ODDC Project Grants Advocating for Medicaid Buy-In. ODDC has been proactively leading the efforts to obtain a Medicaid-Buy-In program in Ohio for individuals with developmental disabilities. Council’s intent is to work diligently toward the reality of a Medicaid-Buy-In Program. Grantee: Cerebral Palsy Association of Ohio - Columbus, Beverly Johnson, 614.228.8300. Council staff responsible Teri Clark. Asian American Developmental Disability Awareness Project (AADDA) ODDC decided to partner with with Asian American Community Services (AACS) because Because of a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, Asians are unserved in the health care and social service systems, and often do not receive appropriate prevention education or health care services. Grantee: Asian American Community Services, Columbus; Valerie Huang; 614.220.4023 (Ext. 229). Council Staff Responsible Kenneth Latham. AVERT Project In response to these significant issues, the AVERT (Abuse, Violence, Education, Recognition Training) Project will reduce the risk of abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault, of people with MRDD. This will be accomplished through providing specialized education/instruction and technical assistance to service providers in the field of MRDD and victim advocacy, to parents, and family members. Grantee: Genesis House Domestic Violence Center, Lorain; Peg Calvey; 440.244.1853. Council staff responsible Kenneth Latham. Blue Print for Accessible Housing Regional Training Project County Boards of MR/DD and Joint Vocational Schools will have increased knowledge of how to develop affordable accessible housing through training and actual development of 15 new accessible homes in various locations.
Council’s expectation of the activities this project will accomplish include, but are not limited, to the following:
Grantee: Creative Living Systems, Inc., Delaware; Jeremy Fetty; 740.368.5803 ext.4. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. ConnectmeOhio- Housing Locator People with disabilities and their families will have housing information about accessible and affordable housing that will allow them to have the same housing opportunities and choices available to them as their peers. First year of project funds will be used to market the Housing Registry with the initial push directed towards property owners, landlords, property managers etc.. The second year of the project, funds will be used to inform people with disabilities and families. During years 3-5, ODDC will negotiate with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to determine the best use of Council funds with the stipulation that during the 4th & 5th year of the project they obtain more stable funding. Grantee: The Ohio Department of Aging, Columbus; Janet Hofmann, 614.466.6366. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers.
DD Council Centers for Public Policy The focus of this project is the creation of regional resource partners for individuals with developmental disabilities, their family members and friends to educate and work with local, state and federal public policy professionals. With assistance and support from the Council, grassroots advocacy activities are dedicated to fundamental improvements in: service delivery systems and supports; full inclusion in schools, workplaces and the community; opportunities for independence and self-determination; and many other principles. Four DD Council Centers for Public Policy each receive funds ranging from $28,000 to $40,000 to develop advocacy capacity in their regions. The Centers are as follows: The Arc of Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Tom Eamoe, 513.821.2113 ext. 110 HAVAR, Inc., Athens, Marty Zinn, 740.594.5933 Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP), Cleveland, Deborah Nebel 216.696.2716. Council staff responsible Paul Jarvis. Educational Options for Children To maximize the educational potential of children with disabilities, families are assisted in understanding the educational options and rights available to them. The project provides services to expand the knowledge and skills of the families of preschool children. Families acquire tools to establish an informed advocacy base that will effect positive systems change in the education system. Special emphasis on transition of children from the early intervention system to the education system will be addressed through the development of a transition model. The grantee maintains ongoing data collection to demonstrate changes to inclusionary practices within participating school districts that will be compared to baseline data collected at the onset of the project. Grantee: REACH (Referral & Educational Association for Child Health), Portsmouth, Tammy Nelson, 740.353.1862. Council staff responsible Kay Treanor. Empowerment Fund The Empowerment Fund enables individuals and family members to serve on policy and program planning bodies and to gain knowledge and skills by attending conferences and meetings. A committee of Council members will approve applicant requests in accordance with the policies governing the fund. Fiscal Agent: APSE - Columbus/ODDC - Columbus, Gary Groom, 614.466.5205. Council staff responsible Gary Groom. Follow the link for Empowerment Fund Policies, Application Form for Serving on a Committee or Board, or Application Form for Conference Registration Fees. Family Support Council The project continues ODDC’s initiative to increase statewide availability of individualized supports to families of children with developmental disabilities. The project will support the Family Support Council to assure a family driven and family centered system of support in Ohio. Grantee: Ohio Legal Rights Services - Columbus, Tom Hemmert, 614.466.7264. Council staff responsible Kay Treanor. Funding for the ARTS Mini-Grants The Funding for the Arts program helps emerging artists with disabilities move to a higher level of artistic career development. Since the community employment rate for people with disabilities is low, the arts can provide opportunities for people with disabilities to be employed in a variety of non-traditional higher paying jobs. Each year ODDC will select grantees through a competitive application process. Funds will be used to help artists with disabilities obtain the materials and develop the skills necessary to began marketing their art for profit. The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) awarded Funding for the Arts grants to seven Ohio organizations.
Housing Accessibility/Visitability Training Selected professionals working in the field of housing will have increased knowledge of the Fair Housing Amendments Acts as well as increased awareness that the definition of “accessibility “varies based on the individuals’ needs, so that housing will be truly accessible. This project is for training the following professional groups: Developers, Landlords, Realtors, and Architects. The purpose of the training will be to make these selected professionals aware of what it means to say “ a home , apartment and/or building is accessible” or meets visitability requirements. In most cases the realtor can be the conduit in assisting people with disabilities in finding a home. If the architect, developer and landlord doesn’t know what “accessible” really means, these professionals can unintentionally make it harder for a person with a disability to realize their own place that they call home. Grantee: Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.; Elizabeth Brown, 513.721.4663. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. Infant and Toddler Mental Health Mental health assessment tools are evaluated for children ages birth to five who are at risk for developmental disabilities or who have developmental disabilities. The project is grading assessment tools for overall effectiveness and promotes their use by professionals through education, training and technical assistance. In addition, the project is working to raise the awareness of infant and toddler mental health issues for service providers who work in early intervention and infant childcare. The project continues to advocate regionally and statewide for an effective and coordinated service delivery of mental health services to assure better outcomes for infants and toddlers. Grantee: Children’s Resource Center, Bowling Green, Deborah Goldberg, (419) 352-7588. Council staff responsible Kay Treanor. Juvenile Offenders With Developmental Disabilities and Victims of Crime Statewide Training Project A statewide training program will be developed and implemented for all stakeholders who serve juveniles with disabilities that addresses the needs of juvenile offenders with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities and victims of crime with disabilities. The expectation is that the training will include but not be limited to the following:
The Council is investing in an Action Committee via an allocation to the Partners in Justice Committee which is attempting to address statewide issues relating to offenders with mr/dd. The Action Committee would educate individuals working in the criminal justice system and the field of mental retardation on the critical issues facing both systems and to identify ways in which the systems can work together to resolve some of those issues. This Action Committee would advocate and develop interest and support (financial and political) for creating a treatment center designed to: Grantee: The Disability Resource Network, Groveport; Lee Balser; 614.257.8069. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. Partners in Policymaking A group of individuals with developmental disabilities, and parents and family members, who represent different cultures, ethnicities and disabilities, will become proficient in advocacy and leadership skills through participation in the Partners in Policymaking program. Partners in Policymaking was created by the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities; programs have been implemented and funded in 46 states, as well as in the United Kingdom. The program educates participants to be active partners with those who make policy. Partners participants become competent to change their own lives, and then to work for changes that will affect others with disabilities at local, state, and national levels. Partners graduates are expected to be agents of long-term change. Council is rotating this grant around the state. Council began funding this program in 2005, with a grant that covered Lucas County and nearby counties. In 2006, the grant was awarded to an entity that provided training for individuals from Hamilton County and nearby counties. Grantee to be determined. Council staff responsible: Paul Jarvis Partners in Policymaking Statewide Coordinator and Annual Gathering The highly trained graduates of Partners in Policymaking programs in Ohio will be an active, effective and organized body of advocates for systems change, and will receive ongoing support and education from a Statewide Coordinator and through an Annual Gathering. The State Coordinator will undertake a variety of tasks, including:
Grantee to be determined. Council staff responsible: Paul Jarvis People First of Ohio ODDC provides funding for training individuals with developmental disabilities about self-advocacy and general advocacy, establishing four new local chapters per year, holding four meetings of the State Board, providing ongoing support to chapters, educating policymakers and holding a conference in even-numbered years. Self-advocates learn to advocate for themselves, and for all people with disabilities, to have the same rights, responsibilities, choices and lives as other community members. People First members and staff are also active in numerous other organizations, such as the Ohio Olmstead Task Force, the Ohio Alliance for Full Participation, advisory committees for the DMRDD, and other bodies. Grantee: People First of Ohio, Mt. Vernon; Sadie Hunter, 740.504.8412. Council staff responsible Paul Jarvis. Professional and Teacher Development Task Force This project supports a task force of statewide education stakeholders. The task force works to ensure the educational needs of students with disabilities are met in Ohio’s implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. The task force has placed special emphasis on influencing Ohio’s educator preparation programs and makes recommendations designed to ensure that teachers have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to meet the needs of diverse learners in their classrooms. The project provides guidance through trainings to local education agencies and families to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities with respect to professional and teacher development in all educational settings. Grantee: Memorial Inc., Cincinnati, Cathy Heizman, 513.621.3032. Council staff responsible Kay Treanor. Project DOCC Ohio It is necessary for more physicians to become aware of the unique challenges and family dynamics related to taking care of children with special health care needs. Project DOCC is seeking to foster a deeper understanding of the child and family’s needs, as parents teach physicians about the daily realities of caring for children with special health care needs. A team of committed individuals, including Physician-In-Charge, Parent Coordinators, and an Administrative Assistant administer the program. Parent Coordinators are paid a stipend for their involvement in the 5-hour parent teaching program. The program is made mandatory for all students. It is council’s intent to duplicate the program in future years. Grantee: Toledo Children Hospital; Manda Rice; 419-291-7945. Council staff responsible Teri Clark. Project Reach Project REACH (Rehabilitation Employment Awareness for Colleges and High Schools) will promote employment opportunities in the MRDD field focusing on the unserved and underserved populations in area colleges and high schools, through information dissemination and workplace experiences. Understanding that there are a wide variety of employment arenas within the MRDD field, Project Reach focuses not only on areas of service coordination, residential care, and vocational habilitation opportunities, but also business and technology related aspects as well. Over the last two years, Project Reach has developed a strong relationship with Wilberforce University and has impacted its students through in- class presentations from trained professionals. Increasing that relationship, while nurturing relationships with Ohio State and Wright State University, are goals for the future. Project Reach also wants to work with students and professors at community colleges such as Columbus State and Sinclair Community College. All schools mentioned have Rehabilitation and/or Social Work undergraduate or graduate programs of study. The selected schools include a historically black university, and schools that have a high representation of unserved/underserved populations. Project Reach will also continue to engage high schools in the Columbus Public Schools and surrounding districts with in class career talks. Grantee: Wright-Choice, Inc, Columbus; Tykiah Wright; 614- 802-2364. Council staff responsible Kenneth Latham Project: S.O.S. (Support of Siblings) There will be a viable organized adult sibling leadership organization whose mission will be to empower adult sibling and other family members as well as self advocates statewide with knowledge, skills and tools to evaluate the quality of paid supports, participate in the creation of innovative support model, impact public policy, and raise the standard of living of their family members with a disability. Grantee: Nisonger Center at OSU, Columbus; Tom Fish, 614.292.7550. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. Project SEARCH Project SEARCH is a high school transition program whose mission is to serve people with disabilities through innovative workforce and career development. The outcome has been competitive non-traditional employment for many high school transitions students in various fields including, dental schools, hospitals, commercial banks, and the city parks and recreation department for the city of Cincinnati. Throughout all the services provided through Project SEARCH, its practices are designed to maximize the skills and talents of people with disabilities while simultaneously providing business benefits. The project works to ensure that people with disabilities are treated fairly with regard to employment issues including hiring, disciplinary actions, and opportunities for career development. Currently, six Project SEARCH expansion programs have been funded through the council and ODDC funding will assist in the statewide expansion of Project SEARCH to other planned sites in the future. Grantee: Project SEARCH (Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development); Cincinnati; Susan Rutkowski; 513-612-3668. Council staff responsible Teri Clark Public Awareness Attitudes shape behaviors that affect the lives of people with disabilities, such as hiring individuals with disabilities, supporting programs and policies that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and/or their families, and welcoming individuals into communities. It is important that the general public receives messages about the strengths, capabilities, preferences, and needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and that they recognize the value of people with disabilities as contributors to our shared community. The ODDC Public Awareness Campaign will be developed and implemented so that:
Events There will be an Annual Council Public Awareness Event/Conference to promote awareness of Council and to educate the public about a major disability issue. The topic/event will further council’s mission and improve awareness among selected populations. Council Newsletter (DD Quarterly) The newsletter will serve as an integral part of Council work by: Providing valuable information and resources to people with disabilities, family members, and all stakeholders; assist in the Council’s Public Relations Plan by informing the public and specific audiences piloting of new approaches to services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities, systems change activities and positions on topics/issues.
Ohio Legal Rights Service, Columbus; Thomas J. Hemmert, 614.466.7264. Products and Activities Brochures, booklets and posters will be prepared, printed and disseminated. This includes Council’s annual Executive Summary of State Plan Initiatives. Activities and products will coordinate with council’s current visual identity program and user-friendly style. Grantee: Kernacopia, Marysville; Kristin Kern,937.644.3016 Council staff responsible Carla Sykes. “Reach Out” E-Diversity Newsletter This is a Monthly Update sponsored by the Council’s Outreach Subcommittee to provide information to interested parties on the need to promote more interagency collaboration and coordination that results in agencies providing culturally competent services to the unserved and underserved populations in Ohio. The scope of the project is to explore Best Practices in outreach strategies and other pertinent information that will be made available to interested agencies, Council grantees and people with disabilities and their families via the e- diversity update. The e- diversity monthly update will do the following:
Grantee: Outcomes Management Group, Columbus; Patricia Larkins-Hicks, Ph.D. 614-445-3966. Council staff responsible Kenneth Latham. Real Jobs Mini-Grants The Real Jobs Project provides people with disabilities opportunities to produce income through non-traditional employment. Numerous alternatives to traditional employment, such as supported employment, supported entrepreneurship, job carving and restructuring, micro-enterprises, and other approaches comprise “customized employment.” Employment services are more effective if they can offer an array of options designed to increase the employment/income of people with disabilities in jobs they want and choose. The mini-grant projects may include, but are not limited to, demonstration, training, advocacy and research. There are two Real Jobs Projects in 2007:
Replication of the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) Cooperative A PAS Cooperative will be replicated in another area of the state via technical assistance provided. This grantee will replicate the project in other areas of the state by providing technical assistance to groups who are interested in developing and implementing a PAS CO-OP. Grantee: LEAP Attendant Training Program, Cleveland; Kathy Foley; 216.229.3029. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. Solidarity 2007 This project provides funding for Solidarity registration fees for 130 individuals with developmental disabilities. Solidarity is a conference planned by, and for, people with disabilities. It is held every other year and is attended by approximately 600 to 800 individuals. Participants gain new knowledge and skills from workshops, keynote speakers, a health and wellness fair, and an exhibit has. The Solidarity experience is one key to development of new leaders with disabilities who can influence programs and policies. Solidarity 2007 will be held May 30 through June 1 in Columbus. Grantee: Disability Network of Ohio – Solidarity, Trotwood; Tom Fogarty; 1.800.863.0344. Council staff responsible Paul Jarvis. Spanish - Language Injury Prevention Booklet for Children Injuries are the leading cause of death in children 14 years of age and under. Special healthcare needs may include mental and physical disabilities, hearing and vision impairment, chronic diseases and/or developmental delays. Children affected by these conditions are often at greater risk for injuries for a number of reasons. Caregivers may inadvertently contribute to injury risk because they are under stress and financially burdened. Clear, concise safety information that addresses injury prevention for children living with developmental disabilities is difficult, if not impossible, to find. Spanish – speaking families of children with developmental disabilities will have access to safety information that is appropriate for their child. Spanish – language booklets will be printed and distributed entitled “Safety Tips for Children with Special Health Needs.” 600 CD’S will also be distributed with the PDF version of the booklets. Grantee: Toledo Children’s Hospital; Manda Rice; 419-291-7045. Council staff responsible Ken Latham. Sustaining the Ohio PATHS Project – Phase 2 The PATHS credentialing program for direct support professionals will be sustained and the number of direct support professionals will be increased statewide through consumer and employer demand to meet the increasing number of people with disabilities living outside of institutions and the increasing request for direct support. Grantee: The Ohio Alliance of Direct Support Professionals, Cincinnati; Amy Gerowitz, 513.871.0835. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. Technical Assistance in Training: MR/MI It is difficult to find professionals who are trained in both mental retardation and mental illness. Complex needs require that consumers and varied organizations work collaboratively to develop and coordinate treatment and supports in the community. It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities may have a dual diagnosis. Given this percentage, over 100, 000 people with mental retardation in Ohio will experience mental illness. Many mental disorders are misdiagnosed, under- diagnosed, or undiagnosed in this population.. In partnership with the ODMRDD` and the ODMH, the ODDC will continue to fund a Coordinating Center of Excellence to improve treatment and supports for dual diagnosed individuals. The partnership will implement technical assistance and training targeting all 88 counties. Grantee: Wright State University Medical School, Dayton; Dr. Julie Gentile, 937.223.8840. Council staff responsible Teri Clark. Transportation Rights Project Persons with disabilities will be empowered to be more effective advocates by participating in statewide training initiatives designed to educate them on their rights under Title II (Transportation) and Title III (Transportation) of the American with Disabilities Act. (ADA). The grantee will conduct the following:
Grantee: Central Ohio Transit Authority, Columbus; Carol Perkins, 614.275.5821. Council staff responsible Fatica Ayers. | Home | About Us | Calendar of Events | Grants and NOFAs | Links | Publications and Products | Site Map | What's New | |