Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 135, Number 43, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 27 October 2016 — Page 3

Learning to live with a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds

Special Olympics Commentary by Mf.rrie Chapman Staff Writer NAPPANEE Recently I've made several new friends that have helped me see the world in a new light. One of my new friends is Kenzi Baker-Ott, Wakarusa. She and I met through a women's Bible study and I quickly discovered she has a beautiful gift of expression through writing something near and dear to my heart. Another new friend I have come to know and love is Laura Elliott. Her father, Rusty Elliott, is originally from Nappanee. He was the vessel that brought us together and we quickly formed a bond. The Bible study that led to my meeting Kenzi was setup in such a way that the hundreds of participants met the first night of the study, and before it was over we were able to meet with our Small Groups for almost half an hour. Kenzi and I were in the same Small Group. There wasn't a lot of time for talk but we at least introduced ourselves and could picture in our minds a face to go with the name online which is where the Bible study congregated on a private page, and where our Small Group formed another private page to keep in daily contact. Accordingly Kenzi and I talked online, or through phone messages, nearly every day throughout the month of our study. I am still not certain what Kenzi and I enjoyed more... knowing we both tend to stay up late and so we always had someone to chat with during late night hours.. .or the feeling of kindred spirits because we both so enjoy expressing ourselves through writing. She talked to me about working with kids in a daycare setting. We discussed life events. She briefly mentioned having once been a part of a swim team it seemed she was reflecting back to high school memories. Kenzi said she still enjoyed swimming, and in the summertime liked to play softball. Her excitement for life was truly inspiring each time we enjoyed written conversations. It was three weeks before I learned that she was an athlete competing with the Elkhart County Special Olympics Team. When she had shared that she was a swimmer it was mentioned briefly in conversation, and I did not pursue details on a name and location for the swim team, nor when she might have been a part of that team. That is why I never learned that Kenzi swam with the Special Olympics, or was an active member of the Elkhart County Special Olympics Softball Team known as the Cardinals. It was a fact I initially learned through someone else with ties to the team as I started seeking information for articles about these fine athletes. I was shocked to say the least. I had never guessed that was even a possibility. The 20-something girl from my Bible study spoke beautifully in all our written messages both with the group, and in our personal discussions. Kenzi had taken the time to get to know me, share about herself with me, we held both short and long 'conversations. There was nothing that indicated to me that she Hadtjpy form of special disabilities. NEW LOOK FOR SPECIAL OLYMPIANS Growing up in the '7os and 'Bos, when I seen Special Olympics featured on television there were always people in wheelchairs and others you could tell were physically disabled. I also seen those dealing with severe mental disabilities that gave them a unique look through the eyes and facial features. Kenzi had none of that. That's when I began understanding the full spectrum of Kenzi Baker-Ott. She is a wonderful athlete! She does love swimming! Kenzi, and her fellow Cardinals, just brought home bronze Third Place Medals from the Indiana State Special Olympics in September! She is an effective communicator through the written word! And she is a common example of the "look" of Special Disabilities today. In addition to the physically handicapped athletes there are more and more mentally impaired athletes competing in the Special Olympics of today. This group includes people dealing with Autism, Aspergers Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety issues, and many other mental and emotional disabilities affecting their thinking and learning. Not all bear the same changes in eye structure and facial features that I remember seeing in my younger years in fact many, like Kenzi fit right in with their peers and surroundings. Some with special disabilities are affected mildly...some moderately...and some are highly dysfunctional because of their disorder. SPACIAL BOUNDARIES, SENSITIVE HEARING The first time I spent any time with Laura Elliott was fol-

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LUNCHEON FOR AREA VETS NAPPANEE Nov. 12 is the date for the annual Veterans Luncheon at the historic Coppes Commons facility in Nappanee. Appetizers will be served at 10:30 a.m., followed by the program at 11 a.m. Among the guest speakers for the day will be Curt Nisly. Veterans should call ahead to reserve a space, and they may do so by contacting 574-773-3837. The event is free of charge, but reservations will be required. SHOP MARTIN'S, HELP WES WAKARUSA Wakarusa Elementary can benefit from residents who do their grocery

shopping at Martin's Supermarket, by signing up for the "Advantages for Education" program. Simply log on to http://www.mar-tins-supermarkets.com/ or at any Martin's Customer Service Desk or checkout lane and provide the school name and number, which is #50406. Each time customers shop with their Martin's Advantage Card through March 1, 2017, the purchases will automatically earn the school free educational awards.

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Community

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Photos provided Kenzi Baker-Ott is a beautiful spirit, and a wonderful communicator through the written word. She loves swimming and softball, working with children, and taking part in women's Bible Study groups. Yet each moment of every new day she is fighting to understand the world surrounding her through the limitations of Mental Disabilities that affect her thoughts and responses.

lowing a viewing at the local funeral home in July. She and her parents spent time in our home and dining at a local restaurant that day. When her father would take a firm voice in speaking to her about whatever we were doing or discussing I just assumed that was his parenting style. I literally thought nothing of it. Frequently, when Laura would hesitate or begin to reply when it was apparent she did not agree with what was being instructed her mother, Rochelle Elliott, would firmly call her name and either repeat what Rusty had said, or instruct Laura to listen to her father. Again I thought nothing of it outside labeling it as a stricter parenting style. And quite honestly it seemed very effective! I did not witness any breakdowns, fit throwing, verbal arguments, or other examples that I quite honestly see in everyday environments no matter where I go among the average population. Laura shared a little about her experience playing on a softball team for the Elkhart County Special Olympics. If 1 had not previously been aware of this fact I would not have guessed it based on her behavior, conversation and laughter shared in my presence that day in July. During dinner that day Laima grew very quiet I assumed it was the strange environment and her parents being the only two people she knew in the entire restaurant. Slowly, Rusty and Rochelle Elliott began to explain that they weren't "mean" parents, or trying to be "too strict". They said that by seating Laura in a comer bench seat she could lean against a wall, and use all of us as a "cushion" against the public filling the restaurant. It gave her a small square of space to claim as her own, and helped her adapt to her unknown environment by establishing needed boundaries to make her feel safe. It was just one of many steps they had taken to help Laura deal with her unexpected change of plans that day changes which had included visiting a funeral home filled with strangers, our home with three new people and four new animals, and then a restaurant filled with more new faces and sounds. The Elliotts shared with me that Laura has Asperger Syndrome a term used to describe highly functional individuals whose mental disabilities are identified under the umbrella of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In addition, Laura also has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, heightened hearing sensitivity, high levels of anxiety and has also been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Every moment of every day Laura must function in the world battling all of these things at once. That is why she withdrew at the restaurant that day. As we four adults were instinctively tuning out all the background noise and conversations, Laura was unable to do that for herself. Her sensitive hearing brought every word and sentence from across the room flooding through her ears and mind, making it

DIAL-A-STORY IN WAKARUSA WAKARUSA "The Buckwheat" is currently running on the Wakarusa Public Library's Dial-a-Story line, 574-862-4441. Callers will hear an unusual POURQUOI tale, a fictional narrative that explains why something is the way it is, about the buckwheat plant.

POWERFUL SHOW NOW PLAYING AT RBT NAPPANEE The timeless story of Helen Keller, and the relationship

she develops with her teacher, Annie Sullivan, is the latest presentation to take the Round Bam Theatre stage at Amish Acres. The show continues through Nov. 6, and tickets can be purchased by calling Amish Acres at 800-800-4942, or via their website at http: / / www.amishacres.com.

HOMEMADE - PIZZA SUPPER BENEFIT FOR SOUTH BEECH SCHOOL Saturday,October 29 4-S p.m. at Unitod Christian School in Nappanee located at: CR 52,1/2 mite Watt of SR 19 or Tomahawk Trail, -A 1 mite North of US 6 Served with salad, pie and ice cream js Carry-outs Available u Includes: 2 met of pizza and choice of salad or applesauce £9 , '. Jfl M Pwf,'Mf" m

Advance News « Thursday, October 27, 2016

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Each new day Laura Elliott works through the extra challenges of Asperger Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD), speech delays, heightened hearing sensitivity, high levels of anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD) but she never lets it overshadow her smile, enjoyment of sports or love of caring for the young. Her father, Rusty Elliott, shared that whenever little ones are around his daughter's mothering instincts kick in and she is instantly focused on caring for, and nurturing, babies and young children alike. nearly impossible to focus on the conversation at our table. Where the bright lights might make the four of us squint naturally as we walked to and from the salad bar, each was an explosion of color flooding through Laura's sight and heightening her sensitivity to being surrounded by all the unfamiliar sights, sounds and people. That was not good for the teenager's high levels of anxiety which lead her to pull inward and seek "safe" and "comfortable" environments where she is both familiar, and doesn't feel her personal space is being intruded upon. Such environments were not available in a public restaurant so Laura instead chose to pull inside herself, focused on her electronic hand-held game to try and block out all of the sensory overload coming at her from every direction. ENLIGHTENED BY MY NEW FRIENDS Both of these ladies have been a blessing to my life. Not only do I have two new friends but I also have a better understanding of what Special Disabilities are, and how they affect those dealing with them. Both Kenzi and Laura are high functioning despite their disabilities to the point that you would not immediately. be given the impression that either falls into a Special Needs category or label. Just as a kaleidoscope melts colors and shapes together inside a small tube, so too the minds of these two ladies melt

together the many sights, sounds, colors, people and objects surrounding them in a constant movement of alertness, thought, translation and other methods of comprehending the world around them. Be watching future issues of the Advance News as I continue to meet the Wa-Nee athletes participating in Elkhart County Special Olympics, and their athletic peers. I invite you to learn with me as my new friends help me to better understand their world. Each should be greatly admired for their willingness and ability to ceaselessly work through their own personal torments and challenges which collide with the world outside their spectrum each new day.

Called to Care

Medical

Be careful with yard work Autumn often means time spent working outside raking leaves, getting plants, ready for winter or cleaning the gutters. If you're not prepared, even the simplest yard work could lead to injury. To help avoid injury, follow these simple steps. • Warm up for 10-15 minutes first to help prevent strains. • Practice proper body mechanics. Bend from the knees, keep your back straight and consider using a cart or wheelbarrow to move heavy items. • Take frequent breaks to avoid stiffness or cramping. Drink plenty of water. • Switch tasks to avoid repetitive motions. Stretch and change positions frequently. • Protect yourself. Use tools with large, padded or curved handles as well as work gloves. Use protective eyewear when operating lawnmowers, lawn trimmers and leaf blowers. • After working in the yard, take a short walk, do some light stretching or take a warm bath to help prevent next-day soreness. At SJHS we are called to care, and want to help you stay healthy and active. To schedule an appointment with Physical Therapy at Plymouth Medicpl Center, please call 1.855.88.5JMED.

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