Message From The Superintendent - August 2024
Greetings!
We hope everyone is doing well! Here are the updates.
We were awarded money from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant. We were approved for the grant to put an accessible walking path and adaptive equipment at Brady Lake Park. Cardinal Asphalt completed an accessible walking path at Brady Lake Park just a few weeks ago. We are very excited, and the next step is fixing up the parking lot, which should be done in August. In the fall, we will add the adaptive equipment.
Portage DD also utilized 50,000 dollars of the grant for persons with developmental disabilities to engage in community experiences where cost is a barrier to them and/or their support staff. Activities include, but are not limited to, Admissions fees, travel/accommodation expenses, cost of services, class fees, etc. We had an overwhelming number of applicants. We have spent all the money and are grateful that the families will have tremendous moments to cherish due to this grant.
We have submitted grant instructions and an application to the Portage County community. This is an Accessibility and Inclusion grant. We want to make Portage County more accessible and inclusive, and this grant will be awarded to Portage County for things such as accessible playground equipment, universal changing tables, accessible paths/trails, etc. We have now received 17 applicants and thus far given out grants to all 17 that applied. We just awarded Windham 2 accessible ramps and some start-up equipment for a coffee business for some kids with developmental disabilities at their school. We also approved Wingfoot State Park some funds for an accessible playground and a braille trail. We continue to take applications. The grant application and instructions can be found on our website or at this link. https://www.portagedd.org/grant
The 3rd annual Ability Walk and Roll will occur on Saturday, August 10. This is the 2nd year that Portage DD has participated and partially sponsored. Register at the link below. https://www.portagedd.org/latest-news/3rd-annual-walk-and-roll-signup
Portage DD’s summer camp just finished on August 2. Thank you to the Akron Rotary staff for doing a great job with the campers!!
Congratulations to two new staff members. Kaitlyn Contreras and Alexandria Walcholk both started on July 22. Kaitlyn worked here previously, and we are excited to have her back. She was recently working at the Family Child Resource Center. Alexandria is new, but we are also happy she is here. She worked previously at the Juvenile Court and prior to that at Jobs and Families Services in Portage. Welcome.
We finished our accreditation with The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. They were here on July 17th and 18th. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities awarded us a 3-year accreditation, the highest award you can receive. Thank you to the fantastic people who work here at Portage DD. The department was very impressed with what they are doing, and I am, too.
We will have our first stand, soon to be the annual Portage DD celebration, on 9-12-24. Mark your calendars to join us to celebrate the people we serve!! This will occur at the Happy Day Services building.
We wanted to thank our Special Olympic athletes’ coaches and Portage DD support staff. They had a great showing at the State Summer games. Congrats to all. Here are the results.
Bocce Bowling
Jean Allen – Silver Maranda Ailes – Silver
Sylvia Cuvelier - Bronze Brandon Boyett – 4th
Jim Folan- 4th Logan Cox - Gold
Mike Havel– Silver Eric Curry – 6th
Shawn Heffernan – 4th Nick Panzero - Silver
Joe Persavich – Bronze Thomas Richards – 4th
Athletics (Track & Field) Powerlifting
Blake Bailey Aaron Dallner
100M Run -Silver Bench press – Silver
200M Run – Silver Deadlift – 4th
4X100M Relay – Bronze Combination – 4th
Andrea Jefferys Mike Mohan
100M Run – 5th Bench press - Bronze
Softball Throw – Bronze Deadlift – 4th
Mark McClendon Combination – 4th
400M Walk – Silver Anthony Paliscak
Softball Throw – 4th Bench press – Bronze
Shaun McCoy Deadlift- 4th
400M Run – Bronze Combination – 4th
4X100M Relay - Bronze
Ryan McCoy
50M Run – Silver
Softball Throw – 6th
Jackie Menge
100M Run – Gold
200M Run – Gold
4x100M Relay – Bronze
Mary Moore
50M Assisted Walk – Silver
Softball Throw – Bronze
Ashley Wilson
100M Walk – Gold
Mini Javelin – Gold
David Wilson
100M Run – Silver
Shot Put – Silver
4x100M Relay - Bronze
Believe in People!
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
Sincerely,
John Vennetti