Although the community knows the Board of MR/DD best for early childhood centers, schools, adult activities centers and group homes, we offer a full range of services, everything from in-home early intervention programs for very young children and their families to leisure programs for seniors and specialized therapies (speech-language, occupational and physical), psychological services, support administration, quality assurance, family resources and respite care, supported living, vocational training, community employment, rehabilitation engineering and crisis intervention.
The Ohio General Assembly established boards of mental retardation in all of Ohio's counties in 1967 as a result of the strong lobbying efforts of parents whose local school districts refused to enroll their children. (Developmental disabilities was added to the name and responsibilities several years later.) Early on, services centered on school-age programs, but since then, services have expanded far beyond that. Today, enrollment among very young children and adults far surpasses the school enrollment.
A seven-member unpaid board oversees our overall operations. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners appoint five members; the presiding judge of Probate Court appoints two. At least three of the board members must be the parents of enrollees.
Funding for our operations comes from three sources, a countywide property tax and state and federal funds. The local tax, which accounts for more than 60 percent of our primary support, is a 3.9-mill continuing levy that Cuyahoga County voters last approved with a 69 percent 'yes' vote in 2005.
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