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    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.

    4Oct, 2017
    October Head Start Awareness Month

    Carey Services’ Early Head Start program is participating in National Head Start Awareness Month throughout the month of October.

    The National Head Start Association organizes national activities to raise awareness for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout the country and for early childhood development issues in general.

    Carey Services’ Early Head Start program served 235 pre-natal mothers and children 0-3 last year in Grant and Blackford counties. It is one of 25 Early Head Start programs in the state.

    2Oct, 2017
    September Access Newsletter Available

    Carey Services has released the September edition of Access, the monthly newsletter that highlights agency activities.

    The Access newsletter features information about the new agency promotional video, titled “When Opportunity Knocks, and also has details about this year’s Expressions art event, which will be Oct. 21. Also in the newsletter is the monthly installment of the Caring and Serving series that highlights client success stories, this month focusing on our Early Head Start program. Another article describes how donors can leave a legacy with Carey Services through planned giving.

    You can find the September issue here.

    You can find all Caring and Serving articles 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.

    2Oct, 2017
    Agency Receives Cass County Grant

    Carey Services recently was awarded a grant from the Cass County Community Foundation to help build a gazebo outside the agency’s day center in Logansport.

    The foundation awarded Carey Services $6,442 toward the cost of the gazebo, which will combine with a private donation to help defray construction costs.

    “We would like to thank the foundation for the generosity shown to fund our request,” said Greg Maynard, Carey Services’ director of fund and strategic advancement. “This addition to our Logansport facility will allow us to expand our programming options for the individuals we serve and do it in a nice outdoor setting.”

    The grant will fund construction of a gazebo and concrete sidewalk behind the facility in a large area bounded by trees. Many of the individuals served at that center use wheelchairs, and the gazebo and sidewalk will allow those clients to take advantage of outdoor activities.

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