Developmental Disabilities Acceptance Luncheon 2026

On June 3, 2026, approximately 260 people joined us for our Developmental Disabilities Acceptance Luncheon at Kenyon College!

We typically host a DD Awareness Month Luncheon during the month of March and a Direct Support Professional Appreciation Luncheon in the fall - but this year we decided to combine them into one event to celebrate the community that comes together to make Knox County a wonderful place to live, work and grow.

The theme of this years event was “The Power of Being a Good Neighbor,” inspired by the legacy of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. We started with a brief overview of our program and all the departments that come together to make the supports a reality for those in our program. We talked about Help Me Grow, Early Intervention, Service & Support Administration, Provider Relations, Special Olympics and all the other ways we support people. We then had our “From Awareness to Action: Building Inclusive Neighborhoods Panel” where we heard from:

  • Addie Cunningham: a mother who’s daughter used our Help Me Grow and Early Intervention programs to help get a diagnosis and appropriate therapy. She shared how she and her family have learned to advocate for their daughter and their entire family through this process.

  • Zach Depew: Vice President of Aktion Club and a Special Olympics Athlete. He shared about all the projects Aktion Club does to help improve our community and how he has been a mentor for his friends in Special Olympics.

  • Monica Swank: Knox Technical Center ASPIRE Program Coordinator. She shared about their program, how they hired a young man who is autistic and how their program has improved since having him on their team.

  • Peter & Will Smith: Peter is a father, an Independent Provider and an advocate for his son, Will. They shared about when they were on vacation in 2011 and were in a catastrophic car accident and how they chose to be optimistic moving through the unknown. They also shared about all the different ways Will stays connected, is active and how they give back to their community.

Sherrie Simmons, our Provider Relations Manager shared about the different ways Providers support people in our community and why their work and dedication is imperative.

We also gave out awards to some very deserving people!

  • Community Partner Award: Monica Swank, Knox Technical Center

  • Inclusive Employer Award: Knox Community Hospital, special thanks to Parker Reynolds

  • Heart of Support Award: Jessica Mortine, Gantt Homes

  • Individual Spotlight Award: Hope Beshears & Anthony Hawk

  • Lasting Legacy Award: Cathy Mitchell

a person wearing a light colored shirt stands beside a tall round table in a bright, wood paneled event space, holding a handheld microphone and speaking while angled toward the seated audience.
Person in a light blazer speaks into a handheld microphone at a round table while an audience listens in a bright, wood-paneled event space.
Person in a suit speaks into a microphone at a round table while audience members look on in a bright event space.
Person in a suit holds a microphone toward a seated attendee who is speaking, with an audience watching in a bright event space.
Person stands at a wooden podium, speaking into a microphone in a wood-paneled room.
Person at a podium gestures toward another person standing nearby during a presentation in a bright event space.
Person stands at a podium holding a small award while speaking into a microphone as another person stands nearby.
Person stands at a wooden podium speaking into a microphone in a wood-paneled event space.
Person at a podium adjusts a microphone while speaking with another person standing beside them.
Person stands at a wooden podium, smiling while speaking into a microphone in a wood-paneled room.
Person in a suit stands at a podium speaking into a microphone in a wood-paneled event space.
Person sits beside a small table, gesturing while speaking in a wood-paneled event space with a microphone resting nearby.
person in a suit shakes hands with a young man in a striped shirt at a podium
young man stands behind wooden podium speaking into a microphone
Elderly woman stands next to a wooden podium smiling
two women standing next to a podium. the woman in the front is holding an award, the woman in the back is reaching around to give it to her.
group of 6 people standing in a row, each holding a glass award. they are smiling at the camera.
Brittany CoonKenyon College