Board of DD celebrates end of school year
The Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities faced many challenges this past year it has never faced before due to the pandemic. However, a true team effort helped the organization find its way through some dark times to emerge better for the experience, and superintendent Marianne Mader compared the experience to a kaleidoscope.
Another year, another fantastic school year for the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities. As staff members prepare to usher in summer break, leaders were able to look back at a year that was both uplifting and challenging, thanks to the difficult circumstances created by COVID-19.
“The last 14 months will go down in our record books as one of the most challenging periods ever for Holmes DD,” superintendent Marianne Mader said. “Much of what we counted on, expected and hoped for did not happen. Because of all of those ‘disappointments,’ our relationships are not the same as they used to be. So now we begin the challenge of coming back together, rebuilding our Holmes DD community.”
That alone will be a challenge for not just the Holmes Board of DD, but also for many different organizations and communities.
Mader said a group of staff recently discussed what it means to come back together, using a kaleidoscope as a metaphor.
“When you look into a kaleidoscope, you see many unique pieces that together form something beautiful,” Mader said. “After the kaleidoscope is shaken, the pieces are still there, but when you look inside, it looks different. It’s beautiful in a different way. In my mind’s eye, when I think of Holmes DD, I see something beautiful: staff, families, individuals interacting and supporting each other. The pandemic shook us. That shake meant in-person services closed for a while.”
She said individuals had to adjust to not seeing their friends, families missed their partner in caregiving and staff had to find new ways to work. Everyone was impacted in some way, adding they no longer received what was expected from each other.
“When this kind of thing happens, relationships suffer,” Mader said. “As the COVID situation improves and we take a look in our kaleidoscope, we can still see staff, families and individuals interacting, but it looks a little different. But it is still beautiful. I look forward to rebuilding our beautiful community.”
Principal Rhoda Mast provided some insight into the upcoming summer therapy program the Board of DD will provide. She said this summer 23 students are registered to receive home therapy sessions made possible by dedicated therapists and funding through pandemic emergency funds.
“We are very thankful for this opportunity,” Mast said. “Therapists are scheduling with families directly. These extended services include OT, PT, speech/language and music therapies. Though we cannot promise this service in future years, we are grateful to offer it at least this summer. It’s exciting to imagine how this home/school connection will impact families and students and strengthen the transition to a new year.”
Mast went on to talk about the staff having to bid adieu to several very familiar and beloved faces due to graduation and moves out of the area.
“This year we found ourselves saying goodbye and farewell to three of our students who moved away from the area during the school year,” Mast said. “Elaine and Jonathan Kauffman moved to Kentucky with their family this spring. Charlie Wilkins relocated to California soon after. We have many fond memories with these students and wish the best for them in their new communities. Charlie’s parents recently told us he is doing well and adjusting to his new environment. We hope the same is true for Jonathan and Elaine.”
In addition, on Tuesday, May 25, Holmes DD held its graduation festivities. After a few encouraging words about each of the three graduates and a certificate of program completion, the graduates were cheered by the remaining schoolmates and staff as they proceeded to load a school bus. The bus then drove by the Holmes County Dog Warden Office to be waved to by their staff, with vehicle lights flashing.
“Holmes Fire District #1 firehouse kicked it up another notch and had an ambulance and the ladder truck out for us,” Mast said. “We completed the parade route through Millersburg and had a picnic celebration at the park.”
Mimi Patterson explored some of the summer youth opportunities the Board of DD will have this summer.
Patterson said summer youth work experiences provide students with a disability age 14-21 an opportunity to explore careers and gain on-the-job training, providing valuable experience.
“This summer 13 youth will be participating throughout Holmes County,” Patterson said. “I am so excited because this is the largest enrollment in summer youth programs since Holmes DD encouraged the restart of these programs in 2018.”
Patterson said Ohioans with Disabilities and local providers have worked hard to build relationships with local businesses to secure sites for youth to participate. Participating sites include Der Dutchman Restaurant, Holmes County Dog Warden, Fire Ridge Golf Course, Save and Serve Thrift Shop, and the Village of Millersburg Parks and Recreation.
Youth are assigned to work sites based on their interest and abilities, and safeguards are in place to promote health and safety. While working at the job sites, students receive support from a job coach and earn minimum wage. The program is offered for one to five weeks with a total of 20 hours per week.
Another great summer opportunity for youth with disabilities age 14-21 who have an individual education plan is to participate in pre-employment services. Pre-employment services focus on helping students explore career interests through the use of job-exploration counseling, work-based learning, counseling on post-secondary opportunities, workplace-readiness training and instruction in self-advocacy. This summer each course has been extended from eight hours to 10 hours per course.
Anyone interested in learning more about these options should contact Patterson at the Holmes BDD.
“I would love to see as many youth as possible participate in these programs over the summer,” Patterson said.