04-03-2025
Rotary hears about DD Awareness Month
Mar. 3—LIMA — Accessability improvements in the Lima community and the changes in how society has accommodated those with disabilities in the past were the topics of discussion at Monday's Lima Rotary Club meeting at Veterans Memorial Civic Center, with the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities giving this week's presentation. Monday's visit comes as the board marks Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month for the month of March.
"Changes in rules and regulations over the years as human rights advocacy, and just changing attitudes, have led to a shift in where people with disabilities are spending their time," Allen County Board of DD Superintendent Renee Kohler said.
The Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities received approximately $600,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in December 2023, a large sum aimed at addressing a variety of issues in this area, according to Kohler.
"As much as our system and services used to be isolated and siloed in our own little corner of the world, there is no way that leadership at the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities would've applied in December of 2023 for nearly $600,000 in grant funding without the confidence of knowing that the relationships and partnerships that have been built over the years would mean that we could successfully bring that amount of money into Allen County that would lead to some pretty amazing projects," she said.
The board has partnered with 18 local businesses and organizations to bring accessibility improvements to Allen County, such as door openers, wheelchair accessible doorways, and universal changing tables.
"Accessibility and inclusion is for all," community relations coordinator Sierra Weltmer said.
The board also dedicated to funds to over 70 individuals for various community experiences that they otherwise wouldn't experience.
Individuals with disabilities had very few choices and opportunities other than living in institutions or staying in the family home before the 1950s. Around this time, county boards were established as schools by parents who wanted educational opportunities for their children.
"Prior to that effort, a lot of children, just by virtue of a disability, may have been sent to an institution, or kept at home isolated from their communities," said Kohler.
As children attending these schools grew older, workshops began to emerge, offering adults with disabilities somewhere to go during the day. Workshops then turned toward residential options, forming group homes.
"A lot of people would live locally as an alternative to sending them to an institution," said Kohler. "In many cases [group homes] provided an opportunity for people who had been sent away to come back to their communities closer to their families and friends."
During the month, the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities will take part in 23 countywide school readings, a bingo event, silent disco night and movie night on March 20 and a partnership luncheon on March 27.
"It's not about the buildings, but more about supporting people in their communities to live their best lives as independently as possible," Kohler said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351.
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