The Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (GCBDD or Geauga DD) focuses on helping transition aged youth (14-22) with developmental disabilities find employment and make important life decision about work, community involvement, and housing.
Information for Students Ages 14-22
Eligible students will be assigned a Transition Aged Service and Support Administrator (SSA).
The SSA is the main contact with Geauga DD and works with students, families, and the IEP team to coordinate services. Including the SSA in IEP and school meetings ensures the student’s needs are met and resources are provided. Regular communication between families and the SSA is essential.
Families should actively engage in the student’s transition plan during school. Here are some of the things that will be considered throughout the transition planning process.
- Identify the student’s intended employment outcome, based on preferences, interests, needs, and skills.
- Refer to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) for employment services and vocational habilitation if needed.
- Alternative Supports: if competitive employment is not possible, consider adult day supports.
- Additional Resources: explore available resources and services such as Guardianship, Social Security, and Medicaid.
- Upon receiving their high school diploma, students will be assigned a new SSA to further explore post-school options opportunities, such as job development providers, job coaching services, and follow-along support.
Social Opportunities
- Students can join social activities like Special Olympics, Aktion Club, Dinner Club, and other recreational opportunities through the Metzenbaum Foundation, NPower Services, Empower Sports, and other local Providers.
Questions or concerns with your experience?
Contact Geauga DD’s Employment First Manager, Megan Thirion at (440) 729-9406 x1301.
If you still have questions or concerns, contact Geauga DD’s Superintendent Don Rice at (440) 729-9406 x1101.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities, with more than 4.5 million athletes in 170 countries and millions more volunteers and supporters. It is also a global social movement.
Special Olympics contributes to the physical, social, and psychological development of all participating athletes. Through successful experiences in sports, they gain confidence and build a positive self-image that carries over into their homes, jobs, and communities. At Geauga DD, every athlete’s goal is to be a good sport, do their best in every activity, make new friends and have fun.
Geauga DD Special Olympics teams include volleyball, track and field, soccer, softball, individual and team bowling, swimming, basketball, and golf. Approximately 120 athletes currently participate on these teams.
If you or your loved one would like to sign up for a Special Olympics team, please contact Bonnie Veleba at Bonnie@metzenbaumfdn.org.
MISSION
The mission of Special Olympics Ohio is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy, as well as participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
WINTER SPORTS
Swimming
December – February. Practice is normally at Wembley Club in Bainbridge. The area event is at the beginning of November and the State meet is in the middle of December.
Basketball
October – February. There are many games scheduled against other organizations throughout the season. The playoffs take place at the end of February. If Metzenbaum Center athletes win, they proceed to the State Championship at the end of March.
SPRING SPORTS
Individual Bowling
February – April. Practices are held at Ernst Lanes. The area event takes place in May.
Team Bowling
February – April. A team consists of two or four players. The state meet for this sport is the end of October. Practices are held at Ernst Lanes.
Volleyball
March – May. It is slightly modified so that the ball is bigger and softer and the server may move into the court to serve the ball. The area event is at the beginning of May.
Track and Field
March – May. There are all sorts of events that are offered, including walking, running, wheelchair competition, softball throw, long jump, and relays. The area event is at the beginning of May.
SUMMER SPORTS
Golf
June – July. This is a unified sport, meaning each athlete is paired up with a partner from the community. They use one ball and will alternate shots until the ball is holed out. The area event is at the beginning of August in Olmstead Falls.
Softball
July – September. A team consists of no more than 15 players. Games are scheduled against other teams throughout the season. The area event is held in August and the State event takes place in the middle of September.
Soccer
July – September. The games are played with two teams consisting of five players each with one player as goalkeeper.