Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities
The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services to people from birth throughout their life.
Our mission is enriching, empowering, and connecting people with their community.
01/14/2026
NTS 2026 is just one month away! 🎉
✨ This unforgettable, star-studded prom night for individuals with special needs is happening soon, and we want YOU to be part of it.
đź’– Guests: Register now to secure your spot for a night filled with music, dancing, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime!
🙌 Volunteers: We can’t do this without our amazing team! From welcoming guests to helping on the dance floor, there’s a place for everyone who wants to make a difference.
Let’s make this year’s Night to Shine the brightest one yet! 🌟 Spread the word and tag friends who would love to join in the fun.
01/13/2026
This is "What Is My Why" by Ohio DODD on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
01/12/2026
The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities (ACBDD) will hold its organizational and regular monthly board meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, starting at 5:45 PM. The meetings will be take place at the Board Office located at 2505 South Ridge Road East, Kingsville, Ohio and are open to the public.
01/10/2026
Who wants to learn ASL?
Now’s your chance to take FREE online ASL classes! You can learn at your own pace from anywhere!
Huge thanks to the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Foundation for making this opportunity possible!
🎉 Who’s ready to take FREE online ASL classes with the Oklahoma School for the Deaf? 🤟
Choose ASL 1, ASL 2, or both—and start your class immediately after registering. Learn at your own pace from anywhere.
🗓 Registration closes February 12 — don’t miss out!
👉 Sign up today and start learning ASL!
Many thanks to the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Foundation for their generous support in making these FREE online ASL classes possible!
01/09/2026
What an amazing time at our Community Co****le Tournament this week!
Nine teams brought their best, but Brandon and Cleveland came out on top by the end of the night. Congratulations to our winning team!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening filled with fun, teamwork, and great memories. Follow us to stay updated on future events and community opportunities.
****le
01/08/2026
Early Intervention Matters and Starting Early Makes a Difference!
The Fall Edition of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics quarterly newsletter highlights the importance of referring to Early Intervention as early as possible. The article includes a statement from Dr. Laura Sorg, Medical Director for Ohio Early Intervention, reinforcing how early support can positively impact a child’s development and help families access services sooner.
Dr. Sorg’s statement can be found on page 18 of the newsletter and is a great reminder for families, caregivers, and professionals to act early when there are concerns.
Statewide Early Intervention Referral Line:
1-800-755-4769
Early identification and connection can make a lifelong difference. If you have concerns about a child’s development, don’t wait! Reach out today.
01/08/2026
Have you seen our recent tech update in our newsletter?! If not here is a sneak peek into the three items shared:
Amazfit GTS 4 Mini Smart Watch
The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini purpose is to help people increase their independence, manage their health and routines, and stay more connected and active throughout the day.
SwitchBot Curtain 3
The SwitchBot Curtain 3 helps increase independence for people with disabilities. Hands free convenience, automatic scheduling, increase accessibility and independence.
Talking Label Wand-Voice Labeling System
The talking Label Wand's purpose is to help people with disabilities identify, organize, and independently manage items in their home, work, and community by using audio labels instead of written labels.
To learn more about these technologies and check out our latest newsletter, visit: t.ly/oFH8j
01/07/2026
Meet Scotty, our January Work of Heart Featured Artist!
We’re excited to kick off the new year by featuring Scotty as our January Work of Heart artist! Scotty’s artwork is proudly on display this month at the Ashtabula County Auditor’s Office, where he had the opportunity to pose for a photo with Ashtabula County Auditor's Office- Scott Yamamoto Auditor, Beth (Scotty's mom) a meaningful moment celebrating creativity and community connection.
You can also enjoy artwork from other talented local artists supported by the Ashtabula County Board of DD at these locations:
đź“Ť Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH
đź“Ť AM Ford
đź“Ť Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
đź“Ť Ashtabula County Educational Service Center
đź“Ť Office of State Rep. David Thomas
đź“Ť Ashtabula County Board of DD
Thank you to our community partners for opening your spaces and helping highlight the many talents within our community. Your support makes it possible for these artists to share their creativity with others.
Be sure to stop by these locations throughout January and celebrate the incredible artwork on display!
01/07/2026
This month, we celebrate the work anniversaries of eight of our amazing team members! We appreciate your service and commitment to Ashtabula County.
01/06/2026
Did you see the Early Intervention Success Story featuring Javi in our December newsletter?! If not, check out his story below.
Javis is one of our amazing Early Intervention children. When Javi first began with Early Intervention, he was not yet talking, and it was often difficult for his family to understand what he needed or wanted. Every two weeks, Javi’s Early Intervention Team visited his home to work closely with him and his family, providing guidance, support, and encouragement. At first, Javi struggled and often resisted the activities his family tried to do with him. Over time, with patience, consistency, and the support of his EI Team, incredible progress began to unfold. Today, Javi rarely fights those moments, he engages, participates, and thrives.
To read more about Javi and to see the recent newsletter please visit t.ly/oFH8j
01/05/2026
UPDATED: Special Guest sign-up is coming soon - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7th!!! Click here to register: https://jeffnaz.nighttoshine.com
We’re excited for the 2026 Night to Shine on Friday, February 13th, just over a month away!
Thank you to Jefferson Nazarene Church for hosting this special event that celebrates people with disabilities and brings our community together. Volunteers are still needed to help make the night welcoming and memorable.
Special Guest sign-up is coming soon - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7th!!!
Follow Jefferson Church of the Nazarene and the Ashtabula County Board of DD on Facebook for updates.
Join us in helping create a night to remember!
✨ Night to Shine Needs You! ✨
Our church is honored to host Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine, a prom night experience for individuals with special needs, and we need YOUR help to make it unforgettable 💙
We’re looking for volunteers to serve in a variety of ways:
🤍 Guest buddies
🤍 Food
🤍 Respite Room
🤍 Red Carpet Paparazzi
Every volunteer helps create a night filled with joy, dignity, and celebration for our honored guests 👑✨
Please like, share, and consider joining us as we roll out the red carpet!
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus đź’™
01/05/2026
The Bookmobile is Coming to ACBDD!
We’re excited to welcome the Ashtabula County District Library Bookmobile to the Ashtabula County Board of DD parking lot on the first Tuesday of each month from 10:00–11:30 AM beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6th.
Stop by to browse books, check out resources, and enjoy a great community visit.
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Contact The Practice
Send a message to Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities:
The mission of the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities is to ensure the availability of services and supports that will assist eligible individuals with developmental disabilities to imagine the life they want to live, believe they can create it and achieve their dreams as participating members in their community.
Providing Quality Outcome – Driven Programs & Services to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities for over 60 Years.
History
The story of Happy Hearts School and Ash/Craft Industries is written into the history of Ashtabula County. The story began at a time when few believed individuals with disabilities deserved the right to public education and a brighter future. The story of Happy Hearts School and Ash/Craft Industries is an example to all the love, commitment, and determination of parents who persisted and prevailed in accomplishing their goal that opened the door.
In March of 1954, a small group of parents of children with disabilities met and formed the Ashtabula Council for Re****ed Children (ARC). One year later, March 1955, because of the efforts of this group Happy Hearts School opened its doors to the first school for children with disabilities in the basement of the Methodist Church on Elm Street and was attended by five students.
From 1956 through 1968, Happy Hearts School was hosted in various locations throughout Ashtabula County. Senate Bill 169 was passed which established the creation of the Board of Mental Retardation in 1967 and levies were approved by Ashtabula County voters. In 1968, Happy Hearts School’s current building was built. By 1970, the program had grown to provide services to 233 children and adults. In 1977, the construction of Ash/Craft Industries began and today the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services to over 500 children and adults with developmental disabilities thanks to the ongoing support of citizens of Ashtabula County.
