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HAWK |
Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities representative Jacob Hawk soon will use his friendly personality and attention to detail to be an advocate for others with developmental disabilities.
He was chosen from among 500 candidates statewide to participate in a recent training session at The Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center.
OSU has partnered with other organizations, including the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, for a new approach on those who facilitate the National Core Indicator interviews with people receiving developmental disability services.
Self-advocates like Mr. Hawk were selected to take the class detailing how to interview their peers. The idea is that clients will feel more comfortable talking to a person who has experienced similar services and be able to offer an honest evaluation of how the programs in Ohio are faring.
Mr. Hawk is looking forward to putting what he learned into action.
“I am very interested in helping others express their feelings about the services they receive,” the city resident said.
The National Core Indicators’ mission is to understand the overall health of public developmental disabilities agencies. It is a voluntary effort that is conducted across states to address key areas of concern, including employment, rights, service planning, community inclusion, choice, and health and safety.
Mr. Hawk is a trained advocate working at RTC Industries and Goodwill. He enjoys activities with his church, the LCBDD’s Aktion Club and Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club in his spare time.
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