Indianapolis, IN
IU and Riley Children's Hospital partner for Skills on Wheels program
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Skills on Wheels is a one-of-a-kind program in Indianapolis preparing children who use a wheelchair for daily life. The program partners trained Riley Children’s Hospital professionals and IU occupational or physical therapy students to teach various skills.
With five activity stations, ramps, and obstacle courses, the team helps kids between six and 17 years old learn skills. The program often focuses on rolling forward and backward, going up and down hills, or navigating crowded areas.
The program is the only one like it currently operating in the world.
7-year-old Zoey McCord came to the program for the first time in 2024.
“When we came here for the first time, she said ‘Mom, they are all just like me!’” Zoey’s mom, Leslie McCord, said.
Zoey was born with Spina Bifida. Since she was 2.5 years old, she’s moved through the world with a wheelchair.
When Zoey was first introduced to her wheelchair, there was little training given to the McCord family.
Through the family made sure Zoey had everything she needed to thrive, they were often alone. Skills on Wheels helped in creating community.
“This has been that one piece that has been missing from all of my kids lives, I call my patients my kids. This is that piece that just finally connects the equipment that I get to give them it’s like real life situations,” the program’s Clinical Director Tiffany Stead said.
Stead helped in developing the program and Dr. Tony Chase is the program’s director.
“We worked with some collaborators over in Ireland who were doing some wheelchair skills training, but not specifically pediatric focused,” Chase said.
The program isn’t just special in that focus, it also makes sure to support the entire family.
During the day, parents can visit the Caregiver Corner and siblings can enjoy the Sib Crib.
“We also have something called Sib Crib for our siblings, where they’re playing, having fun while their siblings are learning, but then they’re also doing some activities that involve understanding of disability, and advocacy,” Chase said.
The program’s approach is backed by data, too.
“We’ve published a few articles, and they’ve all really lean towards increased confidence, increased participation in home, school, and their community and decreased in fear of falling out of their chair, they’re not as scared of it,” Chase said.
The McCords agree.
“It’s just seeing her confidence and like, when she’s around only able-bodied people, she starts to feel kind of down on herself,” McCord said. “So, her being constantly around these friends just makes her feel like, ‘Oh, I have a community. I have a space.’ I would love for this program to just explode.”
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
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