Celebrating DD Awareness Month

HOLMESVILLE — In recognition of March being Developmental Disabilities Month, the Holmes County commissioners held their weekly meeting at the Holmes Training Center, and were invited to participate in a music class and heard a presentation from early intervention specialist Renee Spencer.

“The Holmes County commissioners do hereby proclaim March 2019 to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and recognize our communities are stronger when everyone participates,” Commissioner Joe Miller said. “Furthermore, we urge all citizens to help others understand that people with disabilities each have their own story to share and we all must work side by side to make a difference in their lives.”

Superintendent Marianne Mader gave a brief overview of numbers, pointing out the Training Center served 237 individuals in 2012, and that number is currently up to 273.

She said that number fluctuates, especially in early intervention, where youngsters 3 years old and younger come in and go out during the program year. Last year, 85 children were served by the Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Early Intervention is a program that gets no federal or state reimbursement, relying on local tax dollars for operational funding.

“It’s probably one of the most valuable services, because if we’re able to work with those infants and toddlers and their moms and dads and families, and teach them how to address their child’s needs, sometimes by the time the kids get to preschool, they don’t need special ed,” she said.

Spencer spoke with the commissioners about various equipment used in helping with early child development and demonstrated how it all worked, pointing out the benefits of each apparatus that is loaned out through the training center to parents of children with disabilities.

Spencer said her team is made up of physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutrition, and is on the road a lot.

“Last year, we had 93 children through our program,” she said. “When a child turns 3, they are eligible for preschool. We constantly have children coming and going throughout the year in early intervention.

“Most of the children with delayed development don’t have to qualify for specific disabilities,” Spencer added. “Our requirements are not as severe as children get older. Our approach is showing families how to engage with their child. We love our job and save our families a lot of money to be able to do this.”

Spencer said when they need some new or upgraded equipment, they often approach the parents association, and they have never been turned away.

“This isn’t all of our equipment, but this is a good sample of things we have going out (on loan) all of the time,” she said.

Following Spencer’s demonstration, the commissioners were invited to join students in Molly Starner’s music class to play the bells, using color-coded cards to play their parts.

Reporter Kevin Lynch can be reached at 330-674-5676 or klynch@the-daily-record.com.

CREDIT: KEVIN LYNCH