Tuscarawas County Board of Commissioners President Joe Sciarretti poses with a photo with Kylie Randulic after he and Commissioners Chris Abbuhl and Al Landis issued a proclamation acknowledging the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Month. Kylie receives supports and services through TuscBDD and attends Person Centered Services. (Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities)  

New Philadelphia, Ohio (WJER) - Officials with the Tuscarawas County Board Of Developmental Disabilities say they have special events happening all through March for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.  Superintendent Nate Kamban says that includes hosting their signature breakfast event and a pop-up STEAM Center museum later in the month, all while advocating for inclusion of people with disabilities. 

“We’re really focusing on early referrals, getting children in our system early so we can start planning of their future and talking to their parents about employment and other involvement in their community, thinking their long-term residential plan,” he says. 

The pop-up event will be at Charmed: Gifts with Meaning in downtown New Philadelphia on March 16th from 10am to 2pm. The breakfast will be at the Tuscora Park Dining Hall on March 28th from 7:30 to 9am. Admission is free but guests need to RSVP by March 18th to Chris Sapp at scapp@tuscbdd.org or 330-339-9769. In addition, TuscBDD will also be hosting a community basketball game with Special Olympic Athletes at Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School on March 26th beginning at 6pm. 

Meanwhile, Kamban says they received two state grants to develop a local respite center for individuals with intense behavioral needs as well as a residential option.

“This is just a huge step forward for our county because we have local options here in our community, which I love. It’s just a tremendous benefit, and just it’s our plan here for the future, how do we serve people here in Tusc,” he says.

The Tuscarawas County Commissioners also acknowledged March as developmental disabilities awareness month with a proclamation last week.  

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