BOARD MEMBER
Anne Merritt brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for supporting individuals of all abilities to her role. Born and raised in rural Northwest Ohio, Anne has lived in various locations, including Norwalk, Ohio; Newark, Ohio; Anchorage, Alaska; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has been married to her husband, Jeff, since 1991 and is the proud mother of three daughters, navigating the joys and challenges of parenting, including homeschooling for over 20 years.
Anne’s journey includes extensive personal and professional experience in special needs care. As a mother, she has supported her children through physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, as well as adoption and attachment challenges, while also managing multiple surgeries and medical needs. From a young age, she cultivated her caregiving skills by visiting elderly relatives, assisting neighbors with disabilities, and engaging with a foster cousin with multiple disabilities.
Her professional credentials are equally impressive. Anne has worked as a one-on-one aide for both elderly individuals with dementia and young adults with multiple disabilities. She also served as a Feuerstein Mentor at Children’s Village for three years and is now a certified Feuerstein Mediator at The MINDCAP Center. Her certifications include Basic Levels 1 and 2, Standard Levels 1, 2, and 3, Tactile, and L-PAD Basic.
In addition to her caregiving expertise, Anne is a creative force. She has self-published several children’s books on Amazon as both an author and illustrator. Her hobbies include reading, audiobooks, knitting, crocheting, sewing, wool felting, writing, and poetry. Anne and her family currently reside in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they share their home with two small dogs.
Anne’s dedication to fostering growth, creativity, and inclusivity aligns beautifully with the mission of the Fort Wayne Dance Collective, making her an invaluable member of the team.