When the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD) met on June 2, 2022, they heard from Pete Moore, executive director of the Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA). While grateful for the support their providers had received from the LCBDD, he stressed the need for additional help with finding and retaining direct service providers (DSP). As is the case with staffing around the country, the OPRA has seen a DSP shortage and has taken steps to address this issue, including increases from the last state budget and a proposed 6.5 percent increase from county developmental disabilities boards.
According to the LCBDD news release, “The pandemic accelerated the workforce crisis. We are working on sustaining current services to people with disabilities.”
Moore hopes the community will reach out to legislators and express the need for more DSPs in the area.
Thursday’s meeting also announced the appointment of Lisa Sulich to the position of early childhood director/principal at the Discovery Center in Bellefontaine. Sulich, who holds a master’s degree in special education from Ball State University (Indiana), has been a teacher and behavior intervention specialist at the center for 25 years. She replaces Joy Badenhop, who will retire at the end of the month following 28 years with the center.
Two other LCBDD personnel—Vickie Smith and Brenda Bartlett—let the board know they will retire this summer as well. With the additional loss of two instructor assistants who took new jobs, the board has hired a new instructor assistant, Brandy Newland, and two more early intervention employees, Mandy Barry and Victoria DeFee. They still have an opening for an instructor assistant at the Discovery Center. More information can be found at www.logancbdd.org.
In other news, Saul Bauer, LCBDD superintendent, presented information regarding the Coalition for the Preservation of 14C of the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), which “defines commensurate wage work center programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” The goal is to provide opportunities to people with disabilities so they can work in safe, supportive and positive settings.
The next LCBDD meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the Discovery Center.