Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities (BCBDD ) says, “Community Outreach Advocate Courtney Hineman has made it her professional and personal mission to advocate for inclusion in the developmental disability community.”
Courtney speaking with United States Senator Jon Husted.
This interview highlights Courtney’s recent advocacy work in D.C. with the U.S. Congress and at the Ohio Statehouse.
In April, Courtney took her advocacy on the road to Washington, D.C., to attend the Disability Policy Seminar and Advocacy Day. “While in D.C., Courtney met many fellow advocates, shared her story, and explained why disability policies are vital to the developmental disability community with several U.S. legislators.” The purpose of the “Hill Visits” is to speak directly with state congressional delegations about the high-priority issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Watch as Courtney and the BCBDD‘s public relations coordinator, Cassie Mattia sit down for an interview where Courtney dives into her Washington, D.C., trip and her latest Ohio Developmental Disability Council meeting in Columbus.
The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities supports 4,207 Butler County Residents. Supports and services are available life-long through contracts with partner agencies or directly provided by our Board.
We believe in…
Diversity – Valuing our differences and celebrating our likenesses
Excellence – Setting high standards for ourselves and our organization
Equity – Supporting each other in our unique needs and strengths
Opportunity – Inspiring each other to grow and learn
Loveland, Ohio – In my debut broadcast of “Courtney Explains it All” I talked about what inclusion means for those with a developmental disability and what we can all do together to make life more manageable and equitable.
In this excerpt from my original full length vlog, I talk about one of my most loved organizations, Best Buddies. I also talk about how I learned to make friends and build upon those friendships.
I think it is important for schools and workplaces to practice inclusion by learning and teaching about different kinds of disabilities and I give some concrete examples. Also, why it is important for businesses to give employment opportunities and support employees with a disability.
As someone who has lived with a disability all my life my desire is to explain why inclusion is important for someone with a disability.
I hope you find my explanations and tips helpful. Thank you so much for checking out my vlog!
“Courtney Explains It All” is a vlog on LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV that will feature my insight on different topics, issues, and interviews focused on the developmental disability community.
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You can also watch the full episode here.
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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.
Loveland, Ohio – In my debut broadcast of “Courtney Explains it All” I talked about what inclusion means for those with a developmental disability and what we can all do together to make life more manageable and equitable.
This excerpt from my original full length vlog is about “What defines Inclusion”, and how you can practice it for your own benefit or to benefit others.
As someone who has lived with a disability all my life my desire is to explain why inclusion is important for someone with a disability.
I hope you find my explanations and tips helpful. Thank you so much for checking out my vlog!
“Courtney Explains It All” is a vlog on LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV that will feature my insight on different topics, issues, and interviews focused on the developmental disability community.
________________________
You can also watch the full episode here.
______________
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.
Loveland, Ohio – In my debut broadcast of “Courtney Explains it All” I talk about what inclusion means for those with a developmental disability and what we can all do together to make life more manageable and equitable.
“Courtney Explains It All” is a vlog on LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV that will feature my insight on different topics, issues, and interviews focused on the developmental disability community.
This vlog episode is about what inclusion is, what inclusion looks like, and how to advocate for others with disabilities. As someone who has lived with a disability all my life, I hope you find my explanations and tips helpful. Thank you so much for checking out my vlog!
My desire is that you will find the following organizations helpful as we continue our journey together!
______________
Welcome to the Roll Mobility – your go-to app for a smoother life, specially designed for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. With a staggering 12% of U.S. adults facing mobility disabilities, we’re here to make a difference.
Discover a world of convenience with Roll Mobility. Our platform equips you with reliable information about the accessibility of restaurants, public spaces, businesses, trails, and parking areas. Say goodbye to doubts about whether a place is truly accessible.
Roll Mobility isn’t just an app; it’s a community-driven accessibility tool. Unlike other search engines, we understand that accurate data requires a united effort from the community. Together, we’re paving the way for a more inclusive future.
Disability Rights Ohio
Disability Rights Ohio is a non-profit corporation with a mission to advocate for an equitable Ohio for people with disabilities
Since October 2012, Disability Rights Ohio has served as Ohio’s Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system and Client Assistance Program (CAP). It is governed by a Board of Directors, primarily consisting of people with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities.
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.
This message is brought to you by the Boards of Developmental Disabilities of Butler, Clermont, Greene, Hamilton, and Warren Counties. With support from their local self-advocacy groups, they have created this message that is so important and easily forgotten. People with developmental disabilities deserve to be a part of the conversation. If you’ve got questions, just ask.
It’s likely you know someone with a developmental disability—a friend, family member, or neighbor. If you’ve ever wondered how best to communicate with them, the answer is simple: with respect. We all have a voice and want to be heard. So, if you’ve got questions, just ask.
We’ve created this helpful guide to share communication tips, advocate stories, and important, local resources.
At the end of the day, it’s all about respect.
Here are some helpful tips:
Speak directly to me; I can speak for myself.
It’s okay to ask me if you don’t understand what I said.
You can shake my hand.
It’s okay to be curious about my disability as long as you’re respectful.
I am a person; get to know me.
Our Stories
“I’m smart and a good person. I’m nice and I get along with people. I don’t like to be called different names,” said Danny Crews. “I work hard and do good work, just like anyone else.”
Before the pandemic, Danny was employed at Kroger in Oakley. He worked at least two days per week, making sure the store shelves and displays were always neat to make it easier for customers to shop. Danny now chooses to participate in Ohio Valley Goodwill’s work training program at its corporate headquarters in Woodlawn.
“I really loved my job at Kroger, but I also have a lot of friends at Goodwill and it’s important to me to see them, too,” he said. “Just because I only have the use of one arm doesn’t mean I can’t work hard and do a good job. It hurts me when people tease me or act like I’m not working hard. It’s about being treated with respect.”
Melinda Gabelman is a long-time self-advocate who has received multiple awards for her advocacy efforts in teaching others about Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body and may coincide with intellectual functioning.
“As a person with Prader-Willi Syndrome, it is important to me that people understand what it is and how it affects me and others,” she said. “I like to be treated with respect. I work on my communication skills, and I work with others to help them to speak up for themselves in different situations.”
She has testified before Cincinnati City Council in support of accessible and affordable transportation, as well as supporting and advocating for initiatives that benefit all citizens with disabilities.
“People need to try to understand people with disabilities point of view and listening is very important,” she said.
Patrice McHale has been an advocate for herself and others for her entire adult life. For decades, Patrice visited schools to educate students about Down syndrome.
“Everyone is different, and everyone is smart in his or her own way,” she said. “I like to let people know that I can do things on my own and think for myself. I like to make my own decisions. Down syndrome is just a small part of who I am.”
Patrice has been published in a book called “Writing Our Lives,” which included short stories and poems about individuality, and continues to be engaged in The Tall Institute.
Patrice says employment is very important to her as she has worked at the YMCA, the Cincinnati Public Library, and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati.
Jennifer Holladay is the manager of Volunteer Services for the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI), where she has worked for more than 15 years.
“When I am doing my job or interviewing people who would like to volunteer for the organization, I am also educating people about how to interact with someone who is blind or visually impaired,” she said. “As a sighted person, it is always good to introduce yourself and offer assistance without assuming that someone with vision loss needs your help.”
Jennifer has not let her visual impairment stand in the way of her personal growth and absolute independence as she earned a master’s degree from Northern Kentucky University.
“If a person who is blind or visually impaired needs help, it is a good idea to ask that person how you can best assist them. People with vision loss are always people first and it is good to think of them as being capable, independent and empowered,” she said.
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Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Our Mission: Support individuals to successfully live, work and learn in the community.
Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services
Our Mission: Promote and support opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live, work, learn, and fully participate in their communities.
Activist Greta Thunberg called world leaders to account on Monday with a blistering indictment of their failure to act on climate change.
The response of at least one world leader was to make fun of her.
President Trump tweeted sarcastically on Monday that Thunberg, who had just charged the audience at the United Nations Climate Summit with stealing “my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,” seemed like “a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.” Others on the right also mocked and dismissed Thunberg, with conservative commentator Michael Knowles calling the 16-year-old activist a “mentally ill Swedish child” on Fox News.
Knowles appears to have been insulting Thunberg for having Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Autism isn’t a mental illness — it’s classified as a developmental disability. But advocates say that attacks like the ones Thunberg has faced are all too familiar for autistic people.
Thunberg may be experiencing especially strong stigma from the right because she’s not just autistic, but also female. “Autistic girls tend to face a lot of pressure not just to act like non-autistic people, but also to live up to the same gendered expectations many girls face,” Bascom said. “We always have to be smiling and compliant.”
When haters go after your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere left to go. And then you know you’re winning!
I have Aspergers and that means I’m sometimes a bit different from the norm. And – given the right circumstances- being different is a superpower.#aspiepower
![[WATCH INTERVIEW] Courtney Hineman took her advocacy on the road to D.C.](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/courtney-cassie-interview-feature.jpg)
Watch as Courtney and the BCBDD‘s public relations coordinator, Cassie Mattia sit down for an interview where Courtney dives into her Washington, D.C., trip and her latest Ohio Developmental Disability Council meeting in Columbus.
The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities supports 4,207 Butler County Residents. Supports and services are available life-long through contracts with partner agencies or directly provided by our Board.
Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Courtney Hineman is a disability rights advocate. She is the Community Outreach Advocate at the 
![[In Global News] Attacks on Greta Thunberg expose the stigma autistic girls face](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/EFlEmqmXYAAtzmQ.jpeg)
