Bowen Center Autism Program Manager Nominated For National Award
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Richard Ruhrold, Bowen Center senior vice president of clinical services, nominated her for the award.
“She has done an extraordinary job of bringing to reality her vision of making available much-needed, and lacking, services and support for youth and families in our community affected by autism spectrum disorders,” Ruhrold said.
Finalists are selected by May, final selections are in July and the ceremony is in the fall in San Francisco, Calif.
Each year, the Encore.org’s Purpose Prize awards $100,000 each to five people nationally who are over 60 and use their passion and experience to solve tough social problems.
“I am amazed and humbled that my work would merit such recognition and thankful to Bowen Center for lending me the support and allowing me the freedom to make it happen,” Terry said.
After retiring from her lifelong work in special education in various public school districts throughout the state, Terry became interested in working with children with autism.
“Aside from public school programs, there were virtually no additional autism services available to children and families living in the Kosciusko County and surrounding areas,” Terry said.
Families had to travel to South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis to access any of the necessary support services for their children.
She approached Bowen Center in fall 2009 about their interest in developing and delivering services for the children and their families.
Financial support of local foundations who funded substantial amounts of the program start-up costs included K21 Foundation, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, REMC Operation Round Up and the Dekko Foundation.
Terry joined the staff of the Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services in December 2009, having previously served in a leadership role with an area special education services cooperative.
Bowen Center is a private non-profit community mental health center serving a 10-county region across central and northeast Indiana.
Terry’s goal was to build a coordinated system of comprehensive evidence-based services for youth and families impacted by autism.
She organized and provided specialized training to increase the number of qualified professionals and paraprofessionals available to serve youth with autism and their families.
She assisted in bringing a Play & Language for Autistic Youngsters Project to the area. The project is an early intervention program for young children ages 18 months to 7 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
She has written eight successful grants that have brought in an approximately $117,000 of support to build and renovate autism-friendly treatment environments, improve parent supports and underwrite professional and community education and outreach.
Other accomplishments were developing professional networking relationships with Riley Hospital for Children, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and the PLAY Project.[[In-content Ad]]
Richard Ruhrold, Bowen Center senior vice president of clinical services, nominated her for the award.
“She has done an extraordinary job of bringing to reality her vision of making available much-needed, and lacking, services and support for youth and families in our community affected by autism spectrum disorders,” Ruhrold said.
Finalists are selected by May, final selections are in July and the ceremony is in the fall in San Francisco, Calif.
Each year, the Encore.org’s Purpose Prize awards $100,000 each to five people nationally who are over 60 and use their passion and experience to solve tough social problems.
“I am amazed and humbled that my work would merit such recognition and thankful to Bowen Center for lending me the support and allowing me the freedom to make it happen,” Terry said.
After retiring from her lifelong work in special education in various public school districts throughout the state, Terry became interested in working with children with autism.
“Aside from public school programs, there were virtually no additional autism services available to children and families living in the Kosciusko County and surrounding areas,” Terry said.
Families had to travel to South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis to access any of the necessary support services for their children.
She approached Bowen Center in fall 2009 about their interest in developing and delivering services for the children and their families.
Financial support of local foundations who funded substantial amounts of the program start-up costs included K21 Foundation, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, REMC Operation Round Up and the Dekko Foundation.
Terry joined the staff of the Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services in December 2009, having previously served in a leadership role with an area special education services cooperative.
Bowen Center is a private non-profit community mental health center serving a 10-county region across central and northeast Indiana.
Terry’s goal was to build a coordinated system of comprehensive evidence-based services for youth and families impacted by autism.
She organized and provided specialized training to increase the number of qualified professionals and paraprofessionals available to serve youth with autism and their families.
She assisted in bringing a Play & Language for Autistic Youngsters Project to the area. The project is an early intervention program for young children ages 18 months to 7 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
She has written eight successful grants that have brought in an approximately $117,000 of support to build and renovate autism-friendly treatment environments, improve parent supports and underwrite professional and community education and outreach.
Other accomplishments were developing professional networking relationships with Riley Hospital for Children, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and the PLAY Project.[[In-content Ad]]
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