work everyone!
Spirit Days:
This month's days are centered on activities rather than outfits.
Sept 6th: Goodies with Grandparents
Sept 20th: Keep Kids Creative (start planning ahead and let us know any unique supplies you'll need - keep recycling in mind)
Kudos to everyone on their collaboration and hard work during our ABA Olympics. There was so much energy, and you kept the focus on learning and developing skills. It was delightful to see everyone - techs and clients - show off their skills. A deep thank you goes out to everyone who stepped up and filled in during our short-staffed moments. We are already looking ahead to the Winter Olympics of '26!
We are so proud of all the transitions that are occurring for our clients! Some are joining Supported Pathways Learning Center, some are transitioning into school classrooms (public and private), some are joining or moving up through our ABA Transitional Classroom. It's exciting to see this flurry of growth!
For our clients who are transitioning to traditional classrooms, our Program Coordinators have been instrumental in helping those transitions happen smoothly. After attending preliminary meetings with the client's Behavior Analyst and the rest of the case committee, our PCs attend class with their client to serve as their transitional behavior tech. Our PCs are able to keep the client's Behavior Analyst fully and accurately informed of all data needed to ensure that the transition is navigated successfully. They are also able to interact directly with the educational community. Within these interactions, they are able to help members of the case committee and classroom staff gain a deeper understanding of our clients' unique and valuable traits and help bridge the gap between ABA practices and classroom routines.
Safety Care Tidbit of the Month!
Stripping A Grab
If a person dangerously grabs you, it may be necessary to stabilize and then release a grab to clothing, the end of long hair, or a finger.
Remember to:
Call for assistance.
Stabilize the grab by using one hand to take hold of what the person is grabbing.
Place your second hand between your stabilizing hand and the person’s grasping hand, with your palm facing away from you and opened in a web.
Keep the second hand in place (without pushing) while you pull the other hand back and step away, releasing the grab.
Move away using the protective shuffle or shoulder check.
Avoid:
Grabbing the person’s hand
Pushing instead of stepping away
Not keeping the bracing hand in place while stepping back
Using more force than necessary
Take a moment to demonstrate this skill to e
Supported Pathways
We've had a terrific start to our second school year! We've doubled our enrollment and are so happy to see new and returning faces. Our returning students have jumped right back into the routine and expectations of the classroom, and our new students have followed their example perfectly. We're so excited to see possibilities unfold for all of our students as they work individually and in small groups to achieve academic success.
Waiver
We're delighted with the amount of use that our memberships are getting. Here's a snapshot of the how much some of our memberships have been used in the past month:
Botanical Conservatory - 5 clients
Science Central - 9 clients
Zoo - 20 clients (we maxed out!)
Allen County Public Library - 4 (movies and books - remember that lots of other resources like all types of games are available for checkout!)
Welcome to our newest DSP, Josiah Shrock!
Client Celebrations!
AH successfully sang a solo as part of an audition and was accepted into her school choir! This required both boldness and skill, and we are so proud of her hard work and determination. AH has previously enjoyed stage time as part of community theater and is excited to be a part of this type of performance group as well!
AR has been enjoying volunteering at a local thrift store where his grandpa used to work. He likes the social element of being able to interact with his coworkers and also likes the responsibility of having duties to fulfill. It's easy to see how much pride he takes in the work he's doing and how much he enjoys the people he gets to be around.
Service Successes
We helped restore Medicaid benefits for a client so that they could restart services after many months without access to funding. The Medicaid landscape is far from simple, and we are so glad we were able to help them re-secure their benefits.
We helped a client achieve their citizenship! This is so exciting, and we are so thrilled for them and proud of them. In so many ways, we are happy they are part of our community!
Game Night times have changed! Game Night will still occur on the 3rd Friday of each month, but will shift one hour earlier. We will now meet from 5:00-7:00pm.
We have received and purchased several new board games, so come join the fun! We have a wide variety for all styles and interests. We're excited to teach you how to play games you've never tried before!
Social Squad will be taking a hiatus for September. We will see you again in October!
Employment
Individual Client Highlights for the Month
T.R.: Using their time at a seasonal job to build the confidence and experience they needed to secure a permanent job - congratulations!
T.B.: Being trained as a cashier because they do extremely well with customer service and are really excited about it. Beginning the process of getting their very own first apartment.
D.L.: Working through health issues. They push themself to excel and show everyone that even if you have a disability you can go far.
M.B.: Developing confidence and willingness to start trying new things and visiting new locations.
C.N.: Going out of their comfort zone to attend a job fair. Even though they were only interested in one field, they went to every single table and spoke to each employer.
B.T.: Achieving all of their skills goals in spite of being nervous to start the Job Readiness Training Plan.
Employers Who Have Gone Above & Beyond
Treasure House has been so supportive of a client who is struggling at work. Providing that kind of support can make a big difference in helping the client overcome challenges and feel more confident in their job.
Community Partnerships Benefiting Our Clients
GiGi's Playhouse has been such a valuable community partner. Giving clients the chance to explore different volunteering opportunities and test out their skills can be an excellent way for them to discover their strengths and interests.
Thrift Store is offering clients the chance to try out different skills while volunteering. This kind of hands-on experience can be really valuable for them as they explore what they enjoy and find where they excel.
Science Central is providing such supportive guidance for a client, helping them become more independent while doing demos. This kind of encouragement and practical advice can really build a client's confidence and skills.
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