Support Lines

Board of Directors

President

Rodney NicholsVice President

Scott Tumlintreasurer

Andy Stewartsecretary

Crystal Hedrick

Morris DockDr. Wanda EthenLindsay FrenchRodger GaddDr. Steve GraceDori GrinderDennis HeimBrian HickmanCurtis JaredSteve NurnbergTony ShalloupKevin StubblefieldRichard VanceLynne Yaggy

www.DCOonline.com

Picky Eater or Food Aversion?

Winter 2010Volume 17, Number 1

Our MissionDevelopmental Center of the Ozarks makes a positive difference in the community by providing services which enable individuals to reach and maintain their optimal level of development.

Therapists everywhere wish there was a simple plan or procedure to help each child and family they serve, but sometimes finding just the right technique is difficult. That’s where up-to-date training comes in. Recently, two DCO therapists attended a training where new ideas were shared that allowed them to help Cooper, who struggles with feeding aversion.

Many families have one or more picky eaters, but feeding aversion refers to responding negatively to some or all foods. Unfortunately feeding aversion can spiral into a nutritional problem where a child may lose an entire food group, or in some cases, only eat a few different foods. Thanks to great training, our therapists can help the children in our programs learn to enjoy food!To read Cooper’s story, turn to page 5.

One of the methods Cooper’s team has used is letting him ‘play’ with different foods to allow him to experience it in a variety of ways. Here he is with sprinkles.

Picky Eater Food AversionORLimited favorite foodsUnpredictable when accepts new foodsWill eat carbohydrate foodsDemands favorite foodsMay have social eatingHigh quantity of milk to compensate

Limited food selction. 10 - 15 foods maxLimited food groupsGag or become ill when presented with new foodsDevelopmental delays and other medical diagnoses that interfere with chewing, swallowing, or digestion

Growney, J. (2009). Feeding Solutions for Infants and Young Children. Lecture sponsored by Professional Education Programs, Inc.Ernsperger, L., and Stegen-Hanson, T. (2004). Just take a bite: Easy, effective answers to food aversions and eating challenges. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.

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support Lines Winter 2010 COMMUNiTY

Hello, GoodbyeGandhi was boarding a train one day with a number of companions and followers, when his shoe fell from his foot and disappeared in the gap between the train and platform. Unable to retrieve it, he took off his other shoe and threw it down by the first. Responding to the puzzlement of his fellow travelers, Gandhi explained that a poor person who finds a single shoe is no better off – what’s really helpful is finding a pair.

i am sure when that traveler found the shoes he was grateful. Gratefulness is something we have the privilege of experiencing here at DCO on a regular basis.

One of our greatest gifts over the years has been our volunteer Board of Directors. During these difficult economic times, their guidance has been especially needed and appreciated.

Because we have term limits as dictated by our accrediting body, we had to say goodbye to four long-time members at our December Board Meeting: John Wanamaker of BKD, Brad Weaver of BancorpSouth, Dwight Rahmeyer of Trust Company of the Ozarks, and Malcolm Hukriede of Midwest Family Broadcast. We also send warm wishes to Belinda (Langham) Symmes, who resigned from the board to join her new husband in sunny Florida.

Now the positive side of a rotating Board of Directors, we welcome the new members of our DCO family; Brian Hickman of BKD, Rodger Gadd of Trust Company of the Ozarks, Kevin Stubblefield of Mid Missouri Bank, Curtis Jared of Jared Enterprises, and Dori Grinder of

417 Magazine.

if you happen to run into any of these community volunteers, pass along your appreciation for the contribution they make to the quality of life for all of us in the Ozarks.

Allan McKelvy Executive Director

Thanks for sharing your heart!

Turkey Trot participants - thanks for donating 6,856 lbs of food to Ozarks Food Harvest.

Edward D. Jones, Leigh Environmental, and BancorpSouth for your partnership in the 2009 Price Cutter Charity Championship Presented by Dr. Pepper.

Springfield-Greene County Park Board for a great partnership on the 15th Annual Turkey Trot.

Thank you!!

Connect with us!

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support Lines Winter 2010 COMMUNiTY

February 26

March 12

Looking AheadSponsorship and ticket

information at DCOonline.com!

No need to pick and choose which great DCO fundraising event to attend in 2010! With the DCO All Access Pass you’ll receive two tickets to each

of the following 2010 DCO events: Boulevard Dinner, Malibu Beach Bash, and Wine Walk. All for just $400, a savings of $120!

Interested? Call (417) 829-0804. (Passes available for purchase through March 31)

For the complete 2010 event calendar, go to DCOonline.com.

DCO All Access PassNEW!a

We Want to Hear from YOU

Why are you passionate about DCO?

We want to know! Visit our website at

www.DCOonline.com to Share Your Story. Tell us how DCO has made an

impact on your life, your family’s life, or

someone you know.

Event Wish List:Baskets, baskets, and more baskets!Many of our fundraising events have silent auctions and baskets help us to group donated items into one fantastic auction item. If you have baskets to donate, just drop them off at DCO for the Development Department or call us at 829-0804.

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support Lines Winter 2010 PROGRAMS

Major Changes in TLC ClassesAs the great philosopher Heraclitus once said, “Nothing is constant but change.” As we constantly strive to improve our programming, there seems to be constant change. The Adult Services Technology Learning Center has offered a variety of classes over the past ten years and earlier this year began a major face-lift.

The Employment Training Skills program was piloted this fall semester and will be offered more days during the winter semester beginning in January. The ETS class is in addition to the Pre-Vocational class. As we shift more towards vocational and pre-vocational classes, we will reduce the variety of classes in order to improve the structure and curriculum of the classes.

Until now, a typical semester offered as many as 30 different classes to choose from. Beginning in January, we will focus on six different classes. Instructors will develop lesson plans that focus on work-readiness skills, such as safety skills and following a schedule that would help with success on the job or any other activity.

Let us know what you think. We always appreciate suggestions on how to improve programming.

ADC Around the Worldindividuals at our Christian County ADC made a display focusing on people around the world. They were very creative in painting clothespins for the people and dressing them

accordingly. They made ladies from China, Japanese Sumo wrestlers, Native Americans, Hawaiian hula dancers, and other every day characters. With each “person” they made, they learned about the many cultures around the world.

Job Search SuccessTurn on the news or look in the paper and all you see or hear is what a tough job market it is out there and how jobs are hard to find. But occasionally everything falls into place, which is the case with John. Vocational Rehabilitation referred John to our employment program. He had worked in competitive employment before, however he had a history of job-hopping. With assistance from DCO Employment Specialist, Angela, John set to work on updating his resume. She suggested that he use a skill/functional resumé format, which would highlight his cooking skills rather than using the typical resumé format, which would draw attention to his past job-hopping.

John met with Angela once a week for a month. He wrote his resumé, registered for the Missouri Career Source web page and began actively looking for a job. John applied for a new restaurant opening in Springfield, HuHot Mongolian Grill. He independently completed the application, submitted it and was interviewed on the spot! Angela was not at all surprised when John was offered the job as cook saying, “John is very friendly, social, and with his background in cooking, i knew he would find something.” John is working part-time at HuHot Grill and is also attending OTC where he is pursuing a Culinary Degree.

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support Lines Winter 2010 PROGRAMS

Taney County ADC - Movin’ On Up

Food Aversion No More Continued from pg. 1

Parents’ Night With a Disney Twist

The DCO Taney County Adult Program has a new home. The long wait to move into the new Developmental Connections’ Resource Building is finally over. In addition to a therapy room for children and adults, the new location offers additional program space for the Adult Day Center and Employment Services. The capacity for the Adult Day Center is 36, compared to 20 in the old building (Therefore we have openings. Call (417) 334-1797 for information.) Meals for the ADC are no longer catered in, as the new building has a fully functional kitchen.

The ribbon cutting and open house for the new building took place on October 22nd. We appreciate the big turn out and look forward to serving the community’s needs out of a more equipped facility. We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Developmental Connections Board for all of their hard work in getting the building constructed and open for business.

Just a few months ago, two-year-old Cooper was unable to sit with his family through a meal. The sight and smell of food around him was so overwhelming he would often gag. With support from his occupational therapist, Beth, and speech therapist, Holly, Cooper’s family began teaching him about food. in the beginning, Cooper started looking at food from a safe distance - in the freezer case and in the aisles of the grocery store. He started smelling candles, spice jars and then some food items. Cooper began playing with toy food, completing food puzzles, and learning the names of food items. His family became excellent readers of Cooper’s verbal and nonverbal cues -- diligently removing items before he was too overloaded with the sensations. Cooper now shows a less aversive response to many foods and can sit with his family during meals.

Recently everyone celebrated when Cooper licked an apple and took a bite of a cracker and peanut butter. With help from his therapy team, including his entire family, Cooper is now making steady progress towards a healthy diet.

For more information, Food Chaining by Cheryl Fraker, Dr. Mark Fishbein, Sibyl Cox, and Laura Walbert is an excellent resource for helping children overcome problems with picky eating habits or food aversion.

We recently held our annual Open House/Parents’ Night in the Early Child Care & Education Center. Adults and children alike enjoyed visiting our Disney themed center dubbed “DCOLand.” From Cars to Goofy Movie, each classroom was decorated to the hilt in a variety of Disney movie themes. Of course, the highlight for many of the children was the chance to take their families on a tour of their classroom.

Not only were the classrooms, hallways, and even doors decorated, but many teachers and kids came to school Thursday dressed in costume and ready for the party. Even Ms. Connie, our ECCE Coordinator, came dressed in costume that night as Cinderella!

Miniature 101 Dalmations

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support Lines Winter 2010 LOOKiNG BACK

October - December 2009

Contributions

$1,000 - $9,999

$250 - $999

Adam Pyle & Associates, LLCEmpire BankAnn Gentry

Glazers MidwestKim and Patrick Harrington

Larry Snyder & Company, inc.HP “Monty” Montgomery

Catherine A. and James MooreMSU Men’s BasketballMusgrave Foundation

Rodney and Melissa Nichols

Ozark Mountain Gem & Mineral Society

Positronic industriesQueen City Fraternal Order of Eagles

#3934Judge Nancy and Dwight Rahmeyer

Roy W. Slusher FoundationSusan Boswell Foundation, inc.

Jeanne and David ToombsTurner Family Fund (Community

Foundation)

Gift-In-Kind

417 MagazineBattlefield Plaza, LLC

Big Time ResultsBronze The Tanning Salon

Cielito LindoDebbie Cox

Kum & Go #554

Nakato’sSpringfield Grocer Company

Denene Kay TaliaferroThe Argentina Steakhouse

The GrottoTreasure Chest

DCO accepts a gift from O’Reilly Auto Parts from a portion of their goft tournament proceeds.

$100 - $249

Alliance Rehab & Medical EquipmentBevinco of SW Missouri

Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown, P.C.

Valerie and Floyd CarpenterKen and Patricia Carter

Judy EverettNorma and Frank Giddings

Catherine and William GonyeaGreat Southern Bank

Walter and Kay GreenStephen HoodBarbara Jensen

Knights of Columbus, Council #9533

L. Joyce KrasserBelinda SymmesHeather LarsenPatricia Loyd

Midwest Metro ForeclosuresMollie and Gene Molnar

Dolly and Pat OshelDr. Carlos and Susan Perez

United Missouri Bank of SpringfieldSharyn Wagoner

White River Valley Electric Cooperative

Hearld and Marge AmblerAmerican Family insurance

Mary and Judge Don BonackerMarci Bowling

ChaseChris and Ellen Chindlund

Delta Gamma Sorority AlumnaeJerry R. Fankhauser D.D.S.Barbara and Dr. Alex HoverSusan and William Kirkman

MoDoCo

Ozark Mailing ServiceJosh Roberts

Beverly and Steve Schneider, Jr.Tony and Linda Shalloup

State Farm insuranceAndy and Dulsey Stewart

Taney County BuncoPatricia and Steve Vaught

Weaver Law LLCGreg Weaver

Brian and Tammy Wilmsmeyer

if you have business income and are interested in NAP tax credits, call

Marisa at (417) 829-0896.

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Gift Wrap

Booth to get your gifts wrapped. We appreciate

your support of DCO!!

in Honor

Everett Leath, in honor of Daunis Holloway

$10,000 +

O’Reilly Auto PartsPrice Cutter Charity Championship

CW Titus Foundation

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support Lines Winter 2010 LOOKiNG BACK

Looking BackWe’re so thankful for our partnership with the Ozark Mountain Gem and Mineral Society and their 42nd Annual Gem and mineral shoW. For the 19th year, proceeds from this family-friendly event benefited DCO. Dealers and collectors from across the nation were there and an auction was held that also benefited DCO Adult Programs. Thanks to the Society for your support!

DCO was honored to again benefit from two area Bunco Parties. Thanks to Delta Gamma Sorority Alumni and the DCO Dolls in Branson for putting together two wonderful bunco events. The Branson event raised $1,100 and the DG event raised $1,360, all of which will enable us to continue serving individuals and families in Southwest Missouri.

The 15th annual thanksGiVinG day turkey trot was held at the Springfield Expo Center early Thanksgiving morning. A record-breaking 6,000+ participants came out to bear the cold in support of DCO and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund. This event, which raised more than $34,000 for DCO, has become an annual tradition for many families in the Springfield area and we look forward to another record-breaking year in 2010.PRESENTED BY:

December 1 marked the start of our 34th annual Gift WraP Booth fundraiser. Throughout the month of December we wrapped thousands of gifts at the Battlefield Mall with the help of 350+ community volunteers. Thanks to the support of our great customers as well sponsors, we raised $26,000 this year! PRESENTED BY: EVENT SPONSORS:

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support Lines Winter 2010 NEWSLETTER

Please helP us! You can help us save money by joining our email list at DCOonline.com. If you received more than one copy of this newsletter, want us to delete your name from our list, or your name or address appear incorrectly, please contact DCO. • (417) 829-0804 • dalvarez@DCOonline.com

Credit Card Number Exp. Sec. Code Name (please print) Phone ( )Address E-mail City, State, Zip Signature

We appreciate your gift to support the programs at DCO! Yes! i believe everyone belongs in our community. Please accept my gift.

$25 fills the gas tank for Therapy Program vehicles $50 furnishes project supplies for adults with disabilities $100 provides board books used by children in our Therapy Program Other $ ________ Quarterly pledge of $___________ Monthly pledge of $__________

Please contact me about NAP Tax Credits. Please contact me about volunteer opportunities.

1545 E PythianSpringfield, MO 65802