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    5Oct, 2020
    Two Milestones Observed This October

    October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the 2020 observance combines two major milestones for people with disabilities.

    It’s the 75th anniversary of the national employment awareness observance, which had its beginnings in 1945 when Congress passed a bill declaring the first week of October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The observance has come a long way from those beginnings, but the month is still dedicated to raising awareness that people with disabilities can, and want, to work and to encourage employers to consider people with disabilities as viable job candidates.

    This year also is the 30th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA is a foundational law that has helped untold numbers of people with disabilities to become more engaged in their communities and become more independent.

    For information about how Carey Services supports people with disabilities who want to work, click here. 

    26Jun, 2019
    2019 Duck Race Splashing Success

    Carey Services’ 2019 Duck Race dodged the fowl weather and was a splashing success.

    The race raised more than $30,000, which will be used to meet unexpected or unbudgeted needs for the individuals we serve.

    The prize winners (and winning ticket numbers) for the race were:

    1st  – Peerless Printing (963) — $1,000

    2nd – LaRea Slater (1020) — $500

    3rd – Jayne Clark (633) — $300

    4th – Agricor (1771) — $200

    5th – Vicki Maynard  (1659) — $100

    6th – Tim George (162) – Indianapolis Indians tickets

    7th – Dave’s Excavating (1230) – Honeywell Center concert tickets

    8th – Peerless Printing (941) – Splash House passes

    Thank you to all of the race sponsors and ticket purchasers for supporting Carey Services.

    9Jul, 2018
    SplashABILITY Event July 25

    The inaugural SplashABILITY event for people with disabilities will be July 25 at the Marion Splash House.

    The event is geared for folks with all abilities, including people with disabilities, their loved ones and their caregivers. The event will be 7-9 p.m. with a discounted entrance fee of $3 for each person (regardless of ability). The public is invited, and the event will have some special features, including:

    • Music and volume levels selected with people with disabilities in mind
    • Briefer duration waves in wave pool
    • Full access to pool in areas otherwise designated for small children
    • Wheelchair lift capability
    • Concession stand open on main, pool-deck area (puree equipment will be available)
    • Outdoor games and activities also will be available to those who don’t want to be in water

     

     

    4May, 2018
    Help Us Win $10,000 in Online Scavenger Hunt

    Carey Services has an opportunity to win $10,000 to help us continue to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve! We need your help!

    We appreciate the financial support of foundations like the AWS Foundation (they helped fund our Creative Hearts Art Studio). Please go to www.AWSFoundation.org today and play their scavenger hunt game. Once you have completed the game, please cast a vote for Carey Services, Inc. It’s that easy (Ok, it takes a little time to find all 10 of the great principles of serving people with disabilities, but it is fun, and you can learn a lot about the great things the AWS Foundation does!). You only get one vote per device. Please share this with your friends to give Carey Services the best chance to win. The game ends May 31. Thank you.

    18Apr, 2018
    Free Special Needs Safety Kits Available

    As part of April’s Autism Awareness Month observance, Carey Services and AWS Foundation are making free safety kits available for families of children who have special needs.

    The kits are designed to safeguard against wandering and other dangerous situations involving children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The kits will be available, while supplies last, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Carey Services’ Building C entrance, which is on the Marion Bypass south of 26th Street.

    “These kits are timely and important because kids with special needs can be prone to wandering or being bullied or they can inadvertently place themselves in dangerous situations,” said Jim Allbaugh, Carey Services’ president and chief executive officer.

    The goal of creating the kits is to provide families with tools designed to help prevent a potentially harmful situation from occurring and to provide resources if an emergency occurs. The kit is designed to address safety concerns from wandering, bullying and seclusion to safety precaution methods at home and school. Distributing the kits in April is a planned strategy to highlight the annual international Autism Awareness Month observance.

    3Apr, 2018
    April is World Autism Awareness Month

    April is World Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day.

    The United Nations created the worldwide observance in 2007, and this year is the 11th observance of the proclamation for both specific day and the month of other related observances.

    As of 2016, autism affects about one in 68 children, and the numbers continue to grow. it is estimated that one out in 42 boys will end up being diagnosed with autism, and boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls. It is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States; it is estimated that a family with a member diagnosed with autism will spend about $60,000 a year on treatment.

    24Oct, 2017
    Tips For a Fun Halloween

    Halloween can be a fun time of year for many people, but the scary images and noises are not always fun for children who are on the autism spectrum.

    The Autism Society of Indiana has created a list of tips for parents or caregivers of children with autism that might help their loved one enjoy the holiday without some of the scary parts.

    How to Make Halloween Fun (But Not Scary) for Children on the Autism Spectrum

    1. Social Story: Write, and read with your child, a step-by-step social story of what to expect. For more information about social stories and some samples, visit CarolGraySocialStories.com
    2. Costume Choice: If your child has not yet chosen a costume, you might suggest one that is related to an existing area of interest. If your child likes a particular book, game or sport, they will probably enjoy dressing up like their favorite character or athlete. This will provide built-in excitement to the experience.
    3. Dress Rehearsal: Practice putting on your child’s costume, so he or she is familiar with it. Start letting your child wear the costume around the house a couple of weeks before Halloween, so when the holiday arrives it is an accepted routine. If the costume has tags that scratch or other aspects that cause a problem, you will have sufficient time to solve the problem and alleviate any sensory discomfort or distraction.
    4. Role Play: Practice in advance the Trick or Treat process of requesting and accepting the treat. This will help your child understand and remember what to say and do while Treat or Treating.
    5. Logistics: Create a written schedule so your child knows in advance what activities will take place on the holiday. Include a map of the places you might visit. Consider staying in your neighborhood or only visiting family and friends your child already knows. Discuss the schedule in advance with your child and point out your intended “Trick or Treat” route on the map. Your child will then have time-frame and visual references for how the day will unfold, which will minimize the surprises. (And don’t visit any haunted houses!)
    6. Time Limit: Your child does not need to visit lots of houses to make the holiday fun. Consider a Trick or Treat journey of 45 minutes to an hour. (This will also prevent acquiring too many sweets.)
    7. Siblings: If you have other children who are not on the spectrum, consider having them do their Trick or Treating with their friends, if they want to go for a longer time or visit different places. This will help reduce any pressure a different agenda might present.
    8. Decorations: Considering gradually decorating your house and yard in the days and weeks leading up to Halloween, so your child is not overwhelmed by too many potentially scary images in and around your property.
    9. More Treats: You and your child can bake and decorate Halloween cookies or cupcakes before the holiday arrives, to gradually build up the fun factor as the special day approaches.

    The society also has created a special card that can be printed and used during Trick or Treating. Print the above image to use the card and share with others.

    11Oct, 2017
    Employer Roundtable Oct. 24

    As part of Carey Services’ participation in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the agency will host an employer roundtable at 10 a.m. Oct. 24 for a time of discussion and to recognize area employers who have supported employing people with disabilities.

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed every October. The month emphasizes  education on disability employment issues and celebrates the many contributions people with disabilities make to the workforce.

    The purpose of the roundtable is to bring employers together to talk about their workforce needs and talk about ways Carey Services might be able to help meet those needs. Employers who have employed people with disabilities will talk about their experiences. The agency also will present annual awards to recognize some of those employers.

    The meeting is open to all business owners, managers and human resource staff members. Light refreshments will be served.

    For more information, contact Tim Kendrick, employment services manager, at (765) 668-8961, ext. 165, or email him here.

    2Oct, 2017
    October Disability Employment Awareness Month

    Carey Services will be one of numerous organizations that will participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

    This year’s theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.”

    The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

    8Mar, 2017
    February is National Disability Awareness Month

    Carey Services is joining with other disability advocates around the country to observe National Disability Awareness Month in March.

    In Indiana, more than 19 percent of the state’s population are children and adults with disabilities. The goal of the month-long observance, which has been occurring for more than 70 years, is to increase awareness of those who have disabilities while also promoting inclusion and independence for all people.

    This year’s theme and poster artwork — “I’m Not Your Inspiration” — emphasizes an important fact: people with disabilities are people first and defined by their abilities, not the challenges they might face. They are co-workers, classmates and neighbors who want to be fully included in their communities like everyone else.

    For more information, visit the website of the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities here.

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