Auglaize DD is committed to advocating for the understanding and acceptance of individuals with developmental disabilities so they may truly be included as members of their communities.

In 1953, the parents of 21 Auglaize County children began a grassroots movement to ensure their children with disabilities had the opportunity to attend school. Since that time, opportunities for people with developmental disabilities have grown tremendously, and the agency which began as the Auglaize School has evolved into the Auglaize County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Auglaize DD).

 

With school-aged services moving to the county’s six school districts in 1995 and adult services privatizing in 2017, Auglaize DD has gone from providing services within the confines of our building to establishing partnerships throughout Auglaize County, creating a vision that all individuals in our community with a developmental disability will thrive educationally, vocationally, and socially.

These partnerships reflect the evolution of services and society over the years. At one time, people with disabilities either lived with family or were sent away to institutions, perhaps receiving an education and vocational training in a segregated setting. Changes in rules and regulations over the years, however, in addition to civil rights advocacy and changing attitudes, have led to a shift in where people with disabilities are spending their time.

 

Ohio’s County Boards of DD, established in 1967 by the General Assembly as County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, have evolved as well. We take pride in working through our mission of ensuring individuals with developmental disabilities have access to quality supports providing them opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their community.

 

In addition to a multitude of outreach and educational programs and services intended to support adults, children and their families, Auglaize DD staff are professionally trained to assess individual needs, authorize home and community-based Medicaid services and monitor the outcomes related to those services.