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Introduction

Welcome to Christole, Inc. We are a non-profit organization providing quality professional residential and community based services for individuals, and their families, with developmental disabilities.

Our Mission

"Enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by offering individualized community opportunities."

Our Core Values

Safety is Primary

By recognizing the need to be proactive in our thoughts and actions, we will ensure a higher level of success and well being for all people.

Respect is essential

By focusing on each individual we serve, with a genuine attitude of respect for the uniqueness and value of every person, we will achieve excellence, in ourselves and with others.

Teamwork is vital

By uniting efforts in the sharing of our personal resources, while listening with understanding, we will collectively achieve wonders, within the environment of a team.

Creativity carries us forward

By encouraging resourcefulness in the design of innovative solutions, a passion to uplift Christole will emerge to assist us in making a difference for the welfare of others, which will ultimately provide for the global benefit of all.

Our Reason for Caring

My daughter, Leslie, was diagnosed mentally retarded at 18 months. I went to the library and read everything I could find out about mental retardation and Leslie didn't quite fit into that category. She gave no eye to eye contact and did not like to be touched or held. She would stand up in her crib and bang her head against the wall, and laugh about it, seeming to feel no pain. When she wanted, she would not respond to what was being said to her, appearing to be deaf.

Leslie was not diagnosed with autism until she was accepted into a preschool for the developmentally disabled at four years old. I wish she had been correctly diagnosed when she was younger. With early intervention and an understanding of her disability, perhaps I could have helped her more. It was also at this time that I realized I needed to insure Leslie's future into adulthood. Leslie would need a safe environment and trained people who understood her disability and advocate for her needs.

Another parent of an autistic child and I formed a not-for-profit corporation to develop group homes in central Indiana. The name Christole was chosen for the corporation because it contained parts of both the names of our children, Christopher and Leslie. We received a federal grant and formed a board of directors. An executive director was hired, and Christole, Inc. was on its way.

Linda Barton,
Founding Member

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