As 2022 draws to a close, everyone at ADEC can look back proudly on a year of accomplishment and progress. We continue to provide exemplary services, guardianship, residences, support, transportation, employment coaching and so much more to well over 1,000 clients, and employ over 300 of the best staff possible, all while expanding our availability throughout two counties.

           

ADEC opened a large new facility in South Bend to provide day services and therapies, we implemented a new National Certification opportunity for DSPs, we raised almost twice our goal during our annual fundraiser in July, and we helped facilitate the return of the ADEC Self-Advocates as well as a new monthly podcast hosted by Self-Advocate president, Emily Krabill. The Gaining Grounds coffee shop created a new paid internship for individuals with disabilities, and the Skills & Training program at The Hub implemented new vocational training. In the month of December, we fulfilled over 100 clients Christmas wishes with the assistance of more than 75 Wish List Elves and counted down to Christmas with daily photos from our Santa event.

                

We also celebrated ADEC’s 70th year in operation in 2022, and as the year-end approached, we learned of our current CEO Donna Belusar’s impending retirement, and were able to welcome a new leader, Chris Kingsley, who will assume his role in January. Donna’s decade long leadership garnered an immense outpouring of appreciation from our staff, the community, media, local leaders, state officials, and partner companies and non-profits including The Arc of Indiana and INARF. There was a retirement luncheon, as well as a beautiful hand-made gift from ADEC’s Board of Directors, and finally the incredible surprise of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the Governor of Indiana, the highest award the governor can bestow, presented to Donna, at ADEC, by Indiana State Representative Doug Miller.

               

2023 will be a year of change for ADEC as we welcome new leadership and continue to strive to be the gold standard in providing opportunities to individuals with disabilities in Northern Indiana. But as always, we have the strongest foundation on which to continue to build, the greatest staff, and we get to serve some of the most incredible people in our community. We wish everyone a wonderful New Year!