Love seems to always be in the air during spring. My husband and I will soon celebrate 42 years of marriage, and we feel so very blessed. Though I was born with cerebral palsy, I have never received Social Security benefits related to my disability. So when we got married, I didn’t have to worry …

After being struck by a car at the age of 11, Stewart Jones suffered devastating injuries. “I was given a five percent chance of ever coming out of a coma,” he said. “I wish the doctors had been betting men, because I would have cleaned up.” Jones spent eight weeks in a coma and three …

After more than a decade as a member of the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Marie Crawford remains crystal-clear about her mission. “First and foremost,” said Crawford, who is serving as Board President this year, “I am there for the families.” Crawford and her husband are parents to three adult sons, two of whom …

Though she longed for fun and friends, Heather Hammel often spent her school days filled with dread. “There are a lot of sounds and noises – and movements – that sometimes you just can’t control,” said Hammel, who has Tourette syndrome. “I got bullied all through school.” Now 36 and determined to help others, Hammel …

Developmental disability service providers began billing at significantly higher Medicaid reimbursement rates on Jan. 1 and will see another increase on July 1. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) said it expects the new rates to lead to higher wages for direct-support professionals throughout the state. Once the reimbursement rates are fully implemented, DODD …

Max Damron didn’t need much time to decide that he’d love to splash down in a pool of icy water on a chilly February day. Never mind that he uses a wheelchair and is prone to sinking. More important, Damron said, is his reasoning: “I am a daredevil, I have a positive attitude, and I’m …

The 2024 Franklin County Provider and Community Resource Fair is set for Wednesday, March 27, at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, 717 E. 17th Ave. The event returns to the fairgrounds in a new building – Kasich Hall – and will be open three hours longer than in previous years: From 11 a.m. …

Dr. Kathy Lawton, an experienced educator with both professional and personal connections to central Ohio’s disability and early intervention communities, has begun her new role as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “I was really excited for the opportunity to make an impact at the county level,” Lawton …

Jed Morison first appeared in Dateline 45 years ago. The inaugural issue, printed during the snowy February of 1978, identified him in two ways: Morison was “the administrative assistant who helps decide when schools should be closed due to bad weather,” and also the point of contact for readers “to send us your comments, suggestions, …

Periodically, the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities assesses community needs and services provided by the agency. Individuals who are served, families, staff, service providers, volunteers, advocates, collaborative agencies, and the public are encouraged to take a few minutes to compete and respond to this survey. Your response assists the board in its efforts to …