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Adult Day Services
The Adult Day Program continued to see great growth and success this year. We
currently have 33 individuals participating in our program on a regular basis. We
have 9 full time staff members and one part time staff, as well as access to Rec.
Therapy, Music Therapy, Speech Therapy and OT. This fall, the Adult Day
program added Art Therapy and a Wellness Group which the participants have
enjoyed greatly. Our continued growth and success is due to great effort and support
from all departments within MDS Inc.
All participants continue to work on goals in the areas of fine and gross motor, daily
living, social skills, self care, communication, emotional development, academic
performance, and emotional wellness. They have participated in “Going Green
Projects” such as recycling and crafts with recycled products, helped with our
annual survey preparation and mailing, planted vegetables, holiday parties, and
various cooking activities including a Thanksgiving Feast. They have also been
working with a Curriculum this year which includes monthly themed units geared
toward each individual’s learning style.
Our participants range in needs and abilities from requiring one on one staffing to a
high functioning group called the Trailblazers. The Trailblazers are a group that
meets at the Day Service Building every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The
group is facilitated by Stacie Matelic, LCSW and co facilitated by an Adult Day
Service Direct Support Professional. The focus of the group is to provide a setting for
social interaction as well as working on such topics as: using a support group, social
skills, decision making skills, respect and dignity, conflict resolution, boundaries,
money management, self advocacy, employability, transportation and health. The
group also has access to Art, Music and Rec. Therapy if the individuals’ budgets
allow.
We'd also like to welcome our newest staff members:
Ashley Angleton - DSP - Day Services
Ken Cox - Art Therapist - Day Services
Julie Mayer - DSP - Day Services
Tanya Schaunaman - DSP - Day Services
Jennifer Wolney - DSP - Day Services
The Adult Day Service Program is currently accepting referrals.
-Amy Richards, MDS Day Services Director
Behavior Management:
Behavior Consultation and Counseling Services continues to experience state-wide
growth and may be soon providing services in neighboring states. We anticipate
services in Kentucky in the next few months. We have also greatly expanded our
services in the northern and southern parts of the state.
The behavior management team has been working with the ABA team in
coordinating multi-modal services for children with autism.
Jim Sanders is the director of Behavior Management services along with the COO,
and directly supervises all centrally-located consultants. David Kurfman is the
northern supervisor, and Jim Cline is the southern supervisor
Our southern behavior management team includes:
Jim Cline – district supervisor
Biff Beiler
Missy Cornish
Amber Badgett
Jennifer Jones
Our northern behavior management team includes
David Kurfman – district supervisor
Anne Graham
Candice McDaniel
Rania Dailey
Our Western behavior management team includes
Holly McClure
Stacie Metalic
Cortney Miller
Mary McChesney
Elise Ipock
Our Central behavior management team includes:
Jim Sanders - Director
Sandi Miller-Givan - CEO
Steve Linville
Kara Newton
Danyl Epperheimer (ABA Director)
Jennifer Jones
Also - the western consultants above also have
centrally located clients as well.
The following are new consultants to the behavior management team in the past 12
months:
Mary McChesney– Northwestern andCentral Indiana
Cortney Miller - West Central Indiana including Terre Haute, Greencastle Brazil, etc.
Angelica Crawford - Northeastern and Central Indiana
-Jim Sanders, MDS COO and Behavior Management Director
Recreational Therapy:
The Recreational Therapy department continues to grow. In August 2009, we
expanded our services to northern Indiana, including Elkhart county and the
surrounding areas. We’re also providing Developmental Therapy through Indiana
First Steps for babies and toddlers with delays.
In October, we will be implementing a wellness group at our Day Service facility.
This group will be facilitated by our therapist, Jaylene Marsh. The group will
encompass nutrition, exercise, and health education. Groups will be offered weekly
for individuals attending our Day Services. Individual training may be offered for
individuals who have Recreational Therapy on their plans.
We recently contracted with Dusty Dreams, LLC to increase availability for
Therapeutic Horseback riding services. Alisha Key has joined MDS to provide
Therapeutic Horseback riding for individuals seeking this modality for Recreational
Therapy. We now have immediate openings for people seeking this service.
The following Recreational Therapists have joined our team in the past 12 months.
Alisha Key—Noble county
Melissa Kiser—Allen and Huntington counties
Jaylene Marsh—Hendricks, Johnson, and Marion counties
Sarah Sark—Elkhart, Koskiusko, Noble, and St. Joseph counties
Gina Schultz—Hamilton and Marion counties
We currently have therapists accepting new clients in Elkhart, Hamilton, Hendricks,
Johnson, Koskiusko, Marion, Noble, and St. Joseph counties.
-Mandy McQueeney, MDS Recreational Therapy Director
First Steps:
Meaningful Day Services became an approved provider through Indiana First Steps
in 2008 when it was determined that Recreational Therapists met the educational
criteria and competencies to provide Developmental Therapy for infants and toddlers
with special needs. Recreational Therapy was recently added to the First Steps
personnel guide in August 2009, as an approved profession to provide developmental
therapy services.
This has been an exciting new opportunity for Meaningful Day Services and the field
of Recreational Therapy. We currently have 4 Recreational Therapists providing this
service in central and northeastern Indiana with more to come. We are actively
hiring outside of the company to bring in new, qualified therapists to provide early
intervention services.
Growth has been slow but steady. Meaningful Day Services is currently serving 8
toddlers through the Indiana First Steps system.
-Mandy McQueeney, MDS Recreational Therapy Director and First Steps Specialist
Music Therapy
Community Music Therapy is the re-creation of community by providing social
opportunities for musical participation (Ansdell, 2002). The Home and Community-
Based Waiver exists to meet the needs of consumers beyond clinic walls. Music
Therapist’s at MDS serve our client’s to ensure generalization of goals take place.
Weekly 1:1 sessions provide direct goal training while weekly, bi-weekly and
monthly social groups and drum circles provide the context for generalization.
Summer 2009 ABA Program successfully integrated Music Therapy as an integral
part of the program in Jeffersonville and Indianapolis. We look forward to expanding
music therapy services within the coming months into an area near you.
Community Music Therapy is the most efficient way to meet the needs of HCBW
adult consumers because they are able to interact with society through the
contextualized, structured, and non-threatening medium of music. Please contact the
MDS office for more information (317-858-8630).
Contact MDS if you would like information on a Social Skill Group or Drum Circle if
you live in the following cities: Fort Wayne, Anderson, New Castle, Indianapolis
New Albany, Scottsburg.
-Julie Edgell, MDS Music Therapy Director
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department continues to get referrals on a regular basis.
We are providing services in a few homes across the Indianapolis area, Johnson and
Hamilton counties, and Anderson. We service the Adult Day Service and ABA
programs both here in Indianapolis and Southern Indiana. We are still 3 therapist
strong with an interest in finding additional qualified OT's. We have been small but
consistent, serving some clients for more than 7 years. We have committed to
partner with the Occupational Therapy program at IU and help supervise students.
Our hope is to someday meet the needs of all on the waiting list.
-Lori Kiel, MDS occupational Therapy Director
Visit the MDS News Archives.
The Adult Day Program continued to see great growth and success this year. We
currently have 33 individuals participating in our program on a regular basis. We
have 9 full time staff members and one part time staff, as well as access to Rec.
Therapy, Music Therapy, Speech Therapy and OT. This fall, the Adult Day
program added Art Therapy and a Wellness Group which the participants have
enjoyed greatly. Our continued growth and success is due to great effort and support
from all departments within MDS Inc.
All participants continue to work on goals in the areas of fine and gross motor, daily
living, social skills, self care, communication, emotional development, academic
performance, and emotional wellness. They have participated in “Going Green
Projects” such as recycling and crafts with recycled products, helped with our
annual survey preparation and mailing, planted vegetables, holiday parties, and
various cooking activities including a Thanksgiving Feast. They have also been
working with a Curriculum this year which includes monthly themed units geared
toward each individual’s learning style.
Our participants range in needs and abilities from requiring one on one staffing to a
high functioning group called the Trailblazers. The Trailblazers are a group that
meets at the Day Service Building every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The
group is facilitated by Stacie Matelic, LCSW and co facilitated by an Adult Day
Service Direct Support Professional. The focus of the group is to provide a setting for
social interaction as well as working on such topics as: using a support group, social
skills, decision making skills, respect and dignity, conflict resolution, boundaries,
money management, self advocacy, employability, transportation and health. The
group also has access to Art, Music and Rec. Therapy if the individuals’ budgets
allow.
We'd also like to welcome our newest staff members:
Ashley Angleton - DSP - Day Services
Ken Cox - Art Therapist - Day Services
Julie Mayer - DSP - Day Services
Tanya Schaunaman - DSP - Day Services
Jennifer Wolney - DSP - Day Services
The Adult Day Service Program is currently accepting referrals.
-Amy Richards, MDS Day Services Director
Behavior Management:
Behavior Consultation and Counseling Services continues to experience state-wide
growth and may be soon providing services in neighboring states. We anticipate
services in Kentucky in the next few months. We have also greatly expanded our
services in the northern and southern parts of the state.
The behavior management team has been working with the ABA team in
coordinating multi-modal services for children with autism.
Jim Sanders is the director of Behavior Management services along with the COO,
and directly supervises all centrally-located consultants. David Kurfman is the
northern supervisor, and Jim Cline is the southern supervisor
Our southern behavior management team includes:
Jim Cline – district supervisor
Biff Beiler
Missy Cornish
Amber Badgett
Jennifer Jones
Our northern behavior management team includes
David Kurfman – district supervisor
Anne Graham
Candice McDaniel
Rania Dailey
Our Western behavior management team includes
Holly McClure
Stacie Metalic
Cortney Miller
Mary McChesney
Elise Ipock
Our Central behavior management team includes:
Jim Sanders - Director
Sandi Miller-Givan - CEO
Steve Linville
Kara Newton
Danyl Epperheimer (ABA Director)
Jennifer Jones
Also - the western consultants above also have
centrally located clients as well.
The following are new consultants to the behavior management team in the past 12
months:
Mary McChesney– Northwestern andCentral Indiana
Cortney Miller - West Central Indiana including Terre Haute, Greencastle Brazil, etc.
Angelica Crawford - Northeastern and Central Indiana
-Jim Sanders, MDS COO and Behavior Management Director
Recreational Therapy:
The Recreational Therapy department continues to grow. In August 2009, we
expanded our services to northern Indiana, including Elkhart county and the
surrounding areas. We’re also providing Developmental Therapy through Indiana
First Steps for babies and toddlers with delays.
In October, we will be implementing a wellness group at our Day Service facility.
This group will be facilitated by our therapist, Jaylene Marsh. The group will
encompass nutrition, exercise, and health education. Groups will be offered weekly
for individuals attending our Day Services. Individual training may be offered for
individuals who have Recreational Therapy on their plans.
We recently contracted with Dusty Dreams, LLC to increase availability for
Therapeutic Horseback riding services. Alisha Key has joined MDS to provide
Therapeutic Horseback riding for individuals seeking this modality for Recreational
Therapy. We now have immediate openings for people seeking this service.
The following Recreational Therapists have joined our team in the past 12 months.
Alisha Key—Noble county
Melissa Kiser—Allen and Huntington counties
Jaylene Marsh—Hendricks, Johnson, and Marion counties
Sarah Sark—Elkhart, Koskiusko, Noble, and St. Joseph counties
Gina Schultz—Hamilton and Marion counties
We currently have therapists accepting new clients in Elkhart, Hamilton, Hendricks,
Johnson, Koskiusko, Marion, Noble, and St. Joseph counties.
-Mandy McQueeney, MDS Recreational Therapy Director
First Steps:
Meaningful Day Services became an approved provider through Indiana First Steps
in 2008 when it was determined that Recreational Therapists met the educational
criteria and competencies to provide Developmental Therapy for infants and toddlers
with special needs. Recreational Therapy was recently added to the First Steps
personnel guide in August 2009, as an approved profession to provide developmental
therapy services.
This has been an exciting new opportunity for Meaningful Day Services and the field
of Recreational Therapy. We currently have 4 Recreational Therapists providing this
service in central and northeastern Indiana with more to come. We are actively
hiring outside of the company to bring in new, qualified therapists to provide early
intervention services.
Growth has been slow but steady. Meaningful Day Services is currently serving 8
toddlers through the Indiana First Steps system.
-Mandy McQueeney, MDS Recreational Therapy Director and First Steps Specialist
Music Therapy
Community Music Therapy is the re-creation of community by providing social
opportunities for musical participation (Ansdell, 2002). The Home and Community-
Based Waiver exists to meet the needs of consumers beyond clinic walls. Music
Therapist’s at MDS serve our client’s to ensure generalization of goals take place.
Weekly 1:1 sessions provide direct goal training while weekly, bi-weekly and
monthly social groups and drum circles provide the context for generalization.
Summer 2009 ABA Program successfully integrated Music Therapy as an integral
part of the program in Jeffersonville and Indianapolis. We look forward to expanding
music therapy services within the coming months into an area near you.
Community Music Therapy is the most efficient way to meet the needs of HCBW
adult consumers because they are able to interact with society through the
contextualized, structured, and non-threatening medium of music. Please contact the
MDS office for more information (317-858-8630).
Contact MDS if you would like information on a Social Skill Group or Drum Circle if
you live in the following cities: Fort Wayne, Anderson, New Castle, Indianapolis
New Albany, Scottsburg.
-Julie Edgell, MDS Music Therapy Director
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department continues to get referrals on a regular basis.
We are providing services in a few homes across the Indianapolis area, Johnson and
Hamilton counties, and Anderson. We service the Adult Day Service and ABA
programs both here in Indianapolis and Southern Indiana. We are still 3 therapist
strong with an interest in finding additional qualified OT's. We have been small but
consistent, serving some clients for more than 7 years. We have committed to
partner with the Occupational Therapy program at IU and help supervise students.
Our hope is to someday meet the needs of all on the waiting list.
-Lori Kiel, MDS occupational Therapy Director
Visit the MDS News Archives.