Each year we celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a kickoff dance! This year the theme was Game On- we got to rock our favorite sports teams and dance the night away! We also had a special guest; Casey the Cougar from MVNU! Thanks for helping us have such a fun and memorable evening!
Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit us at our Early Childhood Holiday Party earlier this month! We had almost 100 people celebrate the season with us. We enjoyed dinner, fun activities and playing music with Tavaci! Thank you to everyone who helped make this evening so magical!
*if you would like a high resolution version of any of the pictures taken, please email our Public Outreach Coordinator Brittany at bcoon@knoxdd.com and she will be happy to get it for you!
Tucked in the quiet hills of Coshocton, Ohio is a charming miniature railroad system called the Mill Creek Central Railroad. Mill Creek has been operational for 20 years, have over 5 miles of hand built tracks that you can ride on and have people from all across the United States come for meet ups.
Garrett found out about Mill Creek through an online magazine and thought- I gotta go there! He’s been coming to the different Meet Ups at Mill Creek for four years. He is very passionate about miniature trains. He loves to learn how they work, how to fix them when they break and all about the different types of trains that are available. Mill Creek is able to accommodate engines that are powered by propane, coal, gas, steam, diesel, battery and hand pump cars.
Garrett loves getting to know the other conductors that come to Mill Creek and has been able to build meaningful relationships with many other people that share his same interest. He could go on forever about his engine- he was able to get it used so it wasn’t as costly as buying new. He tinkers with his engine to get it in top working condition. At Mill Creek you are able to do the “upper” and “lower” tracks that take you through the property. If you were to ride through all of it, it would take you about an hour to make the full loop. The “upper” is his favorite part of the loop since you get to go up into the hills.
“it’s fun. It’s relaxing, it’s joyful. I come down here and see everyone I know and it’s relaxing – to be out here in nature – it reminds me of my Boy Scout days.”
Garrett dreams of having a miniature railroad system in his back yard that he is able to ride on whenever he is able.
Garret’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCka-RXelvRhBnmzeXUdag1w
Lego Club has been a great partnership between Knox DD and Mount Vernon Nazarene University allowing everyone who loves Legos to come together, get their creative juices flowing and create different pieces together in a low key environment.
“Always work with a smile!”
Dairy Queen has been a great partner in our community for employing people with disabilities. Mark has started working there this past summer and loves every minute of this opportunity! His entire shift, he is smiling, happy and working hard to keep the dining room spotless. He is very diligent about making sure all the condiments on the tables are fully stocked, the soda machine is clean and ready to use and he keeps the floors clean of trash and dropped food. He said that his motto is “Always work with a smile!”
If you’ve been to Goodwill Knox on Upper Gilchrist since they moved up there, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Blake. Blake started his job there during the summer when they were still located on Coshocton Rd. and has transitioned to their new location. He said that he really likes their new location and he enjoys going through all of the donations that come in and help organize them for sale. Blake works hard each and every shift he comes to work to help make sure Goodwill Knox is stocked and ready for customers!
Josh worked with our Employment Manager who helped him through some of the different employment programs that we can offer to help people with disabilities be employed in the community. This past summer he landed a job at Premier Theatre 7. He loves getting to go to work for each of his shifts and work hard. He loves being able to help clean the theater to keep it looking nice for all of the customers. Each shift he cleans the benches in the hallway, cleans all of the posters, door knobs, hand rails and all of the booster seats. This opportunity has meant the world to him!
Jocelyn and Debbie have been working together for many years. Jocelyn has been learning more about her disability over the years and Debbie has been a wonderful support for her to help her get to conferences to learn how to advocate for herself and others who have disabilities.
Jocelyn is a wonderful advocate and role model. She has gone to college to get her Associates Degree and she works two jobs in the community! She is truly an inspiration! Make sure you check out the billboard that she will be featured on in October for Disability Employment Awareness Month!
Cheyenne started working with Paula just a few short months ago. In that time, their relationship has truly started to blossom! Cheyenne has been learning about taking care of horses and farm life since Paula owns her own farm! They love to spend time outdoors, taking care of horses and going out doing fun things.
Mary and Diane have been working together for years! Mary comes into Diane’s home and helps her around the house, helps her get ready for work and they go out and have fun! Mary and Diane can’t imagine not working together—they have formed an amazing relationship with each other that can’t be broken.
Mary is honored to be able to help Diane live the life she chooses and loves being able to help her achieve her dreams!
