Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities 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.

Please join us in welcoming Jason Bourne to the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities team as our newest Ser...
06/16/2026

Please join us in welcoming Jason Bourne to the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities team as our newest Service and Support Administrator (SSA)!

Jason brings a wealth of experience to his new role, including previous work as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), experience as a substitute teacher, and an academic background in applied management. His diverse experiences and commitment to supporting others make him a wonderful addition to our agency.

We are excited to have Jason on board and look forward to the positive impact he will make in the lives of the individuals and families we serve.

Please joins us in welcoming Jason! He’s pictured here with Asst. Supt. A***n Smedley.

Hello friends! We have an announcement about our facilities. 📣The ACBDD building at 801 W. Union Street will be closed t...
06/16/2026

Hello friends! We have an announcement about our facilities. 📣

The ACBDD building at 801 W. Union Street will be closed to the public from July 10, through August 23, to allow for essential summer maintenance and improvement projects.

During this period, the building will not be available for community events, meetings, or other scheduled activities. The closure is necessary to complete a number of projects that require uninterrupted access to the facility and its systems.

The building will remain open for normal agency operations.

We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we complete these important upgrades. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when our doors reopen as normal in late August.

The facility is expected to reopen as normal on August 24. Updates will be shared on our page as the projects progress.

And just like that… summer camp magic is back! 🌞💙Ray's Days! Summer Camp kicked off with an amazing Day 1 — swim time, ...
06/15/2026

And just like that… summer camp magic is back! 🌞💙

Ray's Days! Summer Camp kicked off with an amazing Day 1 — swim time, gym time, playground time and some music making time. Safe to say, the campers are already in full summer mode!

The fun only gets bigger from here — later in the week the teen group is heading to Hocking College Robin's Crossing & Nature Center, while the younger crew explores Hocking Hills Children's Museum. Adventures await all week long!

Let the summer fun begin!

School's out for summer, but the energy here is anything but quiet. Our building is buzzing as camp counselors gear up f...
06/11/2026

School's out for summer, but the energy here is anything but quiet. Our building is buzzing as camp counselors gear up for Ray's Days! Summer Camp! 🌞💙

This week of training has been packed with essential professional development to ensure our team is fully prepared for the exciting four-week camp ahead. Training week covers a variety of topics, including information sessions led by Camp Director Paul Richard, Health Services Coordinator and Nurse Megan Stack, and many others.

Also, counselors played around in the gym to get some hands-on training with Adaptive Physical Education Instructor Ruben Arroyo Santiago on how to make adaptive modifications to games like volleyball and frisbee to ensure every camper can participate and thrive.

One of the most powerful components of our training week? Hearing directly from parents. Parents are the true experts when it comes to their children – especially those with developmental disabilities. Their voices help shape our camp experience from day one. Each day this week, a different parent has joined us to share their child's needs, and staff have had the opportunity to ask questions and build a deeper understanding. It's a meaningful step toward making this our best camp yet!

We are grateful to all the parents who took the time to share their insights with our team. We feature two parents and campers in this collection of photos: Annah Korpi and her son Isidoro, and Erica Williams and her son Logan.

This is just a small sample of the week-long camp counselor training. We can't wait to see all of this hard work come to life when camp begins! Stay tuned for updates as the summer unfolds.

Our friends at the Athens City Pool will be hosting Sensory Friendly Swim sessions every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.,...
06/11/2026

Our friends at the Athens City Pool will be hosting Sensory Friendly Swim sessions every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting June 14 through August 16.

See the attached flyer for additional details.

The ACBDD is a proud supporter of this initiative through the ATCO Legacy Fund.

Happy swimming! 😃🏊💦

Week 1 of the ACBDD’s Integrate Athens Summer Youth Community and Career Exploration Program is officially complete!This...
06/09/2026

Week 1 of the ACBDD’s Integrate Athens Summer Youth Community and Career Exploration Program is officially complete!

This week, participants gained hands-on experience in landscaping and grounds maintenance, contributing to the upkeep of the West State Street Sandlot flowerbeds and concessions area.

Throughout the week, they visited local businesses and restaurants to explore career opportunities within our community and engage in meaningful, paid work experiences.

The mission of this program is to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience needed to confidently navigate adulthood and the workforce.

This session's participants brought some prior work experience to the table. Stay tuned for Week 2, which will focus on entry-level opportunities designed for teens and young adults who are just beginning to explore the world of work and community involvement.

Every school day, our drivers do something important – they bring students safely to a place where they can learn and gr...
06/08/2026

Every school day, our drivers do something important – they bring students safely to a place where they can learn and grow. 🌞💙

The ACBDD is looking for a Bus/Van Driver (Vehicle Operator I/III) to join the Beacon School team. This academic-year position is Monday–Friday, 25 hours/week (with possible additional hours during breaks), and pays $20/hour or more based on your qualifications.

We also offer outstanding benefits: health & life insurance, generous paid time off, and OPERS retirement.

If you enjoy serving your community and love being behind the wheel, we want to meet you!

For more information, including details on how to apply, please follow this link: https://athenscbdd.org/job-posting-bus-van-driver-vehicle-operator-i-iii/

What a day! Yesterday we had the honor of hosting the 2nd Annual Athens County Youth Summit – bringing together communit...
06/05/2026

What a day! Yesterday we had the honor of hosting the 2nd Annual Athens County Youth Summit – bringing together community partners from across the county who share one common purpose: showing up for our young people.

The day kicked off with keynote speaker Dr. Micah Covert (President-Elect of the Ohio School Boards Association and a 17-year elected school board member), who drew on his own roots in Southeast Ohio to remind us what's possible when schools, families, agencies, and neighborhoods work together. His words set exactly the right tone.

From there, panels and breakout sessions gave our partners space to dig into the real, complex challenges facing youth today – and more importantly, to think together about solutions.

We closed the day with Dr. Andrew Miller, Executive Director of the Hocking College Foundation, who shared the moving story behind the 740 Rescue Kitchen at Hocking College, a powerful reminder of what community care looks like in action.

This summit exists because we believe our young people deserve a community that's truly connected around their wellbeing. Seeing so many dedicated partners in one room – learning, collaborating, and building relationships – gave us so much hope for what's ahead.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

The Athens County Youth Summit is organized by the Athens County Family and Children First Council in partnership with the Athens City School District, Athens County Children Services, Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Athens County Probate and Juvenile Court.

Our friends of the Athenian Berean Community Players have put together another production of song, dance and other acts ...
06/05/2026

Our friends of the Athenian Berean Community Players have put together another production of song, dance and other acts for kids and adults to enjoy this weekend, 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. This variety show will take place in "Room 30" in the Stuart's Opera House complex in Nelsonville. This is a smaller, intimate space compared to the large theater. There is also a separate room attached where people can take a break from the show if needed.

This performance is designed to be welcoming to people with sensory sensitivities, autism, cognitive disabilities, their families and communities. But it is also a good opportunity for first time theater-goers and people who don't want to sit still in a theater but enjoy going to it.

Tickets are free but donations are greatly accepted.

You can reserve yours here:
June 6: https://www.tixr.com/groups/stuartsoperahouse/events/starbrick-cavalcade-sensory-friendly-show-190398
June 7: https://www.tixr.com/groups/stuartsoperahouse/events/starbrick-cavalcade-sensory-friendly-show-190403

This is not an ACBDD-sponsored event.

This year, Beacon is proud to celebrate two graduates! Over the past two days, we have been highlighting each graduate i...
06/02/2026

This year, Beacon is proud to celebrate two graduates! Over the past two days, we have been highlighting each graduate individually in alphabetical order by their first name.

Today, we celebrate James!

James joined Beacon in 2014 and has spent the past several years building friendships, developing new skills, and making lasting memories. Known for his warm personality, big smile, and unforgettable bear hugs, James has made a positive impact on everyone around him.

One of James' favorite activities at Beacon was swimming. Whether during class or extra swim sessions, he loved being in the water and could spend hours floating and relaxing. Throughout his time at Beacon, James also participated in job training opportunities and worked toward greater independence as he prepared for life after graduation.

After graduation, James is looking forward to sleeping in, attending a day program this fall, and continuing his search for supported employment and volunteer opportunities.

James has taught us the value of being present, intentional, and true to yourself. His humor, determination, and kind spirit will be greatly missed by his classmates and the Beacon staff.

James, we are so proud of all you have accomplished and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you. Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes on this exciting next chapter!

Address

801 W Union Street
Athens, OH
45701

Telephone

+17405943539

Website

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