Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities
The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services to people from birth throughout their life.
Our mission is enriching, empowering, and connecting people with their community.
12/15/2025
Merry Monday!
The magic of the season is shining bright. From twinkling Lights on the Lake to advocates holding ornaments that remind them to speak up, spreading kindness through Halo gift deliveries, and sharing sweet moments with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Cookie Connections, there has been so much to celebrate. We also loved seeing advocates at our Advocacy Lunch and Learn choosing the perfect mug and creating heartfelt cards for someone special. Our hearts are full of joy and holiday cheer.
What’s making your Monday merry and bright?
12/14/2025
Join us tomorrow, Monday, for our next Ashtabula Playgroup!
DATE: Monday, December 15th
TIME: 4:00–5:00 PM
LOCATION: Ashtabula County Board of DD (2505 South Ridge Rd. East, Ashtabula)
This fun & free Playgroup is designed for children ages 0–5. It's a great opportunity for little ones to play, explore, and make new friends while parents and caregivers connect, too!
There’s plenty of space to play, snacks to enjoy, and smiles to share. We can’t wait to see you there!
12/13/2025
Bundled up but full of cheer, our third year greeting families at Lights on the Lake!
We love greeting the many families as they drive through Ashtabula County Lights on the Lake! Seeing their excitement, hearing the laughter, and wishing everyone a happy night makes the experience extra special for us.
A big thank you to the dedicated board members, past and present, for making this cherished tradition possible for Ashtabula County and our surrounding community.
Braving the chill is worth every smile, wave, and happy moment we get to share with our community.
12/12/2025
Art, adventure, and great company made our trip to The Cleveland Museum of Art a day to remember!
We had the opportunity to take a small group of the people we support on a day trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art! During our visit, we were able to experience art in its truest form, exploring a wide range of styles, cultures, and artistic expressions. It was a wonderful day filled with curiosity, conversation, and the chance to appreciate all the different genres of art that shape our world today.
12/12/2025
Sweet treats and holiday cheer filled the kitchen during Cookie Connections with advocates from Maples Mercantile, Mrs. Claus & Santa!
We had an extra sweet time at the Ashtabula County District Library's Geneva Branch thanks to two very special guests who traveled all the way from the North Pole! They joined us to help bake cookies for the His Helping Hands food pantry, spreading joy (and sprinkles!) with every batch.
Santa even hand-delivered the cookies making the giving even more magical.
Thank you to the Geneva Public Library, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all of the elves for helping us spread kindness one cookie at a time and bring a little extra joy to someone’s day!
12/11/2025
Community Connections Quarterly Talk: Advocacy & Technology
Earlier this week, Andrea Klimko, Provider Support & Technology, introduced our advocates to a wide variety of assistive technology tools designed to support independence and everyday life. Participants had the chance to learn about, explore, and try out different devices firsthand.
Everyone was encouraged to think about which pieces of technology could help them be more independent, confident, and connected in their daily routines.
We’re grateful for opportunities like this that empower people to speak up for what they need and discover new tools that can make a real difference!
Together, we’re building a community where everyone has the tools and support they need to thrive.
12/11/2025
Reminder: The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold its regular monthly meeting today, December 11th at 6:00 PM. The meeting will take place at the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities office, located at 2505 South Ridge Road East, Kingsville, in Conference Room 110A.
12/10/2025
Wrapping up our final Advocacy Lunch & Learn of the year with gratitude, creativity, and holiday cheer!
This month, advocates chose a special gift for someone they care about; a personalized coffee mug, paired with a candy cane, hot cocoa, and a hand-decorated Christmas card. Many chose to gift theirs to an SSA, staff member, bus driver, or friend.
A huge thank-you to Karen, Director of the Henderson Library-Jefferson, OH, and Sarah, Marketing/Social Media Coordinator, for hosting our twice-monthly Lunch & Learn sessions. From reading stories and practicing how to speak up in different situations, to adding extra fun with financial literacy games, you’ve helped make this year meaningful and memorable.
Together, we’ve built confidence, strengthened voices, and supported one another. Here’s to even more advocacy and connection in the year ahead.
12/09/2025
Halo Gift Delivery!
Today we delivered our Halo gifts to Country Neighbor in Orwell, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to support a local family and the South County community during this holiday season.
A huge thank-you to Cyndee, Administrative Assistant at Country Neighbor, for coordinating this meaningful program, and to Ashtabula County Catholic Charities for partnering to make the Halo Gift initiative possible. Your dedication to supporting families and strengthening our community truly makes a difference.
And a special shoutout to the incredible advocates who helped choose items from the family’s wish list and also wrap each present. Your compassion and teamwork helped make this season a little brighter for others.
We are grateful to be part of a community that makes a difference together!
12/09/2025
This month’s community spotlight shines on Elijah!
Each month, we spotlight people we support who are working in our community, along with the employers who foster inclusive workplaces. This month, we’re excited to highlight Elijah!
Elijah works as a janitor at Davis True Value Hardware Store in Orwell, and this is his very first job. He’s been part of the team for about a month and is really enjoying the experience. Every day brings something new whether he’s doing dishes, filling propane tanks, or tackling other tasks, he’s always eager to learn and adapt.
Elijah has also built great relationships with his coworkers. One coworker shared, “If you give Elijah something to do, he is going to get it done. He is a very hard worker.” Elijah hopes to build valuable experience and stay with the team for a while, and one day he’d love to work at a car dealership.
Outside of work, Elijah enjoys building LEGO kits and spending time working with his dad.
Thank you to Davis True Value Hardware Store for fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace for everyone!
12/08/2025
The Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 PM at the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities office, located at 2505 South Ridge Road East, in Conference Room 110A.
12/08/2025
Merry Monday!
This week, we’re spreading holiday cheer through creativity and celebration! From handmade ornaments to sneak peeks at decorated doors, and festive parades in Geneva and Jefferson! There’s so much to make our days merry and bright.
We also loved joining LEADERship Ashtabula County, Inc. for their Giving Tuesday event last week. It was a wonderful way to kick off the season with community and generosity!
What’s adding a little extra sparkle to your Monday?
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The mission of the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities is to ensure the availability of services and supports that will assist eligible individuals with developmental disabilities to imagine the life they want to live, believe they can create it and achieve their dreams as participating members in their community.
Providing Quality Outcome – Driven Programs & Services to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities for over 60 Years.
History
The story of Happy Hearts School and Ash/Craft Industries is written into the history of Ashtabula County. The story began at a time when few believed individuals with disabilities deserved the right to public education and a brighter future. The story of Happy Hearts School and Ash/Craft Industries is an example to all the love, commitment, and determination of parents who persisted and prevailed in accomplishing their goal that opened the door.
In March of 1954, a small group of parents of children with disabilities met and formed the Ashtabula Council for Re****ed Children (ARC). One year later, March 1955, because of the efforts of this group Happy Hearts School opened its doors to the first school for children with disabilities in the basement of the Methodist Church on Elm Street and was attended by five students.
From 1956 through 1968, Happy Hearts School was hosted in various locations throughout Ashtabula County. Senate Bill 169 was passed which established the creation of the Board of Mental Retardation in 1967 and levies were approved by Ashtabula County voters. In 1968, Happy Hearts School’s current building was built. By 1970, the program had grown to provide services to 233 children and adults. In 1977, the construction of Ash/Craft Industries began and today the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services to over 500 children and adults with developmental disabilities thanks to the ongoing support of citizens of Ashtabula County.
