EASTER SEALS ARC AND GROUP HOME RESIDENTS CELEBRATE 25 YEARS
“…Phyllis Loy and Jan McNellis gave their children the gift of independence. The two had more worries than most parents about letting go because their children have special needs. The road to independence began in 1985, when the two mothers decided to allow their then-teenage children to move into Glenmary House, a group home just being formed by the Arc of Northeast Indiana, now called Easter Seals Arc. I was really skeptical at first. When you have a child with disabilities, you feel no one can manage that child but you,’’ said Loy.My husband had died of cancer. I knew I was not going to be here forever. I thought maybe this is a good idea.’’ McNellis had dealt with disability much of her life. Her younger brother has mild mental retardation. “There weren’t the services for him as there are now. My parents took care of him all their lives. They did no favors for him because when they were gone, it was my responsibility to find a place for him. It was a horrible transition,’’ McNellis said. Joining Kim Cahoon and Vinnie McNellis at Glenmary House when it was established was Christopher Coble, now 32. Later, Matt Ehinger and David Atkins, now 30 and 32, respectively, moved in. All five have severe forms of autism.”
Jennifer Boen News-Sentinel December 30, 2002
That was eight years ago.
Today, all five of these people are still together. Still at Glenmary House. Still thriving. After 25 years. David 40, Matt 38, Kim 41, Chris 39, and Vinnie, now 41, have lived together since they were in grade school. That’s got to be some type of group home record, right?
Vinnie is a sports fan. Chris loves horses. Kim, the only girl of the group, is spoiled. Not by the guys of course, as they aren’t really into chivalry, maybe on account of their autistic characteristics, but by the staff of Glenmary house, explains Toni Wright, who has worked at the house for 12 years. “Kim somehow always manages to have her toes and nails done”, says Wright.
During the last two and a half decades there have certainly been trying times and losses, so one can’t help but wonder what the secret is that has held this group together for so long. “It’s not a business, there’s no process so to speak, it’s just a home. It’s five very wonderful people’s home. We (staff) are just here to make sure everything runs smoothly and the fridge doesn’t get raided! We all have a good time together. We’re like a family,” said Wright.
Most of the residents are non-verbal or utter one- or two-word sentences, so Glenmary House is evidence words are not the only way to communicate caring, love and friendship. The residents of the home are also blessed to have a strong support base from their parents. Phyllis and Jan and all the other house moms still play a big role in making sure that all the residents live active and fulfilling lives both in and out of the house. They throw an annual summer cookout, Christmas dinner, and Halloween chili party. They do decorating, landscaping, and two summers ago even laid an entire back patio.
“I think that being a parent, you just have to be involved. I want my child to be independent and have a life of her own, but at the same time I want to spend time with her too. We all do. Everyone involved with this home has pretty much been so from the beginning. A lot of the faces I saw 25 years ago when we were in the planning stages of this group home, I still see all the time. Wow, twenty-five years…that’s got to be a record or something!”, expresses Loy.
Tarra Martin has been working at Glenmary House the longest. At fourteen years, she can remember when all the residents were in their twenties. “I remember Chris would make a b-line for the cabinets to get the jello. And if you left the front door open he would make a run for it! Matt would just want to go, go, go; and Kim would always get out the pots and pans and spices like she was going to cook a gourmet meal. That was so long ago. Now they are able to assist one another with small tasks like getting one another’s coat, and holding one another’s hand. It’s like they know that they are like brothers and a sister.”
When asked what she finds most rewarding about working at Glenmary House, Tarra responded, “Well I can honestly say it’s a constant learning experience for me. And people think ‘why are you working here and teaching these people if they can’t improve’…but over the years I’ve seen improvements, in both myself and these people. I believe I’ve even had opportunities to advance here within the company, but I don’t want to because of what we share here at Glenmary. This family is absolutely fabulous.”
March actually marks the 25th anniversary of these residents’ family union. To celebrate, we are having an open house on Sunday, May 16, from 2-4, at 4724 Glenmary Drive, to meet the Glenmary family: staff, residents and their families. This is open to anyone who like to attend. Glenmary House is located on the southeast side, off of Hessen Cassel Rd. Going East on Paulding, turn left at Hessen Cassel Rd. Travel on Hessen Cassel for about a quarter mile and turn right on to Village Court Drive. Go to the first street and turn right on Wellington Drive and that road turns into Lona Drive which turns into Glenmary Drive.
Here’s to another 25!
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