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Jump to: Company Wide Programs and Courses Admin ABA Waiver Social Groups Employment Company Wide Upcoming Events! Summer is here, and Fort Wayne has some amazing events to explore with friends, family, and clients. We especially encourage you to stop by both of these events where we'll be part of the action: Check out Open Streets on Sunday, August 17th, from Noon to 4. The streets open up for biking, walking, music, games, and more—completely free and family-friendly. We're excited to host the Sensory Tent just across from the Botanical Conservatory! This will be the first year that the event has included a Sensory Tent. Come by and say hi! Come to the My Autism Ally Autism Acceptance Walk on Sunday, September 7, from Noon to 3:30 at the Allen County Fairgrounds. It’s an afternoon of activities and resources for the whole family- including supports for those of all ages on the autism spectrum. It’s free to park and attend, so come out and enjoy food, an indoor vendor fair, crafts, games, music play, pony rides, a petting zoo, sensory exploration, cosplay (princesses and superheroes), and a touch-a-truck including first responder vehicles. This year’s unity walk will start at 3pm. It's a meaningful way to show support for our community and raise awareness. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the fun! Updates to Policies and Procedures Make sure you’re up to date with changes to the following: • Policy 306 – Leave of Absence Policy • Leave of Absence Procedure • Leave of Absence Request Form • Consent and Release for Drug and Alcohol Testing You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the updated versions of these documents. Physical copies are posted on the communication board in the workrooms. Digital versions can be viewed on the Staff Hub page. Supporting documents are linked in their corresponding policy section. 📌To Do • Complete this Employee Handbook Update Acknowledgement. • Keep an eye out for an email from iSolved to reverify your consent for drug and alcohol testing. • Complete your Attendance and Participation Annual Review. The quiz covers information from Policy 203 available in the Staff Hub. Safety Month Wrap-Up Last month, we focused on safety with weekly info boards and short quizzes. Thank you to everyone who participated and put safety first! Congratulations to Saige G. (ES) and Kathleen H. (PAC) for winning our Summer Safety Survival Basket! See Amanda to enjoy all those summer goodies! July Birthdays Let’s wish a happy birthday to our amazing teammates: Mathieu Helmick (07/01) – Housekeeping James Otis (07/04) – PAC Amanda Musser (07/10) – PAC Adiswa Biddle (07/10) – PAC Allison Trabel (07/13) – Admin Amanda Hirschey (07/19) – PAC Rita Walters (07/24) – ABA Jacob Perrella (07/31) – PAC We hope you all have the happiest of birthdays! Welcome New Staff Programs and Courses Life Skills We’re down to the last couple of weeks of our first Nutrition and Meal Planning course, and participants have grown so much in their new skills! We have a wide range of participants with different skill sets learning all about food and nutrition.​ This last week, participants began using the skills they have learned to cook and make meals. Some made scrambled eggs and toast.​ A few of our participants challenged themselves and made something new and creative: banana pancakes! It’s been amazing to see their confidence and abilities blossom! Check out more in our blog! We’re Seeking Sponsors! Funding sources do not cover the cost of the food we use for hands-on practice, and we don't want to pass this cost on to clients. If you know a local business that would like to become a sponsor, we would love to credit them on our social media and in our newsletter. For more information, contact Amanda or Courtnie. Admin Big shout-out to our Admin team! You’re a small but mighty crew that keeps us running smoothly, even as you all balance such unique roles. Thank you for always stepping up, supporting one another, finding creative solutions, and bringing fresh ideas to the table. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed—we appreciate you! ABA Services Summer Spirit Days We loved seeing everyone’s travel-ready looks on Be A Summer Tourist Day! Keep the fun going with our July Spirit Days: Thursday, July 3 – Red, White, and Blue - be glitsy, be gaudy, leave the glitter outside with the fireworks Friday, July 18 – Favorite Color Day - dress as something that is your favorite color, a crayon, or just the color itself! Donuts with Dad Our Donuts with Dad event was fun, rewarding, and full of proud, smiling faces. Thank you for helping us make special memories with families! Staff Training Don’t forget - We have an all-staff ABA training on Tuesday, July 2, 4:45–5:45 p.m. Referral Bonus Alert Know someone who would make an awesome Behavior Technician? We have a referral bonus for you! Trainer Shoutout A huge thanks to Becca, who completed her Safety Care Trainer Recertification on June 16. We appreciate your steady leadership and expertise! ABA Staff Spotlight: Taegan Keele Taegan is an extremely reliable, hard working technician who has grown immensely in her skills and insights. She has turned into a model technician who is a go-to for her peers and a favorite co-tech—all while balancing a full-time college load. We’re so proud of the growth and dedication you show every day, Taegan. Thank you for being such a bright spot on our team! Waiver Services Important Medicaid Update Changes are being proposed to Medicaid Waiver services that could significantly impact our clients and families. Stay tuned—we’ll share updates as soon as we feel we've received enough clarity and dependable details. Also stay tuned to our advocacy page, which we'll be updating to include these new changes. New DSP Requirement All DSPs will need to complete a new state certification and training requirement. Thank you for your patience and follow-through as we get everyone up to date - stay tuned to your email! Katie Hillyer Alaina Marks Waiver Staff Spotlight: Katie Hillyer and Alaina Marks Thank you both for going above and beyond when facilitating activities. Your commitment and energy are so invigorating. Thank you especially for running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for clients who love gaming. Having their interests validated and embraced means so much to them. If anyone else would like to join or help run a D&D group, reach out to Megan! Just want to check it out? That's perfect, too! Reach out so we can pair you with our expert gamers. Social Groups Save the Date! Our next Waiver Movie Night is set for Friday, August 1, 6–8 p.m. It’ll be a special outdoor event with a camping/outdoors theme. Stay tuned for the opportunity to vote on which movie to watch! Employment Services Client Successes Let’s celebrate our clients' amazing wins this month: • Accepted a Courtesy Clerk position at Kroger • Enrolled at Ivy Tech to study teaching • Accepted a Cashier role at Burlington • Enrolled in a GED program starting this month • Mastered folding shirts on a retail folding board • Practiced janitorial skills—both solo and as a team We’re so proud of our clients for working hard, learning new skills, and taking steps toward their goals!

Jump to: Company Wide Programs and Courses ABA Waiver Social Groups Employment Company Wide Celebrate National Safety Month – and Win! June is National Safety Month, and we’re making it fun and rewarding! Each week, Amanda will highlight a new safety topic with an info board and a quick 3-question quiz. For every quiz you complete, you’ll earn an entry into our Summer Safety Survival Basket raffle—packed with seasonal goodies! Find the weekly info and quiz in the employee lounge (Northcrest), the workroom (Medical Park), or your email if you're off-site. Thanks for making safety a priority! Staff Discounts Through OPS Don’t forget: OPS offers discounted memberships for our team! Big thanks to Linzie for securing this awesome benefit. Check out the flyer in workroom at either location for details or email your director if you are off-site. Staff Spotlight: Sophie Whitsitt - Payroll Specialist and Technology Assistant Sophie is always willing to try something new. She enjoys a challenge and is a natural problem solver. She consistently goes above and beyond to support both her team and clients of all ages. With a steady work ethic and a solution-oriented mindset, Sophie is always ready to jump in, lend a hand, and take on behind-the-scenes challenges—even those outside her official duties. Whether troubleshooting tech issues, handling intricate payroll needs, or staying late to assist with evening support groups, she brings reliability, flexibility, and wholehearted commitment to everything she does. Sophie thrives on learning new things and tackling complex problems, and her willingness to step up—even when no one is watching—makes a huge impact across the organization. Though her work may happen in the background, Sophie's contributions are essential and deeply appreciated. Welcome New Staff! Programs and Courses Life Skills Keeps Growing Our Life Skills courses have been such a hit that we’ve added a third section! Amanda has been in her element—teaching nutrition, leading hands-on recipe practice, and fostering great conversation and camaraderie among clients. The next round runs from June 23 – September 15 on Mondays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Coming Soon: Self-Advocacy Course Starting in July, we’ll be launching a Self-Advocacy course designed to empower our clients with education about their rights and well and practice with communication and decision-making skills. Stay tuned for more details! ABA Services Muffins with Mom = Major Win! We had a wonderful turnout for Muffins with Moms—including visits from parents who had never been inside the clinic before! One parent shared: “These are great! Thank you so much for celebrating us today. You guys are amazing, and I loved being able to be there with her!” Thanks to everyone who helped make the day special! We can’t wait for Donuts with Dads this month! Cultural Competency Training Our team wrapped up the first staff training of the year with a focus on cultural competency. Thank you for your thoughtful participation and commitment to inclusive care. June Spirit Day Get your sunscreen ready—June 20th is Summer Tourist Day (and the first day of summer)! Think flip flops, fanny packs, floral shirts, and vacation vibes! Welcome Bri Smothers, BCBA Bri has been in the ABA field since 2017 and has been a BCBA for the past four years. Her journey began with a summer internship during her undergraduate studies—an experience that sparked a true passion for the field. She was inspired by the incredible progress she witnessed in clients over a short period of time, and that same inspiration continues to fuel her work today. Outside of work, Bri enjoys camping, reading, and spending quality time with her nieces and nephews. And she’s expecting a baby boy this August! Since joining our team, Bri has already made a wonderful impression, bringing with her a sense of calm, confidence, and dedication. We are so excited to have such an experienced, kind, and passionate person on board. Waiver Services Tour Our Training Spaces! If you haven’t had a chance to check out our awesome training spaces, now’s the time! DSPs can reach out to Megan.P@PartnersinAutism.com to schedule a tour and start planning creative sessions with your clients. PAC Hack of the Month ✨ Positive Reinforcement Stash ✨ Carry a small pouch of client favorites—like stickers, fidgets, or snacks—for quick rewards on the go. This keeps momentum strong and behavior plans effective! Explore the Community—With Memberships! Take advantage of our available memberships for Waiver outings! Contact Megan to use any of these awesome locations: • Skyzone • Botanical Conservatory • Fort Wayne Museum of Art • Build Guild • Community Center • Science Central • Kids Empire • Power Up Action Park • ACPL Library Card Social Groups New Games, New Connections Our social groups are going strong, helping clients and families build meaningful connections. If you and your clients are looking for a way to get involved, game night is the perfect place to start! We’ll be debuting brand-new games—come join the fun! Employment Services Skills Spaces in Action! We’ve seen amazing engagement in our training spaces lately—clients are working on everything from stocking grocery shelves to organizing library books, folding hotel linens, and practicing customer service. We love supporting them as they build confidence and readiness! Junior Achievement Visit Courtnie toured Junior Achievement’s new Financial Park which includes a new outdoor space with sculptures and maps for clients to practice navigation and direction skills. While there, she got to learn all about JA's Essential Work Skills credentialing program for young adults (up to age 25). The curriculum focuses on key skills like: • Creative thinking • Collaboration • Cultural agility • Engaging communication • Self-direction Client Successes Let’s hear it for these Employment rockstars! What they've been accomplishing: • Making great strides in real-world interviews. • Nailed a mock interview with a new person and setting—amazing growth! • Aced hotel housekeeping training—way to go! • Practiced taking custom cake orders and payments—sweet work! • Enrolled at Ivy Tech to begin studying Elementary Education this August—congratulations!

Jump to: Company Wide ABA Supported Pathways Waiver Social Groups Employment Company Wide Training Spaces Now Open Our training spaces are ready and available for use! These areas are designed for all services—not just Employment. Whether you’re role-playing interviews or practicing laundry routines, these spaces are equipped with visual cue cards and skill assessments. We’ll be spotlighting individual rooms over the next few months. Want to reserve a space? Ask your director for the steps! Life Skills Has Launched! We’re thrilled to share that our Life Skills program has officially launched! Amanda is leading two weekly courses on Nutrition and Meal Planning, and early feedback has been great. Want to be part of the action? We could use some volunteers to support either session—email Courtnie if you're interested in helping out! Staff Spotlight: Allison Schrodt - DSP Allison's patience, empathy, and consistency are incredible, and she creates a safe and empowering environment for our clients. She goes above and beyond in her role, and we notice! We are very fortunate to have someone like her who not only does the job well but also does it with so much care, integrity, and compassion.  -Megan, Director of Waiver Services Welcome New Staff! ABA Promoting from Within Congratulations to Will Sproat, our newest Lead Behavior Technician! With years of ABA experience and a knack for motivating kids, Will brings both professional expertise and a fun-loving spirit—did you know he was once the Komets hockey mascot? Still Growing Strong We continue to expand both our team and our clientele—thank you to everyone for your flexibility and hard work during this exciting time! We have a referral bonus for current staff and also sign on bonus for RBT’s. Autism Acceptance Month All month long, we spotted staff in red, proudly showing support for Autism Acceptance—thank you for being part of this important message! Spirit Day Shoutout Last month’s Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character spirit day brought out some incredible creativity—thanks for participating! Don’t forget: this month’s Spirit Day is May 16th—Flower Power! Supported Pathways SPLC Finishes Strong SPLC just wrapped up its school year, celebrating two full years of providing a neurodivergent-affirming educational space! We're proud to offer a flexible, empowering environment where students master subjects at their own pace and build lasting confidence. Waiver Welcome, Adiswa! We’re excited to welcome Adiswa Biddle to the team as our newest Direct Support Professional. We look forward to the energy and care she’ll bring to our clients! Spring Adventures Our teams have been making the most of the spring weather—hiking, golfing, and visiting local farmers’ markets. Have a fun outing you’ve done lately? We’d love to hear about it! New Idea Alert: Fort Wayne Public Art Trail Looking for a fresh new activity? Try exploring the Fort Wayne Public Art Trail—with over 150 murals and sculptures to discover, it’s a great way to spend time with clients outdoors and spark some great conversations. Social Groups Navigators Off to a Great Start Navigators is officially up and running and off to a fantastic start! Our first outing on May 3rd took us to a glassblowing studio—watch for an upcoming blog post soon about our experience. We’re still looking for volunteers to help with meetings and outings, so let us know if you’re interested! Employment Client Successes Big congrats to two of our Employment clients who closed successfully last month! • AF landed a position at Kiddie Academy as a floating teacher's aide. • JW is working at Speedway, where his manager shared that he’s come out of his shell and keeps his team laughing! • Celebrating Ana (and baby!) We wrapped up the month by showering Ana with love for her upcoming arrival—thank you to everyone who helped make her baby shower so special!