Damar in East Chicago recently celebrated the completion of its newly renovated space.

Damar, a nonprofit organization for children with intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities, hosted an event for community leaders to see the new public spaces, meet the Damar team and learn more about how Damar is supporting the community.

Located at the former St. Joseph Carmelite Home, Damar has undertaken renovations since acquiring the site in 2024. In addition to providing residential services for youth, Damar offers the community ABA autism therapy, education services, case management and other services.

“It’s been rewarding to bring Damar’s experience and expertise helping children who require specialized services,” said Janelle Richards, executive director of Damar’s East Chicago campus, in a press release. “We have state-of-the-art facilities, including meeting spaces for family time and provider consultations, to help us do that.”

Damar Services was started as Damar Homes in 1967, by Theodore and Beverly Farkas. Seeking the best situation for David and Martha, their two children with developmental disabilities, the Farkases found few options. While they couldn’t care for the children at home, they weren’t interested in the prevailing alternative of that time: a state institution with limited visitation privileges. Instead, they developed what they named Damar, combining the names of their two children.