Latest news with #OptimalACCESSAcademy
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tri-States Remarkable Woman winner travels to Los Angles
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — The Tri-State's Remarkable Woman winner is in Los Angeles to meet other remarkable women from around the country. Casey Depriest is being recognized for her work with children and adults with autism. DePriest can be found at Optimal ACCESS Academy in Newburgh, working with some of the most vulnerable in the community. 'Our world needs everybody. Everybody was created for a purpose.' Casey says. One woman will then be named a national remarkable woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Meet 2025 Remarkable Women winner: Casey DePriest
NEWBURGH, Ind. (WEHT)- Over the last month, Eyewitness News has introduced women in the Tri-State who work tirelessly to make a difference in the community. Today we meet Casey DePriest, the woman who works to make life easier for those in our community who need to be heard. On any given day, you can find Casey DePriest at Optimal ACCESS Academy in Newburgh, working with some of the most vulnerable in our community. 'Our world needs everybody. Everybody was created for a purpose.' Casey says. It's that philosophy that drives DePriest to work with children and adults with autism, several of which are nonverbal like Joey. Casey spent two days with Joey assessing his needs for therapy. His family traveled 4 hours for the intake. Before Casey was opening schools and non-profit organizations using the latest research to help neurodivergent minds, she was a student in Columbus, Indiana- wondering which career field would suit her best. Both of her parents worked as teachers. Casey says, 'So I grew up in that environment. I Knew that wasn't my path.. and so that's why I went into music therapy. But it's kind of come full circle that, you know, I very much participate in education every single day and, and advocate for kids to have an education and a meaningful, equitable education.'After graduating from the University of Evansville, Casey interned at the Welborn Mulberry Center before opening Integrative Music Therapy in the early 2000's. 'in 2010, we finally got our first clinic, and our first clinic was in Evansville. And then since then, we've grown twice and are now here in Newburgh.' A few years later, Optimal Rhythms was born, now known as Optimal ACCESS. 'As we transition from traditional music therapy to neurologic music therapy and got some advanced training, we started to recognize, oh my goodness, like, there are things that we've been missing in the individuals that we served.' However, Casey noticed her Autistic clients' responses to therapy was inconsistent, 'So in, 2011, I was, introduced to some new research about autism that was more neurologic instead of behavioral. So in our practice, as we're approaching things from this, paradigm, we started to see big, big changes in the ways that our clients were responding in the way that they were able to access their body… These kids are completely understanding what it is that we're saying to them. Completely understanding what we're asking them to do. The breakdown is them carrying out the motor to do it. ' Casey and her team continued their research, then 11 years ago a non-verbal client named Josh was able to communicate with Casey that further education was needed. 'He spelled out 'Ms. Casey, you have to start a school, or I'm going to age out of school and never get an education.' And that that was the shift. I couldn't argue with that, and that's been the inspiration for so much of the work that we've done here,' said DePriest. So start a school she did. And it didn't take long before ACCESS Academy was born. 'That stands for assuming confidence can ensure student success. We believe that the first step is to believe that these kids are capable.' The academy opened a whole world for both children and adults. 'Just seeing that glimmer of hope that they get when somebody gets them. But I am just so passionate that I want to train more people to do what we do.' And the program don't stop with ACCESS Academy. 'Access to Academics. is a home education program for families who are having a hard time getting the supports that they need so they support them at home. We have Access Family which is an intensive summer program and Access Parents which is a support group.' Casey and her team work with at least 125 individuals a week, ranging in age from 2 to 67 years old, and are constantly looking for ways to improve their therapy programs. 'We listen to individuals because they have the solutions. These individuals who are sitting in these bodies listening to us while we jabber all day. They are the ones with the good ideas. They know what is needed.' One such example came from Noel. Noel has attended camp at Optimal ACCESS, taken classes and graduated with a high school diploma. Since then, the state of Indiana has asked him to serve on a board to advocate for disability rights. 'We submitted his idea to train direct support professionals who support non-speaking people in the community, and our project was accepted.'Casey also helped to create the Rethinking Autism Conference. It's held at USI and sold out last year, and making a return this week. 'We're super excited because we're going to get to have one day of, presentations and really exciting presentations. And then the second day will be workshops.' She is also currently participating in the Arizona State Micro School Entrepreneurial Fellowship for her innovation in education. It's easy to see why Casey is so remarkable. 'I'm kind of a disrupter. And I think that brings energy,' she says. She credits the support of her husband and two children for her work with the autistic community, as well as the brilliant minds of her co-workers to reach individuals who often get left behind. 'I think it speaks to the sacrifice that I've made and my family has made to allow me to do this…I hope our story reaches far. And it helps inspire and encourage more and more people,' says DePriest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
