Turnstone Center For Disabled Children And Adults

Annie Plassman certainly is no stranger to Turnstone and the possibilities that are created here. Being born with Cerebral Palsy, her parents knew early on that Annie would need therapeutic services. They were told about a tiny house on Fairfield Avenue, known as the Allen County Society for Crippled Children & Adults, where Annie was one of the first participants in the Infant Stimulation program. She began receiving speech, physical and occupational therapies and that is how, as Annie said, “this beautiful friendship started!” “Turnstone has made a huge difference in my life,” said Annie, “When I started going to therapy, I learned how to do the developmental things I couldn’t do before, like have head and trunk control, sit, roll, etc.” Therapy might not have been her favorite activity as a child, but Annie attributes the services she received at Turnstone early on to the success she is experiencing now. Annie also attended preschool at Turnstone where she met the teacher who changed her life. Because of this teacher, Annie would light up with excitement and couldn’t wait to go to school every day. “[The people at] Turnstone gave me the confidence in myself to grow as a person, both physically and emotionally,” Annie said. The support she received at Turnstone throughout her childhood gave Annie the courage to move away from home on her own and live life to her fullest potential as a Special Education faculty member at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Annie knows she is lucky to not only have teachers and therapists who inspired her but two parents who instilled the importance of giving back to the places and people who are making a difference. Annie was so proud of her parents for becoming the driving force behind the construction and opening of the Plassman Athletic Center in 2015. And, after her father Ron’s passing in January 2022, Annie knew she had a legacy to uphold. Not wasting a moment, Annie was honored to help establish the Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard award. She was able to present the first annual award alongside her brother, Mark, in the fall of 2022 to the US Women’s Goalball coach, Jake Czechowski. This award was established in memory of Ron, whose passionate support for people with disabilities truly set a “gold standard” for many, including Annie and Mark, to continue living by. She says one of the best days of her life so far has been receiving a phone call from Turnstone CEO, Mike Mushett, asking her to join the Turnstone Board of Directors. Unsure of what she would be able to contribute at first, Annie realized that her time spent as a Turnstone client and professional experience in the Special Education field made her a valuable asset to the organization. Because of all Annie has been able to accomplish so far, her biggest wish is to see more families and individuals with disabilities come to Turnstone so they can receive services and support to reach their goals and pursue their highest potential. Turnstone might have provided a great start to Annie’s life, but it’s because of people like her and the rest of The Plassman Family that Turnstone can continue providing support and resources to those who need it most. We are thankful for Annie - she understands and demonstrates the importance of “Giving Possibility” to places like Turnstone that provide life-changing services for children and adults with disabilities.

Scott, also known as “Bear” by his fellow Rock Steady Boxers, is a good-humored, kind person who has a passion for community building. During his time at Turnstone so far, he has made it his personal mission to bring people together and support each other. He has been familiar with Turnstone for several years because of his professional role in a local rehabilitation department; however, Scott was not personally connected to Turnstone until he was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. “Because I am a man and a lot of us put our health off, I insisted that I was fine,” he joked. Once he received the diagnosis, his neurologist suggested he join Rock Steady Boxing. Unfortunately, because he did not have a location near him at the time, Scott had to try and find other ways to stay active. This was challenging for him because he prefers structure and connection with others to help motivate him. “I tried to be physically active but without the team, it was hard. The team is everything. I find that structure is very helpful and that’s what Rock Steady and Turnstone have given me,” he said. In November 2021, Scott’s friends and family saw an interview online about a new Rock Steady Boxing class being offered at Turnstone and encouraged him to try it. After the holidays, he came to visit and instantly felt the motivation to be active and he wanted to join that day. As a team builder, Scott quickly made personal connections with the other boxers. Scott enjoys walking the track with some of his fellow boxers before class and makes it a point to check in on his peers often. “We’re all in this together and we understand one another. We try and draw everyone into our group; we don’t shut anyone out because we really feel like Turnstone is a family,” said Scott. They developed a strong group environment within Turnstone and continue to contribute to the welcoming environment that Turnstone is known for. “A lot of people when they find out that they are ill or have a long-term disability, tend to shut themselves in and push the rest of the world away. One of the things I am hoping to do is to reach out to those people and tell them that no matter what you have, you still have a life, you still have a purpose and you still have a place here [at Turnstone] where you will be accepted and you won’t be judged,” said Scott. Before Turnstone, Scott didn’t have a structured plan to help him stay active or a community of people who could relate to his situation with Parkinson’s. Now, not only does he have a welcoming place where he can be active, but he has also built a community that he can lean on where people are valued for their abilities. “Team building is the most important to me. I hope others see that even though they don’t have the same abilities as the person next to them, their community at Turnstone still recognizes them and their achievements,” said Scott. Scott’s dedication to Rock Steady Boxing and his connections with others at Turnstone “Gives Possibility” to those seeking out an inclusive environment filled with people who care. He encourages anyone with Parkinson’s to visit the Rock Steady Boxing class at Turnstone so that they can find support in their journey and talk about their personal experiences with people who can relate. Today, on Giving Tuesday, your gift can Give Possibility to clients like Scott who are building community at Turnstone. We need YOUR help TODAY, November 29, to continue providing services to people with disabilities regardless of their ability to pay. Gifts made today will transform the lives of Turnstone's clients as we provide comprehensive care under one roof!

When Mallory was three months old, she began experiencing some very serious medical issues. Doctors soon diagnosed her with Hemimegalencephaly - a rare genetic condition that causes one half of the brain to be larger than the other. This disease comes along with seizures that don’t respond to medication, so the only real option for treatment is surgery. Mallory was scheduled for her first surgery at just six months old. Mallory’s medical diagnosis created uncertainty that brought on fear and anxiety for her family. Her mom, Erica, recalls thinking, ‘What is her life going to be like? What will her limitations be? What is our future as a family?’ They acknowledged that Mallory could have many developmental delays. Doctors said that she would have low vision and wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, or eat on her own, especially after her brain surgeries were performed. Mallory’s family was not from Northeast Indiana, but her mom remembered hearing about Turnstone during one of her classes at IPFW where they were talking about resources for outpatient therapy. After her mom connected with a social worker, Mallory became a Turnstone client at three months old. “Turnstone became more of our family than blood family. We saw them more often and they were involved in Mallory’s daily life. [Being at Turnstone,] it truly is a family - when she was recovering from her surgeries with very intense therapies, they [Turnstone] were our go-to. They were our security, you know? They helped us feel supported, safe, and like we were doing the right things,” said Erica. Erica was juggling work and school in the early years, so Mallory’s brother was typically in tow when it came time for therapy. Erica is so thankful that the Turnstone therapists were always welcoming to him and incorporated him into Mallory’s activities. Coming to therapy was a big part of Mallory’s life and having her brother involved allowed these sessions to be based around real-life activities. Looking back, Mallory is a bit of a Turnstone celebrity, having participated in almost every program available to her from physical, speech, and occupational therapies, to attending the Kimbrough Early Learning Center for childcare, after school care, and even the summer program. And, 11 years later, Mallory is now an adventurous eater and active pre-teen with an expressive personality to match. “Speech is the biggest [achievement of Mallory’s we are most proud of]. Her brain surgery was known to not have people ever talk again. She not only started talking, but when she got a little older, we saw the cognitive side of her speech kick in. She was not only understanding what was being said to her and expressing emotion back, but she was telling jokes and they were funny! Realizing she could comprehend speech enough to make funny jokes was amazing,” said her mom, Erica. Today, Mallory has successfully phased out most of her therapies. She still attends occupational therapy and in the past few years, has become a client of F.L.O.W. Recreation, who just became a significant recreation therapy partner with Turnstone. “After coming to Turnstone multiple times every week for many years, it’s been hard to let go of that ‘security blanket’. It’s hard to believe that your child has come so far that they don’t need these therapies anymore,” said Erica. “But, we were so glad when F.L.O.W. and Turnstone decided to partner together. I feel at ease knowing that Mallory can continue doing activities in a facility that she knows and loves and that the people there know and love her too.” “Mallory wouldn’t be where she’s at if she hadn’t come to Turnstone. She put in so much time and the therapists invested so much into her. It’s a hard experience and journey as it is, but without Turnstone, we would not have been able to make the best of it.” Because of donors like you, and your gifts today, you make it possible for people like Mallory to reach milestones doctors said weren’t possible. You give people with disabilities the gift of a life full of achieving their highest potential.