Blanchard Valley Center

STAR
THE
Helping People with Different Abilities
Reach for their Stars!
A Publication of your Hancock County
Board of Developmental Disabilities
Mar ch 2 0 1 4
COMING
EVENTS
Mar 14
Miss Ohio Visit
March 10
Aktion Club
Hancock
Speaks Out
Mar 24
March is national Developmental
Disabilities Awareness Month. Blanchard
Valley Center invites you to help us
celebrate. We are planning a
variety of special events
throughtout the
month to raise public
awareness of the many
abilities people have,
regardless of disability.
“This is a time when our
Hancock County organization focuses on
DD Board Meeting
encouraging the public
5:30 pm
to better understand the
individuals we serve,”
Connie Ament,
Mar 25 said
Superintendent for
Learn & Connect
BVC.
6:30-8 pm
BVC will be hosting
several community groups for breakfast,
lunch or dinner to thank them for their
ongoing support.
Miss Ohio will be
visiting on March 14
to host the luncheon
for the Coloring
Contest that was
open to all Hancock
County third-grade students.
Other activities include an
appearance on WLIO-TV
and WFIN radio.
Get acquainted with
someone who has a
developmental
disability.
You’ll learn
that everyone has something to offer
and how we can all learn, live, work and
play in the community.
For more information on how your
group can join in
on the activities,
call Cindy Maag
at 419-422-6387.
Celebrations!
PTO to Host Pet Portrait Day
Blanchard Valley School PTO
is excited to announce that
this year they are planning
to build their very own edible
schoolyard garden. They plan
to build six raised garden beds
which will be a hands on part
of our school’s curriculum. As
a fundraiser to support this
project, they are planning a
Pet Portrait Day on Saturday,
March 29 from 1-5:00 pm
in the gym. Check out their
Facebook page at www.
facebook.com/bvsfriends or
email bvspto@gmail.com for
more information.
Megan Svabik
PT Direct Support Prof.
Shelby Ferguson
PT Direct Support Prof.
New Members of our BVC Family
Sheila Patterson
Sub Instructor Assistant
Paris Hanners
Sub Adult Srvice Provider
In the event of a delay or closing,
announcements will be sent out through our BVC
communication system, the radio and television
stations. Tune in to the following stations for
closing and delay informaiton: WKXA-FM 100.5,
WFIN-AM 1330, WBUK-FM 106.3, WCKY-FM
103.7, WPFX-FM 107.7, WBVI MIX 96.7, TV
Channels 11, 13, and 24 News.
BVI to Host
Income Tax Clinic
Blanchard Valley Industries will be hosting
an Income Tax Clinic for individuals, thanks to
the help of United Way. United Way organized
this project and is providing someone to do the
taxes.
This service will begin on Friday, March 7, 2014
starting at 2:00 pm.
If you have someone that is interested, please
St. Patty’s Day Dance
Sponsored by Blanchard Valley Residential
When: March 14
Time: 7:00p-9:00p
Where: BVC Gymnasium
Cost: $3.00 per person
DJ: Charley Brown
Don’t forget to wear GREEN!
Light Snacks Provided Ques�ons? Contact Nicole Rosengarten 419‐422‐6387 Ext 1201 nrosengarten@blanchardvalley.org ***BVRC is not responsible for the supervision of individuals a�ending dance. contact Sara Spence at 419-422-6386 to
schedule an appointment.
THANK YOU United Way for making this
possible!
NEWS FROM
AKTION CLUB/
Dyer, Bozell Take Oath
HANCOCK
SPEAKS OUT
Aktion Club , the group for self-advocates, attended
a roller skating event hosted by Findlay Kiwanis.
Members enjoyed themselves by skating, playing
video games and socializing.The next meeting for
the Aktion Club and Hancock County Speaks Out
will be March 10, 2014. (Aktion Club at 5:00 pm;
food and fun at 5:30 pm; and Speaks Out at 6:00
pm.) Contact Rebecca Maenle at 419-422-6386.
Focus On Autism
Improving early diagnosis and treatment of
individuals with autism continues to be a focus
here in Hancock County. Previously there was no
one here who would diagnose autism, resulting in
families having to travel to another county to see a
physician who specialized in autism but had a long
waiting list. We now have an Autism Diagnosis
Education Project (ADEP), which will result in early
identification and treatment for young children. Dr. Cheryl Huffman, a local pediatrician, has
partnered with
Blanchard Valley
Center on this
project. Another barrier
that our local
Autism Focus
Group identified
was the lack of
information about
services for
individuals with
autism. With the assistance of an intern from
the University of Findlay, Micah Stevens, BVC
developed an autism website—Hancock County
Autism Learn and Connect (www.HCALC.org). This site provides information about resources
available at a local, state and federal level so
individuals and families can more easily access
needed help. Buzz Dyer, left, and Don Bozell, right, were sworn
in by Hancock County Commissioner Phil Reigle at
the Board meeting for BVC recently. Mike Chiarelli
was nominated President of the group, while
Chuck Hirschy and Mary Walsh were named Vice
President and Secretary, respectively.
Want to be part of our great
team? Visit our website at
www.blanchardvalley.org to apply.
Farewell, Mr. Steve!
Steve Guyton, Director of Children’s Services, was
presented a Kan Du star at the recent Board meeting.
Mr. Steve, as he is known by his staff and students,
joined Blanchard Valley Center in 2009. He will
be leaving us later this month to work as an Early
Intervention Consultant for the Ohio Department of
Developmental Disabilities. Good luck, Steve!
News
BLANCHARD VALLEY CENTER
r Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities
You
Achieved 5-year Accreditation through
Ohio Dept. of Developmental Disabilities
522 individuals with developmental
disabilities served in Hancock County - an
increase of 32% since 2009
29 artists work at our Kan Du Studio in
downtown Findlay
More than 70 individuals work in our
Hancock County Community
500 individuals on in-home support
waiting list
If you or a loved one is in need
of our services, contact us today!
We are here for YOU!
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Early Intervention
Pre-School
School Age
Adult Services
Community Employment
Residential Services
Service & Support Administration
Self-Advocacy Programs
MONTHLY AWARD
WINNERS
Tom DeCooman
Civitan Resident
of the Month
Nolan Steinman
March Civitan Student
of the Month
Eric Wheeler
February Civitan Student
of the Month
Kristina Shoemaker
Civitan Adult Services
Employee of the Month
Phil Hall and Jen Bookwater accecpt
the Community S.T.A.R. Award on
behalf of Marathon Petroleum
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Findlay OH
Permit 304
Hancock County Board
of Developmental
Disabilities
1700 East Sandusky Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840
RETURN SERVICE
REQUESTED
THE STAR
March 2014
Blanchard Valley Center
1700 E. Sandusky Street • Findlay, OH 45840 • www.blanchardvalley.org
Administration
Residential
419.422.6387 phone
419.425.7073 fax
419.422.6503 phone
419.425.7053 fax
School
Transportation
419.422.8173 phone
419.422.7055 fax
Adult Services
419.422.6386 phone
419.422.7063 fax
Kan Du Studios
419-581-0254
Community Employment
567-429-9376
419.423.2374 phone
419.429.3054 fax
Transportation Info-Line
419.421.8888 (3111)
Service and Support
419.425.8747 phone
419.425.8748 fax
Service & Support
Emergency Number
1.888.454.0657
Board of Directors
President
Mike Chiarelli
Vice President
Chuck Hirschy
Secretary
Mary Walsh
Members
Dr. Rahman (Buzz) Dyer
Dr. Kathy Crates
Don Bozell
Bill Wilson
Superintendent
Connie Ament