August 2018

Provider Training Series:
'Back to Basics'
Attention: All Providers, ICFs
Recently the senior leadership
team at Fairfield DD began reading
the book The Power of Moments
by brothers Chip and Dan
Heath. While I won’t spoil the entire
book for you, I can tell you
that the premise of the book involves
how we all remember the
positive moments in our lives. These moments are dominated
by four key elements—elevation, insight, pride and
connection. As I make my way through the book, it occurs
to me that much of what we strive to do at Fairfield
DD is to help create those memorable moments. Reflecting
on this summer, I’m pleased to say we’ve been pretty
successful. A host of activities for children, in particular,
has consumed the last few months.
Beginning with the inclusive art camps hosted at Art &
Clay on Main in conjunction with the Ohio Glass Museum
and the Fairfield County District Library, a few dozen kids
definitely made some great memories, as well as terrific
art.
The Early Intervention team hosted two separate gatherings
for families of children age 3 and under in Pickerington
and Baltimore. The relationships parents of these
children form with one another can last a lifetime and be
one of the best resources for navigating life. Providing an
opportunity for these families to interact is both essential
and memorable.
Partnering with Down Syndrome Society of Central Ohio
again this year, some amazing kids created pretty cool
memories at camps held at Forest Rose School. Hopefully
that also made some lasting friendships. Another partner,
Fairfield Medical Center, also hosted a summer camp at
Forest Rose School—the Summer Camp for Children with
Autism. This camp aimed to help kids prepare for the transition
back to school while also allowing for plenty of play
time on the playground and in the pool.
And of course, nearly 100 of the children we support
enjoyed weeks of camp around central Ohio through the
funding provided by Fairfield DD’s Summer Scholarship
Program.
If it’s true we remember the peak moments of our lives
with the most clarity, that I’m hopeful the children we support,
and their families, can look back on the summer of
2018 fondly.
And I hope you and your family have embraced the
sunshine as well.
John Pekar
Superintendent
Back to Basics is a comprehensive and continual
training series offered by Ohio Providers Resource
Association (OPRA) in conjunction with the Ohio Department
of Developmental Disabilities' Office of
Provider Standards and Review. The series aims to
help providers become a higher quality provider by
focusing on fundamentals.
Back to Basics will consist of ongoing regional,
centralized, and webinar training. The first series is in
three parts during the months of July, August, and
September and will focus on compliance.
For more information or to register, visit
www.opra.org/training-events/back-to-basicstrainings/
Majorly Artistic
Art & Clay on Main played an even larger role in
the Lancaster Festival this year by hosting two events
for children and orchestrating the annual Italian
Street Painting activity downtown. Nearly 50 children
participated in the first Major Arts for Minors event
where they crafted their own musical notes out of
wet clay. Dozens more were entertained by magician
Drew Murray.