Posts in Disability
Rauch Employment Services Career Day

To find the perfect job, you must first know the different types of careers available. On Friday, May 29, Rauch Employment Services hosted “Career Day” allowing speakers to share their knowledge among the people with disabilities using Rauch’s services. The speakers presented on a variety of topics and encouraged attendees to consider seeking commercial employment.

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Meet Vicki Pilcher, Wellness Coordinator

Rauch is pleased to welcome Vicki Pilcher, R.N., to our staff. Vicki will be providing Wellness Coordination for clients in Rauch’s Supported Living program. Her goal is to get to know about each person in Supported Living who receives Wellness services and to provide them with the high-quality care they deserve. Vicki will...

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Finding a Purpose - and a Paycheck

Tall and lanky with dark blonde hair, Andrew looks a lot like your average twenty-something young man. His interests and home life are also very similar to others his age - he likes playing video games (Mortal Kombat is his favorite), enjoys listening to rap and classic rock music, and is motivated by money. He has two younger sisters, who he says he loves but “sometimes would like to trade”, and five step siblings. He says that his two pet Goldendoodles, Zeek and Tillie, behave well most of the time. However, after sitting and talking with Andrew for a few minutes, you will discover that he is anything but average.

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Meet Fire Marshall Ed

Ed began working at Rauch Industries in July 1994 - nearly 21 years ago! A lifelong Indiana resident, he currently lives in New Albany. Ed’s a friendly guy who has never met a stranger and loves to shake hands and talk. He loves movies and is often seen carrying them around, even at work. Ed can repeat, verbatim, many lines from his favorite movies. When he isn’t watching movies or working on the American Beverage Marketers margarita salt line at Rauch Industries, he likes to play video games, shop, look through magazines, watch TV, listen to music, and go to dances.

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Take a Moment

We all get busy, and most of us spend the day at work go, go, going! I'm certainly no exception. So, one of the things I enjoy about my job is that sometimes a person we serve comes to visit me, stops me as I walk through their area, or grabs me in the hallway. It forces me to take a "time out" and slow down, and I often learn something I didn't know before.

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Jason Lipoff, Professional Smile Giver

Please join us in congratulating 2015 Imagine Awards Business honoree Dr. Jason Lipoff. We will be celebrating his contributions at the March 7 Imagine Awards gala at Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Tickets & event info available at www.imagineawards.org

Affectionately called “Dr. J” by his patients, Jason Lipoff is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Health and Wellness Coach and a professional smile giver.

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It's a Way of Life for Jill Smith, 2015 Community Leader Honoree

We are pleased to congratulate 2015 Imagine Award Community Leader honoree Jill Valocik Smith!

Jill Smith has been a tremendous advocate for individuals with disabilities for over 25 years. Her varied career path has included positions as a behavior specialist, case manager, Family Advocate, and Executive Director of a Down Syndrome chapter. Jill is currently the manager of the “My Life, My Choice” project for The Arc of Indiana. Through this project, she has personally touched the lives of hundreds of individuals with disabilities, giving them the dignity and respect of asking about their lives and listening to their stories. 

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Congratulating 2015 Imagine Award Individual Honoree Bryan Varner

Rauch is pleased to announce and congratulate 2015 Imagine Award Individual honoree Bryan Varner. 

Born with cerebral palsy, Bryan Varner has had many hurdles to overcome, but he refuses to let disability stand in his way. He is an intelligent, hardworking problem solver, approaching challenges with a positive, can-do attitude. 

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Talking Turkey

I often tell people that the best parts of my work day happen first thing in the morning and last thing in the afternoon, when I get some special good morning and goodbye salutations from the clients who are arriving and departing fromRauch Industries. Heck, sometimes they're the best part of my day, period. No matter what happens before, between, or after those greetings, they keep me grounded in what's important, add fun and friendship to my day, and sometimes entertain me a bit. :)

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Arts Project Australia

Teressa Jackson, Rauch's Director of Development, is currently on a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Melbourne, Australia, where she is meeting with organizations serving disabilities. Her account from her vocational visit on February 27 follows. 

I had another vocational day today, spending several hours at Arts Project Australia. Sandy, their Office Manager, graciously spent the morning with me, orienting me to their philosophy and approach, and Sim spent the afternoon orienting me to their curatorial practices, social media efforts, events, etc. Much like Rauch, Arts Project Australia was founded 40 years ago by a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability. Myra Hilgendorf saw the artistic potential in her daughter, and became inspired. The project began by collecting and displaying art from institutions around Melbourne. This original collection is permanently housed in the organization’s archives.

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Announcing the 2014 Imagine Awards Honorees

On behalf of the 2014 Imagine Awards judging panel, the Rauch Foundation is pleased to announce this year's Imagine Awards Honorees. Please join us in congratulating the following deserving recipients!

INDIVIDUAL: MS. TRACI REISTER HARDY

COMMUNITY LEADER: MS. JANA KIXMILLER

ORGANIZATION: THE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

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Discover what's Behind the Seen, January 24-25, 2014

For many years, artistic exploration has been a focus of Rauch's programming for people with disabilities. Beginning with A Place to Create downtown New Albany and now operating as The Studio at Fairmont Neighborhood Center, a division of our Adult Developmental Activities program, our talented staff have guided program participants in a variety of activities. As a result, these individuals have discovered a creative outlet, new ways of expression, and a sense of pride and accomplishment.

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Love, Respect, and Diane

We lost a good friend this week. As the world bid farewell to 2013, we parted ways with Diane, who touched our lives at Rauch on and off for the past fifty years.

Diane received Rauch preschool services, went on to attend school at Mt. Tabor, and later was a participating artist at Rauch's "A Place to Create" art studio, an attendee of ourAdult Developmental Activities program, and one of the first residents in our housing at Hawthorn Glen. Although she was born with Down Syndrome, Diane's parents, who loved her unconditionally, worked to ensure that her life and activities were happy and meaningful, including Girl Scouts and voice lessons.

Today, at Diane's service, many of our staff shared their sweet memories of her. 

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