On August 3rd, more than a hundred athletes, volunteers and family members gathered to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of the Athletes in our Athletics, Basketball, Bocce and Bowling programs. Congratulations to each and every person that is involved in making this program so successful! We ended the evening by presenting an award to Linda Kerr as she is handing the torch off to Talisha Beha to lead the next phase of the Special Olympics program in Knox County.
Ansley Daubenmier, Mount Vernon High School Junior brought the Limitless Livestock Show to the Knox County Fair for the first time last week! The Limitless Livestock Show allows an opportunity for children with developmental disabilities to show an animal without the obligation of purchasing the animal.
There were six children that participated in the program with mentors that showed pigs, goats and rabbits.
Thank you, Ansley for putting together a wonderful and memorable event. Thank you to all the mentors, friends and family that also made this event so wonderful. Congratulations to Ciarra, Alex, Dalton, Ayden, Dylan and Makenna! You all did a fabulous job showing the animals!
There are some exciting changes happening at the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities. We are starting a project within our building to remodel and build an addition. This project will allow us to have more privacy and space for individuals, families and providers when there are meetings. It will also give staff space to work with less distraction and allow for additional storage space. All of our staff will be working remotely or at drop in spaces in the back of the building over the next year.
If you need to come to our office, please call ahead of time to be sure the person you are looking for is in the building. The number is 740-397-4656. Our main entrance door will be closed starting this week. When you call ahead to notify someone that you are coming to our office, we will instruct you at that time on how to find us in the back of the building. If you need to talk to someone, all cell phones, desk phones and email addresses are still functioning and you should be able to reach our staff. Meetings during the renovation will be held off site at various locations within our community.
Our address and phone number will not change. If you need to look up direct contact information for any of our staff, it can easily be found on our website: https://www.knoxdd.com/agency-directory
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Steve Oster
Superintendent
Written by: Cheryl Splain
“I know how it is to be shut in. I just want to help other people as I've been helped.” — Paul Acitelli
MOUNT VERNON — Paul Acitelli has cerebral palsy. He also has a servant's heart.
Because of his desire to help others, 34 disabled individuals will receive a free season pass to Hiawatha Water Park this summer.
Armed with the proper solicitor's permit, Acitelli collected donations from the end of April through the end of May. Recognizing that people would have difficulty understanding him, he wrote an explanation of what he was doing on a piece of paper and carried it on his wheelchair.
When he finished, he had collected $2,181.37.
Allyn Frye, Acitelli's direct support person at Gantt Homes, explained why Acitelli set out to collect money for the season passes.
“He thinks the disabled should be able to have a life — to get out with everybody else,” she said.
Speaking through Frye, the 71-year-old Acitelli said, “I know how it is to be shut in. I just want to help other people as I've been helped.”
Acitelli's original goal was to collect $1,000.
“When he got to that point, it wasn't enough, so he kept going,” said another caregiver.
When asked how he felt knowing that 34 individuals would be able to enjoy the pool this summer, Acitelli was pleased.
“I like that,” he said, adding that he knows how it is to have access to the outside world. “The disabled should have a life like everybody else.”
Born with cerebral palsy, Acitelli said doctors told him he would never walk. He acknowledged that doctors did not know a lot about it at the time.
Health care providers know a lot more about the condition now, and so does Acitelli -- and he wants to share that knowledge.
“I just want to educate people about being disabled,” he said. “A lot of people don't understand what it's like. That is part of why I do this.”
What does he want people to know about those with disabilities?
“That they are people just like everybody else. They have problems, but they have the right to be like everybody else and have a life,” he responded. “A lot of disabled can't get out by themselves. I try to talk for them.”
Acitelli has suffered many indignities as a result of being disabled. Frye said he has been banned from eating out by himself because people don't understand what it takes for him to eat alone. He does eat out with a caregiver to help.
“I can tell them a lot about how people are treated in group homes. It's not right,” Acitelli said, adding that a big problem is how nursing homes handle people.
At Acitelli's request, Frye related a story from his stay in a local nursing home.
Incontinence is a common side effect of cerebral palsy; Acitelli wears Depends as a precaution but prefers to use the bathroom.
When he pushed the button for an aide to help, the aide refused and told him to use the Depends. Acitelli then heard staff members laughing about it in the hallway. However, it was Acitelli who got in trouble for raising a fuss.
“Their job is to help people. They asked for the job, but the people don't ask to be disabled,” Acitelli said. “It's not right. [The disabled] can't tell you themselves, so I will.”
Acitelli moved to Mount Vernon from Youngstown about 20 years ago because he wanted a change. He said it was a good decision.
City officials think so, too.
“This is a gentleman who is entirely committed to the community and advocating for them,” Mayor Matt Starr said. “Paul is a guy who is committed to helping by volunteering and giving back to the community, just like everybody else.”
What Acitelli has done is amazing and it fits in with bringing more awareness, Council member Amber Keener said. Keener, who chairs the city's Parks and Recreation Committee, invited former Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Laura Sykes to visit the city in 2021.
“Things that she recommended make the lives of the disabled in this town easier,” Keener said.
In April, Keener led a county-wide effort to implement ADA forms for first responders. The form allows residents to provide details about special needs or considerations that responders should know.
“I think this helps the rest of the community know how to help,” Keener said. “I think we need to listen to the experts in the field, which are people like Paul.”
Starr noted that a member of the city's recreation board, J.J. House, has said he would like to get to Walmart in his wheelchair. However, there needs to be more sidewalks or paths.
“That is guiding our new development,” he said. “Sidewalks and paths are a must. That's part of our strategic infrastructure. It's definitely a priority.”
Another idea the city would like to implement is installing adult changing stations in new park restroom facilities.
Collecting donations for the pool passes isn't the first time Acitelli has helped his adopted community. In 2021, he collected $1,000 for Food for the Hungry.
And he's not done. He is already brainstorming his next project.
He wants to do other things if he has the permit for it, Frye said.
“Just yesterday he was saying he wants to do other fundraising things," Frye said.
“A lot of disabled people don't have a lot of money. I am very fortunate to have what I have. I want to help other people and the disabled have a life similar to mine,” Acitelli said.
This man has again served his community, Starr said.
“What a wonderful gentleman this guy is," Starr said. "We are so fortunate to have him in our community.
“He has a servant's heart.”
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and that gave the Knox County community a great opportunity to create awareness, to learn more about inclusion and to share in the stories of individuals who live, work and thrive in our county. While the Knox County Board of DD and its various provider agency partners are active year round in providing service and supports for those with developmental disabilities, March is a particularly fun time for us to highlight the important roles that individuals with developmental disabilities have within the fabric of our great community.
The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities would like to thank the elementary school students of Knox County for helping us celebrate. There were one thousand one hundred and thirty-two students who participated in our annual coloring (K-2nd grades) and essay (3rd-5th grades) contest with one hundred and eleven classrooms participating county-wide, representing twelve different elementary schools in Knox County.
We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s coloring contest (K-2nd grades): Lexie Small (Fredericktown), Calla Newmeyer (East Knox), Olivia Armstrong (Columbia), Brylie Huff (Pleasant St.), Peyton Shirk (East), Priscilla “Izzie” Wood (Danville), Ethan Vanslyke (Knox Learning Center), Avery Branham (Dan Emmett), Lyllian Clawson (Twin Oak), Josie Michalak (Centerburg), Ava Lybarger (St. Vincent de Paul), and Lydia Quinn (Wiggin St.). The winners of this year’s essay contest (3rd-5th grades) were: Natalie Sharp (Fredericktown), Lexter Rocha (East Knox), Jaret Armstrong (Columbia), John Arndt (Knox Learning Center), Owen Burgess (Pleasant St.), Guinevere Rose Brody (East), Peyton Bartok (Danville), Sophia Maddux (Dan Emmett), Michelle Packard (Twin Oak), Sam Hand (Centerburg) and Brock Sabo (Wiggin St.). Also congratulations to Mrs. Aimee Humphrey from Twin Oak Elementary for winning the teacher classroom prize this year.
Left to Right: Mrs. Aimee Humphrey, Twin Oak Elementary, Peyton Bartok, Lexter Rocha, John Arndt, Ethan Vanslyke, “Izzie” Priscilla Wood, Peyton Shirk, Josie Michalak, Sam Hand
On March 23, 2023 the Bladensburg Community Center hosted the Knox County Special Olympics Basketball Skills Competition! The Bladensburg Sertoma generously donated $1000 to Knox County Special Olympics and assisted with arranging this wonderful event. We had volunteers that included football players from Mount Vernon High School, Cub Scouts Pack 344 from Apple Valley and many local community members all looking to make a difference!
Thank you to everyone that helped make this event possible!
Knox Rocks 4H Club
Bladensburg Community Heritage Foundation
Cub Scouts Pack 344
This is a time for us to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the town in which they live.
This month reminds us that we’re all part of a broad spectrum of intellectual and physical functioning. It is a chance to be more empathetic and to remind ourselves of the challenges we face in our own lives.
We were able to do our annual Coloring and Essay contest with the local elementary schools in Knox County. There were 1,132 participants, from 111 different classrooms, representing 12 different elementary schools in Knox County. (a blog post with pictures will be posted by the end of the month!)
Park National Bank generously donated a billboard space on Rt. 13 to spotlight our Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month billboard artwork.
A local Cub Scout troop out of Apple Valley is going to be volunteering at our Special Olympics Basketball Competition in Bladensburg on March 23rd. This will help them learn about all different abilities and achieve their Disabilities Awareness Belt Loop badge.
We were also able to host our annual Luncheon on March 8th where we were able to give out awards to 7 different people for their dedication, determination, and willingness to make Knox County a wonderful place for everyone to live, work and thrive. One of our board members, Korey Kidwell donated 15 copies of the book “We Move Together” to hand out at the luncheon. In addition to giving out awards, we had a community panel of different people and organizations that are working to make Knox County a more inclusive community for everyone. The panel was made up of Noelle Jordan, Brown Family Environmental Center, Chief Scott Mast and Brad Porter, Fredericktown Community Fire District Station 410, Bill Hanna, Ver-Mac Industries and Jocelyn Gilardi, local advocate.
Dedication Award: Tassi Rine (Caregiver A Step Up) & Cherish Bell (New Hope Industries)
Local Hero Award: HopeNow Furniture Bank of Knox County
Community Partner: Fredericktown Fire District Station 410
Employer Award: Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc.
Individual Spotlight: Diane Adkins & Brad Porter
2023 Award Winners. Pictured Left to Right: Lee Rhoads, Community Partner Award, HopeNow Furniture Bank of Knox County; Chief Scott Mast, Local Hero, Fredericktown Community Fire District Station 410; Brad Porter, Individual Spotlight; Diane Adkins, Individual Spotlight; Tassi Rine, Dedication, A Step Up Caregiver Homes. Not Pictured: Olivia VanDyke, Employer Award, Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc. and Cherish Bell, Dedication, New Hope Industries.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Centerburg Church of Christ on Friday, February 10, 2023 to celebrate the uniqueness of each individual guest by providing an unforgettable night where they are welcomed, valued and loved!
At this event, guests had the opportunity to dance their hearts out, sing karaoke, ride in a limo, get their hair, makeup and nails done and enjoy a wonderful meal together. At the end of the night, each guest was crowned and there was a massive balloon drop!
Thank you to the Centerburg Church of Christ for putting this event together, to all of the volunteers, the limo drivers, photographers, caterers and anyone else that made this event so wonderful!
Resilient Reagan
Reagan Tokasz is just like any other 16-year-old; she loves Harry Styles, Star Wars, Marvel movies, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, traveling, going to school, and learning new things.
She was born with a rare genetic condition called partial sclerocornea, a congenital anomaly of the eye in which the cornea blends with whites of her eyes. She also has cornea plana, which is another congenital condition where her cornea is flattened. Both eye conditions have caused Reagan to be visually impaired and without depth perception. Her mother Cheryl Tokasz recalls that when Reagan was about 3 months old, she got her first pair of glasses and as soon as they put them on her, she immediately smiled because she could see!
Cheryl and her husband Jeff have done everything they can to help Reagan live a normal life, regardless of her diagnosis. Throughout her childhood she participated in different sports and activities, but Reagan struggled at times because of her vision issues and other developmental delays. When Reagan was around 10 years old, her Physical Therapist Leah Clendening told Cheryl about an equine program that works with people that have disabilities and could be a potential opportunity for Reagan to grow her skills. Reagan then enrolled with the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Knox DD) to help get involved in the Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship, as well as other opportunities that wouldn’t have been an option without the assistance from Knox DD.
The Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship is a state-of-the-art therapeutic equestrian facility that provides an opportunity for people with developmental disabilities a chance to learn about horse safety skills, caring for the animals and how to safely handle the horses. Their programs establish short and long-term goals to ensure each participant receives a fulfilling experience tailored to their needs. When Reagan first started this program, she needed a volunteer on each side of her and a horse handler to lead the horse through the arena. Now when you watch her, she can ride during her sessions all by herself! They currently have 7 different horses that they use for their lessons, one of which is Maggie. Maggie is a sweet 20-year-old Haflinger that has a lifetime of experience as a show horse. Reagan and Maggie have developed a beautiful bond as Reagan has improved her skills. Reagan says that “Maggie is a very sweet girl! She likes cuddles and is easy to ride.”
Each session, Reagan must start with grooming Maggie by brushing her and using the hoof pick to ensure Maggie is clean and ready for the lesson. Reagan then takes Maggie for a walk around the arena, then puts her bridle, reins, saddle pad and saddle on. Once Maggie is ready, Reagan has assistance getting on and getting her stirrups adjusted. Reagan and Maggie trot around the arena like they are pros.
Since Reagan has been doing equine therapy, she has increased muscle strength, balance, posture, focus and better trunk control. She has been able to have fun, have meaningful friendships, and learn responsibility through this program.
While Reagan has made wonderful progress with her equine therapy, she was regressing in some other areas of her life. Her parents suspected that her increasing developmental delays were caused by something more than her low vision and they knew that she needed further testing to determine the cause. When she was 11 years old, she had an MRI and genetic testing done which led to a central nervous system disorder diagnosis which is progressive in nature. Since receiving this diagnosis, her family has taken on a new philosophy in life: to make today the best it can be. They do everything in their power to ensure Reagan is as healthy and happy as she possibly can be. They take her to the hockey games, Disney World, vacations, equine therapy, and anything else that she shows an interest in, they do their best to make it a reality.
Cheryl believes that having a core team around her family has been crucial to helping Reagan live the best life she can. She said, “Reagan started receiving services at 3 months old from Help Me Grow, then moved on to preschool at New Hope, and she is now a sophomore at East Knox. I know that we couldn’t have gotten better care or a better team of people to support and encourage Reagan anywhere else. She was never a number. We have always felt so cared for in Knox County. Everyone on her team seems so invested in her and in our family. A lot of the people that were with us at the start of this journey have stayed connected to Reagan and our family through her entire life. With equine therapy, they will do everything they can to accommodate your child to make them safe. Knox DD is there to help provide things that we would have struggled to provide on our own. It was priceless to be able to offer Reagan that opportunity.”
Cheryl then said, “We live life for now. Today may be our day of greatest health and I do not want us to waste today worrying about tomorrow. We find opportunities that can both fulfill us physically and emotionally and give us a sense of accomplishment. Part of wanting to give Reagan everything means that we also want to give her a chance to grow, learn, and succeed. You want your child to have what we all desire, whether they have special needs or not. We want her to feel the joy that comes with doing something that she has succeeded at, something she is getting better at, that is making her stronger. It’s important to give your child those opportunities. Everyone deserves to feel that sense of accomplishment. Finding an organization that helps you with that is a gift.”
On Thursday, December 1st the Knox County Special Olympics skills team hosted the Richland County Bears at Kenyon College. Each athlete played their hearts out and had a wonderful time! They were able to make new friends and show off their impressive skills. Thank you Kenyon College volunteers for helping us make this event possible!
