Volume 15, Issue 9 September 2014

The Madison Express

Visit us online at www.co.madison.oh.us/dd/

Madison County Board of Developmental Disabi l i t ies

Madison County Hospital builds Bridges with local students

By Julie Akers, Madison County Hospital Marketing Coordinator

Madison County Hospital has once again collaborated with the

Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) to bring the

Bridges to Transition program to the facility.

The program is in its fourth year in Madison County, growing to

support a total of 19 students in 2014. This year’s students participating at

MCH were Alec Baum, Dominique Gonzalez, Anastazia Morgan and Eric

Stedding.

According to the Ohio Association of County Boards, the purpose of

the Bridges program is to provide real employment opportunities in an

integrated setting where students can learn about what it means to work

alongside of peers and other professionals so they are better prepared to enter

the workforce after high school. Bridges seeks to enhance career exploration

options and increase employment outcomes by developing a collaborative

network of services that will assist students in achieving their employment

goals.

From July 21 through August 14, students learned employment skills

in various hospital departments such as Environmental Services, Materials

Management and Dietary. See MCH, continued Page 4

MCBDD Golf Classic is Hotly-Contested For the past several weeks, the Madison County area has been enjoying some high temperatures, making the

outdoors the preferred place to be.

On September 4, London Country Club was the true place to be as the team led by London’s Justin Collins

turned up the heat on the competition and triumphed in the MCBDD Golf Classic. The annual event – now in its sixteenth

year – was held in support of people with disabilities. Funds gathered from the event will benefit all facets of the

MCBDD recreation program, Madison County Special

Olympics, as well as the MCBDD Levy Committee for

future campaigns.

Members of Justin Collin’s Team included (from

left) Kevin Flax, Bryan Howard, Chris Garrard, Jason

Ferguson, Phil Wall, and Collins. They finished at -18.

Second place was captured by Madison County Tire (-17),

followed closely by Consumer Support Services (-16).

Prizes were awarded to participants in a variety of

categories. They included: Men’s longest putt (Jared

Williams), women’s longest putt (Lisa Hill), men’s closest

to the pin (Dan Sok, Wayne Holland), women’s closest to

the pin (Doreena Colasurd, Cindy DeWitt), women’s

longest drive (Melissa Canney) and men’s longest drive

(Jason Ferguson). Kevin Flax won the putting contest.

Bridges enjoyed another successful

summer at Madison County Hospital.

Part of this year’s group was (from left) Dominique Gonzalez, job coach

Nathan Haley, and Eric Stedding.

PAGE 2 THE MADISON EXPRESS VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9

From MCH, Page 1

In the Environmental Services Department, students were in charge of collecting trash, recyclables and linens throughout

the hospital. With these responsibilities, they had to work as a team and prioritize their duties based on the daily census. They also

learned about infection control practices such as glove wearing, hand washing and the proper way to handle and dispose of trash

and linens.

"I have had the pleasure of working with this program, specifically Dominique and Eric, for the past four years," said

Sam Stires, Director of Environmental Services at MCH. "These gentlemen are well-known and appreciated for their hard work

throughout the hospital. They have had such a big impact and everyone knows them, including a few hospital visitors."

Job responsibilities in the Materials Management Department included putting away stock, delivering stock, opening

boxes and tagging products. In Dietary, students helped with tasks such as collecting patient trays.

Coaches from the MCBDD also assisted students in the work environment. The team providing support for students at

the hospital included Abby Arnold, Abby Fisher and Nathan Haley.

"Coaches provide the needed support, such as providing verbal reminders and task lists, so the students can competitively

work," said Jenn Coleman, Community Inclusion Manager for the MCBDD. "Our coaches are instrumental in teaching life skills

like buying lunch, managing time, being dependable and working as a team."

Coleman adds, "Students gain work experience and form friendships both within and outside of the program. They de-

velop a sense of pride for what they do, earn a paycheck, develop social skills and become more involved in their community."

Trophy Case Donated in Memory of Savannah Wilson

London’s Fraternal Order of Eagles 950 continues to show its support of Special Olympics.

Recently, members of the organization donated a trophy case to the Madison County Tigers in

memory of Savannah ‘Scrappy’ Wilson.

Nicknamed ‘Scrappy’ for her tenacious

spirit on and off the basketball court, Wilson was

both a Special Olympics athlete as well as a

member of the Eagles.

The new donation will allow the Madison

County Special Olympics program to display the

awards they have received — and will continue

to receive — for its success on the various courts,

fields and diamonds.

Chris Stires, Trustee with London Eagles

950, worked closely with Savannah’s mother

Jean Hughes and MCBDD Recreation

Coordinator Lincoln Comer to see the project

through to completion.

On hand for the trophy case dedication were (from left) Special Olympian Waymond Harris,

Lincoln Comer, Eagles 950 Chris Stires, Jean Hughes, Phil Hughes, volunteer Liam Comer.

Special Olympics Recap

Softball Skills Area 6 Tournament: First Place — Andrea Radley, Kendra Chapman, Dominique Gonzalez.

Second Place — Shaundra Sayre, Brian Goff

Montgomery Invitational: First Place — Goff, Chapman, Sayre. Second Place — Gonzalez,

Radley

Special Olympics Golf Blues Creek Tournament: Charlie and Don Gildow (2nd), Mike Williams/Mark Bostic (3rd), Paul Hiles/

Susan Thompson (4th), Bryan Thompson/Randy Gildow (5th)

Cliffside Tournament: Bostic/Hiles (1st), Andy/Chris Miller (1st), Darryl/Nick Brown (2nd)

PAGE 3 THE MADISON EXPRESS VOLUME 15, ISSUE 9

Bridges to Transition Success Continues in Fourth Year

Expanded sites, expanded experiences.

In its fourth year of existence, MCBDD’s Bridges to Transition

Program continues to take off.

This year there were 10 job locations (and a Career Exploration tract)

for the individuals involved. It proved again to be great experience for all

involved – participants, job coaches, and employers.

Bridges to Transition is a grant program, funded by County Boards of

Developmental Disabilities and coordinated by the Opportunities for Ohioans

with Disabilities Agency. This partnership began in 2009, and is now the

largest of its kind in the state.

In Madison County, the program is facilitated by Jenn Coleman, who

in February 2014 began in a newly-created position for MCBDD entitled

Community Inclusion Manager.

“The goal of Bridges is to expand career exploration and employment

options for transition youth ages 14-22 with developmental disabilities by the

time they exit high school,” Coleman said. “Bridges seeks to enhance career

exploration options and increase employment outcomes by developing a

collaborative network of services that will assist students in achieving their

employment goals.”

Bridges ran from July 14 to August 14. Participants worked at their community placements four days a week.

The program was established to insure that high school students with disabilities made the transition from

school to work as smoothly as possible. Among the participants in the program this year included Brett Adkins, Jillian

Barton, Johnnie Burns, Duncan Gholson, Dominique Gonzalez, Iris Headings, Bobby Higgins, Briana Keaton, John

Knapp, Ana Morgan, and Eric Stedding.

The Bridges Program helps students build important work skills, experience a variety of employment options

which will better enable them to chose future careers, and focus on developing solid work behaviors.

The students were scheduled to be at their work sites 14 hours per week, and were assisted at all locations by

job coaches contracted with through Capabilities, Inc.

This year’s job coaches included Abby Arnold, Dani Dankin, Abby Fisher, Drew Gillespie, Nathan Haley,

Sharon Manion, and Jessica Wynn.

This year’s placements included Rothwell’s Restaurant, Save-A-Lot, West Jefferson Garden Center, One

Source Lawn Care, Mom’s Attic, Madison County Humane Society, Madison County Hospital, London Country Club,

MATCO Services, Inc., and Presbyterian Child Center.

A number of the participants had a chance to experience working at

multiple locations. Johnnie Burns worked at three different places, and

appreciated the opportunity to make decisions about what would get

accomplished for the day.

“If I see something that needs to be done I do it,” Johnnie said one day at

the West Jefferson Garden Center. “I don’t wait to be told.”

This year for the first time there was a one-week program focused on

Career Exploration. The class for transition youth ages 14 and 15 focused on

pre-vocational skills to become successful. The students toured Stanley Electric,

Madison County Hospital, Wilson Printing and Graphics, Walmart, and Dwyer’s

Hardware. The participants included Michaela Williams, Isaiah Gordon, Michael

Petersen-Sonstein, and Kody Price.

“This included practicing communication skills, identifying individual

interests and visiting local businesses to see people working,” Coleman said.

“Students who completed the Career Exploration tract will be able to participate

in the Summer Youth Work Experience next year where they will have four

weeks of paid work and hands-on learning at a local business.”

Iris Headings, Dan Moran and Johnnie Burns do some landscaping

Brett Adkins and John Knapp worked at Mom’s Attic

Madison County Board of DD Monthly Board Updates

By Brenda Fitch

The Madison County Board of DD’s Regular Monthly Board

meeting was held Thursday, August 21, 2014 at the

Administrative Office. Board members attending were Blaine

Brockman, Diane Miller-Ryan, Sue Mosier, Peg Johnson, Mary

Hopkins, Jean Hughes and Sandy Birchfield. Guests attending

were Liz Blakeslee and Julie Brand

Julie Brand gave a presentation on "LifeTown"

The Board approved changes to Chapters 12, 19 and 25

The Board approved changing the compensation for

substitute teachers from $90.00 to $100.00 per day.

The Board approved Service Agreements with London City,

Madison Plains, Jonathan Alder and West Jefferson Schools.

The next regular monthly Board meeting will be held on

Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the Administrative

Office.

Madison County Board of

Developmental Disabilities

Superintendent

Jim Canney

(740) 852-7050 x1819

(740) 852-7051 FAX

jcanney@co.madison.oh.us

Organization Services

John LaCivita, Director

(740) 852-7050 x1816

jlacivita@co.madison.oh.us

Business

Susan Thompson, Director

(740) 852-7050 x1820

sthompson@co.madison.oh.us

Family Support Services

Carol Ansel, Director

(740) 852-7050 x1838

cansel@co.madison.oh.us

Children Services

Mike Mast, Supervisor

(740) 852-7052 x1910

mmast@co.madison.oh.us

Now a Word from our Sponsors … A BIG thank you goes out to the generous sponsors for the recently-held 16th annual MCBDD Golf Classic.

The scramble had Ernie’s London Apothecary as its $400.00 Tournament Sponsor.

Several local businesses showed their support of Madison County’s DD program through beverage, contest and hole

sponsors. These $200 Beverage Sponsors included Allstate Exteriors, Blaine & Cathy Brockman, Bruner Corporation, BST,

Madison Community Housing, Inc., and MATCO Services, Inc.

The $100 Contest Sponsorships included Andrix & Herman, Auto Additions, Inc., Champaign Residential Services,

Inc, Choices in Community Living, Inc., Creative Carpet, Downing Lawn Service, Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home and

Creamatory, Ernie’s London Apothecary, Inc, Gary & Donna Hay — In Memory of Randy Hay, Goodyear Lawn and Tree,

Holland Builders, Jim & Melissa Canney, London Parts Company, Madison County Community Hospital, Mary T. Hopkins,

Michael C. Quilter, Midwest Transmission / West Jefferson , Muffler Brothers, Murry & Edwards Marathon, Nelson & Ball

Heating/Cooling, One Source Lawn Care, Paul M. Yauger Monument Works, Peg Johnson, Savannah’s Helping Hand, Sterling

Pharmacy, and Wilson Printing & Graphics of London, Inc.

The $50 Hole Sponsors included 56 Auto, Affordable Lawncare, Boyd Garage Doors, Brand Family, Cappy’s Pizza,

Chaney & Thomas Insurance Agency, Chris Brown, Probate/Juvenile Judge Elect, Consumer Support Services, Creamer Metal

Products, Dan Hatfield Chrysler Dodge Jeep, David Dhume, County Commissioner, Dunlap & Hay, Dwyer Bros, Inc, Dwyer

Chiropractic LLC, Flax Law Firm, LLC — Midland Title West, Gary Peters, Jim & Shirley Witwer, JJW Contracting, LLC,

Judge Eric Schooley, Long John Silvers, Keaton Family, KFC, Madison County Tire, Madison Lawn Care, MAP (Madison

Advocates for Progress), Medicaid Consulting Group, Merchant’s National Bank, Murry & Edwards Marathon, Rader, Lynch

& Dodds Funeral Home, Sims Construction, State Farm Insurance, James Peart, Agent, Sue & Joe Mosier, Thompson Children,

Tony Schorr, Schorr Architects, Inc, Wayne & Kim Francis, and Zahid Siddiqi, London City Law Director.

Raffle prizes donated by — COSI, Ann & Tony’s Restaurant, The Newport Aquarium, John Thompson, The Cleveland

Browns, The Columbus Blue Jackets, Chakeres Theatres, The Wilds, TA Knief, The Cincinnati Reds, Los Mariachis, London

Florist, Madison County Special Olympics, Deer Creek Lodge, Columbus Museum of Art, The Cincinnati Bengals, Magic

Mountain Fun Center, NFL Hall of Fame, The Pittsburgh Steelers, Pizza Hut, Flyers Pizza & Subs, Phat Daddy’s, Naple’s

Gym, Rothwell’s Neighborhood Restaurant, Walmart, Mabes, Peebles, Advance Auto, Coughlin Auto, 56 Auto, Diane Miller

Ryan, Lazer Kraze, The Olde Car Wash, JD Equipment, Dwyer Hardware, Carter Lumber, Play-n-Trade, Steinbrook & Sims

Insurance, and The Ohio State University Golf Club.