Ohio Association of County Boards of DD

05/04/2026

Congratulations to Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities on earning the state’s highest accreditation from DODD! This recognition reflects the team’s ongoing commitment to quality, accountability, and supporting people with developmental disabilities and families in their community. County boards play a vital role across Ohio—connecting people to services, creating opportunities, and helping build stronger, more inclusive communities every day.

Read more: https://warrencountypost.com/g/lebanon-oh/n/375401/warren-county-board-developmental-disabilities-receives-three-year

04/30/2026

Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services is partnering to expand housing options for young people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The newly renovated James L. Bower House in Madisonville will provide emergency housing, respite care, and independent living support—helping teens and young adults build skills and stability for the future.

Watch the news coverage here:

A newly renovated home in Madisonville is offering a new housing option for some of Hamilton County’s most vulnerable young people.

04/22/2026

Eliminating property taxes in Ohio isn’t just a policy debate — it’s a direct threat to the services communities rely on every day. OACB is a co-founding member of Ohioans to Protect Public Services, a coalition working to raise awareness about what’s at stake. Property taxes fund essential local services, including supports for people with developmental disabilities.

Removing this funding without a plan to replace it would have serious consequences for people with disabilities, families, businesses that provide DD services, and communities across Ohio.

Education groups, business leaders and local government officials are uniting against an effort to abolish property taxes in Ohio.

04/17/2026

Property taxes are a real concern for Ohio families—but eliminating them without a clear replacement puts critical local services at risk. For people with developmental disabilities, property taxes fund the majority of services provided by county boards—often 75% to 85% of local budgets. These supports help nearly 117,000 Ohioans live and thrive in their communities.

OACB is proud to have co-founded a statewide coalition that is raising awareness and educating voters about the danger of eliminating property taxes in Ohio. Watch the video below to learn what could be impacted—from disability services to schools, first responders, and senior care.
https://www.protectpublicservices.org/

04/17/2026

Congratulations to Lucinda Bihari on her appointment to the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities! As the board’s first member with developmental disabilities, Lucinda brings valuable perspective shaped by her experiences both internationally and in the U.S. Her insight is an important addition to the board’s work!

🎉 Shout out to Lucinda Bihari, TuscBDD’s first-ever Board member with developmental disabilities. Lucinda brings a unique perspective shaped by her life overseas and her experiences here in the U.S. Her insight, thoughtfulness, and heart for helping make a meaningful difference in our conversations and our work.

04/15/2026

Great conversations and learning this week at EDP! On Monday, participants took a deep dive into funding, financial sustainability, and strategic planning—exploring everything from the waiver puzzle to local levies and long-term system stability.

Tuesday focused on marketing, branding, and crisis communications, including powerful discussions on representation and hands-on strategies for navigating challenging situations.

Thanks to all who joined us and shared their expertise!

04/02/2026

Molly Dible, along with her mom Mary, recently participated in the Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., representing the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council and sharing her voice alongside advocates from Ohio and across the country. Molly is supported locally by Hancock DD (Blanchard Valley Center).

From funding for special education to outdated SSI asset limits, these conversations help elevate the experiences of people and families and inform federal policy. Thank you to Molly and her family for helping ensure these important voices are heard!

Read more and watch the news coverage here:

Molly Dible and her mother traveled from Hancock County to Washington, D.C., to meet lawmakers and advocate for continued federal funding for special education.

04/01/2026

As many families prepare to celebrate Easter, we’re sharing a story from Shari Cooper about the meaning of rising—and how Easterseals services helped shape her journey. Her reflection highlights the long history and impact of Easterseals and Goodwill programs, and the role they continue to play in supporting people with disabilities in communities across Ohio.

Read Shari’s blog and learn how this work continues to change lives:

This week, Easter will be observed by many families around the country. Every time I think of this celebration, I think…

03/31/2026

Big Foot sightings in Lake County? 👣 Turns out it was all for a great cause! Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/ Deepwood recently hosted the annual Big Footer 5K, bringing together athletes, families, and community members to support Special Olympics Lake County and raise awareness during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

From a scenic course through Deepwood campus and a few Big Foot appearances, this event is a great example of how Lake DD continues to build community, celebrate people, and create opportunities for connection.

Read more below:

There were multiple Big Foot sightings on the grounds of the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities on a brisk but sunny Sunday morning. There were also hundreds of men, women and children walking or running through the wooded…

03/30/2026

In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Steena! With support from Hardin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Steena has continued to grow, connect, and thrive in her community. She has a gift for bringing people together—raising thousands for local causes through a kickball game and lemonade stand, and now building meaningful relationships through Special Olympics.

Through basketball, co****le, and bowling, Steena is not only growing her confidence, but she’s also coming into her own, forming friendships, and finding where she truly belongs. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the impact relationships, inclusion, and opportunity can have.

03/26/2026

Micah Barga was diagnosed with autism at age 4. Today, he’s an animator, IT graduate, and a powerful voice for autism acceptance. Through his work and in partnership with the Darke County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Micah has been helping others better understand the strengths, challenges, and perspectives of people on the autism spectrum. From speaking with students to sharing his story on podcasts and in the community, his message is simple: never give up.

This April, during Autism Acceptance Month, Micah is continuing that work by sharing how his passion for coding and creativity has shaped his path, and how others can explore those same skills. His story is one worth hearing!

Learn more: www.edisonohio.edu/alumevents

03/24/2026

We love seeing our county boards in the news! Recently, Janice Sadler-Rice from the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities was featured on Good Day Dayton, sharing some of the exciting events planned to celebrate DD Awareness Month.

Watch the clip here:

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) -- March is all about inclusion, awareness, and celebrating abilities.In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the Montgomer