Message From The Superintendent - June 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 want to make an accessible walking path at Brady Lake Park.  We put this out for competitive bidding.  Cardinal Asphalt was the lowest bidder, and they hope to finish this project by the end of June. 

Portage DD plans to utilize 50,000 dollars of the grant for persons with developmental disabilities to engage in community experiences where cost is a barrier to them and their support staff.  Activities include, but are not limited to, Admissions fees, travel/accommodation expenses, cost of services, class fees, etc. To apply for funds, follow these instructions:

1. Go to https://www.portagedd.org/community-experience-grant to complete an application OR pick up a paper copy of the form at the Happy Day Services Building, 2500 Brady Lake Road, Ravenna, Ohio 44266, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Once a person completes their form, they can be dropped off during the same hours or mailed at that address to the attention of Michelle Dolensky, Director of Community and Provider Relations.

2. The committee will review the application and notify the applicant of its status. The applicant will be notified within 10 business days of submission.

3. If approved, select one of these options:

a. Submit receipts for reimbursement with remittance information.

b. Submit a detailed invoice and receive a check for the authorized amount prior to the event.

4. Send a picture of you having fun to Portage DD to events@portagedd.org

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS OCTOBER 31, 2024

The applicant will be notified within ten business days after submission.

Questions? Contact Michelle Dolensky, michelled@portagedd.org or (330) 297-4186.    

We have shared grant instructions and an application to the Portage County community.  The grant is an Accessibility and Inclusion grant.  We want to make Portage County more accessible and inclusive, and this grant is awarded to Portage County for things such as accessible playground equipment, universal changing tables, accessible paths/trails, etc. We have received 12 applicants and thus far have given out grants to all 12 who applied.  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

Congratulations to Barb Cooper and Laura Fechter on graduating on May 2 from Leadership Portage County!!

We wanted to welcome Nicole Williams.  Nicole was hired as an SSA at Portage DD on May 27, 2024.  Welcome, Nicole!!  Nicole previously worked as an SSA at the Cuyahoga County Board of DD. 

We are busy preparing for accreditation, which will occur on July 17th and 18th. In 2021, Portage DD was awarded a three-year accreditation by The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, the highest award you can receive. We are working diligently to get another three-year approval. 

Portage DD held its annual Staff Appreciation and Training Day on May 30 at the Happy Day Services Building. We are grateful for the tremendous people who work hard every day to make the lives of the people we are fortunate to serve better and brighter!

Believe in People! 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti