The Hope Institute for Children and Families' Fall 2012 Issue of Me Magazine

1. Celebrating the lives of children
with developmental disabilities
Fall 2012
Heart of Hope
Contents Over the phone from her new home at Hope, Brionna said “I love
Angels of Hope............................... 2 you” to her mom. It was the first time Diane had heard language
What is $5 a Month? from her daughter.
Learning......................................... 3
Art is Therapeutic for Twin Sisters “I cried like a baby,” she says.
Living............................................. 4 Brionna has a rare chromosomal disorder that causes seizures, an
Papa Lives on in Adam’s Triumphs
enlarged heart and intellectual disabilities. Six months ago, Diane was
Taking Care.................................... 5 running out of options for her daughter. Three different schools could
Hope Helps Bring Jackson Back
not help her; no day care would accept her. Diane had to quit her job
Discovering Hope........................... 6
Luciana Needs Few Supports at HILA
and ran out of money. Then the eviction notice came.
Hope’s Children Depend on You..... 7 With a broken heart, but determined to do the right thing for Brionna,
Become an Angel of Hope she called Hope.
Giving the Gift of Hope.................. 7
Hope’s Generous Supporters “I knew one day I would have to place her in a residential program but
Gifts at Work.................................. 8 I didn’t think it would be now, at age nine,” Diane says.
Local Company Comes to the Rescue
Hope offered Brionna exactly what her mom wanted – a structured
and consistent schedule, speech therapy, staff who understand her
daughter, 24/7 care and an on-site school.
Most comforting to Diane was that Brionna would live and go to
school at Hope. Brionna is one of the first children to live in our
new standalone home on campus. She experiences the feel of a
neighborhood as she leaves her house and walks one block to school.
We have just begun to explore re-creating this feel across our 26-acre
campus by replacing aging dormitory-style residences with standalone
homes like Brionna’s. Our dream is to build homes, sidewalks, streets
and a park – the type of real-world environment into which Hope
children will eventually step as adults.
We must do everything possible to ensure they are ready for the world.
With your continued financial support, we can do so.
In the meantime, Brionna is busy living her life and building skills
toward independence. She thrives on Hope’s structured and consistent
routine. She is a Girl Scout, plays on the baseball team and attends
church on Sundays, activities Diane once thought impossible.
Diane knows Brionna is happy at Hope, “I couldn’t ask for more for Brionna,” Diane says. “As long as Hope
and it shows. Sitting on the front porch exists, I want all parents like me to know there is hope for children like
of her new home, Brionna shares a ours.”
laugh with Clint Paul, Interim President/
CEO.
A publication of The Hope Institute for Children and Families

2. Angels of Hope
What is $5 a Month?
A gift from an Angel!
With even the smallest monthly your Angels of Hope commitment
commitment – say, $5 – you can give a reduces other Hope requests for your
world of happiness and health to The support, the impact of your generosity
Hope Institute’s special boys and girls. will be that much greater.
When you become an Angel of Hope, Our Angels help The Hope Institute
you will join our most dedicated friends budget effectively for the year ahead
in helping loveable children who by ensuring state-of-the-art medical,
struggle with significant developmental educational and residential services
disabilities. for thousands of girls and boys coping
with autism, cognitive impairments and
The frequency and amount of your gifts
physical disabilities.
are completely up to you. And, because
Your gifts will do more good than you
could ever imagine!
Become an Angel of Hope today. It is
easy! Just fill out the reply card on page
7 and mail it with your first gift. Or visit
www.thehopeinstitute.us to donate
online.
Thank you for being an Angel to Hope’s
wonderful children!
Mark is a delightful
13-year-old with
a wonderful sense
of humor. He is a
country music fan
and loves to sing
along with the
karaoke machine.
To refer a child
for services
offered by
The Hope Institute
me is a publication of The Hope Institute for Children and
or to learn more
Families. For inquiries or comments, please contact us at
(217) 585-5119, www.thehopeinstitute.us or about Hope services,
PO Box 2817, Springfield, IL 62708-2817. please call
217-585-5437.
Writer/Editor: Courtney Reed
Photographer: Kimberly Smoot
2 Fall 2012

3. Learning
Paint-Splotched Clothes Equal Living Life
Roger doesn’t know whether he saved his granddaughters’ lives or they saved
his. No matter. They are happy now, so he is happy.
Two years ago Roger was alone. So were and Maisee’s paintings) as it is about
his granddaughters. Hannah and Maisee experiencing new physical sensations.
are six-year-old twins who have autism.
At first, the girls were apprehensive but
Roger took them in and quit his job to care
also curious about paint. Wendy Johns, art
for them. He is as devoted as any parent.
educator, helped them touch all kinds of
Like the uniqueness of snowflakes, these paint tools. Soon they began dipping their
twins experience autism differently. fingers into the paint.
Hannah loves motion. She likes to watch
“Learning to tolerate something that might
her grandfather toss a ball. Maisee is
feel uncomfortable such as paint or clay,
fascinated by how things work. She wants
opens the door to feeling and handling
to discover where air goes into the ball.
other unfamiliar objects,” Wendy says.
His girls’ inquisitiveness is a change Roger “Through art, for example, we are preparing
sees since they came to Hope 10 months the girls to be able to work with their hands
ago. He believes Hope’s care is helping in a vocational setting.”
Hannah and Maisee feel safe, confident
For now, painting is simply fun for Hannah
and open to new experiences.
and Maisee. Roger is delighted when his
“Everyone at Hope loves my girls,” Roger girls come home with paint on their clothes.
says. “Hannah and Maisee may never be
“The dirtier they get, the better I feel about
able to tie a shoe, have a conversation
their day,” Roger says. “It means they’ve
or add numbers. But if they have love
participated in life.”
wherever they are, that’s
most important to their
grandfather.”
Love is abundant at Hope.
So are high expectations of
the girls’ abilities. To make
their lives better tomorrow,
Hope works diligently to
uncover every ounce of
capability in a child today.
Thanks to Gerald and
Sue Schillon’s generosity,
Hope’s new Exceptional
Art Program does just
that. This program is not
so much about producing
artwork (though Roger’s
home is covered in Hannah’s
Hannah (left) and Maisee (right) learn to play with paint under the
patient and loving guidance of Hope Art Educator Wendy Johns (center).
me magazine 3

4. Living
Adam’s Papa Would Be Proud of His Life at Hope
Adrian threw out the child-rearing books when Adam was born three months
premature. His developmental delays were immediate. But so was Adrian’s
instinct to follow Adam’s lead.
“I knew we would have unique After Papa’s death, their lives gradually
challenges” she says. We just took deteriorated. Adam began sneaking
things as they came.” out at night. Adrian slept in her clothes
on the couch, ready to jump at any
Adrian says “we” even though her
noise. Eventually she bolted doors and
father, who moved in after Adam’s
locked windows.
birth to help his grandson, died
unexpectedly when Adam was 15. When Adam tried to jump out of the
car as she drove, Adrian realized she
“They were inseparable,” Adrian says.
no longer could keep him safe.
“When my dad started driving the
school bus, he and Adam left and Hope is keeping Adam safe with the
came home together every day.” kind of round-the-clock monitoring
and care that is impossible for parents
The peaceful rhythm of Adam’s life
to provide. Adam relies on a consistent
stopped when his “Papa” died. He
schedule. When he has difficulty
knew Papa would never leave him
leaving school, staff have time to wait
and could not understand where he
until he is ready.
had gone. Adam also was a teenager,
a challenging time for anyone but Papa’s positive influence lives on in
especially for Adam’s triumphs. Sweet-tempered
young people and social, Adam is a leader among
with disabilities. his friends. Adrian thought she would
never be able to converse with her son
“My greatest
but when she calls nightly, Adam picks
struggle was
up the phone.
getting him
home after “He used to speak only one or two
school,” she words at a time,” she says. “Now he
says. “Every day tells me about his day and what he had
he dropped to for dinner. The other day he recited
the ground and Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a
refused to move. Dream’ speech.”
I had to call
As much as Adrian would like to
paramedics or
bring her son home, she believes her
police to help.”
decisions are not about what she wants
but what Adam needs.
“Adam loved helping
his Papa,” Adrian says. “He needs Hope,” she says.
“Adam was capable of
doing a lot for himself
and others, and my dad
showed me that.”
4 Fall 2012

5. Taking Care
Jackson’s Mom is Finding the Boy She Thought She Lost
Jackson was a happy, engaging baby. He walked early, played ball with his mom
and loved to swim.
But then something changed. At 18 therapies and teaching strategies to
months Jackson began to withdraw. help him focus so he could begin
Words he knew evaporated. His gaze learning to care for himself and
looked disconnected. In front of his communicate with others.
mother’s eyes, Jackson faded away.
Today, Jackson’s helmet is off. He is
Autism took Jackson. speaking words again, getting dressed
on his own and brushing his teeth with
“I broke down and cried, ‘Why my
only a little help.
child?’” Emily says. “I was in shock.”
At Hope, Jackson is reconnecting with
Like any toddler, Jackson began
himself.
throwing tantrums. But his were
different. He bit and scratched others, “Hope’s consistent expectations of
and banged his head. Emily searched Jackson are helping him gain a sense
for help from doctors and therapists but of control,” Emily says. Now she sees
nothing worked. herself looking differently at her son
when he comes home every other
By age five, Jackson was putting himself
weekend.
and others at risk. His kindergarten
classroom called Emily so often to take “I’m realizing how much he
him home that she lost her job. She understands,” she says. “He rolls his
and Jackson spiraled downward while eyes when I sing, he laughs at me. I’m
his behaviors escalated. finding my son again.”
“I had to nail our windows shut to
protect him from running into the
street,” Emily says. “I couldn’t leave.
I couldn’t work. I couldn’t be in the
bathroom by myself for fear he would
hurt himself.”
The Hope Institute, Emily believes,
saved them both.
Jackson arrived at Hope wearing a
helmet because he hit or banged his
head more than 50 times a day. His
aggression was unpredictable. He
required 24/7 one-on-one care – a
feat impossible for Emily or any other
parent to provide.
Jackson’s Hope team coordinated
his medical care with behavioral
Emily is saving money for an iPad in hopes it might help Jackson communicate.
“I feel like Jackson is a normal little boy trapped in his body,” she says.
me magazine 5

6. Discovering Hope
Luciana Moves Beyond Special Supports at HILA
Luciana is a talkative and inquisitive second grader at Hope Institute Learning
Academy. Just four years ago she spoke very few words.
Luciana was born in Kazakhstan. Her for us to read to her.” They looked for
parents adopted her from an orphanage an education program that understood
at age one. She had serious vision their daughter’s special needs. Nothing
problems and was suffering from lack of seemed to fit.
stimulation during infancy.
Then Suellen discovered Hope Institute
“We expected delays and knew we Learning Academy. Known as HILA, the
would need to catch her up,” says school’s mission is to educate boys and
Suellen, Luciana’s mom. But despite girls of all abilities and learning styles.
everything they did, early intervention
“I knew in 10 minutes it was perfect
and therapies, Luciana’s inability to
for my daughter,” Suellen says. “The
focus was getting in the way of learning.
teachers and staff understood her
“We could tell she was smart,” Suellen challenges and spoke to us in a spirit
says. “But she was like a bumblebee, of willingness to work together to help
in constant motion. We were dizzy her.”
watching her.”
Now Luciana requires very little of the
An attention deficit disorder (ADD) speech and occupational therapies and
diagnosis soon explained Luciana’s special education supports that she
inability to focus. It also terrified her received in kindergarten and first grade.
parents. In fact, compared to second grade
standards, she is reading at grade
“How were we going to educate her?”
level and testing above in math. Her
Suellen recalls. “She couldn’t color,
vocabulary is flourishing.
dress herself or sit still long enough
Teachers and staff attuned to Luciana
also are helping her develop coping
skills by turning her sensitivity to touch
into something positive. Luciana keeps
a squishy toy in her desk that she can
squeeze when she feels uncomfortable.
Suellen has learned to bring a similar
toy into situations outside of school that
may cause Luciana anxiety.
“Every single person at HILA is tuned
in to what children like Luciana need
to be successful,” Suellen says. “HILA
is giving my daughter the tools,
encouragement and space she needs
to grow into the leader she is.”
Luciana has moved from half days in special
education classes to full days in her mainstream
class. (Photo courtesy of HILA.)
6 Fall 2012

7. Hope’s Children Depend on You
Suppor t Our Special Boys and Girls by Making a Gift Today
Thank you for inviting me to become an Angel of Hope by offering The Hope Institute my committed financial support.
K I accept your invitation and will do my best to give a gift of $_________ K Monthly K Every other month K Quarterly
K I prefer to charge my gift to The Hope Institute and have filled out the credit card information below.
K I prefer not to make a commitment, but offer my support today with a gift of K $25 K $15 K $_________.
K Please charge $_________________ to my credit card on a one-time basis. I have filled out the credit card information below.
Credit Card Information:
K Please charge my K Visa K MasterCard K American Express
Account Number: ––– Expiration Date: ______/______
Printed name as it appears on your card: _______________________________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________Cell phone/telephone: ___________________________
Email: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would you like to become an Ambassador of Hope?
K Please contact me about becoming an Ambassador of Hope.
Create a Legacy of Hope for the Children of The Hope Institute
K I have remembered The Hope Institute in my will.
Thank you for your generous tax-deductible gift. Please make checks payable to The Hope Institute.
PO Box 2817 • Springfield, IL 62708-2817
Please remove reply at perforation, fold and enclose it with your gift in the envelope provided. Thank you!
Giving the Gift of Hope
Hope’s Generous Supporters
We wish to thank our corporate sponsors that have provided major support to
Hope’s fundraising efforts over the past year.
5Flavors Catering FWAI Architects Pease’s Candy
Allied Waste Services Grady Realtors Preferred Network Access
Ameren Hanson Professional Services Presentations Direct
Anderson Legislative Consulting Heartland Credit Union R.W. Troxell & Company
Apricot Lane Boutique Hinshaw & Culbertson Renken Denistry
Bank of Springfield Illinois Automobile Dealers Association Roland Machinery Company
Bob Ridings/Jim Xamis Dealerships Illinois National Bank Scott & Scott
Boka Restaurant Group Integrated Networking Solutions Shefsky & Froelich
Brandt Consolidated King Technology Sikich
Brown, Hay & Stehpens Kinzie Chophouse Sloan Implement Company
Bunn-O-Matic Corporation Levi, Ray & Shoup Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois
Butler Funeral Homes MJ Kellner Food Service Spartan Sports Park
Chicago Blackhawks Charities Marine Bank Telephone and Data Systems
Cinzano Wines Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Tobin Jewelers
Clark Baird Smith Michael von Behren Builder Town and Country Bank
Corporation Service Company O’Brien’s Restaurant Walmart
Davis Law Offices Pearson Corporation Zara’s Collision Center
Please visit www.thehopeinstitute.us or call 217-585-5119 to learn more about
Hope’s special events.
me magazine 7

8. NON PROFIT
The US POSTAGE
Hfor Children and Families
OPE INSTITUTE PAID
SOUTH SUBURBAN
PERMIT NO 799
15 East Hazel Dell Lane
PO Box 2817
Springfield, IL 62708-2817
Gifts At Work
Local Company Comes to Hope’s Rescue
The heat index was 100+ degrees when Hope’s walk-in freezer stopped working.
Inside were over 200 boxes of frozen meats and other major food items that would
thaw and spoil within hours.
Hope needed a helping hand … fast. trailer pulled up alongside Hope’s kitchen and
stayed there for five days. MJ Kellner insisted on
Fran Berry, who for 16 years has overseen
absorbing the cost.
the dietary needs of 185 Hope children
on campus and in their homes, called MJ To Fran, Mike’s efforts to help Hope were heroic.
Kellner, a local Hope food distributor.
“I don’t know what we would have done without
“I told her not to worry, that I would do him,” Fran says. “He was there when we needed
whatever I could to get a freezer to Hope,” him.”
says Mike Dobson, MJ Kellner’s director of
To Mike, he simply lived out the family-owned
operations. And he did.
company’s commitment to the community.
Within one hour,
“MJ Kellner will always extend a helping hand
with help from
to organizations that help people in our
partner Whalen
community,” Mike says. “Hope can count on us.”
Transportation, a
refrigerated semi
When a broken freezer threatened Hope’s food inventory for 185 children,
MJ Kellner delivered a refrigerated trailer within one hour. (Photo courtesy
of MJ Kellner.)