Franklin County DD welcomes new board members

Smiling woman sitting next to adult daughter in wheelchair

Three people with deep experience in disability issues and advocacy are the newest members of the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Franklin County Commissioners appointed Rebecca Swartz, Katherine Silver Kelly and Gene Harshaw to four-year terms on the agency board. They took their seats at the January meeting, where members also elected Dean Fadel board president and Marci Straughter as vice president.

Swartz has an adult daughter, Taylor, who receives services from Franklin County DD. Taylor is a graduate of West Central School and Transition Services and has been alongside her mom as an advocate, recently helping to raise community awareness about the need for universal changing tables in public restrooms.

Swartz said she’s excited to be a part of the board, “where my advocacy experience and knowledge as a special needs mother can be used for the greater good of Ohioans with disabilities.” She is a Capital University graduate, account specialist at the Defense Logistics Agency and lives in the Hilliard area.

Kelly is a longtime coach with the Franklin County Special Olympics program. She is a law professor at the Ohio State University, former special education teacher and lives in the Beechwold neighborhood.

While her experience with Special Olympics has given her some insight into the agency’s work, she’s eager to learn and do more. Franklin County DD “has the awesome responsibility of being the bridge between the individuals and families it serves and the community,” Kelly said. “Simply put, the support and services provided make it possible for individuals with developmental disabilities to thrive as part of the community.”

Harshaw is an insurance consultant, volunteer and parent leader in the local autism community. The Gahanna resident also works closely with his son Zayne, an award-winning musician who launched the Blue Spectrum band. “For the past 25 years, I’ve been a part of the community, teaching my adult son how to advocate for himself,” Harshaw said. “That transitioned into helping other parents.”

Swartz and Kelly were appointed to replace longtime board members Marie Crawford and John Bickley, both of whom served the maximum three terms. Harshaw succeeds Samuel Davis, who left the board in January at the end of his term.