The Central Ohio Self Determination Association recently hosted a kickoff gathering and is working to re-activate its regional self-advocacy work. The group, a part of the Ohio Self Determination Association, had paused events during the pandemic. Meetings are now planned for every other month and are open to central Ohio residents with developmental disabilities who …

Would you like get involved in the community and help make central Ohio more inclusive? Best Buddies is accepting applications for Best Buddies Citizens in Franklin County, a program that pairs an adult with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) in a one-to-one friendship with an adult without IDD from their local community. The Franklin …

Palette Pals, a new student organization at the Ohio State University, is inviting teens and adults with developmental disabilities to take part in a free, recreational art program. Organizer Kaitlin Herman said the aim is to create interaction among OSU students, people with developmental disabilities and their families, while empowering the creativity of the disabilities …

Drawing and painting make Wallace Peck happy. His art makes other people happy, too. Sometimes so much so that they laugh and cry. Peck notices this, of course. But he’s more likely to take the emotional reactions in stride than to puzzle over them. Peck just enjoys basking in the connections between him, his viewers …

A new social group has been formed to support people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and receive services through the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The LGBTQIA+ group kicked off in June during Pride month and meets on the first Thursday of each month at the FCBDD Service Coordination offices, 1600 Watermark Dr. “This offers …

Deshaun Washington couldn’t help but notice how often his neighbor seemed to be out helping people, lending a hand or offering guidance. And if he wasn’t helping someone, James Leonard likely was working. “He’s a good man,” Washington said of Leonard, the Transportation Director at the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “A good, hardworking …

The Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Ohio Self Determination Association (OSDA) are hosting a regional meeting in August for self-advocates in the central Ohio area. The gathering aims to re-activate the work of the Central Ohio Self Determination Association, a regional group of the OSDA that had paused events during the pandemic. The …

Even before they picked up their first knitting needles or tugged at a skein of yarn, Destiny Hawkins and Peggy Bergados already were on track for success at their new hobby. “They have such motivation,” said Kristen McKenna, their knitting instructor. “These two are amazing.” McKenna, who regularly teaches through a craft-classes enterprise in Westerville …

Even as a young child, Marcie wrestled with what felt like a terrible mismatch. Her clothes were wrong, her name was wrong, and she was certain she was supposed to be a sister, not a brother. “I just always knew,” she said. “I am not a male. I am female.” But as a person with …

To fulfill a requirement for her high-school service project, Monica Wangler hit on a way to combine community service with her love of sports. “I was a multi-sport athlete,” she said. “I thought, well, if I can do service and sports at the same time, I’m in.” Some 30 years later, she’s still all in …