Jackson County Board of DD

03/27/2026

The Power of Supports: Celebrating Ability
💙 DD Awareness Month Spotlight: The Power of Supports 💙
Meet Tasha Vickers!

One thing everyone should know about Tasha is how deeply she cares for her circle—especially her family, her friends, and her beloved dogs, Scruffy and Kirby.

Her strength shines through in her creativity. Tasha is a talented crafter who loves making beautiful bracelets to share with her friends. Through her creations, she connects with others and spreads joy in her own unique and meaningful way.

Tasha feels her best when she is surrounded by the people she loves and wearing her favorite color, red. She enjoys spending time with her pups and being a “people watcher,” using her strong sense of observation to understand the world around her.

She communicates and connects with others by sharing her creations and noticing the details others might miss—reminding us all that there are many powerful ways to express ourselves.

Right now, Tasha’s journey is focused on continuing to grow her crafting skills and sharing happiness with those around her, one bracelet at a time. With the right supports and encouragement, there’s no limit to what she can achieve.

This Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are proud to celebrate Tasha and recognize The Power of Supports—highlighting how inclusion, connection, and understanding help everyone thrive.

03/19/2026

The Power of Supports: Celebrating Ability
💙 DD Awareness Month Spotlight: The Power of Supports 💙
Meet Heather Rouse!

One thing everyone should know about Heather is that she has a heart truly dedicated to supporting others. Whether it’s a small gesture or a helping hand, she is always finding ways to lift up those around her.

Heather brings joy to every room she enters. She has a natural ability to make people smile and laugh, creating a positive and welcoming environment wherever she goes.

You’ll often find Heather at her best when she is socializing. She thrives on connection and enjoys spending time engaging with friends, family, and her community. These meaningful relationships are a big part of what helps her shine.

What brings her joy? Heather loves the finer things in life, like getting her nails done, playing Uno, and enjoying a variety of games. Two of her biggest passions are music and Disney! Whether she’s listening to her favorite songs, keeping track of the music she hears, or planning her next Disney trip, these interests bring excitement and happiness to her life.

Heather is currently focused on continuing her journey as a self-advocate. With the support of those around her, she is building confidence, finding her voice, and working toward her personal goals.

Heather shows us the true meaning of the Power of Supports. Through connection, encouragement, and kindness, she reminds us how important it is to uplift one another and create a community where everyone feels valued.

We’re proud to celebrate Heather this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. 💙

03/19/2026

We were excited to welcome Ty Oliver from COAD4Kids today! 🙌

Ty shared valuable information about the many services COAD4Kids provides. COAD4Kids is a child care resource and referral agency serving clients of all income levels. They:

• Help families find child care and navigate resources
• Work to increase the supply of child care
• Provide training for early childhood professionals
• Offer technical assistance to classroom teachers and program administrators
• Assist individuals to become foster/adoptive parents

COAD4Kids is part of a statewide network of child care resource and referral agencies and has served as the Appalachian region’s information hub for child care and education services since 1993.

They are funded primarily through the Federal Child Care Development Block Grant via the Department of Children and Youth, with additional support from the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the supports available in our community and how they help empower families every day! 💙

Want to learn more or connect with them? Check out their page here: https://coadinc.org/coad4kids/

03/18/2026

The Power of Supports: Celebrating Ability
💙 DD Awareness Month Spotlight: The Power of Supports 💙
Meet Thomas Glassburn!

One thing everyone should know about Thomas is that he is a master of flavor—he makes the absolute best cotton candy around.

Thomas is a talented cook with a knack for bringing people together through great food. His skills and passions shine even brighter thanks to the support and encouragement of those around him. 💙

You’ll often find Thomas feeling his best when he’s listening to music or immersed in the world of gaming, where he can relax, have fun, and connect with others.

Thomas has an incredible sense of humor; he loves to prank people (and he’s really good at it!). His laughter is a constant reminder of the joy and positivity that strong supports and meaningful connections can bring.

Right now, Thomas is focused on an exciting goal: getting his 3D printer up and running. With the right supports in place, we can’t wait to see the amazing things he creates!

Thomas reminds us that with the power of supports—friends, family, and community—everyone can thrive, grow, and share their unique talents.

We’re proud to celebrate Thomas this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and highlight the power of support, inclusion, and opportunity. 💙

03/18/2026

Get ready! Our friends at Buckeye Community Services ADS are going LIVE around 9:40 this morning! 🎉

Don’t miss out—tune in to hear all about the amazing things they’ve been up to and the exciting plans they have coming next. You won’t want to miss it!

03/17/2026

Hello everyone,

The meeting is still on for today at Advancing Abilities. (56 Maple Lane in Chillicothe). The meeting will begin at 11:00 am. Their speaker, Heather Giles, will be sharing projects you can enter into competition at your county fair.

If you are unable to join us in person, please log in to the virtual meeting. It will open around 10:55 am.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85401255959?pwd=wb8jJu4EKlJlE5Ai9BLPXVTnnLd7Sw.1

Meeting ID: 854 0125 5959
Passcode: 827885

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

03/16/2026

What an AMAZING time we had at our DD Awareness event this past Friday! 🎉 The energy, smiles, laughter, and community spirit made it such a special day for everyone involved. It was incredible to see so many people come together to celebrate DD Awareness Month and this year’s theme, “The Power of Supports.” 💙 When a community comes together to lift one another up, amazing things happen!

A giant THANK YOU to DJ Rocking Reggie for bringing the awesome beats and keeping the dance floor full all day long! 🕺🎶 We also want to give a big shoutout to ParksEdge Event Center for hosting us in such a wonderful space, and to Papa John’s of Jackson for delivering the amazing pizza that everyone enjoyed. 🍕

We are also incredibly grateful to Jackson City Schools and Mr. Gentry’s art students for volunteering their time to help with face painting and running Bingo. Your creativity and enthusiasm added so much fun to the evening! 🎨🎲

A HUGE thank you to Josie Rader and Faith & Fitness for getting our folks up and moving! Your energy and positivity made it a fun and uplifting experience for everyone. We truly appreciate you supporting our community! 💪😊

Thank you to our generous door prize donors who helped make the night even more exciting: Jackson Care Center, Initial Independence, Buckeye Community Services, and Active Day of Wellston. Your support truly shows the power of community supports in action! 🎁

Thanks to Holzer Health Systems and Subway for the ice cream and cookies—you made the event even sweeter and we truly appreciate your awesome support! 🎉🍦🍪

We’d also like to thank our special guests who stopped by to celebrate with us: Melissa Sowers and April Eifler from the Jackson Library, Jackson County Sheriff Tedd Frazier, Wellston City Schools Superintendent Scott Dorne, Larry Kidd, Candidate for Ohio House, Kalah Russell, Vice President of Training and Development for Goodwill Industries, and representatives from SOCIL. We truly appreciate you taking the time to join us and show your support! 🙌

Events like this are a perfect example of The Power of Supports—friends, families, businesses, schools, and community leaders all coming together to celebrate inclusion and make our community stronger. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the night unforgettable! 💙✨

03/13/2026

Troy GOT DOWN at our DD Awarenss event today! He's a huge fan of New Kids on the Block and couldn't contain himself when he heard one of his favorite songs!

03/12/2026

The Power of Supports: Celebrating Ability
💙 DD Awareness Month Spotlight: The Power of Supports 💙
Meet Marty Christian!

One thing everyone should know about Marty is that her smile truly lights up the room. It’s a natural gift that makes everyone around her feel welcome and bright.

Marty’s strength is helping friends and giving the best hugs. 💙 She’s a natural caregiver who knows exactly how to make others feel supported and valued.

You’ll often find her feeling her best when she's out in the community with her friends. Whether it's a new adventure or a familiar favorite, she thrives on connection and shared experiences.

Marty enjoys coloring, taking walks, and going for rides. These moments of creativity and movement give her time to enjoy the world around her at her own pace.

Right now, Marty’s goal is to keep staying positive—and we can’t wait to see where that bright outlook takes her next.

We’re proud to celebrate Marty this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and highlight “The Power of Support.” Her kindness, positivity, and the connections she shares with others remind us how important community and support truly are. 💙

03/11/2026

The Power of Supports: Celebrating Ability
💙 DD Awareness Month Spotlight: The Power of Supports 💙
Meet Mary.F

One thing everyone should know about Mary is that she’s always smiling. Her ability to make people laugh is just one of the many things that makes her special. 💙

Mary feels her best when she’s surrounded by the people she loves. Whether it’s heading out on a spontaneous adventure, hitting the dance floor, or turning strangers into new friends, she brings joy and energy wherever she goes.

Mary communicates best through animated storytelling and high-energy talk-to-text, sharing her thoughts and experiences in ways that are uniquely her own. With the right supports and the encouragement of the people around her, she continues to express herself and connect with others in meaningful ways.

Right now, Mary is focused on blazing her own trail toward greater self-determination—making choices, exploring new opportunities, and choosing her own adventures.

This Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we’re proud to celebrate Mary and recognize the power of supports—the people, tools, and community connections that help everyone live, grow, and thrive. 💙