Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities

09/11/2026

Meet Darwin Becker, one of the newest additions to the ACBDD team!
Darwin joins us as a Developmental Specialist and will work closely with our Early Intervention (EI) Team to design learning environments and activities that help children build skills across a variety of developmental areas and support children and families as they work toward achieving outcomes.

Darwin is excited to support the children and families she works with and help them reach their developmental goals. She says, “Helping coach families on how to get their children to their developmental goals is extremely rewarding.”

Outside of work, Darwin enjoys a variety of hobbies, including reading, nail art, playing pickleball, board games, and much more. Welcome to the Ashtabula DD Team, Darwin!

09/10/2026

Your Rights. Your Voice. Your Choice.

Knowing your rights is an important part of being a strong self advocate.

In this video, 24 people we support come together to recite the 24 Rights of People with a Disability. Their voices are a powerful reminder that every person has the right to be heard, respected, included, and supported in making choices about their own life.

When you know your rights, you can use your voice, speak up for what matters to you, and advocate for yourself.

Know your rights. Use your voice. Make your choices.

09/09/2026

Each month, we spotlight people we support working in our community and the employers who foster inclusive workplaces. This month, we’re excited to highlight Josh!

Meet Josh, who recently started a new job at Bob Evans as a dishwasher! One of Josh’s favorite things about his new job is getting to meet his coworkers and make new friends. His coworkers have been wonderful in helping Josh transition into his new position and feel comfortable in his role. One of Josh’s managers shared, “Josh is so friendly and is a very enthusiastic worker!”

Outside of work, Josh stays busy creating custom lamps, with each one being completely unique. We love seeing Josh put his creativity to work both on and off the job!

09/08/2026

Over the past year, Ashtabula DD has partnered with Silfies Media to capture a snapshot of the services and supports we provide throughout Ashtabula County.

To continue our efforts in taking a closer look into our programs and services, this video offers a glimpse of our Early Intervention (EI) Department. In the upcoming months, we'll be giving you a deeper understanding of the many ways Ashtabula DD makes a difference in our community. Stay tuned for more!

Watch the Early Intervention video:
https://youtu.be/u7kY-cindB0?si=2vc-2PZPnBnDAXWJ

Want to learn more about Ashtabula DD and what we do? Visit our website to explore our services and supports: https://www.ashtabuladd.org/

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/07/2026

Ashtabula DD is closed today for Labor Day.

If you are someone we support who needs immediate assistance please call 440-812-0553 to speak with the SSA on-call. We will reopen at 8:00 AM Tuesday, September 8th.
Have a happy and safe holiday!

09/04/2026

Many Hands. One Big Impact!
For the 4th year in a row, Ashtabula DD was honored to join the 9th Annual Feed the Hope in Ashtabula County , a community effort held at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds Expo Center!

Since Feed the Hope began, more than 1.9 million meals have been packaged and distributed through Country Neighbor to local food pantries to help families and individuals across Ashtabula County.

This year, more than 30 teams came together to package more than 250,000 meals in just 3 hours, and the goal was reached in record time!

People of all ages and abilities worked side by side, showing what can happen when we unite for a common cause.

We were grateful to be part of this incredible effort! With Andrea Klimko (Provider Support & Technology) keeping us moving as our amazing bell ringer and box counter, our team packed an incredible 1,404 meals!

It’s pretty special to know that our time together will help put meals on tables for families and individuals throughout our county.

Thank you to the Feed the Hope Committee & Country Neighbor for all of your effort in bringing our community together and creating an opportunity to make a difference!

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

09/03/2026

Working Together for Ohio’s Children & Families!
Earlier this week, leaders and partners from across Ohio came together at the Ohio Department of Children and Youth 2026 KIDS Summit to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and work toward better outcomes for children and families.

We were proud to have a team from Ashtabula County take part in this important statewide conversation and connect with others who share the same goal of helping children and families thrive.

The summit brought together cross-agency teams from all 88 Ohio counties and focused on finding ways to turn statewide priorities into meaningful strategies within our local communities.

We were also grateful for the opportunity to be alongside Ohio leaders, including
Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, and to hear from keynote speaker Maurice Clarett. We even had the opportunity to capture a couple of photos together!

When we come together, share ideas, and build strong partnerships, we can make a difference for children and families across our communities.

09/03/2026

We’re excited to recognize Tiffany as our September Work of HeART Featured Artist!

September brings a season of new beginnings, and Tiffany’s canvas reflects the excitement of back to school! Through her artwork, Tiffany shared her own reflection on this time of year and the possibilities that come with a new school year.

Tiffany had the opportunity to share her artwork with Scott Yamamoto for Ashtabula County Auditor, where it will be on display throughout the month.

We were also excited to receive several beautiful canvases created by students who participated in the Explorations and Transitions Summer Camp provided by the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center. Their artwork celebrates America’s 250th birthday, featuring creative red, white, and blue designs that honor this special milestone in our nation’s history.

Partnerships like these help celebrate the talents, creativity, and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities while creating opportunities for everyone’s gifts to be seen and appreciated.

You can view artwork from Tiffany and other talented local artists at these community locations:

📍Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH
📍AM Ford
📍 Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
📍 Ashtabula County Educational Service Center
📍 Ashtabula DD
📍 Office of State Rep. David Thomas - Vern Riffe State Office Tower in Columbus
📍 Kingsville Public Library Ohio

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing community partners for providing welcoming spaces where our artists can share their gifts and talents with others. We encourage everyone to stop by, enjoy the artwork, and celebrate the incredible creativity found right here in Ashtabula County!

Congratulations, Tiffany! We love seeing your creativity shine through your artwork and hearing the stories behind it. Thank you for sharing your talent with our community!

09/02/2026

Early Intervention Success Story | Meet Lilyann!

Over the past year, Lilyann has made incredible strides in her growth and development and she’s meeting her goals ahead of schedule!

With the support of her Early Intervention team and her family, Lilyann continues to learn, grow, and reach new milestones. Her parents are proud of all she has accomplished and especially appreciate the “homework” her team provides to help carry that progress into everyday life.

We’re so proud to celebrate Lilyann and all the progress she’s making!

Want to read more? Check out Lilyann’s full story and our August newsletter: t.ly/YQeIG

09/02/2026

In September, we celebrate the work anniversaries of three of our amazing team members! We appreciate your service and commitment to Ashtabula County.