Our Thanks to 500 Festival Princess Bailey Troutman for her Visit to SBT’s Celebration of Communication

Newly appointed 500 Festival Princess Bailey Troutman delighted Saved By Typing’s members when she visited our monthly Celebration of Communication On Saturday, February 21. Bailey is the sister of typer and SBT member Brock Troutman, a nonverbal autistic who uses Facilitated Communication (FC), aka supported typing, to communicate with his family, friends, and the outside world.

Bailey is one of 33 college-aged women selected as 2016 500 Festival Princesses to serve as ambassadors of the 500 Festival, their hometowns, and their colleges/universities. The princesses play a critical role in the execution of the 500 Festival’s mission to produce life-enriching events and programs while celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. Bailey’s visit was the first official community outreach program for this year’s princesses.

“I’m really honored to be a part of this group of women. It was great to share the selection process with them, and I look forward to all the activities and events we will be participating in, both individually and as a group.”

During her presentation to the group of about 25 typers and their family members, many of whom are big Indy 500 fans, Bailey discussed the history of the 500 Festival and how it has evolved, the princess selection process, how she sees her role and responsibilities as a princess, and her experiences so far. She also talked about the milestones that the 2016 500 Festival represents, as it will be the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, the 60th year of the 500 Festival Parade, and the 40th year for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.

“I really enjoyed this audience, many of whom I already knew through Saved By Typing. It was great to be able to share my experiences with people I consider friends. They made me feel very welcomed and appreciated. It was a great way to kick off my public speaking role as a 500 Festival Princess.”

The Indy 500 & 500 Festival: A True Hoosier Tradition

The theme of the 2016 500 Festival is “Experience the Celebration.” It is the festival committee’s goal during this momentous year to have more Hoosiers and visitors participate in festival-related events than ever before.

For more information about the parade, mini-marathon, and other events, including the always popular Kids’ Day, visit the 500 Festival website.

We want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Bailey for taking time from her busy schedule to meet with our members, who truly enjoyed her visit. It should bring a new level of understanding and enjoyment when they watch this year’s race, whether live at The Brickyard or on tape-delay at home, one of the few downsides of living in the Indianapolis area.

Photo Gallery

Click on a thumbnail below to open a slideshow of photos from Bailey Troutman’s visit to our Celebration of Communication.