At ADEC, we have much to be thankful for this holiday season.

We are thankful for the nearly 400 members of #teamADEC who report to work each day to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve. We are thankful to the 1,000+ individuals and family members who trust ADEC to provide services that enhance their lives. And we are thankful to our community members who spend time and money to provide more choices and greater possibilities to the people we serve.

But this year, we have something extra to be thankful for: Our new Gaining Grounds Center is now open.

When visitors stop by our administration building at 19670 S.R. 120 in Bristol, they will be immersed in the choice and possibility offered at ADEC.

As you enter the Gaining Grounds Center, your attention will likely be drawn to the one-of-a-kind pieces of Art by ADEC — all crafted by the talented individuals with disabilities we serve at ADEC. A selection of seasonal and timeless artwork will be available for purchase, with 50 percent of the purchase price going directly to the artist and the other half going back to ADEC’s art program to purchase more supplies.

To the right, you will be greeted by a smiling face — in the morning, it will be Vincent Becraft, and in the afternoon, Andrea Marchand.

To the left, you will find our new Gaining Grounds Coffee House, which offers a full range of coffee and espresso-based drinks, snacks and pre-packaged sandwiches.

Beginning in 2019, the public will also be invited to rent a large meeting room (which can be transformed into three smaller conference spaces), equipped with the latest audio and visual technology.

Our Gaining Grounds Center is designed to showcase the many abilities of those we serve while also helping foster inclusion and integration in the community.

While you may first visit our Gaining Grounds Center to grab a cup of coffee, attend a meeting or browse the Art by ADEC store, we hope that you will leave sharing our vision that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities should live lives full of choice and possibility.

Although we will be open to the public beginning Monday, we will celebrate this new space with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 15 in conjunction with a Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce Biz-ness After Hours event.

Sincerely,

Donna L. Belusar, Ph.D.
CEO/President