March is DD Awareness Month

Expressions
March 2013
Volume 20, Issue 1
Making the difference in meeting lifelong needs
Portage County Board of
Developmental Disabilities
Dennis M. Coble
Administration Building
2606 Brady Lake Rd.
Ravenna, OH 44266-1657
•
w w w.portagedd.org
Superintendent’s Office:
330-297-7261
Board Office:
330-297-6209
Fax: 330-297-1202
Website: www.portagedd.org
Business Office:
330-297-8991
Service & Support
Administration:
330-297-4100
Family Support
Services Program:
800-237-6828
Transportation:
330-297-6462
Adult Services:
Portage Industries
7008 State Rte. 88
Ravenna, OH 44266-9134
330-296-2839
Fax 330-297-8994
Children’s Services:
Happy Day School
2500 Brady Lake Rd.
Ravenna, OH 44266-1698
330-678-2400
Fax 330-673-3714
PCBDD
Emergency Number
330-678-7559
PCBDD does not discriminate in
provision of services or employment
because of handicap, race, color,
creed, national origin, sex or age.
March is DD Awareness Month
As we anticipate the arrival of spring, let’s not forget that the month of March is Developmental
Disabilities Awareness Month. Many individuals with developmental disabilities are in our schools,
employed at local businesses and making a difference in the communities that they live in. It is often the
attitudes of others that affect everyday life for people with developmental disabilities. In 2013, Look Beyond!
Look beyond an individual’s disability to picture the person’s potential, seeing the individual’s capabilities
and abilities.
www.portagedd.org • March 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 1
Stay Connected with the PCBDD
Please check out our website at www.
portagedd.org for updated news regarding
the PCBDD. Like us on Facebook at www.
facebook.com/portagedd and follow us on
Twitter at twitter.com/portagedd.
One Call Now
Please remember that announcements
regarding closings due to weather or other
emergencies and announcements regarding
Board sponsored events or other matters of
interest are provided through the One Call
Now mass notification system. If you have
any questions or want to make sure you are
signed up to receive One Call Now alerts,
please contact the appropriate facility where
you receive services (i.e., Happy Day School
or Portage Industries). You may also call the
Coble Administration Building at 330-297-6209
to request a form.
Free Prescription Drug Card
Available to Ohio Residents
The Ohio Drug Card
is a free statewide
prescription assistance
program that offers free
drug cards to all Ohio
residents. The program
provides discounts on
both brand and generic medications with an
average savings of around 30%. This program
was launched to help uninsured and
underinsured individuals with the help of
prescription medications. The program has no
restrictions to membership, no income
requirements, no age limitations and there are
no applications to fill out. Everyone is eligible
to receive savings! Go to www.ohiodrugcard.
com to locate participating pharmacies and
research medication pricing.
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Pictured from left, Thomas Cochran, John Gargan Jr., Commissioner
Maureen Frederick, Jeanne Schmidlin and Timothy Moran.
Oaths of Office Administered
Three reappointed Board members, Thomas Cochran, John Gargan, Jr., and Jeanne
Schmidlin and one newly appointed member, Timothy Moran, were administered their
oaths of office by Commissioner Maureen Frederick on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at
5:30 pm in the Board Room of the Dennis M. Coble Administration Building. Terms of office
for all four of these Board members runs from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016.
Administration Building Tour
The Portage County Board of
Developmental Disabilities Administration
office gave a tour to a group of individuals
that attend Portage Industries. Bus drivers,
Ron Overberger and Kathy Read, picked
up their passengers from PI at noon and
headed to the Administration building. The
group met in the Board Room, and learned
some interesting facts from Dr. Pat Macke,
Superintendent. Deb Gordon, SSA, and
Dr. Macke then guided individuals around
the building, introducing them to staff, and
showing them their Service and Support
Administrator‘s office. Cookies and punch
were then shared before everyone loaded Matthew Pinkus and Jacalyn Homza listen to
Superintendent Macke explain the day to day
the bus to go home.
happenings at the PCBDD Administration Building.
PCBDD Bill of Rights
The Portage County Board of DD is required annually to provide each of its consumers
with a copy of the client Bill of Rights and the Board’s Procedure for Administrative
Resolution of Complaints. These documents are provided to consumers at their annual
planning meetings. Additional copies may be obtained at the PCBDD administrative office,
on the at website at www.portagedd.org or by calling the Board office at 330-297-6209.
Expressions
Mark your calendar!
Dance Reminders!
The following dances will be held at Happy
Day School from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
March 15, 2013 – Sock Hop
May 17, 2013 – Disco Dance
Strike Out Child Abuse Fundraiser Set
Help strike out Child Abuse! The 15th Annual Children’s Advocacy of Portage County
Bowl Against Abuse Fundraiser will be held on April 27, 2013 at Kent Lanes. Basket
donations or items for baskets are being accepted. If you would like to donate please call
Renee Hysell at 330-297-6686 or mail donations to Renee Hysell at 6715 Newton Falls
Rd., Ravenna, OH 44266. Donations are needed by April 13, 2013. 100% of proceeds to
benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Portage County.
PI, Inc., Employee Setting and Surpassing Goals
Michael, “Mike” Snyder, has been working for Portage Industries, Inc.
since its inception. Initially, Mike worked for PI, Inc.’s second shift. When
they moved to the new facility on Oakwood, he decided to make the
transition. Since moving to this new location, Mike has really turned
over a new leaf. He has worked very hard to
challenge himself to produce more, to hold
himself responsible and to take initiative.
Mike is a leader! Mike has been leading by example.
Shane, Mike’s supervisor, shared some
of Mike’s recent successes. Mike wanted
to improve in production. He started out
with a goal of completing 530 parts per day
and has reached 2,120 parts per day! His new
challenge is 3,000. There is no doubt he will
meet this goal and surpass it! Mike takes a lead
role in the PI, Inc. weekly production meetings.
The discussion is mainly about production issues and using problem solving skills in a
team environment which continuously improves this process.
Mike’s positive attitude among his peers, his creativeness and an eye for detail has led
to operational changes that have resulted in success for Portage industries, Inc.
In Memoriam
Our condolences go out the family of
Thomas Johns. Tommy passed away in
January. His mother, Jean Johns, is a member
of the Portage Industries, Inc. Board of Directors.
Please go to our website at www.portagedd.
org to read the article by Regina Brett about
Jean and Tommy that ran in the Plain Dealer on
January 13, 2013.
We also extend condolences to the family of
June Wiseman. June passed away in February.
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www.portagedd.org • March
August2013
2012 • • Volume
Volume20,
19,Issue
Issue13
®
Chrissy Takes the Plunge Again!
Chrissy Motz once again participated in the Polar Plunge to
raise money for Special Olympics. Chrissy jumped into the frigid
waters of Lake Erie in Geneva, Ohio once per hour from 8:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. on February 9, 2013. Chrissy raised over $3,000.00 this
year! Way to go Chrissy!
2013 Basketball Shootout
Pictured below, The Knights of Columbus
Annual Basketball Shootout was held on
January 12, 2013. Shana Gentile, Kathy
Wagar, Teresa Strahler, Logan Cox, Danny
Overton, Donald F., Brandon Golden, Ryan
McCoy, and Bill Collier all won in their age
categories.
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Expressions
Streetsboro Girl Gets Realtree Camouflage Wheelchair
By Diane Smith | Record Courier Staff Writer Published: January 21, 2013
Photo Credit: Robert J. Lucas Record-Courier
When Lauren Hunter rolls down the halls of Happy Day
School in Brady Lake, she’ll do so in style.
The Streetsboro 17-year-old, who has used a wheelchair since
early childhood, recently received a chair that blends her mother’s
love of all things girly, and her father’s love of all things camo.
The pink camouflage wheelchair, believed to be the only one
of its kind, was delivered to Lauren at her school Friday. It was
made possible by Realtree, the world’s largest manufacturer of
camouflage.
Her parents say that while Lauren can’t see the chair, she is
definitely excited about the attention she received that day.
“She’ll enjoy it big time,” said dad Jeff Hunter before the chair
was delivered. “Lauren will just be enjoying every minute of it.
Everyone will be over the moon. She’s been in that school since
she was six months old. They call her their princess.”
Lauren has extensive brain damage and cerebral palsy. The
disorder restricts her ability to see, talk, move her arms and legs or
even roll over. Because Lauren lacks the manual dexterity to use a
motorized wheelchair, she has a manual chair, which her mother,
Sharon, pushes for her.
The family also includes son Beau, 9. Beau’s middle name is
Remington, and hunting is a “big, big deal” to the family, said Jeff
Hunter, who has pursued game in 18 countries on four continents.
So while Dad loves all things camo, Mom loves all things girly
and pink. Sharon Hunter, who calls who calls Lauren her “Barbie
Doll,” makes sure her daughter’s clothing and gear are as girly as
possible.
But that posed a challenge when it came to her wheelchair.
Lauren gets a new wheelchair every five to six years. When
Miller’s, the Akron medical equipment company that measures
Lauren for the custom-fit chair, came to do the measurements, the
company agreed to make the frame of the wheelchair pink. But the
representative said the only color available for the seat was black.
“I just don’t want my little girl in black,” she said. “It gets so hot
in the summertime when you’re running in and out of stores.”
The equipment company offered to incorporate a pink material
into the design of the seat if the family could locate it in a waterproof material.
After a search of local stores only turned up cotton and fleece,
Sharon Hunter complained to her husband, who said he’d call her
back.
And then he put in a call to Realtree, asking about buying five
yards of the company’s pink camouflage material.
Debra Jennings, sales manager for the Georgia-based
company, decided the company could do more after hearing Jeff
Hunter’s enthusiasm.
“We’ve always been a generous company, and without
hesitation we wanted to help,” she said. “He’s so passionate about
hunting and so passionate about his daughter. You could hear it in
his voice.”
The company turned to its partners at Immersion Graphics,
which is responsible for dipping guns, bows and other gear in
camouflage. The company was in the midst of launching a new
pattern for Realtree in time for product shows, and suspended
that in order to dip the metal parts of the wheelchair in Realtree’s
trendy pink camo.
“Ladies’ hunting gear has really taken off,” she said.
The company asked for no payment, requesting only a photo
it could put on the company’s website. Miller’s has kept the chair a
secret, not even showing it to the family before its delivery, which
was scheduled at the school because all Lauren’s therapists are
there.
Sharon Hunter said this wheelchair won’t see Lauren through
to adulthood, because she’s still growing. But the hope is that it will
last a long time.
“This is just a big treat for her,” she said, adding that while her
daughter can’t see the chair, she can clearly hear the delight of
those around her. “When you make a fuss over her, she loves it
because it’s all about her.”
Link: http://www.recordpub.com/news%20local/2013/01/21/streetsboro-girl-gets-realtree-camouflage-wheelchair
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www.portagedd.org • March 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 1
Parent Council for Portage County
Developmental Disabilities
Spring is a very exciting time for Parent Council.
Below are the upcoming events hosted by Parent Council.
RUMMAGE SALE
Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Portage Industries.
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Did you know?
Did you know that there are recycling bins
in the parking lots at Happy Day School and
Portage Industries? The bins are for public use
and our programs receive an amount of money
based on the weight of the recyclables. The
following items ARE accepted in our recycle
containers: newspaper, mail, phonebooks,
paper, magazines, catalogs, brown paper bags,
hard and soft bound books, and cardboard.
Items NOT accepted: plastic, Styrofoam, glass,
metal, trash, and aluminum. In the month of
November at Portage Industries 1,380 lbs. of
recycled paper saved:

5.44 Trees

80.00 Pounds of CO2

1.06 Cubic Yards of Landfill Space
 2,240.00 Gallons of Water
 1,312.00 Kilowatts of Electricity
 0.32 Homes Heated for 6 Months
 19.20 Pounds of Air Pollutants
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Donations are welcome! They can be taken to PI between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., MondayFriday. Please stop at the front office for directions as to where to drop off items. We need
volunteers to help sort items Friday evening or help with the sale on Saturday. Call Debbie
Kempisty at 330-678-2400 or Annette Dowling at 330-297-0302 with questions or to
volunteer. Please come shop and enjoy lunch at the Rummage Sale.
CARNIVAL
Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Happy Day School
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers are needed to bake cakes, help with set up and to run games. Please call
Debbie or Annette if you can help. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend
and no one leaves empty handed! Hope to see you there!
May Dinner
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 at Happy Day School Multipurpose Room.
Time: Doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets will be on sale soon! Come enjoy good food and good company!
Call Debbie Kempisty at 330-678-2400 or Annette Dowling at 330-297-0302 for information
about any event, joining Parent Council, or when regularly scheduled meetings will be held.
Welcome TDD Waiver Recipients!
Beginning January 1, 2013 the Portage County Board of DD started providing SSA
services to individuals enrolled on Transitions DD Waivers. Due to changes at the state
level, this waiver, which began as a piece of the Ohio Home Care Program, will be overseen
by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities instead of the Ohio Department of
Jobs and Family Services. Waiver recipients will not see a change in the services they are
receiving, just a change in the case management entity. 51 individuals are enrolled on the TDD waiver in Portage County.
If anyone has any questions regarding the TDD waiver, check out our website!
Expressions
Diana Harrod
Perfect Attendance Correction
Soap Box Derby News!
Super Kids Classic 2013 - The Greater Ohio Area Super Kids Classis is a 501c3
nonprofit foundation Soap Box Derby for children ages 7-18 with disabilities. This event
is free for the participant and open to the public. We are currently taking applications for
this year’s event. This event is solely funded by local businesses and private individuals. If you are interested in participating, volunteering, donating or sponsoring a derby car,
please visit our website at superkidsohio.org or join our Facebook page: greaterohioareasuperkids for more information.
In the December Issues of Expressions,
Les Haney, Lorita Michael, Cyndi Porter,
Rose Wilson, and Marcella Schaaf were
recognized as having perfect attendance at
the 2012 PCBDD Staff Recognition. Diana
Harrod should have also been listed as
having perfect attendance. The following
individuals that were listed in the December
issue received perfect attendance
recognition at the 2011 Staff Recognition:
Nicole Nadasky, Ron Overberger, Karen
Poole and Richard Mitchen.
Joe Persavich
Save the Date!
The Arc of Ohio Day Scheduled
The Arc of Ohio Day at Cedar Point is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
Details will be available later, but mark your calendars and schedule transportation. The
ticket booth will be open at 9:30 a.m. with admission to the park at 10:00 a.m. Close to
10,000 people attended in 2012. Let’s make this year even bigger! Checkout Cedar
Point’s newest ride, The Gatekeeper at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_
embedded&v=cJqhApNBjes.
Local Skier Captures
Two Medals in Special
Olympics Winter Games
Congratulations to Joe Persavich for his
first place win in the downhill skiing and third
place in the giant slalom in the winter Special
Olympics held at Brandywine.
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2606 Brady Lake Road
Ravenna, OH 44266-1657
March/April/May 2013
March 8, 2013
March 9, 2013
March 11, 2013
March 20, 2013
March 25, 2013 – April 1, 2013
March 28, 2013 – April 1, 2013
April 2, 2013
April 13, 2013
April 17, 2013
May 7, 2013
May 15, 2013
May 27, 2013
May 28, 2013
Agency In-Service
Rummage Sale
Programs Resume
Board Meeting
Spring Break
Spring Break
Programs Resume
Carnival
Board Meeting
May Dinner
Board Meeting
Memorial Day Programs Resume
Programs Closed
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Portage Industries
5:00 p.m.
Dennis M. Coble Administration Building
184 Day Staff/Happy Day School
240 Day Staff/Adult Services
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Programs Closed
Happy Day School
Dennis M. Coble Administration Building
Happy Day School
Dennis M. Coble Administration Building
The mission of the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities is to ensure the availability of programs, services, and
supports that assist eligible individuals with developmental disabilities in choosing and achieving a life of increasing capability such that
they can live, work, and socialize in the community, and to assist and support the families of these individuals in achieving this objective.
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