Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent In September, we take some time to recognize and appreciate the hardworking people who directly support individuals with disabilities, either in their homes, the community or a workplace. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are tasked with many different roles. They may be supporting a person with a disability with learning to cook or making sure they are taking medication safely. They may be assisting a person with a disability to access the community and attend a community event like the Champaign County Fair. They may even be assisting the person with learning skills that can help them be successful in a job.
DSPs may work as independent contractors, or they may work for an agency that provides personal care services or day program services. Their jobs may be varied, but it is clear that without their important roles, our system will not work. The developmental disabilities system has come a long way. People with disabilities have more independence and choice than ever before. Without DSPs as the backbone of the system, positive change cannot continue. At the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities, we recognize the important role of people working as providers and DSPs. We also recognize that the system in place can be complicated to navigate. That’s why we try every day to provide resources, support, grants and guidance to the providers working in our county. We also support initiatives to raise rates. The impact that a provider has on the people served cannot be overstated. And speaking from personal experience, the significance of the people served by the provider/DSP is just as important. My years as a DSP shaped my career, as well as my life. More than 20 years later, I can remember each person I worked with as a DSP. The work can be challenging, but one would be hard-pressed to find a more rewarding job. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every person who works as a Direct Support Professional in our county. Your work matters and we appreciate you. If you are a provider in Champaign County and need assistance or support, please contact the Champaign County Board of DD at 937-653-5217 and ask for a member of the Community Education and Outreach Department. If you are interested in becoming a DSP/provider, please contact us as well using the same number. For more information about DSPs and the workforce shortage, please follow us on Facebook @ChampaignCBDD and check out our website at www.ChampaignCBDD.org. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent Did you know that the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) provides support for adults and children beyond case management or service coordination? CCBDD employs a full-time Behavior Support Coordinator for children and adults with challenges to assist them in living full and safe lives.
As a former Behavior Support Coordinator (BSC) myself, we are fond of saying that “all behavior is communication.” It’s the BSC’s job to find out what the person is communicating and assist them in finding different ways to express themselves or meet a need. The BSC can complete assessments, review documents, spend time with the individual, as well as complete observations at home, school, day programs or worksites. Next steps are to engage with the inter-disciplinary team to develop strategies that assist the individual in their daily lives. These strategies are typically implemented by the person’s family or staff after they have received training. The BSC then monitors and adjusts strategies as needed. Our Behavior Support Coordinator at CCBDD has a bachelor’s degree and many years of experience working directly with people with challenging behaviors. She has also undergone specialized training in order to write behavior support plans. However, because we rely on the person’s family and direct support providers to implement strategies, it truly is a team effort to assist the individual in living their best life. For more information on the services provided at the Champaign County Board of DD, please visit our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook (@champaigncbdd.org). Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent Summer 2022 is just as busy as ever at the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD).
In the Early Intervention program, staff are taking advantage of children being home for the summer in order to complete home visits and assist families with strategies to aid their child’s development. Early Intervention staff include specialists, coordinators, and therapists in the areas of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Our Community Education and Outreach Department is busier than ever. Not only are they managing their typical day-to-day work, but they are also assisting more people to become Direct Support Professionals. CCBDD pays for all training and assists with navigating the certification process for anyone interested in working directly with people with developmental disabilities. The CEO Department is also busy assisting the people we serve with vocational and recreational events. There are lots of opportunities in the summer for fun events, so our staff have been working diligently making sure no one misses out. Our Service and Support Administration (SSA) Department works hard throughout the year, and summers are no exception. Residential, day programs, and vocational services do not take summer breaks, so our SSAs work every day to make sure the people we serve have what they need to live healthy, safe, and meaningful lives. We are also gearing up for our annual Touch a Truck event. This is a free event held in the parking lot of 224 Patrick Avenue on July 15th from 10 am to 2 pm. Stop by for a hands-on opportunity to explore heavy machinery and meet the people who work behind the wheel. We will be there with free hot dogs, chips and waters! This is a great, free community event, and we hope to see lots of people there. For more information on what CCBDD offers, please visit our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook. Written by: Kerry Brugger, CCBDD Board President Over the past several years, Leigh Anne Wenning, superintendent of the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD), shared regular updates in this outreach column on the services and activities provided by CCBDD to those individuals in our community who qualify for assistance. While the dedicated staff evaluates needs, coordinates the wide array of service providers to meet those needs, and delivers the mission of the County Board, there is another key group of individuals working behind-the-scenes to support their activities.
The Governing Board of each county board of developmental disabilities within Ohio is comprised of county residents who serve in an oversight capacity to ensure the county board is providing the necessary services to eligible residents in a manner consistent with state requirements. The governing board for CCBDD is comprised of seven members, and typically meets at least 10 times each year. Each member of the board has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the organization provides the best services possible in support of its vision, mission and goals. As a board member, each person has an obligation to be familiar with the budget and finances of the CCBDD, review and approve all policies, make decisions regarding organizational issues, consider the organization’s work and value to the community, and remain current regarding the business of the organization and the developmental disabilities field. Currently, the local governing board is comprised of Mr. Kerry Brugger (President), Ms. Laurie Stickney (Vice-President), Mr. David Sapp (Secretary), Ms. Amy Wilcoxon, Ms. Shelly Cushman, Ms. Malia Hughes, and Ms. Lori Rose. Each member serves as a member of at least one of the standing committees, which include Finance, Personnel and Ethics. These committees convene as needed throughout the year to establish and review budgets, operating policies or address specific operation items of concern when they arise. I believe I speak for each board member when I say that serving on the Governing Board of the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities is one of the most rewarding experiences we have experienced. In a world where there is so much turmoil, it is refreshing to witness the unselfish dedication and commitment each staff member displays to those in need, and it is an honor and a privilege to support the CCBDD mission, “We promote independence and a pathway to success.” Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent April is Autism Acceptance Month! In past years, we celebrated Autism Awareness in April, but people on the Autism Spectrum deserve more than awareness. They deserve acceptance and inclusion.
About 1 in 44 U.S. children are identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the Centers for Disease Control. A diagnosis of ASD can be completed by a doctor and involves looking at a person’s developmental history and behavior. The diagnosis is considered a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact, communicate, and learn. Children with a diagnosis of ASD are often eligible for services provided by their local county board of developmental disabilities (DD). The Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services for children and adults with Autism. One of the first services we can provide is Early Intervention and PLAY. I wrote about Early Intervention services last month. The PLAY Project is an evidence-based, intensive autism early intervention. The Champaign County Board of DD shares one employee with the Shelby County Board of DD certified as a PLAY consultant. This employee has undergone rigorous training in order to provide quality services to children as young as 18 months in our county. The program is designed to engage children in a natural way and to empower the parents and caregivers to help their child build skills through play. A student with ASD may be eligible for special education services in school. And as they become young adults, they may need assistance with job skills. The Champaign County Board of DD can provide assistance in the form of a case manager, or what we call a Service and Support Administrator, to help navigate throughout childhood and adulthood and make sure that needs are being met. Every person is different and wants something unique from their life. That is no different for people with a disability. Many of the people we serve have jobs and go to work. We even work with some individuals who go to college. Just like everyone else, people with a diagnosis of ASD have likes, dislikes, and hopes and dreams. At the Champaign County Board of DD, we believe that including everyone makes our community a better place. For more information on the Champaign County Board of DD, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chamapagincbdd.org. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent You may have heard radio commercials in the area announcing that March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Those spots are just one way to remind our community that we are better when we include everyone, and people with developmental disabilities are unique and valued members of society.
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 SCBDD 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 to be involved, please go to our website at www.champaigncbdd.org. Also make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any interest in working in the DD field or becoming a Direct Support Professional, please call 937-653-5217 and ask for the Provider Specialist. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent Did you know that children who have suspected delays or disabilities may be eligible for free in-home services? The Champaign County Board of DD (CCBDD) provides in-person coaching and therapy to families with children who may be at risk of not meeting milestones. Our Early Intervention Department is staffed with licensed speech, occupational and physical therapists with specialized training to work with babies and children ages 0-3. Developmental Specialists are also members of the department who help round out the team and provide in-home supports and coaching.
Early Intervention services are unique in that a referral from a pediatrician is not required to receive an evaluation or to access services. Families don’t have to travel to the hospital or an outpatient center to receive services. CCBDD provides all services in the child’s natural environment using objects and items that the family has regular access to and can integrate into their own unique family routines. It is not uncommon for one of the Early Intervention team to be present for bath-time or dinnertime at the home to help the child develop their skills. The goal is always to involve the family with the process so that when our staff are not there, the family is comfortable using skills they learned to further their child’s development. Even throughout the pandemic, we were operational and learned to provide services virtually through video calls and other platforms. We only have a short period of time to affect the development of a child so it was imperative for us to adapt our work. These days the majority of our services are happening in person, but some families may still request virtual services. Once a child turns three, the Early Intervention team can assist with the transition to preschool, whether that is through a special education program or through a general education program. At age three, a child may also be eligible for a Service and Support Administrator who can assist the family with navigating systems. If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about eligibility for early intervention services, please call 937-653-5217 and ask to speak to our Early Intervention Director. The services we provide at the Champaign County Board of DD truly span the entire lifetime. For more information on what we do, please check out our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook @champaigncbdd.org. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent It is officially 2022! Like many, the beginning of the year makes me take a look back on where we came from. Having been in the developmental disabilities field for more than 20 years, I can look back and see the evolution of the system, especially the County Board of Developmental Disabilities system. Many of the changes were outside of the control of the local County Boards, including the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD), and we are still feeling the impact even today.
For example, in Champaign County, CCBDD ran Lawnview Industries. Operations were based out of a large building on Lawnview in Urbana. People would see buses transporting individuals with disabilities to the building where they would spend their days either in leisure activities or learning valuable vocational skills. CCBDD was a much larger organization then. As years passed, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid decided that County Boards should no longer be permitted to run an adult day program like Lawnview and gave a deadline for the separation or “privatization” of adult day services. For Champaign County, that meant Lawnview, and its day services would no longer exist in its current form. Individuals who received services there had to choose from other privatized community providers, not affiliated with CCBDD, to get the same types of services. Lawnview still exists as a non-profit board and accepts donations to provide some resources to people with disabilities but no longer delivers any direct services. What did that mean for the Champaign County Board of DD? It meant that since we no longer provided adult day services, our staff roster shrunk considerably. But that doesn’t mean that there was nothing left for us to do. The remaining staff at the CCBDD still provide important and mandated services such as early intervention, service coordination and community engagement. We may not provide the services directly anymore at Lawnview, but we still fund all provider services and ensure that they have the tools they need to succeed. We work with employers to help people with disabilities obtain work. We help people with disabilities volunteer and access their community. We have Service and Support Administrators who serve caseloads of individuals with disabilities and make sure that they are healthy, safe and have access to resources that they need. In addition, our Early Intervention staff work with babies and toddlers to develop skills and grow. All of these supports are provided at no cost to individuals eligible for our services and are funded through local levies, as well as state and federal dollars. Things have certainly changed since I got into the field many years ago, but everyone I work with still has a passion for serving people with disabilities. If you would like to know more about what we do at the Champaign County Board of DD, please check out our website at www.champaigncbdd.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/champaigncbdd.org. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent In November, we often think about the aspects of our lives that we are grateful for. I am not only grateful for many things personally, but my work life is also filled with many people that I can’t help but be thankful for.
Our employees at the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities are such an amazing team of people. They are entirely dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities in our community receive what they need. Our services are intended to provide support to people with developmental disabilities from birth to the end of life and everything in between. Each time I have the pleasure of watching our team work directly with the people we serve, I am reminded of their passion and their expertise and am grateful that they choose to share their talents with us. I am also thankful for the unsung heroes that oftentimes go unnoticed in our community – our provider partners. Direct Support Professionals and providers are the people who work directly with people with disabilities. They are working in the homes of individuals with disabilities, helping with daily tasks like laundry or cooking. They are accompanying individuals to their new jobs and assisting with learning new tasks to help them become better employees. They are in the community making sure that people have opportunities to enjoy leisure activities and do things that are important to them. They are working in programs to assist people with developing their skills and provide them with social interactions throughout the day. The Direct Support Professionals who work with people with disabilities are the backbone to our field and we are grateful for their work and tireless dedication. Lastly, I’m thankful for our community. Historically, our community has been incredibly supportive of our levies which fund every service we offer, as well as the provider services I mentioned above. The community has also been supportive in volunteering their time and resources for events and activities, as well as for people in need of items such as furniture or household items. If you have any interest in learning more about the services that the Champaign County Board of DD provides, or if you or someone you know wants to become a Direct Support Professional and get paid for working directly with individuals with developmental disabilities, call us at (937) 653-5217. You can also check out our website and https://www.champaigncbdd.org and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/champaigncbdd.org. Written by: Leigh Anne Wenning, Superintendent If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed the help wanted signs at many places in our community. It seems like everyone desperately needs employees, no matter what type of work is being done. One potentially untapped pool of workers is people with disabilities. Employers who overlook people with disabilities may be missing out on great opportunities to hire amazing employees.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness month. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate the community about disability employment issues and celebrate the various contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion”. Employment can be a huge part of our identities and many people with disabilities want to experience that feeling of a job well done. Many people with disabilities can and want to work but need an employer to take a chance on them. Every person has individual strengths that they can bring to work, regardless of their disability. When we include people with disabilities in our workforce, the results benefit everyone. The Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities can assist employers interested in hiring a person with a disability by helping that person learn the skills necessary to be a successful employee. We can offer or contract with a provider to offer assessment and on-site job coaching. We often work with other organizations such as Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to offer services to people who are searching for employment. As of October 2021, 46 people served by the Champaign County Board of DD are competitively employed in the community. We want to thank those employers in Champaign County who have chosen to hire people with disabilities and welcome any employer who may have a need to contact us for more information. When we include everyone, it makes our community better. For more information on the Champaign County Board of DD, please visit our website at www.champaigncbdd.org or call 937-653-5217-8155. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/champaigncbdd.org. |
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