Message From The Superintendent - February 2024

Greetings! 

We hope everyone is doing well! Here are the updates.     

We have put out grant instructions and an application to the Portage County community. This will be an Accessibility and Inclusion grant. 

We want to make Portage County more accessible and inclusive, and this grant will be awarded in Portage County for things such as accessible playground equipment, universal changing tables, accessible paths/trails, etc. We have received four applicants so far and are hopeful to receive many more. The grant application and instructions can be found on are website or at this link.  https://www.portagedd.org/grant 

We also were awarded $380,000 from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities’ Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant. We plan on utilizing 330,000 at Brady Lake Park to make it more accessible and inclusive. We are planning to make an accessible walking path. We are in the process of working with an engineer/architect to put this out for competitive bidding. We are planning to have this completed in the spring/summer. We also have ordered accessible playground equipment, and we hope to have that installed in the fall of 2024.  

Portage DD plans to utilize 50,000 dollars of the 380,000 dollars 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. A committee is working on applications and stipulations with more details to follow soon.  

We are already setting up plans for our annual Trailblazer camp here at the Happy Day Services building. 

I hope to have an application ready to go this month.  

The 46th annual Knights of Columbus Free throw contest was again a big hit on Saturday, January 13th. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus, Independence Inc. of Portage County, the individuals, families, providers, friends, and Portage DD staff that help to make this great event happen!!

Believe in People! 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti