‘About Special Kids’ celebrates 20 years of helping parents of special needs children

Parenting a child with special needs is a long road with steep hills, sudden turns and even dead ends. But the journey need not be a lonely one.

An organization called ASK (About Special Kids) seeks to connect parents with each other and with local support services. ASK helps parents locate resources for everything from complex legal issues to finding a summer camp suitable for special needs children. This “parent-to-parent” network just celebrated its 20th Anniversary in November.

“If you’re having a tough time, just call them, and they’ll listen,” advises Penny Leeson, who has talked with her ASK parent liaison countless times over the course of her son’s life. Robert, who is nearly 20 now, has Downs Syndrome and autism and is completely non-verbal.

ASK has served 376 families from Geist and surrounding areas since 1999, according to Executive Director Rebecca Kirby. Penny remembers a time when she especially needed some direction. Around age 13, Robert started becoming aggressive, and school counselors were suggesting she enroll him in a boarding school for special needs children in southern Indiana. Penny needed some more information before making a decision – not the official information on the success of the school but real life experiences from other families.

That’s where ASK (then known as the Indiana Parent Information Network) stepped in. At Penny’s request, the organization got her in touch with other parents at the boarding school. After hearing their positive experiences, she decided to enroll Robert. There, he was diagnosed with autism and received the special behavioral therapy he needed.

“Penny has been a great advocate for Robert,” said Marsha Cheesman, Penny’s parent liaison with ASK.

Cheesman, a Geist resident who has a son with multiple disabilities, started working with ASK about 16 years ago, when her son was seven. Having personally navigated through the many “systems” involved in special education, she is equipped to help other parents at any stage of the journey.

“Some of the resources have been around a long time, but finding them is the problem,” Cheesman says.

The three biggest needs ASK is contacted about are needing an advocate for school issues, financial assistance issues and locating services, such as childcare or summer camp, Cheesman said.

Sometimes when parents can’t find what they’re looking for, they start their own groups. That’s what Penny Leeson did 13 years ago when she started the Challenger baseball program for special needs children of all ages. The ball club, which is run through OYO (Oaklandon Youth Organization), now has enough kids for two teams. Peer “buddies” from Lawrence area schools often help the Challengers learn to play ball, Penny said.

Another parent from that group started a bowling club, and Sports of All Sorts has agreed to start a kickball program for special needs children in January. These are among the many resources ASK can help parents locate.

If you are the parent of a special needs child and you have questions of any kind, contact ASK by calling 317-257-8683 or visiting www.aboutspecialkids.org.

What is a ‘billion’ really?

The next time you hear a politician use the word “billion” in a casual manner, think about whether you want the “politicians” spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let’s take a look at New Orleans It’s amazing what you ca n learn wit h some simple division . ..

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number, what does it mean?

A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.

B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.

C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! … Are all your calculators broken??

Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
T ax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.

Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he’s good and sore.

Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
“Taxes drove me to my doom!”

And when he’s gone,
We won’t relax,
We’ll still be after the inheritance TAX!!

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge tax e s,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?  Can you spell ‘politicians!’

And I still have to “press 1″ for English.

Geist Watershed Alliance Group Meeting

Residents interested in making a difference in the water quality of Geist Reservoir are invited to join the newly forming Geist Watershed Alliance group. The next meeting is on December 12th at 7:00 pm at the Geist Clubhouse in Admirals Bay. Call Gail McDowell 507-3555, Scott Rodgers 826-9551, or Dave Sylvester 418-5576.

A Holiday Luncheon hosted by Bella Vita

A Holiday Luncheon hosted by Bella Vita featuring a Winter Fashion Show, December 12th 11 - 3, Food & Bar, Live Entertainment, Gift & Raffle Prizes and a special Champagne Tasting.  For advance reservations, please contact 317-598-9011

Bella Vita at the Marina

11699 Fall Creek Road

96th street is horrible

Why is it that today, with the first snowstorm, the only road with horrible conditions is the part of 96th St, near Lantern Road. Westbound traffic has been backed up for fours hours so far and for about 3 miles. It is ice. That part of the road apparently is under the control of the city of Fishers. The part of 96th which is under the control of Hamilton Co is fine.

Trust fund set up for jeffrey corey, jr.

I spoke to Jeff Corey yesterday at the funeral home in Broad Ripple. Jeff is the husband of the late Holly Corey that was killed last Friday. I told him that the entire Geist community is in mourning and I asked him what we could do to help him. He simply said to make a donation to Jeff Jr.’s college fund at any local National City Bank branch location. Just put the money in an envelope and mark it for the “Jeffrey Corey, Jr. College Fund.”

“I want to make sure Jeffrey is taken care of, he’s my number one priority right now,” Jeff said.

Crystal Pointe neighbors have started a meal prep and delivery schedule for Jeff and Jeff Jr. as well as helping out with household supplies and chores.