Always There Ohio

Thanks to the Monroe and Noble county boards of developmental disabilities, Lisa has received support, while working to achieve her goals.

Lisa's Story - Always There for Ohio Lisa Love resides in Noble County — where resources can be scarce, but resourcefulness is abundant. And resourceful is what her mother, Faye, has been from the start, crossing county lines to find meaningful supports for her daughter. Faye describes a time when no one could tell her what type of dis...

Kristen is grateful for the help her son has received from the Butler County Board and for the caseworkers who have devoted their lives to helping those with developmental disabilities.

Kristen’s Story - Always There for Ohio Kristen Groseclose knows first-hand how important county board support can be for a family. Kristen’s 14-year-old son, Jack, was born with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). Since day one, the family has required extra support in order to help Jack live the most fulf...

In 2017, the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD celebrated the 50th Anniversary of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities with the Always There Ohio campaign, which culminated in the Always There Day of Celebration and Advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse on October 24, 2017 – the eve of county boards' official anniversary date. Thank you to everyone who came to the event, and to all county boards for the important work you perform in our communities!

Do you see yourself or someone you know in these photos? Tag them!

In 2017, the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD celebrated the 50th Anniversary of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities with the Always There Ohio campaign, which culminated in the Always There Day of Celebration and Advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse on October 24, 2017 – the eve of county boards' official anniversary date. Thank you to everyone who came to the event, and to all county boards for the important work you perform in our communities!

Do you see yourself or someone you know in these photos? Tag them! Social sharing encouraged. Images © 2017 OACBDD / Mark Schmitter.

Dean and Jeff Fadel accept a resolution from the Ohio House of Representatives in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the county boards of developmental disabilities.

The Always There Time Capsule is filling up! What did your county contribute?

Thank you Governor Kasich for your kind words to kick off our 50th anniversary celebration.

We’re ready for a great 50th anniversary celebration!

After the Great Depression, a grassroots movement led by parents of children with developmental disabilities began to take hold.

Local Parent Groups Form - Always There for Ohio The earliest stages of a grass-roots movement, led by parents of children with developmental disabilities, began to take hold in the years following the Great Depression. In 1933, the Cuyahoga County Council for the Re****ed Child was established in Ohio. This group was founded to assist the childre...

Meet Catherine. Her work has improved education for children with developmental disabilities in Athens County.

Catherine's Story - Always There for Ohio When Catherine Hare and her husband, Frank, moved to Athens County for his job as a Presbyterian minister in 1967, they never could have imagined the impact they would have on the area’s developmental disabilities community. In 1970, Catherine enrolled in Ohio University to earn a master’s degree in...

The language used in this article from 1965, including terms such as “handicapped” and “retarded”, are thankfully outdated and have given way to people-first language. While much has changed in this field, the mission of county boards has stayed the same: providing education and creating employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

While living in an institution, Clara met and shook hands with President John F. Kennedy. When President Kennedy asked if there was anything he could do for the residents at the Feeble Minded Institution, Clara had one request — change the name of the facility.

Clara’s Story - Always There for Ohio Though she has endured many hardships in life, Clara Manitu has maintained her positive outlook and is loved by many for her infectious personality. Clara was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1932, and moved to Ohio as a young child. Because of her developmental disability, her family eventually sent…

A proud moment for the Stark County Board of DD, as their Sound of Silence Sign Choir performed for President Clinton at his inauguration in 1993!

"Whenever we have needs, the county board is there for us,” Rachel says. “The county has been there for Lexi all her life.”

Lexi and Rachel’s Story - Always There for Ohio Lexi Krosky was born legally blind and with cerebral palsy. She has been confined to a wheelchair her entire life and has had more surgeries than birthdays. Lexi’s mother, Rachel, has been with her daughter for every up and down and is grateful for everything they have. “I don’t know what tomorrow b...

Within the developmental disabilities community, parents have always been a driving force behind change. In 1953, parents from Fulton and Huron counties came together to create a much-needed school for their children.

Troops thank local organization for care packages | WHIZ News ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Earlier this summer the Muskingum County Board of Developmental Disabilities did a service project collecting items to send to troops overseas and now they are being honored for their efforts. The MCBDD Starlight Programs and People First Muskingum Chapter worked together to collec...

Alex loves the life he’s living with a job he enjoys, a beautiful wife, and being a part of his community. https://www.alwaysthereforohio.org/alexs-story/

Alex's Story - Always There for Ohio How would you live your life if you weren’t expected to survive past birth? For Erie County resident, Alexander Webb, this was a harsh reality. When Alex was born he had difficulty breathing along with other health conditions. The doctors put a trach tube in his throat and told his mother he wouldn’...

Meet Caribeth. A community college class inspired her to dedicate her career to serving people with developmental disabilities. Click below to read her story:

Caribeth’s Story - Always There for Ohio Caribeth Legats credits a college community health class with inspiring her to pursue a career serving the developmental disabilities community — a passion that was shared by her husband Ken, an advocate for people with developmental disabilities, who became superintendent of the Muskingum County Bo...

Learn what has changed over the years for people with developmental disabilities on the Always There History Project timeline:

Always There History Project | Ohio County Boards of Developmental Disabilities

Meet John. A lot has changed during his 50 years. His favorite change? Being able to work in the community. Read his story on our website: https://www.alwaysthereforohio.org/johns-story-2/

In the 1970s, children with developmental disabilities were moving into the public school system, and a self-advocacy movement was beginning to develop.

The Voiceless Are Heard - Always There for Ohio The work across the country by advocacy groups, families, federal, state, and local governments was beginning to dramatically shift the landscape for people with developmental disabilities. Children with developmental disabilities were moving into the public school system, and a self-advocacy moveme...

Meet Betsy. With the help of the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities - MCBDD, she started an adult day program to help people with disabilities gain meaningful employment. Read her story:

Betsy's Story - Always There for Ohio When Betsy Klingensmith-Zarbaugh’s daughter, Sarah, was born with an undiagnosed genetic syndrome, Betsy embraced the new challenge and did everything she could to help her daughter flourish. Sarah started receiving support from the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities when she was ju...

. That's why idiot and imbecile were removed from Ohio’s Revised Code in 2007

Words Matter - Always There for Ohio On April 24, 2007, the Ohio General Assembly eliminated the words “idiot,” “lunatic,” and “imbecile” as descriptions of people with developmental disabilities from the Ohio Revised Code. Before the end of the decade, Senate Bill 79 would change the name of the Ohio County Boards of Mental Retardatio...

Have you been inspired by one of the amazing stories we’ve shared this year? We’d love to tell your unique story, too! Learn how to submit your story on our website: www.alwaysthereforohio.org/submit

Stories From Ohio County Boards of Developmental Disabilities | Always There

Since 2012, Employment First has provided greater work opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Employment Opportunities - Always There for Ohio In 2012, Gov. John Kasich launched Employment First, an initiative to create greater opportunities for working-age people with developmental disabilities. Through an executive order, Kasich charged the Employment First Task Force with reviewing policies and programs, and making recommendations to in...

When Eugene’s son Aaron was born with a developmental disability, he turned to the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities for help. When the board needed help passing a levy, they turned to Eugene. Read his story:

Eugene’s Story - Always There for Ohio When Eugene Rose’s son Aaron was born with a developmental disability, he turned to the Warren County Board of Development Disabilities for help. When the board needed help passing a levy, they turned to Eugene. Eugene began working with the board in 2002 to help pass the 2002-2003-tax levy. He was…