TURNSTONE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Creating Possibilities
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In Indiana, people with disabilities are 18% more likely to be inactive than adults without disabilities. This inactivity, in turn, puts them at high risk for several other risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure (CDC, 2019). Disability healthcare costs in Indiana are $18.7 billion per year, which is up to 36% of the state’s healthcare spending (CDC, citing “State-level health care expenditures associated with disability,” 2017). In addition to these added health risks that people with disabilities face, the combination of the high cost of healthcare and therapeutic services and the inaccessibility of many workplaces means that disabilities and poverty are often intrinsically tied. In Allen County, Indiana, a person with a disability is more than 2.7 times as likely to be living in poverty as a person without a disability (2019 State Report for Indiana County-Level Data: Poverty).
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Outpatient Therapy Services
Turnstone’s licensed therapists use a team approach to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy to children and adults, including specialty therapies such as aquatic physical therapy, Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluations, and treatment, Animal Assisted Therapy, and sensory therapy through our Snoezelen multi-sensory room. Our therapists work with adults with neurological and physical disabilities, including but not limited to amputation, Guillain-Barre, Huntington’s, joint replacement, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
Recreational and Competitive Sports
Turnstone is committed to offering a wide range of recreational and competitive adaptive sports programs, clinics, camps, and tournaments for both adults and children who have a physical or visual disability. Competitive teams practice weekly at Turnstone and participate in regular tournaments, while recreational programs offer opportunities for people with disabilities to learn new skills and begin to compete in a friendly environment. Athletic offerings include the following sports: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, boccia, bowling, goalball, golf, power soccer, and sled hockey.
Memory Care
Turnstone's Memory Care program offers day services to clients with dementia diagnoses, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease Lewy body dementia, and Huntington’s disease. The Memory Care program provides a safe, home-like environment with memory-boosting activities that maximize functional performance in areas such as cognition, health, mood, and behavior. Nutritious lunches and snacks are provided. The program offers the opportunity for clients to socialize and participate in planned, individualized activities, including sensory stimulation, exercise/fitness opportunities, recreational activities, memory stimulation, creative arts, music, and intergenerational opportunities. The Memory Care program provides much-needed respite to the caregivers of these clients.
Kimbrough Early Learning Center (KELC)
This inclusive childcare program is for children of all abilities, ages 2 to 6, and operates Monday through Friday, offering both full- and part-time care. The KELC uses a High-Scope curriculum and maintains a Level 3 Paths to QUALITY rating, which means the program has specific standards to meet related to education, including learning activities, staffing credentials, and a planned curriculum. Children who have a need for therapeutic intervention from occupational, physical, aquatic and speech therapists are able to receive that care while attending Turnstone's KELC program, making this program unique to northeast Indiana.
Adaptive Fitness and Aquatics
Turnstone’s high-quality facility offers unparalleled access to fitness equipment in Northeast Indiana. Our fully-accessible, 190,000 square-foot facility features specialized, wheelchair accessible fitness equipment; two warm-water therapeutic pools, including a 20-meter therapy pool that may be accessed by stairs, 0° entry ramp, and transfer wall or chair lift; and a 230-meter indoor track and multiple courts for basketball, goalball, and other sports. Turnstone’s certified fitness staff work with each client to create an individualized exercise plan to meet their fitness goals. Turnstone's fitness staff are Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer (CIFT) through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The health and wellness staff also instruct specialized classes to help our clients improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Social Services
In order to help clients navigate the extent and scope of services that they would benefit from, Turnstone’s social services team is often their first stop when seeking services. Our team of social workers and case managers, who specialize in working with children, youth, and adults, coordinate services and needed referrals, work with individual families to accomplish their needs—including funding options, and assist in application processes, if needed.
Adult Day Services
Turnstone’s Adult Day Services (ADS) program is designed for persons age 18 and over with a physical disability (neurological or orthopedic impairment) requiring assistance in one or more areas of daily living.
Clients come to Turnstone and participate in a variety of activities including intergenerational activities, recreation, music therapy, crafts, cooking classes, and more. The activities are not only therapeutic but are designed to increase socialization, raise activity levels, and promote independence. The Adult Day Services program also offers respite for parents and caregivers. The staff includes an RN and an LPN who provide medical monitoring and assistance.
Paralympic Program
In 2018, Turnstone became one of the 11 official Paralympic training sites in the U.S. as designated by the USOPC. Turnstone’s facilities, staff, and resources provide an elite athlete training environment for current and aspiring Paralympic athletes, with a specialty in the sport of goalball, as well as developmental opportunities for athletes in other Paralympic sports. Through Turnstone’s relationship with the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), Turnstone is home to the Goalball Center of Excellence, the Men’s and Women’s Goalball Resident Program, and the internationally ranked U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Goalball teams. These elite athletes come from all over the country to train and compete at Turnstone, bringing important visibility to the need for and benefits of adaptive sports to the Greater Fort Wayne community and the state of Indiana. In 2019, 22 elite athletes with disabilities have trained at Turnstone and made their respective sports U.S. national or Paralympic national team.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Turnstone offers a variety of adaptive sports and recreation programs for children and adults age 5 and up who have an intellectual or developmental disability. Most programs are held in Turnstone’s Plassman Athletic Center and led by qualified staff and volunteers. We also utilize many community partners for additional program space and instruction.
We offer high quality recreational and sports programs, social as well as cultural and leisure experiences Some of our programs include: basketball, floor hockey, walking, girls night out, game night, dances, creative expression dance classes, cooking, cycling, and tennis. Community events include ice skating, curling, pottery, attending a local museum or a Komet Hockey or Tin Caps Game. Many of our programs are inclusive and allow peers and family members to participate.
There are many benefits to joining our programs including improved health and wellness, increased strength and endurance, increase in self-esteem and self-confidence, increased opportunities for social engagement, opportunities to develop a healthy leisure lifestyle, and increased independence.
Where we work
Awards
2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism 2019
Sports Destination Magazine
Affiliations & memberships
United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee 2018
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of therapy hours provided to clients
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Outpatient Therapy Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Turnstone's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 and the metric data spans these time frames. The data from 2020 was negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Though the agency has undergone many changes since its founding in 1943, Turnstone's heart and soul have not changed. We remain committed to helping people with disabilities gain independence and live dignified, full lives, no matter their financial means, while continuously evolving to meet the needs of people with disabilities in the Greater Fort Wayne, regional and national community.
Across all of Turnstone's programs, our goal is to help our clients gain independence, improve their health and lead an active and fulfilling life—a quality of life that Turnstone defines as their highest potential. We first and foremost aim to meet 100% of our client's needs in their pursuit of this goal—meaning that everyone who comes through our doors will receive the services they need that are offered by Turnstone no matter their ability to pay.
Annually, we serve more than 2,800 people with disabilities throughout our core programs. All of the core programs set goals on how many people we will serve. For example, this fiscal year, we aim to provide 400 children and 60 adults with outpatient therapy services; 200 people with physical disabilities with recreational, competitive, and or elite sports; 32 children with inclusive childcare; and 740 people with fitness and aquatic services.
Along with the number of people served, we have other qualitative goals. For example, we strive for 95% of our client's families to report that they were able to work due to their child being enrolled in inclusive childcare.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In order to serve as many people with disabilities as possible, Turnstone accepts many forms of compensation intended to be used by people who need financial assistance, such as Medicaid, Medicaid Waiver, and Indiana’s Child Care and Development Vouchers. If a client does not have access to these types of assistance or if that assistance is not sufficient, Turnstone uses a sliding fee scale and an appeals process to assist them in receiving the services they need.
An example of this sliding fee scale and appeals process is as follows, related to childcare services. Initially, every qualifying family that makes 200% or less than the Federal Poverty level receives tuition assistance using a sliding fee scale based on the annual income of the family. After application of the sliding fee scale, if the family still believes that it is unable to afford Turnstone’s child care services, then the family can apply for a fee appeal. Clients are able to appeal the fees if they feel that there is an undue financial burden placed on them with the agreed fee structure. For those clients not currently involved with a Social Worker, one will be assigned to help guide them through the process, provide a review of the circumstances, and help them identify other possible resources that may be relevant to their situation.
In order to improve organizational sustainability and grow our impact, Turnstone is guided by strategic goals that were developed by our Board of Directors and executive leadership team. Our agency-wide 2020-2022 goals are to (1) achieve financial stability and sustainability and (2) be the agency of choice in the region among stakeholders. Towards these ends, an overview of some of these organizational objectives includes:
• To increase capacity in memory care services;
• To achieve Medicare Provider status;
• To empower all visitors and Turnstone team members as brand ambassadors through concentrated engagement efforts;
• To utilize the Paralympic Training Site Advisory Board to generate regional and national sponsorships;
• To create systems to assess, develop, reward, and engage top talent;
• To create a comprehensive capital budget and schedule.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Turnstone is led by a dedicated team of nonprofit professionals who bring significant and varied experiences in serving the disabled community. CEO Mike Mushett—only our third chief executive in our 79-year history—has led the organization since 2014. Mike has devoted more than 35 years to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. He has been a national leader in the development of adaptive recreation and Paralympic sports programs at the community, national, and international levels. Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Recreation & Leisure Services, as well as a certificate from the Olympic Sport Leadership Program from the Northwestern University School of Management.
Our 12-person leadership team supports a staff of 87 highly qualified employees, which include social workers, teachers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, fitness specialists, and more, all of whom hold relevant certifications in their field.
Turnstone’s 23-member board of directors is responsible for the governance and strategic vision of the organization. These individuals provide expertise in legal, financial, and medical issues as well as child development, education, business management, and fundraising. We benefit from 100% board participation in fundraising annually.
Following Turnstone’s designation as an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site in 2018, we created a Paralympic Training Site Advisory Board, whose mission is to create marketing and revenue initiatives that support the development and growth of Turnstone’s Paralympic Training Site in partnership with Turnstone staff. This 18-person board consists of Paralympians as well as business professionals who bring expertise in professional sports, physical therapy, finance, marketing, and law.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
As it has been for the past 79 years, Turnstone is committed to thriving and providing comprehensive services and programs to people with disabilities in the Fort Wayne community. We have been able to add great value to the Fort Wayne community despite the challenges of operating as a nonprofit organization. In the 2021 Fort Wayne Newspapers Readers’ Choice Awards, the community voted:
• our Therapy Program as the Best Rehabilitation Center—for the 3rd year in a row!
• our Therapy Program as the Best Pediatric Therapy Center!
• our Fitness and Aquatics Center as the Best Exercise Facility!
• our Kimbrough Early Learning Center as the third Best Child Care!
Beyond the awards, Turnstone’s impact can be seen in the success of its clients—becoming stronger and healthier, gaining independence, and learning new skills. We have many stories that we can share about the positive impact that we have had on clients and the positive impact that they have had on us.
While these successes are positive indicators in Turnstone’s pursuit of our mission to empower people with disabilities to achieve their highest potential, the needs for continued progress and support continue.
We constantly seek feedback from our clients and caregivers during their sessions. We formally seek feedback through an annual client survey. Clients provide input on Turnstone in general and any program in which they participate specifically. This feedback is used by Turnstone’s management to evaluate and assess how we are doing and whether there are unmet needs that we can fulfill.
Turnstone continues to strive for best-in-practice programs and services that directly contribute to a world that values people based on their abilities. Our current strategies and ongoing efforts will enhance programming and service options available to people with disabilities while building resources that will guide others throughout our country and around the world towards a more equal view engagement of people with disabilities in all areas of life. In the short term, we are focused on transforming Turnstone's standard of operations by serving people in our community with disabilities more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Through collaborations and innovative initiatives, Turnstone’s legacy of empowerment will continue to the benefit of people with disabilities and the enrichment of our community.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Turnstone serves people of all ages who have physical, visual, neurological, and developmental disabilities by providing a continuum of services including outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, social services, counciling, fitness, recreation, competitive adaptive sports, Paralympic sport training, inclusive childcare, adult day service, memory care and more.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Case management notes, Suggestion box/email,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
Turnstone believes in the sentiment of "nothing about us without us" and prioritizes client-centered care and operations.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
TURNSTONE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Board of directorsas of 06/09/2022
Mrs. Vicki Leininger
Hylant Group
Term: 2020 - 2021
Kelly Clevenger
Lincoln Retiree
Richard Fox
Barrett McNagny
Vicki Leininger
Hylant Group
Barney Niezer
Northeast Indiana Urology
Tom Trent
Rothberg, Logan and Warsco
Melissa Stout
Merrill Lynch
Chris Rupp
Dulin, Ward & DeWald
Corinna Ladd
PNC
Carol Helton
City of Fort Wayne
Dave Fee
First Merchants Bank
Tom Banas
Fort Wayne Neurological Center
Jill Boggs
Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Randy Outman
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
Melissa Schenkel
STAR Financial Bank
Wil Smith
Smith & Associates Consulting
Brad Sturges
CB Richard Ellis Sturges
Jeff Sturges
TWF Holdings
Irene Walters
Community Leader
Marlon Wardlow
Parkview Health
Jeanne Wickens
Parkview Health
Adrian Guenther
Lincoln Financial Group
Tom Kimbrough
Barrett McNagny
Davyd Jones
Edward Jones
Jane DeHaven
Summit City Chevrolet
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: