TURNSTONE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

Though the agency has undergone many changes since our 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 clients’ 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 3,400 people with disabilities throughout our seven core programs. Some of these programs set goals on how many people we will serve. For this fiscal year, we aim to provide 475 children with outpatient therapy services; 80 children with land and aquatic wellness services; 245 people with physical disabilities with recreational, competitive and or elite sports, and 550 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities with recreational and sports programming.

Along with number of people served, we specifically set goals for number of hours of service. For example, we aim to provide 47,262 hours of inclusive childcare and 12,600 hours of pediatric therapy. Now with COVID-19, most of the goals that we established on the number of people served and the hours of service will not be obtainable for the fiscal years affected by mass quarantines and other COVID-19 related community health measures and requirements.

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.

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 78-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 25-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.

Turnstone has a number of recent accomplishments of which we are very proud. In the summer of 2019, we co-hosted, along with the United States Association of Blind Athletes and Visit Fort Wayne, the city of Fort Wayne’s largest ever international event and the first of its kind in the United States—the 2019 International Blind Sports Federation’s Goalball and Judo International Qualifier. This Qualifier, which featured 700 international guests from over 40 countries, was named a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management. Many athletes who attended the Qualifier were able to qualify for the 2020 (now delayed) Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Also in 2019, we received two Fort Wayne Newspapers Readers’ Choice Awards. The Readers’ Choice Award for Best Rehabilitation Center was given to our Outpatient Therapy Department. The Readers’ Choice Award for Best Fitness Center was given to our Health and Wellness Center. We are honored that the Fort Wayne community thinks highly of our services and facilities.

Earlier this year, we were awarded a grant from the National Basketball Association (NBA). As part of that grant, we are collaborating with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and a local artist to renovate and paint a mural upon the four outdoor basketball courts at McMillen Park. We will then host wheelchair basketball programming at the outdoor courts.

We are also honored that our over 3,400 annual clients think highly of our services and facilities. According to an annual survey completed for the 2018-19 fiscal year, 96% of our clients reported that they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with Turnstone.

Beyond the numbers and 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.

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.

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.