Whether it is navigating complicated waivers and Medicaid systems, creating yearly Individual Service Plans, or simply finding transportation to an appointment, Service and Support Administrators (SSA) are here to assist people with developmental disabilities. We asked team members at the Champaign Co Board of DD to share some of their favorite moments working as SSAs. Here is what they told us:

The mission of the Champaign Co Board of DD is to promote independence and a pathway to success for individuals with developmental disabilities. SSAs are here to fulfill that mission. If you or someone you know has developmental disabilities and lives in Champaign County, you can contact the county board to ask about eligibility for services. Call 937-653-5217 or Email [email protected]. 

From birth through the age of 3 years, learning and growth happen quickly. This is a very important time for a child’s body and brain. That is why having a routine, or doing things at the same time every day, is a big deal. Let's talk about routines and why the Ohio Early Intervention program says they are important.

Why Routines Are Great

Imagine knowing what's going to happen each day. Routines do that. When babies and toddlers have routines, they learn about time, what happens next, and they feel safe because of it.  It's a plan that helps teach the order of things, like when you eat breakfast, play, take a nap, and go to bed at night. This creates more predictable behavior.

Routines help a child’s brain get smarter, too. When the child completes tasks in the same order, their brain learns patterns. You might not know this, but brains love patterns! Patterns help brains build memories and figure out how the world works.

Ohio Early Intervention Program and Routines

Ohio Early Intervention (EI) is a statewide program offered through the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD). EI is designed to help parents who have concerns about the development of their children, ages birth to 3 years. The CCBDD has a fully trained staff to provide these services to families in Champaign County at no cost to the family. (See end of article for more information about making a referral to the Champaign County EI program.)

Part of the Ohio EI program is helping families make a plan that will encourage a child’s developmental success. The best plans involve creating routines. The EI staff understands that establishing routines within a family will create healthy habits that can continue throughout life. Routines are built around what kids do every day and how to help them learn new skills. This way, a child develops skills while doing things they already enjoy, like playing and eating.

Benefits of Routines

1. Learning Fun: Babies and toddlers love to play and explore. Routines help them learn while they play. For example, taking a bath is not just about getting clean. Children can learn new words by playing with water and toys. That's fun learning!
2. Feeling Safe and Healthy: When a child knows what's coming next, they don't get worried. Routines help babies and toddlers feel calm because their day is predictable. Also, when children go to bed at the same time, their bodies get used to it and they sleep better. This makes them healthier.
3. Practice Makes Perfect: Routines establish time for practicing skills. When a child brushes their teeth every day after breakfast, they become a tooth-brushing pro and build fine-motor skills. When a child sings the same song during clean up, they practice the same words over and over, building speech skills.
4. Family Time: Routines are a great way to establish regular time in your day for family bonding. For example, when a family has dinner together, they talk about their day and share stories. This builds stronger family bonds and helps the child grow social and emotional skills.
5. Building Independence: When routines are repeated, skills are enhanced. As skills become easier, babies and toddlers can start doing tasks more independently. This eventually helps a toddler feel like a big kid. And feeling like a big kid builds the child’s confidence. Plus, it’s exciting for parents when their child starts doing things like putting on their own shoes or feeding themselves with a spoon.

How to Make Your Own Routine
It’s obvious that having a routine is amazing, but how can you start one? Here are some tips:

1. Same Time, Every Day: Have you ever heard the phrase “muscle memory”? The brain is a muscle. Trying to do things like eating, playing, and sleeping at the same time each day builds muscle memory, which helps the brain and body get used to a routine.
2. Have Fun: Make routines fun by singing songs or talking while you do tasks. For example, when it is lunch time, sing your favorite songs about food. Or while cleaning up toys, say the names of toys and where you are placing it. Studies show that children learn quicker when the task is fun, and they are happy.
3. Set Reminders: Sometimes, family members might need help sticking to routines. Set timers or use apps that can alert you of the time. Verbally remind children that it's time for dinner or time to read a bedtime story.
4. Be Flexible: Routines are amazing, but sometimes things change. It's okay to be flexible! It is less stressful to keep a routine when you can adjust it a little bit. If it helps, think ahead and make a plan for changing the routine and share the plan with your child.

Remember, routines are like a secret weapon to becoming a super learner and explorer. The CCBDD Early Intervention program understands the importance of routine and wants to share that knowledge with all families.
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If you live in Champaign County, suspect that your child has a developmental delay, and need help; please, contact the Champaign County Board of DD office at (937) 653-5217 or the Early Intervention Service Coordinator at 937-658-8443.

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! 

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 [email protected] or 937-206-5682.

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

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/