By Superintendent Leigh Anne Wenning

​You may have seen our activities this month celebrating March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. At the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD), we strive to remind our community that we are all better when we include everyone.

This month we celebrated with a variety of activities, including a trips to our local libraries to participate in themed activities and to share our mission. We also played a game of cards with the Champaign County Young Professionals organization. We also made our annual trip to the Ohio Statehouse to share our stories and thoughts with our representatives. Before going to the statehouse, we made custom awareness ribbons that say “All means All”, “All means All” was the theme of Advocacy Day at the Statehouse. We were able to hand these ribbons out locally and proudly wear them at the event.

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began in 1987 with a proclamation from President Reagan to bring awareness and acceptance for people of all abilities. One of our goals at CCBDD is to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life.

Developmental disabilities are defined as lifelong disabilities with an onset before the age of 22, resulting in functional limitations. That’s the definition of developmental disability, but the people we serve are so much more than a disability or a diagnosis.

The people we serve have rich, complex lives just like everyone else. They have dreams like living on their own, having a job they love, or owning a pet they have always wanted. And generally, they want the same things that everyone else wants. They want to be treated like valued members of the community. They want to be involved. Or they just want their neighbors to say hello. They want to be seen as an individual and not their disability.

March is almost over, but this can be a reminder for every day of the year. Including everyone makes our communities better.

If you’d like to know more about what the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities does or be involved, please go to our website at www.champaigncbdd.org. Also make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you’d like to know more about working in the DD field, please call our office at 937-653-5217 and ask for Kirby Keller.

For many people with disabilities, relationships are based on family connections or people who are paid to work with them, like Direct Support Professionals or agency staff members. Their calendars reflect programming, appointments, and errands. This is often the case for people who do not have a lot of family connections.

At the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD), our goal is to help change that by offering a selection of events and activities to individuals with disabilities who we serve. Not only are we trying to reach people with disabilities, but we want to connect with the general community as well. Our Community Education and Outreach Department works diligently to create opportunities where people with and without disabilities can engage and hopefully develop connections that continue even without our presence.

We are grateful that we have a great group of volunteers who coordinate all our Special Olympics programs in Champaign County. In addition to these opportunities, the CCBDD staff continue to create other activities for people with disabilities, including general hobbies and recreation. For example, some activities we offer include a book club, a tech club, a restaurant club, and even a coffee club. We also support individuals we serve with running their own clubs and holding office positions in organizations like Aktion Club and People First of Ohio. One of our goals is to let the people we serve take the lead with these activities and stand back to watch them make natural connections.

Whether you have a disability or not, connecting with your community feels good.

For more information on activities going on at CCBDD, make sure to follow us on social media platforms or give us a call at 937-653-5217.

As we begin the holiday season and start the final countdown of another year, the governing board for the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) is mindful to reflect on those individuals throughout the county whom the CCBDD had the privilege to assist throughout the year.

Especially at this time of year, it’s a good opportunity to take stock in our busy lives and try to discern what matters most. For the CCBDD organization, what matters most is the call to serve those with special needs, for they provide the perspective we need and have unique gifts to give our community.

The CCBDD believes everyone has abilities and strives to provide support to individuals of all ages who have developmental disabilities to unlock individual potential. The county board helps them succeed in what they do towards the common good.

The late Mother Teresa said, “You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” In keeping with the mission of the CCBDD “to promote independence and a pathway to success” for those we serve, assisting those in need is payment enough.

The CCBDD provides, coordinates, and monitors services and support for eligible individuals in Champaign County, and their families, that promote a pathway to individual success. Our team hosts numerous programs for residents with special needs aimed to improve their skills, allow them to be active, and help them be part of our community. We help connect individuals and families to other organizations in the community which assist in fostering their skills and providing them activities to experience.

Serving on the governing board of the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities, in support of people with developmental disabilities, is one of the most rewarding experiences we could ask for.
​
In a world where there is so much unrest, it is uplifting to witness the unselfish dedication and commitment each staff member displays to those in need. It is an honor and a privilege to support the CCBDD team who, day-in and day-out, do for those who can never repay them.

October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This is a special time for us to highlight the contributions of workers with disabilities and to raise awareness on the very real impact and importance of inclusion in the workplace.

Ohio is an Employment First state. That means we believe that all individuals should be presumed capable of community employment, given the appropriate supports. Statistics have continued to demonstrate that people with disabilities are reliable and dedicated employees. The Employment First website states that 62% of people with disabilities have kept their jobs for three years or longer, which reduces turnover costs for employers. The website also states that employees with disabilities are consistently rated as average or above average in performance, quality and quantity of work, as well as attendance.

Locally, we at the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) support over 40 individuals with disabilities to be competitively employed in our local community. We collaborate with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to support employees to help remove obstacles, as well as the employers to make sure the job is a fit for all parties.

We would like to thank our local business partners who continue to employ people with disabilities in Champaign County. Our top employers in Champaign County are Aramark, Walmart, Burger King, Steve’s Market, Colepak, Spotted Cow and Kroger.

If you or someone you know wants more information about how you can hire people with disabilities, please call 937-653-5217 and ask for Jeff Coaty. 

For more information on other services provided by the CCBDD, please visit our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on social media. 

There is a very special week in September that we at the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities like to celebrate. The week is Direct Support Professionals Recognition week and was celebrated the 10th – 16th this month.

You may be wondering what a Direct Support Professional (DSP) is and why that role is so special. DSPs work directly with people with disabilities to provide care and support to assist people to live more independently. You can find DSPs in homes and apartments or out and about in the community assisting people with a variety of daily tasks, like grocery shopping or banking. DSPs may also work in programs that provide day or vocational support to people with developmental disabilities.

DSPs can work as independent contractors with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities or they can work with one of the provider agencies located in our area. CCBDD works directly with both the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and our local provider agencies to support DSPs and the people they serve.

Without our DSPs, people with disabilities would have less choices for their living situations. In 2024, after much advocacy, the rate that DSPs will be paid is going up by as much as 38%. This is a great opportunity to attract more people to the field and to reward the dedicated DSPs in our area for their hard work.

In Champaign County, we wanted to recognize our DSPs for their hard work and dedication. The CCBDD was able to provide each DSP that works in Champaign County with a token of appreciation for continuing to work with individuals served who live in our community.

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about how to become a DSP, the CCBDD can help with that. We have a dedicated Provider Support Coordinator who can assist with the certification process, from start to finish. Please call us at 937-653-5217 and ask for Amy Hubbard.

If you would like to learn more about CCBDD and other services we provide, please visit our website at www.champaigncdbdd.org and make sure to follow us on social media.

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.
​
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.

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.
​
** This article can also be found in the Urbana Daily Citizen at https://www.urbanacitizen.com/2023/06/26/busy-all-summer-long/

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 [email protected] 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/ **

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.
​
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.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The history of NDEAM traces back to 1945 when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Ohio is an Employment First state, which means we place a focus to ensure every individual of working age has an opportunity to seek employment.

Preparing for employment starts at an early age. That’s why the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) supports programming and opportunities to teens and young adults with disabilities. Through the county board efforts, they can experience what work is all about and where their vocational interests may be.

Currently, CCBDD is actively supporting 41 individuals who are competitively employed in our local community. CCBDD works with provider partners, as well as Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, to support people in employment. This support looks different for every person. It includes training and assistance during orientation, on-going job coaching, technical assistance, or support locating resources to maintain a job.

We are fortunate in Champaign County to have a variety of employers who understand that people of all abilities can have a positive impact in the workplace and provide valuable support, especially as we face a continued labor shortage.

If you are an employer interested in learning more, please contact Jeff Coaty at 937-653-5127. If you are interested in learning more about employment services at CCBDD, please check out our website at www.ChampaignCBDD.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook (@champaigncbdd.org).