After months of working behind the scenes and advocating for the need for higher wages for Direct Support Professionals, Ohio has included an historic rate increase to assist with raising the average wage for that role in the 2024 state budget.

In case you’re not aware, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are people who work with individuals with disabilities, providing support in homes, in the community and even in the workplace. The majority of DSPs in Ohio’s developmentally disabilities service system are paid through Medicaid waivers. They may work as independent providers or work for one our agency partners. Not only does the Champaign County Board of DD write the service plan, but we also pay for part of the cost of each of the waiver services.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the average wage for DSPs across the state is required to be $18 per hour. That average wage will go up again in July 2024 to $19 per hour with the additional amount provided by local county boards of DD.

We believe that this historic increase in rates is a significant step in the right direction. We have all experienced the consequences of a labor shortage, but for the people we serve these consequences often mean so much more. It could mean that they have to go into a nursing home because there is no one to care for them at their apartment. It could mean that they might not have the support they need to attend the day program of their choice or keep their community job. Without quality DSPs, our support system just does not work.

I’d like to thank Governor DeWine and Ohio’s legislators for recognizing the importance of this issue and helping to address it by including it in this budget.

If you or someone you know are interested in how to become a DSP, the Champaign County Board of DD can help with that! We offer support and free training and are here to help. Please call 937-653-5217 and ask for Amy Hubbard, Provider Support Coordinator.
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For more information about our lifetime of services, please visit our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on social media.

Service & Support Administrators (SSAs) are tasked with completing Individual Service Plans (ISPs) for each person who qualifies for services with the county board. These plans are done annually, usually spread out over the course of the year.

Recently, the Ohio Department of Development Disabilities created one statewide ISP template for all 88 counties to use. Until now, each county had their own form.

​Now that the SSAs’ training on the new statewide ISP is complete, summer days are for renewing plans with each person on their caseload. We asked the SSAs a few questions about how the new Ohio ISP process is going, and this is what they told us…

How long, on average, does it take to onboard one person to the new Ohio ISP?
ANSWER:     It varies person to person; between scheduling the ISP meeting, having the meeting, then updating to the OISP, the process currently is averaging around 15 hours per person. 
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What is your biggest challenge with implementing the new Ohio ISP? 
ANSWER:     Well, the new Ohio ISP is very time intensive. So, finding the time to complete it with the individual/team, know where everything goes in the plan, and complete it. Just when you think you know what you’re doing there will be a change, e-mail, or a glitch in the system. Trying to balance the time it takes to complete the OISP and have all other duties completed can be a balancing act at times. I know it will get easier with time, and CCBDD is figuring out where to put the important components. I have a great supportive team that has been helping me figure things out, and answer questions. We got this. 

One question in the Ohio ISP is “What makes the person’s typical day better?” -  How would you answer that question about yourself?
ANSWER:     Coffee to get the day rolling. 

If you could use the Ohio ISP to interview any celebrity, who would you choose? Why?
ANSWER:     Gary Busey – because he’s a wild and crazy guy!

ISP Superlatives

• Most likely to take a long vacation after the finishing ISPs     Nikki Wilson
• Most likely to receive the ISP Over-Achiever Award     Eric Breon
• Most likely to bring home-baked treats to ISP meetings and trainings     Loretta Stroud
• Most likely to give everyone high-fives during ISP meetings and trainings     Mark Glunt & Joe Brewer
• Most likely to lend a helping hand     Jaime Mattox-Barger

Summer is in full swing and so are young children! We all know that summer play is fun, but it is also an important developmental tool.

Outdoor play not only encourages more vigorous play, such as running and jumping, which helps build gross motor skills, it also helps with the mental health of our youngest children. Regular exposure to the great outdoor can help reduce anger and aggression, even in young children. Playing outside also encourages curiosity, exploration and problem solving!
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No child is too young to enjoy being outside. Even infants benefit from fresh air each day. Try doing tummy time on a blanket in a shady spot. In addition to being an important gross motor activity, it can also be a great sensory experience! 

I was recently at an event in the community, and someone asked me about my plans for summer break. It made me wonder if people know what we do in the summer at the Champaign County Board of DD, so I thought I would share a few highlights since we are often busier than ever throughout these summer months.

Not only do we provide Early Intervention 12 months out of the year, we engage our families in additional activities throughout the summer months, including playground days with families. Every day counts with early intervention, so it’s important that our therapists and Developmental Specialists work year-round to provide support to children who may be experiencing delays in development.

Our Community and Education Department (CEO) is especially busy in the summer months coordinating activities for youth who plan to enter the workforce in a few years. Our staff also coordinated a vacation club with individuals who took a trip out of state recently. CEO staff work all year long to ensure that people with disabilities in Champaign County have access to activities just like everyone else.

And of course, our Service and Support Administrators (SSAs) work all summer coordinating supports for individuals with disabilities in Champaign County. This summer SSAs are focused on transitioning their work to a new state system called the Ohio Individual Service Plan which will be rolled out across the state. Whether working with someone to secure housing or benefits or ensuring that services are happening as they should to make sure people are healthy and safe, our SSAs are busy all year round.

If you are interested in learning more about what’s going on at CCBDD in the summer months, make sure to follow us on social media. If you have any questions, please call us at 937-653-5217.
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** This article can also be found in the Urbana Daily Citizen at https://www.urbanacitizen.com/2023/06/26/busy-all-summer-long/

June 20, 2023 at 8:30 am
Start: Kroger by St Rt 29, Urbana
End: The Depot Coffeehouse, Urbana

Come out and line the streets to cheer on local law enforcement and Special Olympics athletes as they carry the Special Olympics Torch through Urbana, Ohio.

Athletes and officers will start at Kroger next to State Route 29 in Urbana. They will carry the torch all along 29 until they reach The Depot Coffeehouse. 

The public are welcome to stand along the route and cheer as runners go by. Everyone is also welcome to jog or ride bikes along side the torch runners. 

Just like the typical Olympic Games, the torch represents represents the start of the ultimate competition. The Ohio statewide Special Olympic Games will take place on June 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio. In Columbus, top Special Olympics athletes from all over Ohio will compete for Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. 

This year, the Champaign County Special Olympics will bring 6 athletes to the state competition. All of them will compete in weightlifting. Local Coordinator, Alfredo Gutierrez, thanks local law enforcement for their continued support of Champaign County Special Olympics and says he would love to see the community "come and support your local athletes as they prep for state".

For more information on the Champaign County chapter of Special Olympics, contact Alfredo Gutierrez at agutierrez6605@gmail.com or 937-206-5682.

Read more about Special Olympics Ohio and the upcoming Torch Run here: ​​sooh.org/law-enforcement-torch-run/

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) or providers are the backbone to the developmental disabilities (DD) service system. They are a critical piece, and without them, people with DD go without services that they need.

The Champaign County Board of DD does not typically provide direct services in homes or day programs to people with DD directly. We coordinate and fund these direct services through our Service and Support Administrators (SSAs), in conjunction with Medicaid. Our SSAs work with individuals with DD and their advocates to select a DSP or a provider to carry out the services that are needed by the individual.

The shortage of DSPs in Ohio is at a critical point. One of the methods the DD system is taking to address the shortage of providers is to advocate for higher wages. The DSP wage is tied directly to the Medicaid program, which means our advocacy for higher wages has to take place at the state level. Advocates from around the state have been providing testimony to our state legislators about the need for higher wages for several months now. The hope is that the increase will be included in the governor’s upcoming budget.

As a former DSP myself, I can tell you that the job is beyond rewarding. I can also tell you that a lot is asked of DSPs. They are responsible for the care and support of another human, who is likely requiring some sort of specialized care. In addition to basic care, they are often responsible for documentation, transportation, medication administration, and many other services written into the individual’s service plan.

It is my goal that we make it as easy as possible to be a DSP in Champaign County. We have dedicated provider support staff who can link a DSP to an agency provider or walk a DSP through the independent provider certification process and make sure they have the support needed to continue in this rewarding career. We have SSAs who know the individuals well and can collaborate with DSPs and providers to make sure people’s needs are met. We will continue to do our part locally, and it is my hope that a wage increase will keep the providers working in the field and attract new ones as well.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about being a DSP, either for an agency or independently, please email Amy Hubbard at a.hubbard@champaigncbdd.org or call 937-653-5217.

For more information about the Champaign County Board of DD and the lifetime of services we provide, please check out our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and follow us on social media.

** This article can also be found in the Urbana Daily Citizen at  https://www.urbanacitizen.com/2023/05/20/direct-support-professionals-are-critical-to-the-dd-system/ **

Since joining the Champaign County Early Intervention Team last June, I have been happy to hear the conversations between Early Intervention Service Providers and families about the importance of reading to their very young children.

Some concerns parents have about reading to their children are often that children have no interest in books or that children just destroy the books. These are valid concerns!

However, coming from a preschool background, I know the importance of reading to children. Reading to your child during infancy is important in building that language/literacy connection. Children learn to talk when adults engage them in conversations, which often happens during reading.

But how can you help your child learn to speak by reading?
I think we all have the illusion that reading to a child should be a quiet, peaceful experience. Your child sits on your lap and listens intently as you read them a story…

But it usually doesn’t happen that way! At least not right at the start. You must show your child that reading can be enjoyable, just as you would demonstrate any other skill you are trying to teach them. It’s also important to understand how reading to a child should look, according to your child’s age.

Expectations for read with infants
Infants, up to about a year old, need fabric, plastic, or board books that can be handled without fear of being torn apart. Books need to have brightly colored, easily recognizable pictures, with only one or two words per page. Look for books that label items such as animals, colors, etc. While you look at the book, have a conversation with your child about the pictures you are seeing on the pages. Encourage your child to point to the pictures as you read.

Make sure your child can see your face. Younger infants especially learn so much from your facial expressions. This is how you begin to teach them that reading time can be enjoyable. If you are not having fun, your child will not have fun either!

Expectations for read with toddlers
Older infants and toddlers enjoy board books with just a few words on each page. Eric Carle books are a favorite of mine for this age. Let them turn pages (with your help if necessary). Point out the pictures, ask them questions even if they don’t have the words to answer yet. This is how children learn the back-and-forth nature of conversation. Again, sit so that your child can see your face. Make faces or use silly voices while reading to engage your child.

Reading a book isn’t just about the words on the page, it’s about the experience you create.

When you choose books for older toddlers, you can begin to introduce more traditional paperback picture books. Rhyming books are a great way to have fun with words!  But again, it’s up to adults to teach children to handle books with care. Store books on a bookshelf (or something similar) to help children understand that they aren’t meant to be on the floor, written on, or stepped on. Children are young but usually capable of learning how to take care of books.

The process of reading the words, pointing to the words and pictures, and having a conversation about the story all encourage language. It helps your child make the connection between words on a page and the everyday items all around them. These are beginning reading skills, and it just builds from there.
Reading to your child helps them learn to use their own words, and later, helps them learn to read! It’s kind of magical when you see it happen! 😊

RESOURCES FOR READING
Getting books to read with your child does not have to be expensive. If you haven’t already, check out your local library. They have books for children of all ages.
https://www.champaigncountylibrary.org/
https://www.stparispubliclibrary.org/index.html
https://www.mechanicsburg.lib.oh.us/
https://www.champaign.lib.oh.us/category/branches/north-lewisburg?page=22

You can also sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This is a free service that mails one new, age appropriate book to your child each month until they are 5 years old. Use the link below to sign up. 
https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org/

March is celebrated nationally as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. At the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities, we want to shine a light on people of all abilities. People with developmental disabilities (DD) are our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members; and our community is stronger when we include everyone.

In 2023, people with developmental disabilities have the option to live, work, and play just like everyone else. People with DD live in their own homes, go to jobs that they choose, have meals out with friends, and even go to college. Our job at the Champaign County Board of DD is to assist them in navigating these life choices and coordinate the needed supports to help them meet their goals. In fact, the #1 goal in our strategic plan is related to inclusion.

Everyone can make small efforts to educate ourselves and think about ways we can be more inclusive with people of all abilities. A few ways to do this are:
1. Watch a documentary on the lives of people with disabilities.
2. Contact the Champaign County Board of DD about volunteer activities or ask what you can do to be involved.
3. Talk to a community member with disabilities about their experiences and what is going on in their life. (I bet you will find that their experiences are very similar to yours.)
4. Read about disability advocacy online. The Champaign County Board of DD website or a simple google search on Ohio developmental disability resources can give you a variety of online documents.
​5. Follow DD organizations or advocacy groups on social media as well.

At our local libraries throughout Champaign County this month, you will find book displays that highlight the experiences of people with disabilities. We would like to thank all the area libraries for partnering with us to make sure these books are front and center during this important month.
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As always, if you have any questions or want to learn more about the Champaign County Board of DD, follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/champaigncbdd.org or check out our website at www.champaigncbdd.org. You can also reach us by phone at 937-652-5217.