LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Community Outreach Advocate

  • Courtney Explains it All: Employment Opportunities For All!

    Courtney Explains it All: Employment Opportunities For All!

    Disability Employment Awareness Month is Celebrating the Value and Talents of People with Disabilities and What They Bring to the Workplace and Economy.

    by Courtney Hineman

    Loveland, Ohio – Disability Employment Awareness is not only important to me but to people all over the world with developmental disabilities. This is why I wanted to interview someone with a disability for my second vlog episode that is not only employed but is thriving at their job! For this episode, I interviewed my friend and fellow self-advocate Nick Sopiwnik! We talked about why Disability Employment Awareness Month is important to him, and about his employment experience. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation and this episode makes you think about how you can help others with disabilities find employment.

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    Courtney Hineman is a disability rights advocate. She is the Community Outreach Advocate at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and was appointed by Governor DeWine to the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council for the second term. She is a member of Butler County’s self-advocacy group, and enjoys participating in Best Buddies.

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    My desire is that you will find the following organizations helpful as we continue our journey together!

     

    Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities

     

     

    The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities supports over 4,100 Butler County Residents. Supports and services are available life-long through contracts with partner agencies or directly provided by our Board.

    Founded in 1967, the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities supports over 4,100 people. Supports and services are available life-long through partner agencies or directly provided by our Board.

    Much of our services go beyond the walls of our facilities and take place in the community. The Board’s supports are geared toward the philosophy of person-centered thinking, which places the individual at the center of decisions made about the services they receive. We are committed to helping people determine their dreams and helping to make those dreams come true.

     

     

    Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services (HCDDS) is a government social services agency established by state law. For more than 50 years, HCDDS has provided educational, vocational, and residential support and services to thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). Each year, we support approximately 7,300 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout their lives, from babies through seniors, by providing case management, monitoring service quality, and funding services provided by our community partners.

     

     

    We treat each person we serve as a unique individual and connect them to services to reflect the life they want. By collaborating with more than 1,000 certified providers, we’re able to support people to live a life that is important and meaningful to them, on their own terms.

    Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    The mission of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities is to help those we serve expand capabilities and navigate the possibilities. We envision a culture comprised of inclusive communities where people with disabilities thrive and live a life on their own terms. Individuals and families served by the Clermont County Board of DD have the right of choice and flexibility regarding what, how and where services are provided.  Individuals and families will be empowered to make decisions, become partners and work cooperatively with professionals, and exert control over the services provided to them.

     

     

    Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    The Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services and supports to over 2,400 people in Warren County who have developmental disabilities. The mission of the board is supporting people with disabilities and their families to achieve what is important to them. The Board employs 127 people in full and part time positions. We operate out of four locations in Warren County, and have an annual budget of $30,500,000.00. More than 65% of our revenue is derived from local levy funds.

    Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

     

     

    The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (Ohio DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The Ohio DD Council operates under the authority of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) and is a part of the Ohio DD Network. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities assists and supports the Ohio DD Council as the federally mandated designated state agency.

     

  • Without Direct Support Professionals, I would not be able to live on my own

    Without Direct Support Professionals, I would not be able to live on my own

    Courtney Hineman and Cassie Mattia at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities Annual DSP Appreciation Honk-a-Thon

    It’s DSP Appreciation Week and it’s the perfect time to express my gratitude.

    Courtney Hineman

    by Courtney Hineman

    This week is DSP Appreciation week. My name is Courtney Hineman and I work at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities as the Community Outreach Advocate. I also receive services due to my disability.

    I have direct support professionals (DSPs) who come to my apartment every day. They help me with getting ready for the day, making sure I take my medications, take me to and from work, laundry, and cleaning my apartment.

    They also take me to do fun things out in the community like visiting my family and friends, going to the Cincinnati Zoo, Kings Island, going to church/ bible study, and going to Best Buddies events in Oxford. Sometimes with staff it can feel like I’m just hanging out with a friend because of getting to see each other almost every day and the close relationship we have. I feel like my staff look out for me like I’m their own family member.

    I am very grateful that I have good, hardworking staff because without them I would not be able to live on my own. If you are a direct support professional thank you so much for your hard work and dedication! You really are making a difference in people’s lives.

    About Courtney Hineman

    Courtney Hineman is a disabilities rights advocate. She is the Community Outreach Advocate at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and was appointed by Governor DeWine to the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council for the second term. She is a member of Butler County’s self-advocacy group, Speak Up, and has enjoyed participating in Best Buddies.

    About the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides services and supports to over 3,700 Butler County residents so they can successfully live, work, and learn in the community. Supports and services are available life-long through partner agencies or directly provided by the Board. The Board’s primary source of funding is from property tax levies collected annually and the Board was last on the ballot in 2004.

     

  • I want others with disabilities to have opportunities like I had

    I want others with disabilities to have opportunities like I had

    by Courtney Hineman

    March is Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month which makes it the perfect time to share how my community created opportunities for me and partly because of that, I’ve been able to flourish. As someone who lives with a developmental disability, I want others with disabilities to have similar opportunities for employment, leadership, and friendship.

    When I was younger, I got to be a part of a summer work program through the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities (BCBDD). My first job was cleaning toilets and tables at Barn N Bunk, and I cleaned at Camp Campbell Gard as well. Later, I worked at the East Butler YMCA at the customer service desk.

    I really enjoyed getting to interact with people and learn new things. For many people with disabilities, building friendships or gaining leadership skills can be difficult. For me, these work experiences helped create opportunities for both leadership and friendship. I feel my past work  experiences lead me to the job I have now because I was able to learn how to interact with customers and show others that I’m a hard worker.

    Sometimes, it can be hard for people with disabilities to develop friendships. For me, Best Buddies helped bridge that gap. Best Buddies is an international organization that matches people with and without disabilities for friendship. Through Best Buddies I have learned how to grow in a relationship with a friend, I’ve been able to try new things, and I’ve learned leadership skills. One of my favorite experiences through Best Buddies was painting pumpkins with my new friend.

    Through Best Buddies, I have attended leadership trainings which helped me in my role as Community Outreach Advocate at BCBDD. At those leadership trainings we learned how to share our story. We learned how to write a speech and how to present in front of others. This has given me confidence not only at work but also in my personal life. I now know that I can speak up for myself and that sharing my experience can help others with disabilities and their families.

    These opportunities helped me tremendously. You can create that for someone in your community. I hope that you take the time this month and every month to give someone with a disability an opportunity to grow in their skills and help them live the best life they can live.