What is a Developmental Disability (DD)? Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist The CDC defines a developmental disability as “a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.” Developmental disabilities can start as early as birth or develop later in life. To receive services from the county board of developmental disabilities the disability must have occurred before the age of 22. Between the ages of 0-3 years, if an infant has or is at risk of developmental disabilities, the Champaign Co Board of DD (CCBDD) can provide early intervention services. Early intervention also helps families when their child is ready to transition into school. As a person with DD ages, CCBDD can provide them with a Service and Support Administrator (SSA). SSAs help individuals and families get the resources they need to live their lives to the fullest. Do you or a loved one have a developmental disability and need extra help? Check out our website to see the services we offer and contact us for a referral. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month This year, for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are not just celebrating the individuals with DD, but also everyone who contributes to the DD community. Let’s give a round of applause to those with developmental disabilities, their family members, their Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), their employers, their SSAs, and their friends.
Because of you more people can volunteer and help make their communities a better place. Because of you more people can become valued members of the workforce and take pride in a job well done. Because of you more people can laugh, have fun, and enjoy life to the fullest. Because of you more people can show off their special abilities, and more people can receive the benefits of those abilities. Because of you we are all helping each other to make our world a better place. If you know someone with special abilities, share a picture or story of them on your social media pages. Spread the word about DD Awareness in March and all year round. Post with the hashtags #DDawareness or #DDAM. The Champaign Co Board of DD is here to connect all parts of the community. Ask us how you can be a part of it! 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: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist Self-advocacy is defined as the action of representing oneself or one's views or interests. This year, CCBDD was full of people, both those we serve and those we employ, advocating for themselves and what they want for our community.
Just scroll through the newsfeed on the CCBDD Facebook page, and you will see many images and stories of self-advocacy. Aktion Club members taking officer positions and creating projects for children, Special Olympics participants meeting weight lifting and running goals, Regional Advocacy conference and meetings, people fundraising for a new inclusive playground, and individuals with disabilities finding their ideal job are just a few examples. This winter, let's start thinking about more ways to be better advocates and how we can continue to promote self-advocacy in the new year.
Keeping the Focus on People Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist The pandemic changed a lot of routines and habits for everyone. Some of these changes were incredibly difficult for individuals with disabilities. Due to caring for people with high needs and some individuals having increased risk of illness, Person Centered Services (PCS) in Urbana needed to make some tough decisions. How can they make the health and wellness of their day service participants a priority while still maintaining a connection to the community and providing quality activities? Many precautions are in place. There are less group outings. Visitors should call ahead, will be screened for illnesses and asked to wear a mask before entering. Staff amped up the cleaning, wear masks and try to keep day service participants in smaller groups. They also eat lunch and snacks in shifts. All of these changes were important to ensure the health of all their people. What hasn't changed is the genuine care that the PCS staff has for people with disabilities. They still keep everyone mentally active with puzzles, crafts, games, books, music, and regional self-advocacy meetings. They still engage everyone in physical active by having exercise time in the large dining area. They also walk the circular driveway outside their building when the weather is nice and up and down the long hallway when it is not nice. The PCS staff encourages nutritional health by organizing a cooking club. They help the group pick out a nutritional recipe, take them to the grocery store to get the ingredients, and help them put the recipe together to share with everyone else at lunch time. Then there is emotional health. This is encouraged through holiday celebrations and making friendships with each other. Staff members put a lot of love and time into creating the Thanksgiving feast pictured here., and they ensured that day service participants were invested in the process as well. As an added bonus, some of the PCS staff members can be found volunteering time with community organizations which their day service members likely participate in. In fact, Director Darlene Caudill current helps as an adviser for the Champaign County Kiwanis Aktion Club. So, in the coming year, when you make your new year resolutions, think about PCS. Be inspired to set goals of caring and kindness. Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist
The P.L.A.Y. Project may sound like a guide for having fun, but it is so much more. It is a unique program designed for families who have children, ages 0-6 yrs, on the autism spectrum. A consultant works one-on-one with parents and empowers them with knowledge on using engaging activities in their everyday routines with their child(ren), who might have various sensory and developmental challenges. The Champaign County Board of DD (CCBDD) is very lucky to have Jess Baird as our in-house certified P.L.A.Y. Project consultant. To participate in The P.L.A.Y. Project, a child must first be evaluated by CCBDD to determine eligibility for Early Intervention services. Anyone can make a referral for the initial evaluation. After evaluation, the CCBDD staff decides if the family is a good candidate for P.L.A.Y. Project. To start, simply contact the CCBDD Early Intervention Director, Jennifer Bradford at j.bradford@champaigncbdd.org to ask about referrals. Or you can start the referral process yourself by going to www.ohioearlyintervention.org. In the meantime, Jess offers ideas to support families with a child on the autism spectrum and to help all families start the holidays and new year with engaging activities.
2. Visit some of Jess Baird's favorite websites like www.asensorylife.com and www.inspiredtreehouse.com. These sites offer a wealth of resources for helping children with high sensory needs. There are checklists, tips and tricks, research information, and fun therapeutic activities.
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. Creativity, Independence, and Community Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist
Getting a Boost from Animal Friends Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist During the pandemic, lockdowns and isolation adversely affected many people. Activities were cancelled and routines were changed. Bianca Tropeano is one such person who noticed a dramatic change in her life. “How did Covid affect my life during the past year? Covid really put my plans on hold.”
Bianca is competitively employed by the Champaign Co Board of DD. And just like many others, she was unable to go to her job for quite a long time. But Bianca found a way to keep her spirits up and stay busy with new plans. She found activity and fun with her pets. “Covid didn’t really stopped me having fun because I hang out at home with my cat, Lily, and a dog we are fostering named Cy,” said Bianca. She certainly was lucky to have those furry friends around. The stories of Lily and Cy began when Bianca attended a cat show in Dayton, OH. She saw Lily and spent half her Christmas money to buy the cuddly kitten. Later, Bianca’s family was asked to foster an Alaskan Malamute named Cy. He kept running away from his old home and was eventually sent to the pound. Bianca’s family saved him by taking him in as a foster pet. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), There are several healthy benefits to having pets. The CDC’s website says, “Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners.” Bianca did not have to conduct a scientific study to notice the same affects. She says, “I hang out with my cat and give her cuddles and love if she shows me that she needs it . When I don’t give her my all, I feel heartless and sad. And when I do give her my all I feel much better. I hang out with [my foster] dog. His name is Cy. My cat and my dog help me to not feel sad, and [they] make me not to feel [like] I’m not doing enough.” After experiencing pandemic isolation, Bianca is the first to admit how important her furry friends are. “Animals [are] anyone’s best friends... and [animals] give anyone a piece of mind. So that’s how animals help me through emotional and support through difficult times.” The Champaign Co Board of Developmental Disabilities thanks Bianca Tropeano for sharing her experience. We hope that many more people can find comfort and purpose in their homes with their own pets. |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|