SCBDD Reflections and Goals

With the new year upon us, many people spend some time reflecting on the past year, as well as setting goals for the upcoming one. I am not one to set resolutions because by February, they are often forgotten. I do like to focus on a word or phrase for the upcoming year and for 2024, my word is ‘intention’. We have a lot going on at the Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities, but I want to make sure that we are doing everything with intention and for a reason. We do not want to follow the crowd, but to lead with innovative ideas that create opportunities for the people we serve in Shelby County. We have many exciting ways to do this in 2024 and I am looking forward to another great year. 

Early Intervention and Shelby Hills Preschool

• In 2023, the number of Shelby County children (ages 0-3 years old) served by our Early Intervention program continued to increase. EI is currently serving 90+ infants and toddlers age 0-3 years.

• The Early Intervention program added a full-time position of Early Childhood Behavior Support Coordinator.

• Shelby Hills Preschool once again earned a 5-star rating from the Step Up to Quality program through the Ohio Department of Education and Job and Family Services. Shelby Hills currently serves 230+ preschool age children.

Early Intervention Helps You Play Like a Toddler!

Community Education and Outreach

Employment Services

When individuals with DD have opportunities for employment in the community, SSAs, CEO staff, and other community partners work together to place each person in jobs that complement their abilities. They also assist with job training. By the end of 2023, SCBDD helped over 75 individuals get hired or maintain competitive employment.

Questions about employment services? Contact CEO Director, Jeff Coaty jcoaty@shelbydd.org

Advances in Assistive Technology

In 2023, the SCBDD created an Assistive Technology Demonstration Room and established a catalogue of over 40 tech items for individuals with disabilities to try.

For more information or to schedule time in the tech room, please contact your SSA or Tech Support Manager,

Melissa Rittenhouse mrittenhouse@shelbydd.org

Governor DeWine Signed Historic Budget Increase for Developmental Disability Services

The Shelby Co Board of DD participated in a statewide campaign to increase wages for Direct Support Professionals and overall support for community members with DD. The successful campaign led to an investment of $1.3 billion over two years toward increasing the average wage of Ohio providers. See what else the executive budget will provide for Ohioans who with developmental disabilities.

It's time for Special Olympics Track & Field Sign Up!

The Track & Field meet is always one of the biggest events of the year for Shelby County Special Olympics.

The deadline for athlete registration is

March 18

Volunteers are welcome to sign up at any time!

For questions, registration of an athlete, or volunteer sign up, contact Kara Mullen

Shout Out to our friends at the Shelby County Library!

To celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the SCBDD partnered with Shelby Co Libraries.

The SCBDD donated board books, picture books, younger reader chapter books, and higher level chapter books to the library system. All books focused on characters with disabilities and ideas of inclusion and acceptance.

The Shelby Co Libraries organized story time hours throughout the month of March. SCBDD staff members and community members with developmental disabilities will attend each story time to read the book "You Are Enough" by Sophia Sanchez (an 11-yr-old model/actress with Down Syndrome)

• Walking Club
• Coffee Club
• Movie Club
• Anime Club
• Conservation Creations
• Creative heArts Crafting
• Regional Advocacy
• First Responders Lunch
• Pickleball
• Special Olympics
• and more...

Service & Support Administration

Service & Support Administration Department Hits It Out of the Park through 2023

Are you looking for flexible work that make a big impact in the community?

Connect with us!