Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities

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Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities

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For Athens County individuals with developmental disabilities, we provide quality services by assessing their needs and creating individual plans.

Since its inception in 1957, the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been providing individuals opportunities to learn, grow, and enrich their lives. We offer education, employment, life skills training, recreation, transportation, residential support, services coordination, and more. We help to integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into their community as valued citizens. If you would like more information on any of our programs, please click on the link or contact us by phone at (740) 594-3539. Our Mission

The Mission of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities through an array of individualized services and supports. Our Vision

To provide experienced leadership so all individuals with developmental disabilities may achieve their dreams. Our Core Values

We believe in the potential of all individuals served. We believe our organization must be responsible and flexible. We believe in being fiscally responsible. We believe in Person Centered Planning and Self-Determination. We believe in providing safe and secure environments for individuals to be served. We believe in valuing employees and partners. We believe in visionary leaders and innovation.

10/23/2026

Our friends at the Athens City-County Health Department are conducting a community health survey, and your input matters! Your feedback can help inform efforts to better understand and address the health needs of our community.

Ready to share your thoughts? Complete the survey using the link below or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/tVe8kf3wNp

Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your perspective and help support a healthier community for everyone!

10/21/2026

Planning for life after high school? We can help!

The ACBDD is excited to announce our first-ever Beyond the Classroom Expo, a resource fair designed specifically for individuals preparing to transition from high school to adulthood!

📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
📍 Beacon School Gym (801 W. Union Street, Athens)

This event will bring together a variety of organizations that offer services, supports, and resources for transition-age youth ages 13–21. Whether you're exploring future opportunities or looking for guidance on navigating available services, this is a great opportunity to learn about your options and connect with the organizations that can help!

One evening. One location. A wealth of resources to help plan for what's next!

Check out the attached flyer for more details.

Questions or ready to RSVP? Contact ACBDD Transition Coordinator Doug Mitchell at [email protected] or (740) 541-9640.

We look forward to helping individuals and families explore the possibilities that lie beyond the classroom!

10/20/2026

We’re thrilled to show off the finished product from Beacon School’s annual “Paint the Plow” project in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation Southeastern Ohio District 10!

Introducing the “Beacon Rays Are Worth Melting For” plow!

Inspired by Disney’s Frozen, this year’s design features beloved characters, including Olaf, and plenty of Beacon pride! Adding an extra-special touch, members of the Beacon community contributed their own thumbprints to create the leaves on the tree, making this project a true team effort.

We’re proud of our students and staff for bringing their creativity, imagination, and school spirit to this project! A special shoutout to our Preschool 1 team for leading the way and helping make this frosty masterpiece a reality.

A big thank-you to everyone who helped bring this design to life, and to ODOT District 10 for partnering with us on this fun and meaningful project!

Keep an eye out for the “Beacon Rays Are Worth Melting For” plow on the roads this winter as it spreads a little Frozen magic and plenty of Beacon pride!

Go Rays! 🌞💙

10/19/2026

🎃👻 You’re invited to the People First Halloween Dance! 👻🎃

Get ready for some Halloween fun! People First, Athens County’s self-advocacy group, is hosting a Halloween Dance, and we’d love for you to join us!

📅 Date: October 29
⏰ Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
📍 Location: RHDD, 49 Connett Road, The Plains

This event is open to anyone who receives or is eligible for services through the ACBDD.

Costumes are welcome but not required, so come ready to have fun, connect with friends, and celebrate the season!

Check out the attached flyer for more details, and be sure to RSVP using the link below.

We hope to see you there!

https://forms.gle/TbAWMzmS3nyX9y1P9

10/16/2026

Happy Case Management Appreciation Week!

This week, we are proud to recognize the ACBDD’s Service and Support Administrators or SSAs! The team is pictured here.

Our SSAs play an essential role in helping individuals with developmental disabilities live meaningful and fulfilling lives in their communities. From coordinating services and connecting individuals with resources to advocating for personal choice and helping navigate life’s challenges, our SSAs work every day to ensure the people we serve have the support they need to achieve their goals.

Their work requires collaboration, problem-solving, and a deep commitment to empowering individuals and their families. We are grateful for the knowledge and dedication our SSA team brings to this important work each day.

Please join us in thanking our incredible SSA team for all they do to support individuals, families, and our community!

10/15/2026

Beacon School’s Intermediate 2 classroom had a wonderful opportunity to learn from our school’s therapy team and explore what it takes to be a therapist!

Speech Therapist Sarah shared different ways students communicate and strategies to expand vocabulary through thoughtful questions.

Occupational Therapist Jen discussed coping strategies and equipment that can support self-regulation.

Physical Therapist Melissa created an obstacle course to demonstrate different areas of the body she works on while helping students practice balance and agility.

Students also worked on task boxes targeting beginning sounds, verb identification, identifying different body parts, and answering yes-or-no questions, building important communication and learning skills along the way!

Thank you to Sarah, Jen, and Melissa for sharing your knowledge and helping our students develop the skills they need to succeed!

10/12/2026

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on three wonderful members of our team!

Please join us in recognizing our Community Inclusion Coordinators, Heather Clemons, Sue Orth, and Jessica Pickrell!

As part of the ACBDD’s Office of Integrate Athens, these dedicated staff members help people with developmental disabilities discover opportunities to connect, grow, and thrive in their communities. From exploring employment and developing new skills to participating in social activities and building self-advocacy skills, they work to create meaningful opportunities for inclusion.

Heather, Sue, and Jessica, thank you for the important work you do each day to advance the ACBDD’s mission and vision and help make our community a more inclusive place for everyone!

10/09/2026

Beacon School’s Intermediate 2 students had an exciting opportunity to explore the world of nursing with a special guest, Nurse Megan!

Students learned about different pieces of equipment nurses use while completing a variety of tasks and discussed the many different places they might encounter a nurse in their community and beyond.

The hands-on learning continued as students worked through task boxes focused on important nursing-related skills, including:

• Practicing the steps of proper handwashing
• Putting first-aid kits together
• Wiping away germs and learning about cleanliness
• Scheduling appointments for patients
• When our hands are clean or dirty

It was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more about the nursing profession while building practical skills, exploring possible career interests, and having fun along the way!

A huge thank you to Nurse Megan for sharing her time, knowledge, and expertise with the students!

10/08/2026

We are proud to announce our agency has successfully completed the onsite portion of the State Accreditation Review conducted by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD)!

We are especially pleased to share that we earned the highest level of accreditation – a three-year certification! This achievement reflects our agency’s commitment to excellence, accountability, and quality services and supports.

These reviews provide important oversight, assess compliance with state standards, and evaluate how county boards of developmental disabilities serve individuals and families.

This accomplishment would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff, along with the outstanding guidance and leadership that helped prepare our agency for this review.

Please join us in congratulating our team on this well-deserved recognition!

Pictured from left to right: Medicaid & Waiver Services Manager Amy Goldsberry, who led the accreditation preparation team; SSA Director Stephanie Kendrick; MEORC Compliance Analyst Bryan Hinkle; MEORC Executive Director Cathy Henthorn; and Superintendent Kevin Davis.

We are also grateful to MEORC for providing valuable technical assistance throughout the accreditation process.

Congratulations to the entire ACBDD team on this outstanding accomplishment!

10/07/2026

Attention SIB Support Families!

Our October hangout is officially locked in! Join us on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Beacon Cafeteria for a fun Halloween-themed evening.

Come hang out, eat delicious pizza from Mitz Lou's, and connect with other cool siblings! We will weave a giant yarn spiderweb together before playing some Halloween-themed games!

The Details:
📅 When: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
⏰ Time: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
📍 Where: Beacon Cafeteria (801 W. Union Street, Athens, OH)
🎟️ Cost: 100% Free! (Open siblings ages 8–17 of kids with disabilities, sponsored by the ACBDD)

We need an accurate headcount to order enough pizza and supplies, so please save your spot today!

👉 RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/aCkYYA3BC1jJGT89A
RSVP Deadline: October 15th, 2026

We can't wait to see you there!

Address

801 W Union Street
Athens, OH
45701

Telephone

+17405943539

Website

http://athenscbdd.org/

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