Anita Young

Five things to know about Anita Young

What she does

Anita Young is the executive director of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services (JRDS), an organization that serves people who are "multiply handicapped."
...
The current building for JRDS at Portland used to be a drive-in restaurant, and Young used to be a car hop there.So, really, she's been working there since she was 14.

How she got there

"This was a divine intervention," Young said.

She was born and raised in Portland.She went on to get her bachelor's degree in education at Earlham College and masters in counseling and education at Ball State University, thinking that she was going to become an elementary school counselor.

She ended up moving back to Portland because of her husband's job in 1973.

"It was too late in the year to start at a school," she recounted, "and my mother read in the paper that JRDS was starting a school for pre-school kids with special needs, so I applied for the job and got it."

Not too long after, she became the director of early developmental training and eventually moved on to become the director of JRDS.

Why she loves her job

"My mother in-law was one of the founders of this program, so it's special to me," she said.

She added that there are no typical days at JRDS."I like challenges, challenges of figuring out people and helping them make progress."

The challenges she faced

Two years after Young moved to Portland, a divorce left her a single mom and she had to raise three daughters.But that didn't slow her down.In fact, now that she looks back, she believes that her job allowed her to be a good mother.

"And I had a good family support," she said.

What she loves to do

"I was the only child, and I was always involved with young children," Young said.

In addition, she loves to be involved in the community.Her plethora of awards, including the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award she recently received from The Arc of Indiana, speak of her passion to help make a difference in her community.
...
Anita Young

Five things to know about Anita Young

What she does

Anita Young is the executive director of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services (JRDS), an organization that serves people who are "multiply handicapped."
...
The current building for JRDS at Portland used to be a drive-in restaurant, and Young used to be a car hop there.So, really, she's been working there since she was 14.

How she got there

"This was a divine intervention," Young said.

She was born and raised in Portland.She went on to get her bachelor's degree in education at Earlham College and masters in counseling and education at Ball State University, thinking that she was going to become an elementary school counselor.

She ended up moving back to Portland because of her husband's job in 1973.

"It was too late in the year to start at a school," she recounted, "and my mother read in the paper that JRDS was starting a school for pre-school kids with special needs, so I applied for the job and got it."

Not too long after, she became the director of early developmental training and eventually moved on to become the director of JRDS.

Why she loves her job

"My mother in-law was one of the founders of this program, so it's special to me," she said.

She added that there are no typical days at JRDS."I like challenges, challenges of figuring out people and helping them make progress."

The challenges she faced

Two years after Young moved to Portland, a divorce left her a single mom and she had to raise three daughters.But that didn't slow her down.In fact, now that she looks back, she believes that her job allowed her to be a good mother.

"And I had a good family support," she said.

What she loves to do

"I was the only child, and I was always involved with young children," Young said.

In addition, she loves to be involved in the community.Her plethora of awards, including the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award she recently received from The Arc of Indiana, speak of her passion to help make a difference in her community.

Five things to know about Anita Young

What she does

Anita Young is the executive director of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services (JRDS), an organization that serves people who are "multiply handicapped."
...
The current building for JRDS at Portland used to be a drive-in restaurant, and Young used to be a car hop there.So, really, she's been working there since she was 14.

How she got there

"This was a divine intervention," Young said.

She was born and raised in Portland.She went on to get her bachelor's degree in education at Earlham College and masters in counseling and education at Ball State University, thinking that she was going to become an elementary school counselor.

She ended up moving back to Portland because of her husband's job in 1973.

"It was too late in the year to start at a school," she recounted, "and my mother read in the paper that JRDS was starting a school for pre-school kids with special needs, so I applied for the job and got it."

Not too long after, she became the director of early developmental training and eventually moved on to become the director of JRDS.

Why she loves her job

"My mother in-law was one of the founders of this program, so it's special to me," she said.

She added that there are no typical days at JRDS."I like challenges, challenges of figuring out people and helping them make progress."

The challenges she faced

Two years after Young moved to Portland, a divorce left her a single mom and she had to raise three daughters.But that didn't slow her down.In fact, now that she looks back, she believes that her job allowed her to be a good mother.

"And I had a good family support," she said.

What she loves to do

"I was the only child, and I was always involved with young children," Young said.

In addition, she loves to be involved in the community.Her plethora of awards, including the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award she recently received from The Arc of Indiana, speak of her passion to help make a difference in her community.
...
Anita Young > >