The locale today is Goshen Lanes.

It’s a quiet, ten-lane bowling alley with a small town feel located in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. It’s a weekly destination that everyone in the Union County On The Go (OTG) group looks forward to.

They arrive just after the alley opens on a Monday morning; they’ve got the whole place to themselves. Smiles and laughter spring from Kenyon, Jorge, Diego, and Alexa as they set up shop in Lane 9, ready for two games of bowling fun.

“They really enjoy coming here,” said Ashley Horch, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for Open Door in Union County, and today’s leader for the OTG group.

Ashley is a people person: she enjoys spending time with the individuals she supports and getting to know them on a personal level.

She’s been with Open Door for almost two years, regularly exploring central Ohio with the OTG group. Recently, she was given a role with more leadership responsibilities. “She earned that,” said Victoria Davis, Program Director of Open Door in Union County. “She is an amazing person, and we appreciate her so much.”

The big decision for each member of the group today: picking out their bowling balls. The four individuals are filled with energy and excitement as they scope out their options: it’s hard to find one that’s not too heavy, not too light, and of course—the right color. Once that’s been settled, it’s time to knock down some pins.

When they first started coming to Goshen Lanes, Pam, another regular in the group who wasn’t attending today, wanted to sit and not bowl with the others in the group. “That’s your choice,” Ashley recalls saying. “But I guarantee if you try it, you’ll really like it.”

After hearing those positive words, Pam decided to play one game—and loved it. Now she bowls two games every time she attends. Sometimes it just takes a little encouragement.

The OTG group chooses where they want to go every week, and they have a wide variety of interests: shopping, the zoo, theater, county fairs, and more. But bowling has a special place in their hearts. “They’d come here three times a week if we didn’t have so many other cool things to do!” Ashley says.

Ashley did a lot of volunteering growing up, including at the senior center in Marysville run by her grandma. She’s developed a wealth of professional experience working in a nursing home setting and with a different adult day program in Union County.

When the pandemic hit, that other day program closed. Through a relative, she met Victoria Davis and found out about available positions at Open Door.

Now, Ashley’s job involves helping new Open Door employees in Union County to inspire life journeys.

One skill she looks for in a Direct Support Professional (DSP) is adaptability. Many individuals like things done a certain way—and that can be difficult for some. DSPs need to have the ability to adapt to the change quickly and calmly.

“I love Open Door. I love the people, my co-workers, everyone. It kind of feels like family to me,” Ashley says.

When she gets together with employees from other areas of the company, like Park West or our corporate team, it feels like everyone knows each other even though they don’t all work beside each other every day.

“And I really enjoy these guys,” she says turning towards the group as they watch Kenyon step up to bowl.

It’s a strike, and his arms shoot up in celebration!

People at Goshen Lanes are very welcoming of the group. The staff are on a first name basis with the individuals and treat them with the same hospitality as every other customer.

Sometimes, the OTG group will interact with other groups of individuals with disabilities who come to bowling alley on the same day. That’s what gets Ashley excited about OTG: it opens up experiences in the community for folks to experiment, learn new things, and grow in a variety of ways.

Some OTG folks passed out homemade holiday cards to local businesses last year, an experience that was rewarding for both the individuals and those receiving the cards.

Jorge, repping his Union County Cougars bowling league shirt, has a strong right arm and the whole group enjoys watching the pins come crashing down when he’s in the lane.

Alexa beams as she takes her turn. After a less than ideal roll, Ashley interjects, “You’re doing good, Alexis! You’re almost up there with Jorge!” Alexa glances at the scoreboard and nods.

The group isn’t all about winning and losing, just having fun. “Good job!” is a regular refrain as each bowler takes their turn. The positivity and encouragement are palpable, and Ashley’s energy is clearly rubbing off on each member of the group as they continue to loosen up for their second game.

Diego giggles with glee as Ashley chats with him between frames. The individuals celebrate each other’s company and delight in supporting each other. They make bowling look like a team sport.

Diego has been especially helpful on previous bowling trips with an individual in a wheelchair. He gets the ramp out, pulls it up into place, and sets up the ball so everything is ready for them to bowl.

Now it’s lunchtime. Everyone has their food of choice. Kenyon, being new to the group, is mesmerized by Jorge’s shoes—size 16.

Jorge is in his last week with the program, which makes this particular event bittersweet for Ashley. “You build that relationship, and you get so attached to them,” she says. While on one level it’s sad, it’s also exciting for Ashley to watch individuals go down new and exciting paths.

It’s all a part of their journey.

“This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had,” she says. “It’s fun—we have fun! There’s not a day where I don’t go home and tell my friends and my kids about how much fun I had.”

On Saturday, April 9th, Open Door Art Studio & Gallery will proudly unveil the eleventh installment of This Inspired That, a collaborative exhibition where community artists draw inspiration from Open Door artwork to create brand new pieces of their own.

Each pair of works, displayed side-by-side, show the pinnacle of creative collaboration.

“The amount of talent that we have seen has been nothing short of amazing,” said Sean Moore, Program Director of Open Door Art Studio & Gallery.

View artwork slideshow below!

This Inspired That is a great opportunity for Open Door artists to meet other members of the surrounding art community; true bonds have been formed over the years that have led to longstanding friendships. Having their artwork selected by these community artists is one of the best compliments an Open Door artist can get.

Throughout the storied history of This Inspired That, our studio has been honored to partner with some of the best artists and collectives that Columbus has to offer.

Last year’s partnership with Blockfort was so successful that the studio was eager to find another great group to partner with for this year’s exhibition. Sean reached out to longtime friend of Open Door Stephanie McGlone, the Community Director of 400 Square who is also the former director of Art Outside the Lines, another studio space that represents artists with disabilities.

“We knew that she would jump at the chance to help us form a partnership with the 400 Square artists,” said Sean.

The idea of a partnership was met with a lot of enthusiasm from the artists at 400 Square. “I had 10 responses from them the first day,” said Claire Smith, Creative Mentor at Open Door Art Studio.

Some of the 400 Square artists are returning as artists for This Inspired That—but many are new faces who are learning about us for the first time. “They were excited about the volume and range of artwork that is made at the studio. When they came in during studio hours, they commented on how great the creative energy felt,” said Claire.

There is always a little bit of a competitive air around This Inspired That as Open Door artists await the selection of their work. Early on in the creative process, some Open Door staff members egg each other on to work on their own pieces for the exhibition, discussing ideas for pieces and what they should create next.

It all leads up to the This Inspired That opening reception, held April 9th from 5-7pm at Open Door Art Studio in Grandview. (Get your tickets now!)

“The This Inspired That opening reception is always one of my favorites,” said Sean. He especially noted the impact on the individuals we support when the community artists are able to personally meet with them at the event.

“This opening reception is always extra special for me because it was the first time I ever went to Open Door,” said Claire. “I knew someone that had participated in This Inspired That and came to support them. I fell in love with the artists, the amazing artwork, and the program so I signed up to volunteer.”

The staff all look forward to seeing what each artist drops off and the different interpretations and creativity that goes into each piece. When the show comes together, audiences enjoy the accessibility: they can see both pieces side-by-side accompanied by the artist statement—an insightful message that communicates the artist’s creative journey.

Come and enjoy the fun at our This Inspired That opening reception on Saturday, April 9th from 5-7pm!

Let us know you’re coming by registering for a FREE ticket! Then, show your ticket at the opening to be automatically entered to win a $25 Open Door Art Studio gift certificate!

Can’t make it to the show but still want to offer your support? Our This Inspired That exhibition will be on display until May 6th, so feel free to stop by and take a look or purchase a donation ticket and help us continue inspiring creative journeys!

It’s photo shoot day. The cast of Open Door Stage and Screen is full of smiles and laughter as they eagerly show off their costumes—each reveling at their opportunity to pose as a wide range of characters from Moana, The Jungle Book, Hairspray, Wicked, The Lion King, Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast.

“It’s going to be so good!” says Cary Johnston, the program’s director, as she leads the cast into their positions on stage.

Everyone at the program is excited to share their latest show, “DisWay,” with the community on May 6th from 6-7pm. (Get tickets here)

How did they land on this particular show? The cast was full of creative ideas and suggestions for new shows, including more than a few requests to incorporate songs from Disney and Broadway. So, Cary came up with a way to accommodate people interested in both genres, hence the show’s name: “DisWay.”

The audience is strongly encouraged to come in costume and sing along with the performers.

“Basically, we’re looking at a living karaoke experience,” Cary says.

The individuals picked the songs they liked most and put the long list of tracks up for a vote, which weeded the list down to a manageable number. Part of Cary’s job as the director is to look for ways that each of those songs could translate from a movie screen into something that will be enjoyable for the audience and for folks on stage.

While preparing for “DisWay,” the performers picked up the music quickly; throughout the month of April the group will work on staging, figuring out entrances and exits, and coordinating sets in preparation for their community audience on May 6th.

As with the first Open Door Stage & Screen performance in December, “A Christmas Carol,” most of the actors will be on the stage from the beginning. The audience will see all the sets on stage at the same time and watch the show move from one spot to the next.

If you’re looking for a standout moment, you won’t want to miss their showstopping performance from the musical Hairspray. “I didn’t see this one coming,” Cary said of the musical number. “It’s fast, fun, and sure to bring people to their feet.”

This show was designed to be a sing-along so the actors wouldn’t necessarily have to rehearse lines or memorize the songs. There won’t be solos and the audience won’t necessarily hear any one voice—and that’s by design. It’s a comforting thing for many of the performers who are new to the program and still deciding what’s most interesting for them in terms of music and theater. It’s not scary—it’s fun, and it makes folks feel safe.

“A Christmas Carol” revealed a high level of interest and excitement from the performers, and Cary is proud of the connection she’s made with the individuals in the four short months she’s been with the program.

One individual, Candace, has especially taken to the program. “She’s hysterically funny,” Cary says. It didn’t take long before Candace was learning her lines, being funny around other cast members, and teaching dances. She’s trying things she’s never done before and is really buying in to the program, which has been a joy to Cary and the other performers.

Ahead of this show, the program is thankful to now have a volunteer—one of the actor’s moms—who’s known Cary for a long time. “It’s been a game changer,” Cary says. She helps with the costumes, particularly sewing.

The program is interested in having more volunteers, especially anyone who has an interest in theater, costuming, or sewing. Are you interested in helping? Visit our volunteer page for more information about how you can help Open Door Stage and Screen.

And don’t forget to get your tickets to the “DisWay” show, they’re selling fast!

At Open Door, we believe that everyone is an advocate. Advocacy is a vital skill needed to ensure the best outcomes for individuals we support, our staff, and our industry as a whole. Like any skill, it requires learning, practice, and engagement, which is why we’re making it a point of emphasis this year.

In each edition of our newsletter, we’ll have a conversation with Becky Sharp, Chief Executive Director of Open Door, who will share her thoughts on the progress our organization is making in a variety of areas.

In this edition, she talks with Andrew Stinson, Marketing Coordinator at Open Door, about the ways our leadership program is helping with advocacy and staffing efforts, how the feedback from individuals we support is driving policy, and why having an individual join our Board of Directors will have such a great impact.

Andrew: I noticed that we’re putting more of a focus on advocacy this year. What role do the individuals we support play in self-advocacy?

Becky: Our company has always had the vision of having individuals truly participate in advocating for themselves, the field at large, and their services. They’ve guided management here on what’s important in their lives and what we should be paying attention to. I feel like we’ve made steps every year to get there, but most recently our Advocacy Committee started writing policies.

Andrew: That seems like a major step! What feedback do we receive from folks in the Advocacy Committee?

Becky: Every meeting, they’ve been giving feedback into governance, decisions within the company, and our policies and procedures for how we do things. They’ve been very helpful! The group heard the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are coming for providers, and they gave us feedback on that. Transportation is also a big issue: They told us which vehicles are the most comfortable for them and what they’d like them to look like. For example, they said that our vehicles don’t necessarily need to say, “people receiving services are riding in this vehicle.” In addition, this year the Advocacy Committee is receiving financial reports on the company and they’re giving feedback on what they think staff wages should be and what we should spend money on that would impact their lives.

Andrew: It’s really cool that their feedback is getting the attention it deserves. I’m sure it’s helpful to get that information directly from the folks we support.

Becky: We want to continue to build on that. They’re also getting involved in outside advocacy groups like the Ohio Self Determination Association (OSDA), Project Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility (STIR), and participating in DD Awareness Day at the Statehouse. They’re connecting with the legislators and learning what it truly means to share what is important to them. Advocacy is very important here and will play an important role in the budget season, in rulemaking in general, and ultimately in what services look like in the future.

Andrew: That’s great! I know we’re actively seeking an individual we support to join our Board of Directors. Can you talk a little about that?

Becky: Yes! Previously, we had only been seeking members from external sources to join our board. Three years ago, we added a family member of an individual we support to the board. Individuals from the Advocacy Committee said, “It’s cool that you have somebody that’s a family member but sometimes our voices differ from our family in what we really feel is important.” And that really hit us: Why do we not have somebody on the board that receives services?

Andrew: It seems like that will be a great way to promote self-advocacy for those we support.

Becky: That’s true. And they would be an active voting member—their voice equal to any other—and that’s something that was very important to us. One of the challenges initially was that no one wanted to be a part of the board because they felt like folks sitting around the table might judge their participation. But since then, our board members have connected directly with the Advocacy Committee, and we now have two candidates that have shown interest! One of them has officially applied and is meeting with the board about becoming a member. Our goal is to have someone attending our next board meeting in May who will help change the narrative based on what the individuals feel is important.

Andrew: Advocacy is also something staff members can participate in. Last year’s leadership training program was very well-received and now we’re bringing it back for year 2! How will this year’s program focus on advocacy?

Becky: At Open Door, developing leaders has become one of our main priorities. In last year’s leadership program, we focused on self-development, soft skills, things like that. This year, we’re focusing on what it means to be a leader in the field and the role advocacy plays in that. So, we’re connecting our future leaders here within the company to projects that will be presented to legislators and other administrators from the state like Medicaid and DODD so that they can get used to doing that and get some feedback on their presentation. For example, what is most effective when addressing them in writing? Is it a handwritten thank you card, an email through a platform, or something else?

Andrew: It’s cool that more people at Open Door will be taking part in these efforts.

Becky: Advocacy works better when more people get involved. It shouldn’t just be the CEO out advocating—all of us play a part in this. I think it’s a huge step for individuals with disabilities to be able to connect with their local political movements and for the staff who carry out these services to share their stories with policymakers and leaders from other government agencies.

Andrew: That’s an important point: Advocacy works better the more employees are involved in the process. I know a lot is going on in the world right now related to staffing and employee retention. What are the goals for this year’s leadership program related to staffing?

Becky: Research shows that your connection with management and supervisors and your connection to the mission are why people stay at their job. We can pay more, we can look at benefits, policies, and procedures, but if we’re not looking at our leadership structure and our supervision and management, we’re missing the ball as far as employee retention. Our leadership training program is developed to address that reality. I’m hopeful that during the course of our leadership training we’ll come up with creative management strategies that reach our DSPs in ways that make them want to continue to be a part of this journey with us.

Andrew: I know we always strive to show our DSPs how much they mean to the individuals we support, our organization, and the community. What are some ways we’ll focus on honoring our DSPs this year?

Becky: It’s something that is always a priority for us. We’re receiving ARPA funds this year which will be going back towards direct care staff retention and recognition. We’ve been gathering input from our stakeholders, including our DSPs, on ways we can best use those funds while following all guidance from the government. And it may feel like a long way off, but I’m already looking forward to DSP Week and our big annual DSP event in September. It will be here before we know it! Also, later this year we’ll again be participating in the Ohio Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (OADSP) Summit as well as OADSP’s Annual DSP Recognition Event. So, between our efforts to improve and recognize staff, the push for advocacy in our leadership program, and the prospect of having an individual we support joining our board, we have a lot to look forward to this year at Open Door.

This past December, we were so happy to continue our tradition of delivering holiday gifts to the individuals we support! Folks got to explore their options and choose from a menu of experiences, including tickets to a variety of events around central Ohio.

It’s been heartwarming to watch the individuals at Park West enjoy the community experiences. Some of their choices were Ballet Met, OSU men’s and women’s basketball tickets, memberships for the Columbus Zoo, Ohio Historical Society, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, and gift cards to Columbus Parks and Recreation, bowling, and movies!

Candace took dance classes as a child and was very excited to have tickets to a Ballet Met performance as her holiday gift. She LOVED seeing “Giselle!”

She got to sit front row, center and enjoyed being able to see the performers up close. She especially picked up on their expressions and said she was going to use some of what she saw in her theater performances for Open Door Stage and Screen.

Theresa and Allen got to experience an OSU Men’s basketball game. They loved the energy from the crowd and had fun cheering on the Buckeyes!

Ray and Crystal enjoyed seeing the latest “Spiderman” movie. Crystal was so infatuated with Spiderman that she wants to marry him!

Chris and Billy had a good time exploring COSI, their favorites being the gadgets and seeing what was behind all those doors. They look forward to being able to go as often as they’d like with their year-long membership.

Thank you to everyone who helped inspire their life journeys! We were fortunate to receive some grant funding to support these awesome gifts. If you’d like to help provide future community experiences for the folks we support, you can donate here!

Our AccessABLE Community Garden greenhouse was destroyed by the wind!

The garden is an important part of our community, from the individuals with disabilities who maintain it to our many neighbors who benefit from its harvest. Without a greenhouse to protect and harden off young plants and seedlings, we will be at a distinct disadvantage this growing season.

Help us rebuild our greenhouse by making a donation today!

An Ode to the Times

You’ve read all the way to the end! Thanks for that 😊

So, how’d we do? Send us your comments at information@opendoorcolumbus.org

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