Karen Thomas - Bloomington Center Director

What makes our Center unique? This is a question that all of the CIP centers were asked this past year. We all share the same vision and holistic framework for learning; nonetheless, each center has evolved to reflect a particular focus. Our answer lies within the accessibility, openness, and approach-ability of the Bloomington Community

itself. Our uniqueness is our ability to offer our students multiple real life opportunities for experience, exposure, and practice. We see our community and the IU campus full of resources, ideas, and possible connections for the

students. Our questions are always with whom, to what, and where can we connect our students. We do this because we believe that individuals learn best by actively connecting and engaging with the world around them. We believe that connected people are more confident, motivated, recognized, and successful. This 2013-14 yearbook is a collection of individual stories that describe what students are doing and how active community learning is changing their lives.

The Bloomington Center Yearbook 2013-2014Jim Walsh - Head Student Advisor

I saw this yearbook as an opportunity to depict our best moments and connections with each other. Photography, like coaching, is fundamentally a practice of observation, of attentiveness, of stepping back to tune in. One of my favorite comments on these photos came from a CIP student who saw a photo of herself working hard on a project. “That’s me?!” she asked. “She looks too pretty to be me!” It reminded me of the balance of our work: to fully appreciate the students and support them in their self-understanding while challenging and encouraging the kind of growth that surprises them when they pause for a moment to behold who they are becoming.

Joe’s stand-up performance at Th e Comedy Attic

Joe B. Cactus Flower Bout ique ApparelIvy Tech John Waldron Arts CenterIf I could tell my future self something, it would be “be as successful as you can in life by using everything you have to your advantage.” I’ve been expanding my boundaries more. I cook a lot on my own. Next year I want to try something that will help me reach my dreams of going into the entertainment industry. I feel like my internship at Cardinal Stage is helping me get closer to my career because it’s giving me some more hands on experience. I’d say my favorite memory would have to be the Costa Rica trip because I got to do a lot of things, meet a lot of people, and travel. I love performing and traveling. This year I took a stand-up comedy class and performed at Bloomington’s Comedy Club.

Jennifer Halloran Social Thinking Instructor Joe has grown so much this year, especially in the way that he receives feedback. He has become more flexible in the way that he approaches life, most notably at work. Joe has also shown growth in the way that he interacts with staff, working to explain what he wants and needs in a way that is respectful.

Teresa Colby - Tutor

I always look forward to working with Joe B. because he makes me feel like we are on a picnic. He has that hip New Yorker style that brings the best perspectives and flavors, and lays out a blanket of cool style with a splash of color and comedic talent. He is always prepared, organized, foreseeing, and has his eye on the ball when it comes to all of his academic work. His ability to make good executive functioning decisions has made my work with him not just a picnic, but also a feast of admiration and real respect for what he has accomplished. Whenever I see and talk with him, I remember why I love coming to work every day. Rock on, Joe!

Cassie Dennis IU School of Social Work Intern

Amy is one of the most motivated and caring students I have worked with. Once she learns how to do something, she works hard to master it and her accomplishments begin to multiply. I am greatly encouraged by her desire to grow and mature towards independence in multiple areas of her life. Spend some time with Amy, and I guarantee that she will brighten your day.

Amy B. - IU Art MuseumOver the past few years in Bloomington I have learned a lot. I learned what my strengths and weaknesses are, and have a good sense of self- identity. I know I am a strong capable woman, who has had some challenges like anyone else, but I have found a way to face them and deal with them. Through determination and perseverance, I believe I can accomplish anything. I can work towards my dreams of being a teacher, but still let myself grow in art, friendships, and relationship where ever I am. To paraphrase Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite authors, “Oh, the Places I Will Go”.

Teresa Colby- Job Coach It’s hard to keep your brain organized, vigilant about priorities, shift when situations change, and still remain true to your own sense of self. Anyone can flounder, so I am always amazed at the buoyancy in Amy Breyer. Amy was the first student I worked with, and over the years, I never failed to believe in the strength of her will. I saw her struggle with her academics, but in the end she achieved her Associate’s Degree in Education. When the time came to re-invent herself, she dusted herself off and dove into the things she loves: helping all ages to learn about art, culture, and the world around them. Her grace and smile greets people, and she can give them the knowledge and information that makes them smile in return. Amy’s generous heart and strength of will keeps my own spirits up when I struggle with self-doubt; it has truly been a joyful journey to walk, sometimes trip, pick back up, skip, and fly with her.

Lisa Smith- Student Advisor Evan has worked hard and is enjoying success with keeping appointments more independently. He is currently

tackling saving money and working out on a regular basis. His hard and steady

work to get ready for his transition from CIP this summer is paying off. Evan’s smile, energy, and conversation will very much be missed here at CIP!

Evan C.Hil ltop GreenhouseBloomington HardwareI came here about two years ago and didn’t want to do anything. I was not myself and I never left my room. Lately, I have kicked into hyper drive, and I want to be around people more. I now try to be mindful about other people’s time and I have learned to respect others. I have learned to cope with not being at home with my Mom. I am working at Bloomington Hardware with Mary and also at Hilltop Nursery with Donna learning about gardening and landscaping, and how to do stuff outside that helps the environment. I love both those jobs a lot. I am currently writing a novel on my Kindle. Writing has become a recent hobby for me. I found it was therapeutic for me when my grandparents passed away. It soothed me. I didn’t want to be sad anymore. Sometimes it’s easier to write about my feelings than it is to talk about them.

I want people to know that I have changed a lot the last few years. The beginning of this year and onward I have been continuing to improve on everything I’ve been doing. If I could tell my future self anything, I would tell him to find a job that you can pretty much excel at.

Cassie Dennis - IU School of Social Work Intern

Dylan is a very deep, kind person. He has a hard exterior, but once you get to know him you will find amazing qualities. He cares about how your day is going and what your plans are for the weekend. He is a fantastic writer who has multiple publishings in local newsletters. Once he finds out your movie and music interests, he will work hard to point you to suggestions you might like.

Dylan has a lot to offer, and I believe he is well on his way to accomplishing great things.

Dylan C.Ryder MagazineIU AuditoriumI am working on becoming a professional writer. I can write anything, but I’d prefer to do international politics or entertainment reviews. I’d be interested in writing reviews on books and music too. I currently write for the Ryder Magazine, and I’m working towards writing for the Indiana Daily Student, IU’s newspaper. I love writing, it’s the most meaningful thing that I can do.

Donna Rhiver - Job Coach

Adam and I work on his internship at Down Syndrome Family Connection together, and we also delve into creative

career related projects. Not only is he a delightful individual with a fine sense of humor, he has an open attitude toward work and

adapting his skills to the task at hand. He is honest, hardworking and gives a task his best effort. In short, he is a man of integrity. Working with Adam makes my day. There seems to be no limit to his creativity. Thanks for making this year so enjoyable, Adam. I can always count on you to show up in every sense of the word.

Jim Walsh - Student Advisor

In the book Character Strengths and Virtues the strength of “Humor” is listed under the category of “Transcendent” character strengths along with others like “Spirituality.” Adam’s sense of humor, in other words, is both a symptom of his

personal depth and his mindfulness of the beyond-the-self. Adam’s anxiety made it hard for him to have a full schedule and navigate new places, like stores. He continually pushed himself, often to the point of tears, but his laughter was never far around

the corner. Increasing his physical stamina was one of his top goals this year, and he motivated himself through raising money for Amnesty International. Towards the end of the year, he was able to walk ten miles in one day!

Adam D.Ryder Magazine, Down Syndrome Family Connection& Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center

Don had a poster on his door that depicted two paths to success, one that was straight and thus the result of unreasonable expectations, the other was the actual path to success--it’s wobbly and scribbly. The number one thing I’ve learned this year is how many backward steps and round abouts it takes before accomplishing a goal. I surprised myself the most this year the times that I put aside distraction and focused on my goals: writing for the Ryder, creating purposeful habits in the morning, keeping to a schedule, initiating socially, and taking my own projects farther than I have before.

Andrew F.Scholar ’s Inn BakehouseGame PreserveI have been working at the Scholar’s Inn Bakehouse in downtown Bloomington since August 2013 as a busser. My job will be expanded to working in the kitchen soon. I like working here because I’ve made some good connections with the people, and the atmosphere is really relaxing to me. When not working, I enjoy studying Japanese, listening to music, volunteering at the Game Preserve, and playing basketball if the weather is nice.

Kaitlin Chappelow - Career CoordinatorAndrew has a very strong work ethic. He expressed midway through the term, that he saw his co-workers at the Bakehouse as a second family, it is evident they feel the same about him. His supervisors at the Bakehouse have been extremely happy with his work. Once he arrives he is usually ready to get started, knows the tasks he is to do and welcomes other tasks. Andrew is a delight to work with, many have said his smile is contagious!

Andrew learning Japanese at IU’s East Asian Culture Center

Lisa Smith - Student Advisor

Joe is an awesome young man. Joe is very responsible and has made great strides in applying the executive functioning skills of perspective taking and flexibility with others, and is learning the art of positive negotiation. It is a joy to know and to work with Joe!

Joe F. - Indiana University & Ivy TechI’m studying to get my Tech Certificate at Ivy Tech and a degree in Informatics with a Cognate of Telecommunications at Indiana University. I am also a member of the Ultimate Frisbee Team at IU (pictured below) which has entailed travel to Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky so far. I like living on my own at Smallwood Plaza, spending time with my family and friends, going to athletic events, and watching Sci Fi movies.

Joe after an ultimate frisbee match

Jacky H. - CIP Student

Katie and I hit it off as soon as I learned that she liked Dr. Who. I really liked developing a friendship with her this semester. Katie’s

fun to be around, she has a good sense of humor, she likes cats, and her family is so nice. We go to Deliah’s to play with kittens together,

and we watch shows together. I’m so glad we met.

Katie H.IU Biology Lab& Ivy TechI work at the IU Biology Department at Jordan Hall. I usually set up for science classes. I refill the incubators, make sure that stations have all the supplies they need, and sometimes I bring dirty lab materials up to be cleaned. I also retrieve items from the stock room. I learned that I work best in a quiet, structured environment. Tuli, an IU professor, is my supervisor—she’s really friendly and understanding. Mary, my job coach, helps clarify things for me.

Anna H. - Ivy Tech &IU School of Social WorkI work at the IU School of Social Work shredding documents, filling out attendance records, and putting together graduate gift bags. Soon I will be learning to use the bus system so I can get to work independently. I’m pursuing a business administration degree from Ivy Tech Community College of Bloomington and will graduate this May. I’m also one of CIP Bloomington’s current student ambassadors. As a student ambassador, I assist with facility tours and share my CIP experience with perspective families at Experience CIP Weekends. I’d like to continue working for CIP as long as I can because I feel it does a lot of good for an under-served population. I love getting to show potential students around Bloomington. I like to listen to music and go to the movies with friends. My favorite weekend activity this school year was going to the Rocky Horror Picture Show last fall.

Johnny Vanore - Academic Tutor

With every achievement, I watched Anna’s confidence grow to the point where she began to look at new challenges more methodically, from the perspective of being capable.

It isn’t always easy to imagine that your anxiety will go away when you are in the middle of it. This realization was perhaps her greatest victory: understanding that she would survive each torrent of negative emotions and thereby find the strength to push through and achieve her goals.

Jacky H.Rhett Skateboarding & Ivy TechI love my internship. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, work in a skateboard shop. I stock merchandise, fold shirts, and run the cash register. I like skateboarding because it’s one thing I can do despite my vision impairment. When I’m on a skateboard, I feel free. I knew the people I work with even before I started working for Rhett. I’ve hung out at the shop every day for the last year and a half. My interest in skateboarding comes from watching Rocket Power and playing Tony Hawk video games. After CIP, I would like to work full time in a skateboard shop or teach Japanese.

Caroline Houppert - Clinical TherapistDuring the time I’ve known Jacky, I haven’t seen him give up, even when he is really struggling. He is open to talking about mistakes he has made and is open to new ideas and new ways of approaching problems in his life. I have seen small successes from week to week. I think if he can continue this effort week in and week out, he will see a lot of growth towards his goals in the years to come. Proud of you Jacky!

Daniel I. - IU & Wisdom ToolsI work developing educational video games. I’ve spent the year updating one of the interfaces to one of their older games. I’m planning on going into computer programming for a career, and I’m learning a lot. I have a lot of independence there, too, which I also like. I’m learning how to program code for Occulus Rift, which is virtual reality hardware. Working here has given me experience in a competitive field.

Kaitlin Chappelow - Career Coordinator Daniel is very insightful. It has been great to be able to collaborate with him this year as we develop plans for his time at Wisdom Tools. I appreciate his honesty and have enjoyed seeing bits of the work he has completed in the past year. Not only is Daniel a talented programmer, at a Monroe County Transition Fair volunteer event he was warm and welcoming and shared valuable information with fair attendees. I’m excited to see

him develop his talents at connecting with people along with his computer skills.

Eugene J.Habitat for Humanity RestoreThis CIP year was a tremendous breakthrough for me. Ever since I graduated in May of last year, I’ve been looking to find work. I’ve had four successful internships since then, and am currently at Habitat for Humanity Restore. I will always treasure my January 2014 trip to Costa Rica and my best friend Conan (who is a horse by the way!) I’m working with Vocational Rehabilitation funding to find paid employment. I wish to earn enough money to afford to live in as many different countries that I can in my lifetime! I’m thankful for all the career coordinators who are working with me and always give me good advice.

Christina Connelly - Art InstructorIn art class we have been studying art movements from the 19th century to present. Eugene created a beautiful im-pressionist aquatic scene with colored pencils and pastels. He’s working on a Cubist painting inspired by Picasso. Eugene always comes to class prepared and excited to learn. He pushes himself and takes the time to do his best with each assignment I give him. He also never forgets to ask me about how my day was.

Christian M.Community Kitchen & Macri’sEarlier this year I volunteered at the Community Kitchen, and now I work at Macri’s. I work in the kitchen--I do food prep, and I cook. I like the work be-cause I like the kitchen. The coworkers are friendly, it feels like a family. There’s a lot of structure and organization to the work.

Next year I’m going to work in Indianapolis for my aunt. After I save up some money, I’m going to move into an apartment close to the restaurant. While in Bloomington I learned how to become an adult. Being on time, working hard, paying the bills, organizing myself--these are all things that are important. These things were hard for me at first, so I would tell students coming to CIP to work hard and work together; it will all make sense in the end.

James Thomas Job CoachThe time I have spent with Christian

has introduced me to a young man who is multifaceted and engaging.

Whether it is his detailed knowledge of military history, his innate sense of humor, or his interest in my day to day life, he has demonstrated a genuine sense of self that has made working with him a pleasure.

Rachel M.PALS & Ivy TechI am a student at Ivy Tech taking Chemistry. I want to be a lab tech and work in a biotech lab. I like Danica Patrick and riding horses. I work at PALS (People and Animal Learning Services) doing barn chores. This is my first time living away from home; I’m learning to become more independent.

Jennifer - Social Thinking Instructor Rachel has been an active participant in social thinking this year. She has worked hard to practice her conversation skills, both in office and out in the community with her social mentor. I see her really blossom-ing as it relates to making decisions for herself. It has been a privilege to

see her make social connections and engage in her community.

Bess M.This year has been one of my hardest years at CIP because I am expected to do a lot more. I have learned that I am very stubborn. However, I have become even more dedicated to accomplishing my goals. I worked at the Association of College Unions International where I transcribed old documents and sorted through photos. I was also nominated by my peers as Student Council Secretary. In the future, I want to get a job, live on my own, and go to school.

Oriane Robison - Residential Coordinator Bess is one of the most vibrant and warm individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, and her jovial spirit and fantastic sense of humor never fail to brighten my day. Bess works hard to keep up on things and makes even the most boring tasks fun to work on. Her light-hearted nature and warmth towards others is an

inspiration (and a blast!) to be around.

Adam D. - CIP Student Bess is so nice, she writes letters to people and makes designs on each of them. She’s laid back, calm, and accepting. We always have fun watching

movies and going on walks together.

Mary McCarthy - Student Advisor Bess and I have only been working together for a few months, but in those months I’ve learned how kind and caring of a person Bess is. She always says “hello” to every student and staff member she sees. Bess cares a lot about other people’s feelings and will go out of her way to bring a smile or laugh to someone’s bad day. I look forward to seeing her develop friendships through her great personality and sense of humor!

Thomas S. - Indiana University B.S.I am 24 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology; I’m graduating May 10th. I hope one day to be a professor of Social Psychology. This is my fourth year in the CIP program. The staff has provided me the support I need to not fall apart under bad circumstances. Recently, I traveled to Honduras with the Microfinance Brigade and we helped small villages with their financial management. I really enjoyed the experience and hope to travel a lot more in the future.

Mendy Kossmann - Academic Coordinator Thomas McKeen is my student, friend and teacher. I value his sense of humor and “out of the box” thinking. He came to CIP in a place of exploration and found a strong interest and success in Social Psychology at Indiana University. He has been daring greatly, not fearing delving into his beautiful heart and mind, practicing honesty and working independently. Thomas has grown in his self awareness and has a thirst for constructive criticism. I have observed his emotional intelligence and social skills develop

and he now has the ability to find the common ground with others and network successfully.

Oriane Robison - Residential Coordinator Joey has learned so much this year! He’s developed greater independence in the grocery store. His attendance is perfect, and he’s always engaged during cooking instruction. My favorite moment with Joey was singing Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” with him while we were cooking. I love listening to

him share his knowledge of cartoons and voice actors.

Joey P.La Casa & Hoosier Hills Food BankI’m funny and smart—I like those qualities about myself. I enjoy challenging myself to learn new languages. I know Spanish, French, and German. This year I have been studying Japanese at the Asian Cultural Center at IU. I like my teacher. She explains to us about Japanese nouns and pronouns. We learn numbers, and greetings.

I work at La Casa, the Latino Cultural Center in Bloomington. It’s fun. I translate English documents into Spanish. Johnny, my job coach, checks my work when I’m done with it. It gives me a lot of good practice with Spanish. I’ve also worked at Hoosier Hills Food Bank. I am taking piano classes. I’m learning to play music from the movie Frozen. It’s my favorite part of the lesson. In the fall I’m taking a computer class at Ivy Tech Community College. I learned a lot about cooking and social skills too this year.

Johnny Vanore - Academic TutorJoey is a code-breaker: it is his passion and his talent. More-over, code-breaking is his approach to the world and a vital part of who he is. I’ve observed it while working with him as a job coach at La Casa. He came into his position as a translator with a low-level of Spanish, but quickly gained proficiency simply by noticing patterns, not just in the work he was translating, but in Spanish language signs or announcements that one finds in public places. Joey pays attention to these things that most of us would overlook and incorporates them into his problem solving.

I understand that he is going to begin studying computers, and I cannot think of a better task for him. He already reads the source codes of every website he visits. I would not be surprised if he has puzzled out some of the basics already! Life can be very confus-ing, but perhaps Joey’s code-cracking is his way of bring together the disparate elements of everyday experience and finding meaning.

Stacy S. - Macri’sI’m a hostess. I greet people when they come in the door. I’m the sometimes I am first person they see. I roll silverware and sit people at their tables, and some-times I clean tables. The staff at Macri’s is really friendly. I’d like to be a wedding and event planner in the future. I can tell I’ve grown because I’ve gone to my internship at Macri’s by myself, which I couldn’t do before. I felt a little anxious at first, but then realized I could do it on my own. I’ve been able to manage my anxiety better by taking deep breaths and going for walks. Sometimes I get really anxious or upset with people that I care about, but deep down, I am a really nice person and care a lot about others.

One of my goals for next year is to have a social mentor so that I can work on making new friends outside of CIP. My favorite memory from this year was the holiday party because we got to do karaoke, and it was a lot of fun! I also went to a lot of IU soccer games.

Lori Mangrum - Wellness CoordinatorOne of the things I love about Stacy is that I can always count on her to be on-

time and ready to go when she comes to Wellness class. She never misses, she never complains, she is always present, always ready.

Half of being successful is just showing up; thank you Stacy for showing me how it’s done!

Sari Z. - IU GLBTI started a new internship and started working at the LGBT Center where I organize books and will soon be doing material reviews. I enjoy playing video games, reading, and watching TV My favorite thing about CIP is I get my own room. I’m learning to live more independently.

Janell Yonkman - Occupational Therapist

When I reflect on the time I have spent with Sari her smile and bright eyes are the first things that comes to mind. She takes pride in being different and is comfortable sharing her thoughts and opinions. She is taking chances and working to know herself in a different way stepping out of

her comfort zone. Her sense of humor makes you want to spend more and more time with her to see what’s next!

Alex Rudolph - IU School of Psychology Intern

Sari is a great storyteller. She has an impressive memory, and will have you laughing with any one of her zany childhood recollections.

Karen ThomasProgram Director

Mary McCarthyStudent Advisor

Mendy KossmanAcademic Coordinator

Lisa SmithStudent Advisor

Karita MusgraveAdministrative Assistant

James WalshStudent Advisor

Sarah BullockClinical Therapist

Todd WantzTutor

Lori MangrumWellness Coordinator

Teresa ColbyTutor

Jennifer HalloranSocial Thinking Coordinator

Caroline HouppertClinical Therapist

John VanoreTutor

Bloomington Center Staff

Janell YonkmanOccupational Therapist

Christina ConnellyArt Instructor

Taylor TrueCareer Coordinator

Oriane RobisonLife Skills Coordinator

Megan CoxRes Staff

Tony WiesmanRes Staff

Emily MoranRes Staff

Josh OlivoRes Staff

James ThomasJob Coach

Tiffany RoederMed Coordinator

Sara SheltonJob Coach

Caleb MangrmOvernight Staff

+Jacob Nyenhuis

Tutor

Matt McCarthyOvernight Staff

Kathy BrunerRes Staff

Olivia MeyersRes Staff

Sarah NetererRes Staff

Zach RozyckiRes Staff

Donna RhiverJob Coach

Kaitlin ChappelowCareer Coordinator

Sharon GallowayAdmissions Coordinator

From the National Office...CIP arose out of need in 1984 and challenged societies

norms of how people with Learning Differences should be treated. From the beginning, our program was founded on the

belief that students with learning differences must live, learn and work in environments which duplicate real life conditions. Now, in 2014, that same founding belief is being carried out in creative new ways. CIP Bloomington embodies the values and virtues that we stand for as an organization. They put the

person in each of us first, and work from the inside out to create lasting change in the lives of our students.

Congrats on another great year!

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