October 2021 Newsletter

Trunk or Treat | Autism Community Connection
October 23rd, 10am-12pm

New Hope Church at 5307 Fairview Rd, Greenwood

Cornerstone will have a booth at this upcoming trunk or treat in Greenwood! This will be a great event for you and your entire family. What a great way to celebrate the upcoming holiday!

 


Addressing Challenging Behavior Training

Tantrums, aggression, and self-injury are just some of the ways a child may communicate in order to meet a desire or need. Challenging behaviors are often a source of stress for the family as these behaviors may result in endangering the child and/or impeding skill development.

Join us online or in-person to discuss ways we can decrease challenging behavior and develop foundational skills.

West Lafayette – October 19th; 8:45am
Greenwood (Polk/Madison) – October 19th; 8:45am
Edinburgh – October 21st; 8:45am
Avon – October 21st, 8:45am
Online – October 26th, 12-1pm
Online – October 28th, 8-9pm


New Blog: Fall Activities for Families in Indiana

Are you looking to make some boo-tiful memories with your kiddos this fall season? We have put together a list of places offering autumn themed activities close to each of our locations, as well as some activities you can do safely at home! Read the blog here.

Halloween Parades

Center-specific Halloween information will be sent out to you soon, be on the lookout!

 


Thank you to these staff members for Maximizing Those Who Struggle, Embracing Those Who Love and Fulfilling Those Who Serve.

Katie Hosea, MA, BCBA

My biggest dream manager goal was to build a family through adoption. We recently celebrated two years as parents and our adoption was finalized in March of this year!
On any nice day, you can find me outside. I love to go on long walks, bike rides and we love a family picnic. I’m also a sucker for a good true crime documentary or podcast. My favorite place in the world is Idaho. It makes me feel close to nature and I can’t wait to take my girls someday!
Seeing all of the small strides that lead to a break through on a new skill is so rewarding to me. I also love getting to teach our clients new communication in whatever mode works best for them. My favorite memory from my first year at Cornerstone was having a talent show with some of the kids. Now, as a BCBA, I have so many fond memories of “Friday hugs” and watching “fast cars.”

 

Heather McCammack, ABA Therapist

In my free time, I like to read Dystopian, romance and mystery books. I also enjoy puzzles. I love to travel — I have traveled to Ireland and would like to travel to Greece one day.

I love when my client gives me a hug. Our kids at Cornerstone are so heartfelt and genuine! My favorite memory was a day playing in the parachute. My client generally likes to play by himself. Yet, one day he played under a parachute with myself, two other clients and two other therapists with so much joy.

 

Kelli Russell, MA, BCBA

I think those who inspire me the most would be my immediate family. I find myself most motivated and always striving towards bigger and better things because of the support I receive from my parents and siblings. Without them, I wouldn’t have the values I have or have achieved some of the things I have done in my life. They have shaped me to be passionate, and determined in everything I do, but especially in the field of ABA.

Current goals I have for myself are to become debt free, and to own a home. One of my favorite quotes right now is, “The best thing you can do for yourself is live a life that is fulfilling and do all the things that make you happy”.  For me, that’s working in the field of ABA and spending time with my family as much as possible.

My favorite thing has always been that each work day is so different. The progress made across days, weeks, and months with each client is remarkable to watch. After being in the field of ABA for 6 years, the amount of progress I’ve seen across such a wide variety of clients is what keeps me going each and every day.

Many people may not realize this, but I actually started at Cornerstone as an intern in 2015, and worked at the Greenwood (Polk) and Edinburgh offices for almost 2 years before moving to Colorado. Now that I’m living in Indiana again, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. My favorite memory from Cornerstone back then would be my first “Make It Happen Day” and signing in American Sign Language ,  “Lips are movin’” by Megan Trainer with the group of people who took American Sign Language courses with Stephanie. Most recently, my favorite memory so far at Cornerstone was when we completed a team builder to do The Special Olympics. It was fun to see the employees get super creative making flags for their assigned teams, and working together to complete the different challenges.


Halloween Tricks & Treats from a BCBA

Halloween can be full of different sensory experiences from new or possibly uncomfortable clothing to the loud or scary decorations. Here are some tricks and treats to remember when preparing your child for Halloween.
Read the full blog by clicking here.

Tricks & Treats for Children with Autism

 

Looking Ahead:
Winter Coat and Car Seat Safety Tips

Winter is a tricky time for car seats with warm coats. These tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics will help parents strike that perfect balance between keeping children warm as well as safely buckled in their car seats: “As a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat. Dress your child in thin layers, use a coat or blanket over the straps, and pack an emergency bag for your car.”  Read more at healthychildren.org.

View past newsletters or subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here.