Volume 16, Issue 7 July 2015 The Madison Express Visit us online at www.co.madison.oh.us/dd/ Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities On a Mission Mission accomplished. Michael Wilhoit now knows he can have an impact of others. During the last week in June, (which led into the first week of July) Michael was part of a contingent of youth from London’s First Presbyterian Church to participate in a mission trip that took them to Crown Point, New Mexico — the heart of the largest Navajo Indian Reservation in the world. Michael is served by MCBDD. While there, Michael and other kids from across the country worked together on various job sites. For Michael in particular, his days were filled with building a deck and putting wood on a previously dirt-covered floor. See MISSION, Page 5 Tigers shine at State Games A heavy medal performance. While many athletes had to concentrate on dodging the precipitation during the annual Ohio Special Olympics State Games, a group from Madison County took their talents inside and came away with a gold medal. The State Games were held June 26-28 on the campus of The Ohio State University. Inside OSU’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), the Madison County Tigers Unified Volleyball team flooded the court with outstanding plays as they captured first place in a competitive division – their first since 2011. The Tigers are affiliated with the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Members of the triumphant squad included John Zeeck, Bryan Thompson, Mike Ellis, Shawn Stewart, Marley Long, Megan Long, Chris Zeeck, and Lincoln Comer. It was part of a successful weekend for the Tigers — one in which they earned 37 medals and 19 ribbons. After beating Westerville in two sets in the semi-finals, the Tigers then played the Northwest Superstars for the title. In the championship, Madison County lost the first set 25-23 but bounced back to win the final two. “After letting the first set get away the team really pulled it together,” said Comer, Recreation Coordinator for MCBDD. “Everyone really played well, staying positive after going down a set, making sure we picked each other up after a bad play, and celebrating all the good ones.” The Madison County contingent found success in various venues across the Buckeyes campus. See STATE, Page 4 Laura Cotton (right) is on her way to a second place finish in the 100m walk
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Volume 16, Issue 7 July 2015
The Madison Express
Visit us online at www.co.madison.oh.us/dd/
Madison County Board of Developmental Disabi l i t ies
On a Mission
Mission accomplished.
Michael Wilhoit now knows he can have an impact of others.
During the last week in June, (which led into the first week of July)
Michael was part of a contingent of youth from London’s First
Presbyterian Church to participate in a mission trip that took them to
Crown Point, New Mexico — the heart of the largest Navajo Indian
Reservation in the world. Michael is served by MCBDD.
While there, Michael and other kids from across the country
worked together on various job sites. For Michael in particular, his days
were filled with building a deck and putting wood on a previously
dirt-covered floor. See MISSION, Page 5
Tigers shine at State Games
A heavy medal performance.
While many athletes had to concentrate on dodging the precipitation during the annual Ohio Special
Olympics State Games, a group from Madison County took their talents inside and came away with a gold medal.
The State Games were held June 26-28 on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Inside OSU’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), the Madison County Tigers Unified
Volleyball team flooded the court with outstanding plays as they captured first place in a competitive division –
their first since 2011. The Tigers are affiliated with the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Members of the triumphant squad included John Zeeck, Bryan Thompson, Mike Ellis, Shawn Stewart, Marley
Long, Megan Long, Chris Zeeck, and Lincoln Comer.
It was part of a successful weekend for the Tigers — one in which they
earned 37 medals and 19 ribbons.
After beating Westerville in two sets in the semi-finals, the Tigers then
played the Northwest Superstars for the title.
In the championship, Madison County lost the first set 25-23 but
bounced back to win the final two.
“After letting the first set get away the team really pulled it together,”
said Comer, Recreation Coordinator for MCBDD. “Everyone really
played well, staying positive after going down a set, making sure we
picked each other up after a bad play, and celebrating all the good ones.”
The Madison County contingent found success in various
venues across the Buckeyes campus. See STATE, Page 4
Laura Cotton (right) is on her way to a second place finish in the 100m walk
PAGE 2 THE MADISON EXPRESS VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7
Youth Program Works for All
To some people summer employment can be a chore.
In this case, it was an opportunity to get several needed chores done.
Again this summer, the Madison County Board of DD has teamed with
the Youth Works Program to offer
work to four area teenagers.
It has definitely been
mutually-beneficial.
Youth Works is part of the
Madison County Department of Job
and Family Services.
“We have established a great
working relationship with the
Madison County Board of DD,” said
Sherri Kronk, Youth Program
Coordinator for Madison County
DJFS. “They have provided
opportunities for our youth to gain
valuable work experience. In addition, (MCBDD Organization Services
Director) John LaCivita has been instrumental in assisting us to establish
other exceptional job placement opportunities for our youth.”
Chris Wilhoit, Thomas (TJ) Swindall, and Josh Stage have been
spending this summer with the MCBDD maintenance and custodial crews
cleaning and refurbishing. The assignment began in mid-June and it will conclude the last day of July.
The three young men have been doing a variety of work both inside and outside this summer, according to
Scott Duffey, MCBDD Maintenance Worker 2. The three have worked with Duffey and fellow MCBDD maintenance
worker Randy Redding throughout the community.
At Fairhaven School they have painted bathrooms, classrooms and entryways; washed windows (inside and
outside); hung cabinets, and water-sealed bricks on the roof. Additionally, they took care of the flowerbeds (weeded,
trimmed, mulched) at the majority of homes run by Madison Community Housing.
“They are very hard workers – doing whatever has been asked,” Duffey said. “They got a lot of things done
that would have been had to be put off or maybe not even done at all.”
Student Elexus Burks had been assigned within the MCBDD Administrative Office. Her primary duties have
included scanning and shredding as the agency has been striving toward electronic storage of documentation.
Burks, along with MCDJFS WEP Worker Jennifer Evans have been invaluable to this process, tackling (and
completing) a large amount of work over the past several weeks.
“Elexus is very energetic, a quick learner, and hardworking,” said Annette Clevenger, the MCBDD
Administrative Secretary who has been working closely with Burks. “She does a very good job with the scanning of
files and helping me with clerical duties.”
The Youth Works Program has been in existence for the past 15 years, matching a student’s interests with the
work placement, when possible. As of the beginning of July, the program falls under the new legislation of the
Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act.
Many of the students have the opportunity to participate in the program multiple years. While Kronk said
there are not necessarily any different or additional expectations of individuals after their first year, she added she
hopes they apply what they have learned the previous summers.
“Youth that have participated in the program for more than a year are expected to provide direction and
leadership to newer program participants,” Kronk said. “In addition, they continue to build upon their knowledge
based on the job and establish positive reference basis.”
MCBDD’s LaCivita concurs.
“TJ Swindall is a great example of this,” LaCivita said. “He worked for our program in 2014 and
demonstrates effective leadership skills daily, and has been instrumental in providing guidance to the other students.”
According to Kronk, in addition to MCBDD, students through the Youth Program have been placed this
summer at Spring Valley Stables, Madison-Plains Bus Garage, and Karn Garage.
PAGE 3 THE MADISON EXPRESS VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7
Reaching her job goals By Jenn Coleman
Amanda Turner calls Madison County home. As a wife and
mother, Amanda knows about responsibility and how vital
employment is to the success of her family.
The Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities
(MCBDD) Vision Statement says, “We will foster the abilities and
dreams of people with developmental disabilities.” Our Mission is,
“To ensure supports for people with developmental disabilities and
their families in making choices which will enrich their lives.” Our
agency takes its Mission Statement seriously as each individual we
serve has a plan specifically tailored to support a person in attaining
important life goals.
Amanda dreams of owning a home with her husband and raising their daughter together with support
from family members. Working enables her to move toward that goal and increases her independence. It was
important for Amanda to obtain employment fast to help meet financial needs of her family and not experience
undue hardships. This is where services from MCBDD and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)
have been beneficial in assisting Amanda.
Her job search began in fall of 2014 when she discussed community employment with her MCBDD
Service Coordinator Mark Watson. He referred Amanda to Jenn Coleman (MCBDD Community Inclusion
Manager) to discuss her ‘Path to Employment.’
Jenn and Amanda met with OOD Counselor, David Cingle. The Ohio Department of Developmental
Disabilities’ Employment First initiative coordinates with OOD and MCBDD to fund all of the necessary
supports. These include job search and coaching, as well a vocational counseling and guidance. This helps
ensure that an individual with disabilities has the best chance of achieving community employment success.
David met with Amanda and her team to get started and identify Amanda’s needs and ‘must haves’ in a
future job. Amanda began working with Capabilities – an OOD provider -- and found a good job match at a
local grocery store while working with job coach Kim Smythe.
“Amanda’s positive ‘go-to’ attitude is evident when assisting customers while they shop,” Kim stated.
“As a courtesy clerk her number one concern is customer satisfaction.”
Although Amanda receives services locally from MCBDD and has accessed resources from both OOD
and the Employment First Initiative she stated she would not have been successful without the combined support
of her family and community.
Tigers Love a Parade
Several Madison County Tigers Special Olympics
athletes participated in the City of London’s Fourth of
July Parade, which traveled from Cowling Park through
the streets of Downtown. Athletes Brian and Keith Farris
(along with Stan Oliver) were on a number of vehicles
transporting the Tigers in the parade.
This was another opportunity to thank the
Madison County community for its support of the Tigers
throughout the year.
Photo by Gretchen Peters
PAGE 4 THE MADISON EXPRESS VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7
TRACK, from Page 1
Joining the volleyballers on the top of the awards podium were a quartet of Tigers bowlers – Paul Hiles,
Jeff McCarty, Virginia Smalley, and Mike Williams. Also gathering gold medals in individual events were