​On Friday, July 18, 2025, the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) hosted its annual Touch A Truck event at 224 Patrick Avenue in Urbana. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., families came out to explore a wide variety of vehicles, meet local service workers, and enjoy a fun, interactive day.

Along with the vehicles, guests enjoyed hot dogs, chips, Kona Ice, and had fun with games like Plinko and Pick a Duck, plus temporary tattoos for kids. The event offered something for everyone and gave them the chance to get up close to big trucks, sit behind the wheel, and learn about the people who drive and operate them.

Thanks to everyone who helped to make the event a success, including the following partners and participants:

• Kona Ice
• Urbana Fire Division
• Urbana Police Department
• City of Urbana
• Champaign County Sheriff's Office
• CT Communications
• One World Logistics of America
• V-Teck Communications
• Easton Water Solutions
• Trinity Tire & Auto
• West Central Ohio Network – WestCON
• CORS Head Start
• Edward Jones – Financial Advisor: Jerome Armstrong

​And thank you to the local media for covering the event:

• Urbana Daily Citizen https://www.urbanacitizen.com/2025/06/16/gearing-up-for-fun-touch-a-truck-returns-to-urbana-in-july/

https://www.urbanacitizen.com/2025/07/21/in-the-front-of-a-cruiser/

• Urbana Daily Digital https://urbana.ohiodailydigital.com/news/gearing-up-for-fun-touch-a-truck-returns-to-urbana-this-july

 

• Peak of Ohio https://www.peakofohio.com/local-news/big-rigs-bright-smiles-ccbdd-hosts-annual-touch-a-truck-event

 
📸 Check out more photos from the event on our Facebook page!
(link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AnD9fymZR/) 

​Did you know that one of the priorities of the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities have the same access to safe, appropriate housing as everyone else? This goal is at the heart of what we do, and we use a variety of strategies to make it happen.

Our Service and Support Administrators, often referred to as case managers, work closely with individuals to help them find housing that meets their needs—whether that’s renting, leasing, or even purchasing a home in the community.

In addition, we partner with a non-profit housing board that helps us purchase, update, and lease homes to individuals with disabilities. Through this partnership, CCBDD not only invests its own funds but also secures grants to make housing more accessible and affordable. These funds allow us to adapt homes to meet a variety of needs.

Currently, we are proud to have 13 homes in Champaign County. These homes will provide individuals served by CCBDD the opportunity to live in comfortable, accessible spaces while paying affordable rent.
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At CCBDD, we believe that housing is more than just a place to live—it’s the foundation for independence, dignity, and community inclusion. We’re committed to making sure everyone has the chance to call a place “home.”

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!