Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services to people from birth throughout their life.

Our mission is enriching, empowering, and connecting people with their community.

Many Hands. One Big Impact!For the 4th year in a row, Ashtabula DD was honored to join the 9th Annual Feed the Hope in ...
09/04/2026

Many Hands. One Big Impact!
For the 4th year in a row, Ashtabula DD was honored to join the 9th Annual Feed the Hope in Ashtabula County , a community effort held at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds Expo Center!

Since Feed the Hope began, more than 1.9 million meals have been packaged and distributed through Country Neighbor to local food pantries to help families and individuals across Ashtabula County.

This year, more than 30 teams came together to package more than 250,000 meals in just 3 hours, and the goal was reached in record time!

People of all ages and abilities worked side by side, showing what can happen when we unite for a common cause.

We were grateful to be part of this incredible effort! With Andrea Klimko (Provider Support & Technology) keeping us moving as our amazing bell ringer and box counter, our team packed an incredible 1,404 meals!

It’s pretty special to know that our time together will help put meals on tables for families and individuals throughout our county.

Thank you to the Feed the Hope Committee & Country Neighbor for all of your effort in bringing our community together and creating an opportunity to make a difference!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

Working Together for Ohio’s Children & Families! Earlier this week, leaders and partners from across Ohio came together ...
09/03/2026

Working Together for Ohio’s Children & Families!
Earlier this week, leaders and partners from across Ohio came together at the Ohio Department of Children and Youth 2026 KIDS Summit to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and work toward better outcomes for children and families.

We were proud to have a team from Ashtabula County take part in this important statewide conversation and connect with others who share the same goal of helping children and families thrive.

The summit brought together cross-agency teams from all 88 Ohio counties and focused on finding ways to turn statewide priorities into meaningful strategies within our local communities.

We were also grateful for the opportunity to be alongside Ohio leaders, including
Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, and to hear from keynote speaker Maurice Clarett. We even had the opportunity to capture a couple of photos together!

When we come together, share ideas, and build strong partnerships, we can make a difference for children and families across our communities.

We’re excited to recognize Tiffany as our September Work of HeART Featured Artist!September brings a season of new begin...
09/03/2026

We’re excited to recognize Tiffany as our September Work of HeART Featured Artist!

September brings a season of new beginnings, and Tiffany’s canvas reflects the excitement of back to school! Through her artwork, Tiffany shared her own reflection on this time of year and the possibilities that come with a new school year.

Tiffany had the opportunity to share her artwork with Scott Yamamoto for Ashtabula County Auditor, where it will be on display throughout the month.

We were also excited to receive several beautiful canvases created by students who participated in the Explorations and Transitions Summer Camp provided by the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center. Their artwork celebrates America’s 250th birthday, featuring creative red, white, and blue designs that honor this special milestone in our nation’s history.

Partnerships like these help celebrate the talents, creativity, and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities while creating opportunities for everyone’s gifts to be seen and appreciated.

You can view artwork from Tiffany and other talented local artists at these community locations:

📍Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH
📍AM Ford
📍 Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
📍 Ashtabula County Educational Service Center
📍 Ashtabula DD
📍 Office of State Rep. David Thomas - Vern Riffe State Office Tower in Columbus
📍 Kingsville Public Library Ohio

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing community partners for providing welcoming spaces where our artists can share their gifts and talents with others. We encourage everyone to stop by, enjoy the artwork, and celebrate the incredible creativity found right here in Ashtabula County!

Congratulations, Tiffany! We love seeing your creativity shine through your artwork and hearing the stories behind it. Thank you for sharing your talent with our community!

Early Intervention Success Story | Meet Lilyann!Over the past year, Lilyann has made incredible strides in her growth an...
09/02/2026

Early Intervention Success Story | Meet Lilyann!

Over the past year, Lilyann has made incredible strides in her growth and development and she’s meeting her goals ahead of schedule!

With the support of her Early Intervention team and her family, Lilyann continues to learn, grow, and reach new milestones. Her parents are proud of all she has accomplished and especially appreciate the “homework” her team provides to help carry that progress into everyday life.

We’re so proud to celebrate Lilyann and all the progress she’s making!

Want to read more? Check out Lilyann’s full story and our August newsletter: t.ly/YQeIG

In September, we celebrate the work anniversaries of three of our amazing team members! We appreciate your service and c...
09/02/2026

In September, we celebrate the work anniversaries of three of our amazing team members! We appreciate your service and commitment to Ashtabula County.

Our Advocacy Lunch & Learn with Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH was all about learning how to make smart choices with mo...
09/01/2026

Our Advocacy Lunch & Learn with Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH was all about learning how to make smart choices with money and having a little fun along the way! We used the Pet Cents, a financial literacy game provided through the Thinking Money for Kids program, made possible by a grant from the American Library Association and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

Participants started with $150, chose an animal to adopt, and then experienced the real-life responsibilities of pet ownership from visiting the vet and buying food to making decisions about how to spend their money.

They also encountered unexpected scenarios that tested their budgeting skills. Some meant spending more money, while others gave them a chance to earn money, like entering their pet in a show!

This opportunity gave advocates a chance to practice important skills like planning, responsibility, and budgeting.

Thank you to Henderson Memorial Public Library for partnering with us for another fun and meaningful Advocacy Lunch & Learn!

Each month, the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities selects up to three exceptional Direct Support Prof...
08/31/2026

Each month, the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities selects up to three exceptional Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who go above and beyond to serve people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in our community.

Our final DSP of the Month for August is Renee Fusco with Active Day Ashtabula! Renee was nominated by Beth and Scott Cheney, who shared, “Renee is always willing to help wherever needed. She is caring, compassionate, dependable, pays attention to detail. Renee will great you with a smile and her uplifting personality.”

Thank you, Renee, for your dedication and the positive impact you bring to the lives of others.

Do you know a DSP who goes above and beyond? Nominate them today:
https://www.ashtabuladd.org/Announcements/?capostid=62633

Because of YOU… Anything is Possible! Last night, we had the privilege of celebrating some truly incredible people, the ...
08/28/2026

Because of YOU… Anything is Possible!
Last night, we had the privilege of celebrating some truly incredible people, the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who make a difference in the lives of people across Ashtabula County every single day.

The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities' annual DSP Recognition Banquet was an evening filled with gratitude, celebration, and stories that reminded us just how meaningful the work of a DSP truly is.

More than 75 people gathered to celebrate the DSPs who were recognized throughout the past year. Across 20 provider agencies, we received an incredible 181 nominations honoring DSPs for the compassion, dedication, advocacy, creativity, and exceptional support they provide every day.

During the evening, we were honored to recognize 10 DSPs with special awards for the extraordinary ways they support the people they serve:

🌟 Bright Beginning Award – Matthew Woodburn
🌟 Excellence in Direct Support Practice Award – Tammie Miller
🌟 Community Champion Award – Melinda Shipman
🌟 Beyond the Call of Duty Award – Areona Clark
🌟 Lifetime Commitment Award – Shannah Niepokny
🌟 Innovation Award – Samual Eurich
🌟 Advocacy Award – Lashonda Holmes
🌟 Mr. Sunshine Award – Nick Merlene
🌟 Mrs. Sunshine Award – Tiffany Krause
🌟 DSP of the Year Award – Jessica Lovejoy

Congratulations to each of you! Your dedication, compassion, creativity, advocacy, and commitment to the people you support make an incredible difference.

We were also honored to have Matthew Glidewell, Ashtabula DD Assistant Superintendent, share his message as our keynote speaker, and Michael Hogan from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities join us to present a proclamation from the Governor’s Office recognizing the important work of Direct Support Professionals.

We were grateful to have state and local leaders join us in recognizing and celebrating our DSPs. Ashtabula County Commissioners Casey Kozlowski, Ashtabula County Commissioner. Kathryn Whittington Ashtabula County Commissioner and JP Ducro presented a County Proclamation honoring DSPs and the impact they have throughout our community. State Representative David Thomas, Office of State Rep. David Thomas, presented a special commendation on behalf of himself and Ohio State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur, recognizing the incredible DSPs we were celebrating.

A heartfelt thank you to Andrea Klimko, Provider Support & Technology, and everyone who helped make this evening possible. Your time, creativity, and hard work helped create a night where DSPs could feel just how valued and appreciated they are. We are truly grateful for everything you did to make the celebration special.

Last night was a celebration of the people who help turn possibilities into reality. We are incredibly grateful for every DSP across Ashtabula County and for the difference you make each and every day.

To view all of the photos from the DSP of the Month Banquet, click on this link: https://tinyurl.com/5n7ukvaj

Because of YOU… Anything is Possible!

Over the past three months, we’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow together through an engaging series of trainings...
08/27/2026

Over the past three months, we’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow together through an engaging series of trainings with Barb Sapharas from Family Resource Network of Ohio, focused on Charting the LifeCourse.

Through the LifeCourse domains, advocates had the opportunity to think about what they want for their lives, explore their goals and dreams, and practice speaking up about what matters most to them.

We had great discussions, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to learn more about one another along the way. We are so grateful to Barb for sharing her knowledge, guidance, and passion for helping people build the lives they want, and to the advocates from Maples for sharing their voices, experiences, ideas, and dreams. Your participation made these trainings truly special!

We look forward to more opportunities to learn and grow with Barb and our advocates in the future!

Interested in participating in future trainings? Please reach out to Angela Thomas, Community Outreach Specialist at [email protected] for more information.

Address

2505 South Ridge Road East
Ashtabula, OH
44004

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+14403351587

Website

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