Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan declared the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month making 2022 the 35th anniversary.

This is a time for us to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the town in which they live.

This month reminds us that we’re all part of a broad spectrum of intellectual and physical functioning. It is a chance to be more empathetic and to remind ourselves of the challenges we face in our own lives.

This month in Knox, we were able to celebrate by going to the city council meetings for Mount Vernon, Fredericktown, Centerburg, Gambier and Danville to do a Proclamation declaring this month as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

We also were able to do our annual Coloring and Essay contest with the local elementary schools in Knox County. To check out more photos, please check out our other blog post HERE.

Paragraphs Bookstore read four different books to the preschool classrooms at Head Start on March 15th. Christy came and read "Strictly No Elephants," "You Are Enough," "When Charley Met Emma," and "My City Speaks" to the children and they absolutely loved the books!

The Centerburg Library and the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County developed some wonderful programs and displays to celebrate DD Month as well! The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County did virtual story times weekly during the month to ensure any child could participate if they wanted to.

We were also able to host a small, scaled down version of our annual Luncheon where we were able to give out awards to 6 different people for their dedication, determination and willingness to make Knox County a wonderful place for everyone to live, work and thrive.

Dedication Award: Allyn Frye & Sally Myers (Gantt Homes)
Local Hero Award: Anna Frazier (Independent Provider)
Community Partner: Dr. Amy Teleron-Khorshad, American Health Network
Employer Award: Ajodhya Dining Concepts (Half Baked Café, Georgetown Caribbean BBQ, Cindy’s Pierogis)
Individual Spotlight: Meralyse Dessert & Ben Frazier

man reading a document — Mayor Sands of Centerburg reading our DD Month Proclamation

group of people showing off proclamation in Gambier ohio — Harper J., her mom and the city council of Gambier, OH.

group of people holding a poster — Brad P. with the Village of Fredericktown city council

group of children in a grassy area — 2022 Coloring Contest Winners: (left to right) Olivia, Charlotte, Kenzie, Bailey, Brice, Riley, Gianna, Alaina, Jacob, Paxton

group of children standing in a grassy area — 2022 Essay Contest Winners: (left to right) Hallie, Carolyn, Reagan, Jesse, Aiden, Emma, Owen, Graceon, Hailey, Hadlie, Hadley

Brittany CoonMarch 31, 2022

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Coloring & Essay Contest

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and that gave the Knox County community a great opportunity to create awareness, to learn more about inclusion and to share in the stories of individuals who live, work and thrive in our county. While the Knox County Board of DD and its various provider agency partners are active year round in providing service and supports for those with developmental disabilities, March is a particularly fun time for us to highlight the important roles that individuals with developmental disabilities have within the fabric of our great community.

The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities would like to thank the elementary school students of Knox County for helping us celebrate. There were one thousand two hundred and eight-one students who participated in our annual coloring (K-2nd grades) and essay (3rd-5th grades) contest with one hundred and sixteen classrooms participating county-wide, representing twelve different elementary schools in Knox County.

We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s coloring contest (K-2nd grades): Olivia Beeman (Fredericktown), Rylei Morton (East Knox), Brice Hord (Columbia), Kenzie James (Pleasant St.), Paxton Potter (East), Gianna Hinkens (Danville), Avery Thomas (Knox Learning Center), Charlotte Miller (7th Day Adventist), Jacob Vance (Dan Emmett), Brooklyn Waers (Twin Oak), Bailey Higgins (Centerburg) and Alaina Reiss (Wiggin St.). The winners of this year’s essay contest (3rd-5th grades) were: Hadlie Kerr (Fredericktown), Haley Page (East Knox), Reagan Cline (Columbia), Adin Dice (Knox Learning Center), Owen Burgess (Pleasant St.), Caroline Vonck (East), Emma Payne (Danville), Matayia Ammons (7th Day Adventist), Jesse Row (Dan Emmett), Hallie Snow (Twin Oak), Gracelyn Davis (Centerburg) and Hadley Curry (Wiggin St.). Also congratulations to Ms. Brooke Markle from Danville Elementary for winning the teacher classroom prize this year.

display of coloring and essay pages at MVNU

Brittany CoonMarch 22, 2022

Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Dinner

Each year the Knox County Chamber of Commerce holds their Awards Ceremony in January. Due to COVID, this years celebration was pushed back to March 10, 2022 at the Kenyon Athletic Center. Around 500 community members came together to enjoy spending time together, eat dinner and celebrate the achievements of our community.

The “Quality of Life” award is given to a non-profit Chamber member business whose work has enriched the lives of Knox County Residents. The three finalists for the award were The Station Break, Brinkhaven and Knox DD. We were beyond humbled to even be considered for this award, but much to our surprise, we won! We are so grateful to our staff who work tirelessly every day to support the individuals and families in our programs, our community for allowing us to make connections and build an inclusive community, our dedicated providers and families, and the tax payers of Knox County whose support allows us to make positive changes here in our community. We are so thankful!

The “Volunteer of the Year” award is given to an individual whose business has been a Chamber member for at least two years, who consistently volunteers for both Chamber and community projects and has contributed to a single unique project in the county within the past two years. The three finalists were Amy Smart; Riverside Recovery Services, Laurie Gallwitz; Park National Bank and our very own board member Tonya Boucher; Huntington National Bank. We were thrilled when we heard that Tonya was chosen as the 2021 Volunteer of the Year! Congratulations!!

7 people standing, holding an award — Left to right: Jill Lahna, Steve Oster, Brittany Coon, Andrew Taylor, Brenda Coffman, Talisha Beha, Amber Lavin

Tonya Boucher with her Volunteer of the Year award

Brittany CoonMarch 11, 2022

Help Me Grow Fall Festival 2021

On October 1, 2021 the grassy area near the Knox DD/Head Start Building was filled with laughter, activities and fun for the family! Our Help Me Grow and Early Intervention programs put on a family Fall Festival for the community to come together and have a wonderful time!

We had food available from Wheelin’ and Grillin’, apple cider, cotton candy, free pumpkins that were generously donated, a petting zoo, WNZR, ESC, Knox Public Health Dental Department, Mount Vernon Library, WIC, FCFC, Car Seat Safety with KPH, Main Place, Triple P, PAC, and Head Start all available to do fun activities and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Brittany CoonOctober 7, 2021

"WOW!" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "WOW!" Award goes to Diane Bolen.

Her nominator said, "She is versatile and willing to do anything asked of her, including making deliveries in the box truck, and covering HPC if needed. She loves getting people out into the community and loves to challenge them by giving them new activities to try! She loves seeing how proud they are when they complete a new activity or open their paychecks."

Brittany CoonSeptember 24, 2021

"Rockstar Rookie" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "Rockstar Rookie" award goes to Tracy Green!

Her nominator said, "Tracy has a heart to make a difference in peoples' lives! She is a friend, a teacher, an encourager, and a positive influence"

Brittany CoonSeptember 21, 2021

"Calm in the Eye of the Storm" DSP Appreciation Awards 2021

We are pleased to give out Direct Support Professional Appreciation Awards! The "Calm in the Eye of the Storm" award for 2021 goes to Julie Wetzell!

Her nominator said, "Julie navigated the complicated and unknown COVID-19 world and she never stopped showing up for the individuals, despite the hardships the illness and restrictions brought. Julie has a motherly and calm demeanor that many individuals find comforting. She is a wonderful team player and her dedication and hard work is appreciated more than she knows!"

Brittany CoonSeptember 17, 2021

Celebrating Parents [Morningstar Family]

“Adleigh is funny, there’s never a dull moment! And Rhett, he’s such a special little guy. He’s taught us so much in just three short years!”

Brittany CoonJune 2, 2021

Celebrating Moms [Kim + Addy]

For the month of May, we are celebrating and honoring mothers that are in at least one of our programs. We admire how much love and dedication you have for your family. Thank you for all that you do!

“My favorite part about being her mom is watching her learn. Watching her learn, watching her grow. One day she might not know how to do something then the next she just knows how to do it all of a sudden!”

Brittany CoonMay 17, 2021

Celebrating moms [The White Family]

For the month of May, we are celebrating and honoring mothers that are in at least one of our programs. We admire how much love and dedication you have for your family. Thank you for all that you do!