Damar creating Indiana’s largest known sensory garden
CONTACT
Nicole Y. Woods
Communications Director
317.439.8972
nicolew@damar.org
Construction begins today on Indiana’s largest known therapeutic
multi-sensory garden for children with autism at Damar Services, Inc.
INDIANAPOLIS - More than 50 employees from Duke Energy and JFNew are
trading in their PDAs and hard hats for hand shovels and wheelbarrows
today and tomorrow (May 1-2) to begin construction of a new 12,000 sq.
ft. multi-sensory stimulation garden for children and adults with autism
at Damar Services, Inc., 6324 Kentucky Avenue in Indianapolis.
The news media is invited May 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to interview
Damar, Duke Energy and JFNew representatives about their motivations for
developing this unique outdoor landmark, which will represent Indiana’s
largest known therapeutic multi-sensory garden.
The sensory garden project is made possible by a generous $18,700 gift
from Duke Energy. JFNew, an Indiana-based ecological consulting firm,
and its Foundation is providing native plants and flowers worth more
than $1,000, and the makers of Gatorade(r) are providing the sports
drink to the volunteers.
Damar’s multi-sensory garden utilizes techniques deliberately intended
to make floral and vegetable gardening fun and accessible for the 700
children and adults served by Damar, and provides an environmentally
authentic, hands-on teaching center for horticultural therapy
initiatives.
“Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties with
communication, social interaction and learning through conventional
teaching methods, which can make everyday life confusing, distressing
and scary,” said Dr. Jim Dalton, a licensed child psychologist, and
Damar’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. “This
landmark development, with its pleasant smells, vibrant colors and
calming sounds, serves not only as a peaceful safe haven but also
provides an opportunity for them to communicate through their senses and
develop basic academic and social interaction skills in a relaxing
environment.”
Once complete, this peaceful outdoor retreat will boast hundreds of
botanicals, many featuring brilliantly contrasting colors, distinct
plant formations, textures, scents and tastes that maximize stimulation
of the five senses. The multi-sensory flora will be uniquely showcased
in traditional in-ground beds, raised wooden flower boxes and hanging
baskets set among a dynamic backdrop of birdhouses; garden benches and
picnic tables; a pergola trellis; water fountain and a wooden stepping
pinwheel, a sensory tool that builds a child’s confidence with jumping,
judging distances, coordination and balance.
“It’s wonderful to work with a team of folks who are making a difference
daily in the lives of youths,” said Jim Stanley, president of Duke
Energy Indiana. “It is my hope that the sensory garden will be a source
of great comfort to the residents with autism; for me personally it has
been a rewarding experience.”
Duke Energy’s support of the project underscores its commitment to
environmental sustainability and tradition of corporate philanthropy and
volunteerism. Throughout April and May, thousands of Duke Energy
employees and retirees are participating in hundreds of community
projects during the company’s annual Global Service Event, which will
benefit nonprofit organizations in 153 communities nationwide.
Duke Energy, its Foundation and employees have provided much-needed
financial and volunteer support to Damar for several years, including a
2006 renovation of a Damar group home during which company employees
purchased and installed a new dishwasher, sealed doors, windows and
electrical outlets, and insulated the attic to increase energy
efficiency. The company has also sponsored the Damar View quarterly
community newsletter.
Corporate supporters of Damar’s mission know the organization’s vital
human services are essential to society as a whole and recognize that
improving quality of life for individuals in the community benefits
everyone, including businesses.
“Duke Energy and JFNew’s support of Damar is a solid investment in our
community, one that makes a visible and positive difference in the lives
of the children and adults we proudly serve,” said Greg Johnson, Damar
president & CEO. “We are humbled by their commitment to our mission and
sincerely appreciate their generosity.”
Founded in 1967, Damar Services, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of
dynamic and innovative residential and community-based treatment,
educational and vocational support, and other services to 700 children
and adults facing the intellectual, developmental and behavioral
challenges associated with mental retardation and autism. Today, 96
percent of the individuals served at Damar are living more
independently.
With more than 700 employees across the state of Indiana, Damar’s
continuum of services include the Residential Campus Treatment Program,
Transitional Living Services, Group Home Services, Community Living and
Support Services; Outpatient Clinical Services, Prevention and Support
Services; and the state-accredited Damar Academy school. Damar’s
excellence is further evidenced by national distinction and acclaim
earned through the success of Damar Best, a best practices research,
development, and training initiative.
We hope you can stop by today!
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Join DAMAR in Exceeding Expectations
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With a reputation as the provider of choice for children with developmental disabilities, demand for services from DAMAR regularly exceeds the residential facilities available. To help ensure that the needs of Indiana children can be met, DAMAR drew up robust plans for expansion. Given DAMAR’s history for superb performance, the campaign to fund the expansion was named Exceeding Expectations.
Launched in November 2005, DAMAR’s Exceeding Expectations campaign spans a three-year goal of generating $6 million in private commitments for the expansion of our residential campus and services. The nearly $16 million expansion represents the largest in DAMAR’s 40-year history. As of early July (2007) nearly $4.5 million had been pledged.
Goals
Specific goals include:
- Construction of three new residential buildings
- Construction of a gymnasium and conference center
- A dedicated DAMAR Academy school building
- Construction of a new Family Services and Program Administration Building
- Education and Training Outreach
- Expanded programs and program sites throughout Indiana
- Additional outdoor recreation facilities
- Annual Fund
Need
To meet the increasing demand for residential treatment and support services for people with dual developmental and behavioral challenges.
DAMAR must continue to evolve and expand its capacity and services in a manner that will foster the greatest success for those children and adults that the 40-year-old enterprise serves.
Three long-term trends (listed below) make this task increasingly difficult:
- An unfortunate general lack of public awareness and/or understanding of available treatment(s) and the nature of the challenges people with disabilities must face on a daily basis.
- Lack of awareness that positive outcomes are possible with highly focused treatment, particularly if this professional treatment consistently given over a period of time. Success is indeed possible, as many DAMAR residents have shown.
- Increasing competition for charitable contributions.
Benefits
- DAMAR’s reputation in developing research-based treatments that are adopted by other providers, such as best practices.
- A higher quality of life for those individuals facing severe developmental disabilities
- High emotional satisfaction for those who contribute, as their donations provide a direct and positive impact on children and adults who otherwise may lack any meaningful degree of independence
Key facts
- One in 10 American families is impacted by developmental disabilities.
- Approximately 15,000 Hoosiers are awaiting disability services.
- DAMAR turns away over 160 children annually due solely to limited residential capacity.
DAMAR Case Statement for Publication
DAMAR CC PLEDGE CARD
DAMAR Services, Inc. 2005-2008 Strategic Plan Overview
Our biggest news in 40 years!
July 24: DAMAR Services announces plans for a major expansion and its largest-ever capital campaign.
Send to FriendA penny for your search!
Did you know that autism, mental retardation or some other developmental disability impacts one in every 10 families? You can make a difference today by using GoodSearch.com to support DAMAR’s important mission to build better futures for children and adults facing these challenges.
DAMAR is registered with GoodSearch.com, a new Yahoo! powered search engine that donates a penny per search to the user’s registered charity of choice. At no cost to you and with just a click of the mouse, you help make a positive difference in the lives of the hundreds of people facing developmental and behavioral challenges.
The more people who use GoodSearch.com and select DAMAR as their charity of choice, the more money the site will donate in support of our life-changing cause.
Visit http://www.goodsearch.com today and enter DAMAR as your charity of choice. And don’t forget to spread the word!
For more information, call 317.856.5201 ext. 181.
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