february_2018

Fix The List.
JANUARY 2018
Bringing about a vibrant community where people lead fulfilling lives and make meaningful contributions.
To see informative
videos, visit
the Facebook
page, Fix the List.
Consider sharing
any social media
content onto your
own pages. Visit
the website at
Www.fixthelist.info
for additional information.
People with developmental disabilities and their families have
voiced concern that Ohio's waiting list for Home and Community-Based
Services (HCBS) waivers is overly complex and in need
of simplification. They report that the current waiting list confuses
people with developmental disabilities and their families, misleads
advocates, and hinders efforts by policymakers to direct
resources to where they are needed most.
To better serve Ohioans with developmental disabilities, the
organizations listed below have been collaborating for more
than 15 months to modernize Ohio’s failed Medicaid Waiver
waiting list. They believe replacing the current system will greatly
improve the way Ohio’s waiting list for HCBS waivers operates.
There are roughly 49,000 people with developmental disabilities
on Ohio’s waiting list for HCBS waivers. However, that number
can be misleading. Many people on the list receive some
type of services because county boards have a variety of ways
to meet people’s needs – a waiver is just one of them. Those
who are eligible for county board services can have their needs
met through local funds as well as other resources.
In addition, some people currently on the waiting list may not
actually need the waiver they requested decades ago. An
Ohio Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council study concluded
that a large percentage of people with developmental disabilities
and their families presently on the waiver waiting list expressed
having no current, unmet need, but instead requested
to be placed on the waiting list in anticipation of a long wait to
receive waiver services.
To address Pam Whiteley these flaws, agencies are collaborating to develop
a waiting list for HCBS waiver services that will identify people
who have a current need for services and match those people
to resources that will meet their unique assessed need(s). This
will allow the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
and local county boards of developmental disabilities to more
effectively plan to meet current and future needs.
Through the efforts of this coalition and informed by the feedback
of people with developmental disabilities and their families,
they believe that a new approach to the way Ohio’s HCBS
waiver waiting list operates is needed.
It’s time to Fix The List.
www.fixthelist.info
Coalition Members
The coalition includes people with developmental disabilities,
family members, and organizations representing guardians,
county boards, and providers who believe it's time to Fix The List.

Fairfield DD Employees
Receive Recognition
For the past few weeks I’ve been
reviewing the feedback gathered in
the 2017 Employee Survey—which is
a unique opportunity for me to listen
closely to what our employees have
to say about the way Fairfield DD is
living its mission, vision and values.
I have to say that this year’s survey has been particularly
gratifying to study, and while I, along with
the senior leadership team, am still getting through
the bulk of it, I wanted to share a few initial thoughts.
First, I am grateful for the amount of time and
thought our staff put into the responses. Over 25,000
words filled the comment sections of the survey, conveying
to me the passion felt by each employee
who completed the survey. The stories shared about
seeing the person-centered approach to supporting
people with developmental disabilities in our community
come to a successful fruition validate all of
our efforts. One employee shared a story about a
young man who was living in a small room while his
health deteriorated. He was assisted in moving to an
apartment with roommates and is now healthy, active
and happy. Stories like this are life-altering. Another
employee summed up our person-centered
approach perfectly in the survey by stating that Fairfield
DD makes a difference in people’s lives because
“...we take the time to ask.”
It is evident throughout the survey that Fairfield DD
staff not only know our mission, they are living it every
day. There is a great sense of connectedness among
us as we each fulfill the mission in individual ways.
In the coming months, I look forward to having
conversations about the survey results as I visit each
location to discuss the feedback we have been given
even further.
In the meantime, I am delighting in the knowledge
of knowing that our staff are on the same page,
making a difference every day by putting the people
we support and their wishes for their individual
lives at the forefront of everything they do. Helping
people be “of” the community, not simply “in” the
community, has not only enriched lives, but it is
strengthening our organization along the way.
Thank you for the feedback and insight.
John Pekar, Superintendent
The 2017 Fairfield County United Way campaign
wrapped up last month and Fairfield DD employees
received special recognition from the Governor’s office
for the generous/impressive contributions given to
assist area United Way-funded agencies.
Despite a decrease in the number of people employed
by Fairfield DD in 2017 compared to 2016, the
amount given was up 26% and the number of
Fairshare gifts increased dramatically as well.
Adding to the excitement of the evening, two employees,
Wendy Ricker and Andrew Ray, were randomly
selected from a county-wide pool of Fairshare
givers to receive a key that had the potential of starting
a brand new pontoon boat. Sadly, no sunset cruises
are in the future for either employee but over 100
county and city officials and community leaders were
cheering them on as they tried their keys in the ignition.
Fairfield DD employees also contributed to the
year’s success by participating in the fall Community
Care Day, the Day of Action and the United Way 5k.
The 2018 United Way campaign will be chaired by
Standing Stone’s Jeff Beard. In addition, United Way
Executive Director Sherri Orlando will retire this year
after 25 years at the helm.
Fairfield DD looks forward to making an even bigger
impact in the coming year. THANK YOU to EVERYONE
who found a way to give to United Way Fairfield
County in 2017.
The United Way of Fairfield County raises over
$1,600,000 annually using a team of volunteers
who help educate fellow workers about
the growing array of human service needs in
Fairfield County.

Scholarship Announcement
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) will accept applications for
the 2018 OAR Scholarship Program starting Monday, December 4, 2017 through
Monday, May 7, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants can apply to either the
Schwallie Family Scholarship or the Lisa Hussman Scholarship. Each offers $3,000
scholarships to students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-IV or 5
criteria) pursuing full-time post-secondary, undergraduate education in the United
States.
The Schwallie Family Scholarship supports students attending two- or four-year universities. Schwallie applicants
typically pursue degrees at four-year universities and have a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome if diagnosed
under the DSM-IV or ASD Level 1 if diagnosed under the DSM-5.
The Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship is open to students attending two- or four-year universities; life skills or
postsecondary programs; or vocational, technical, or trade schools. Hussman applicants typically have overcome
more severe challenges related to autism and tend to attend programs that assist in skill building, job
readiness, and other transition-related skills.
Scholarship applications are completed online. They include three short essay questions, date of diagnosis,
and proof of enrollment. Schwallie Scholarship applicants may submit one letter of recommendation from a
non-relative if they choose. Hussman Scholarship applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation,
one from a parent or guardian and one from a non-relative.
To learn more or to find out if you qualify, read OAR's scholarship eligibility criteria. For questions about the
OAR Scholarship Program, please contact OAR at 703-243-3466 or scholarship@researchautism.org.
Uhl Joins Pilot
Program
David Uhl, Director of Business
Development, will take part in
an 18-month pilot program
with SocialVentures and Better
Business Bureau of Central
Ohio to develop a new service
that will review, validate
and communicate the social
impact created by social enterprises
in central Ohio.
The program, in collaboration
with Measurement Resources
Company, will utilize
SocialVentures’ Marketplace
as a platform to connect social
enterprises with consumers,
advisors and investors,
and will leverage BBB’s established
position in managing
large-scale business certification
programs.
The pilot program will run
from January 2018 to June
2019.
Art & Clay on Main and
Square 7 Coffee House are
social enterprises of Fairfield
DD.

Trauma Informed Support: What Is It? Adapted from an article by verywell.com
Fairfield DD is taking a closer look than ever before at trauma Informed support and how this framework can
positively impact the people we support, as well as our employees and the community. In fact, we refer to this
concept as Trauma Informed Support because the objective applies not just to people who receive services, but
to those providing them. In other words, trauma affects everyone. If you don’t work in direct support, however,
you may not be as familiar with the concept. The bottom line—an awakening has occurred over the past few
decades in the understanding of trauma and how it affects well-being.
We now understand that trauma is widespread and the impact of trauma runs deep. Across the health care
and social service fields, people are beginning to adjust their practices, so they do not re-traumatize their clients
and instead are part of the healing process. The movement is called trauma-informed care. At Fairfield DD, a
select group of employees already have undergone extensive training.
The History of Trauma Informed Support
It wasn’t until 1980 that post-traumatic stress disorder was included in the third edition of Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). That was the first official mental health diagnosis related to trauma. It
marked the beginning of a much broader movement. In 1994, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAHMHSA) held the Dare
to Vision Conference, which brought the
Meet
Us @ The
An evening
with the 2018
Artists in
Residence
Friday March 23
6 pm
With LIVE Music By
SALTY CARAMELS
7—10 pm
740.653.1755
150 W. Main Street
discussion of trauma to the foreground.
At this landmark conference, trauma
survivors shared how standard practices
in hospitals re-traumatized and often
triggered memories of previous abuse.
Since then, the clinical research on trauma
has grown rapidly. Like the Recovery
Model, the movement has grown largely
in part due to advocacy and systematic
documentation by survivors of trauma.
What is the Definition of Trauma?
Unfortunately, the avenues for trauma
are broad and can affect people in all
walks of life. Released in 2014, SAMHSA
gave this definition of trauma:
Trauma results from an event, series of
events, or set of circumstances experienced
by an individual as physically or
emotionally harmful or life threatening
and has lasting adverse effects on the
individual’s functioning and mental,
physical, social, emotional, or spiritual
well-being.
What Are the Long-Term Implications of
Trauma?
Trauma can affect almost everything
about a person: their physical health,
their brain development, their relationships,
and their coping abilities. The research
in this area continues to grow.
We are now beginning to understand
that the stage of development your
brain is in when the trauma is experienced
can impact how it will affect you.
For example, if you undergo a trauma at
age seven, then the impact will likely be
different from if you were 17. As we continue
to learn more about the deep seated effects of trauma, there is also good news. Research shows us that
the impact of trauma is not written in stone. Your brain can continue to evolve and heal after trauma.
Fairfield DD believes trauma-informed support can change the way we do business—both internally and externally.
In the coming months, we will be discussing this to an even greater extent.

CAREGIVERS’
Teens Get The Word Out
Geneva Hills is partnering with Fairfield DD to provide Night
Out, a time for parents to take a break and children to enjoy
a variety of activities and making new friends.
To begin, Night Out will be offered the first Thursday of February,
March and April for children ages 5-14, with the idea of
expanding to include older children and adults in the future.
The first Night Out is Thursday, February 1 st from 5:30-8:30pm.
Dinner and snacks will be provided to help parents get to Geneva
Hills after a busy day at home, school and/or work. The
caregivers for the evening will be provided by the Geneva
Hills staff and their approved volunteers, ensuring a quality
experience.
The cost for Night Out has been kept low, thanks to a generous
donation from Fairfield Federal Savings and Loan— $10
for the first child and $5 for each additional child. To register,
call Geneva Hills at 740-746-8439 or go to
www.genevahills.com.
Over a hundred area
high school key club
members will support
DD Awareness month
in March by distributing
2500 lapel buttons
to their peers. In
an effort to erase labeling
and support inclusion, the teens will
hand out Disable the Label buttons along
with information on how various labels, such
as the “R Word,” can negatively impact
people. In addition, the teens will received
some free training from members of the Fairfield
DD Side by Side group. For information
on how your teens can get involved, contact
Community Relations at 74-.652.7220.
Fairfield DD Employees
Lend More Than a Hand
When employees at Fairfield DD heard
recently that a family from Michigan had
arrive into a snowy and frozen Lancaster,
Ohio with no place to live, no food to eat
and no idea where to seek help, many immediately
rushed to assist.
Pulling together resources from Child Protective
Services, Community Assisted Living,
211, DSACO, Community Action and area
churches, employees were able to find
temporary housing, food and supplies for
the family. But Fairfield DD employees wanted
to provide even more. Pulling together
their personal funds, they were able to purchase
an additional week-long stay for the
mother, grandmother and three children at
a local hotel. Others contributed toys, gift
cards, clothing and snacks.
The children were quickly enrolled in local
schools and an ISC has been assigned to
one of the children.
Other area agencies also are continuing
to help get the family settled. While the situation
was dire initially, the collaboration between
agencies and the generosity of
many helped to provide immediate relief.

Powerlifting Season is Here
Fairfield Athletic Association/Special Olympics is
assembling a powerlifting team for athletes of all
abilities interested in learning about a healthy lifestyle
and fitness program through scalable activities.
Proper technique will taught by current
Crossfit members to participants to prepare them
for competition at various events around central
Ohio. Athletes will meet weekly at TrueFit Athletics,
702 S. Ewing Street in Lancaster.
Interested athletes should contact Andrea
Headley, 740.215.7640, or Amber Fisher,
740.438.8809. A physical is required for participation
and will be kept on file with Special Olympics
of Ohio.
Powerlifting athletes competed last summer in Columbus.
Mark Your Calendars for the Special Olympics Spaghetti Dinner on March 9. Call 215.7640 for information.
No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Pie
1 prepared 9-inch (6 oz.) chocolate
crumb crust
8 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bar,
melted per label directions and
cooled
2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese,
softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
BEAT cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk
and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl on high speed
for 2 minutes. Add melted chocolate; beat on medium
speed for 2 minutes.
SPOON into crust. Refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until
firm. Top with whipped cream, if desired
Physicians of the 1800s commonly
advised their patients to eat chocolate
to calm their pining for lost
love.

795 College Avenue
Lancaster, OH 43130
Contact Us
Temple Custer Montanez, Editor
www.FairfieldDD.com
Administration ...................................................... 740-652-7220
Superintendent ..................................................... 740-652-7220
Services and Supports ......................................... 740-652-7220
Family Support Services ....................................... 740-652-7220
Department of Quality .......................................... 740-652-7235
Forest Rose School .............................................. 740-652-7225
Early Intervention/Birth to 3 ............................... 740-652-7225
Opportunity Center ............................................... 740-652-7230
Art & Clay on Main/Square 7 Coffeehouse ......... 740-653-1755
JobFusion ................................ 614-835-2700 or 740-652-7235
Transportation ...................................................... 740-652-7228
Pickerington Regional Office .. 614-835-2700 or 740-652-7235
Volunteer Opportunities ....................................... 740-652-7220
Our Mission
To bring about a vibrant community
where people lead fulfilling lives and
make meaningful contributions.
Superintendent
Board Members:
Mark Weedy, President
Theresa Nixon, VP
Linda Barber, Sec.
John R. Pekar
Robert Competti
Sharon Scruggs
Sharon Murphy
Elizabeth Burwell
We can’t help everyone,
but everyone can help someone.
- Ronald Reagan