Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD) and Summit County Public Health (SCPH) conducted drive through vaccine clinics at SCPH this month. Nearly 700 individuals with disabilities living in congregate settings and their caregivers received the first dose of the vaccine during Phase 1A of Ohio’s vaccine roll out. Read More ›
Author Archives: Billie Jo David
Summit DD Plans to Extend Community Reach: Relocating Staff into the Heart of Summit County
Change has been constant in Summit DD’s 50-year history. Summit DD meets change with optimism because it represents an evolution towards acceptance and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
It was 1972 when the Weaver School and Sheltered Workshop were dedicated in Tallmadge, on the corner of SR 91 and Howe Ave. At the time, the buildings were modern and represented the hard work of parents and progress for people with developmental disabilities. By the early 2000s there wasn’t a need for a segregated school, students went to school alongside their neighborhood friends in their home school districts. Summit DD converted the school to house its administrative operations, consisting of early intervention staff, service coordinators, staff who provide health and safety services, and provider support staff, among others.
Summit DD Receives Three-Year Accreditation
Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board, or Summit DD, has received a three-year accreditation from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, the maximum level an organization can receive.
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities conducts reviews of each county board of developmental disabilities to ensure they are meeting standards outlined in Ohio Administrative Code. Based on the outcome of the review the county board may receive an accreditation from one to three years. Earlier this year a team of professional surveyors were on-site in Summit County to review all aspects of its operations and how successfully Summit DD is connecting people with disabilities to the community.
“The results of our accreditation review can be attributed to our dedicated staff who work incredibly hard to provide quality services to those we support,” stated Summit DD Superintendent John Trunk.
Areas reviewed included person-centered service planning, Medicaid management, community inclusion, Early Intervention, health and safety assurance, and provider oversight, among others.
“Summit DD has demonstrated more than fifty years of innovation in connecting people with disabilities to the community. Our success is dependent upon the achievements of those we serve and the support of the community,” continued Trunk.
Summit DD was identified as having best practices for its person-centered planning process, oversight and support of more than 500 private disability service providers, practices to ensure health and safety, and innovative community integration.
Local Impact of State Budget
HB 166, “As introduced” version
The Ohio General Assembly introduced HB 166, Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed state budget for the 2020 – 2021 fiscal biennium. Throughout budget hearings by the House Finance Committee on Health and Human Services, several key priorities of the budget were discussed that will have a local impact in Summit County. The state’s budget priorities include investing in the direct service professional workforce, investing in children, investing in community transportation, investing in youth with complex needs, and investing in the quality of our system. Read More ›