Early Intervention is grounded in the philosophy that young children learn best from familiar people in familiar settings.
Your team works with you in your home or other places you and your family spend time to develop a coordinated plan called an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). You and your team will work through the IFSP using your existing supports and resources and build upon them to enhance your child’s learning, development, and involvement in your family routines. Referrals for our EI program are made through Help Me Grow at www.helpmegrow.ohio.gov.
School-Age Programs
Portage County DD continually strives to improve support and services for staff, students, and families across all of Portage County. We work collaboratively with school districts and continually adapt our services to support the current needs of the community. These services and supports include the following, listed below, but we encourage you to reach out at any time with additional questions or requests. Please contact our Educational Services Manager, Vincent Valerio:
Email: vincentv@portagedd.org
Phone: 330-906-1025
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training
Initial training certification and renewals provided FREE of charge to school district teams. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) training is perfect for primary caregivers, educators, and human service professionals who directly intervene in crisis situations, teaching staff de-escalation techniques as well as restrictive and nonrestrictive interventions. Benefits of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training:
- Recognize and Respond to Crisis
- Safe Physical Interventions
- Evidence-Based and Fully Accredited
Staff Professional Development
We want to meet the needs of your staff and school and welcome your requests. We will look to customize training wherever possible. Some other more common opportunities include:
- County Board Services, Contacts, and the Eligibility Process
- Autism 101
- Building Strong Transition Programming – Career Discovery & Customized Employment
Lending Library
We provide a continually evolving list of adaptive equipment, sensory-related needs, and assistive technology FREE of charge on loan. Contact us with your needs and to see what is available!
Happy Day Services Facility Usage
We welcome groups to regularly use our indoor swimming pool, gym, sensory room & life skills room! All ADA accessible. Contact us to schedule today!
SEL Instruction
Semester-long social skills classes, provided at your district, during the school day, in collaboration with your staff. Courses will be offered once a week in a 30-45 min instructional block. Instruction follows a thematic calendar, but instruction and delivery can always be modified based on the needs of the staff and students.
Month 1: All About Me
- Self-Image My Emotions (Zones of Regulation where appropriate)
- Strengths and Needs
- Interests and Preferences
Month 2: Communication
- Listening Skills
- Methods of Communication
- Being a Careful Listener
- Right Time/Right Place
- Phone & Internet Etiquette/Safety
Month 3: Tolerance & Self-Control
- Thinking before Acting
- Accepting Differences
- Rules for Different Settings
Month 4: Facing Challenges
- Accepting Consequences
- Self-Advocacy
- Peer Pressure
- Coping Strategies & Problem Solving
Month 5 (if applicable): Additional Application, Review & Role Play
Building Independence Transition Program
A transition program to support and strengthen the capabilities for meaningful community integration and independence for transitioning youth across Portage County. This is a FREE, semester-long (18 weeks) program, to be offered two days a week. One day will be classroom-based lessons and activities, held at your schools, and one day of hands-on and/or community-based instruction. Transportation can be provided by Portage DD if you are not able to provide it. Building Independence aims to serve 6-8 students per class. Curriculum Themes include:
- Goal Setting
- Community & Communication
- Getting a Job
- Independent Living Skills
Explorers After-School Club
The Exploring Program is an after-school, career-education-based program for transition-age youth. Our Exploring Program will guide youth through hands-on and interactive character and career activities. We will also tour local businesses and meet with area employers to learn about jobs in our community and what makes a good employee.
Requirements:
- Must be at least 14 years old and currently in high school
- Able to attend after-school/evening activities and have reliable transportation to and from our meeting sites.
Time Commitment:
- Sessions will be two evenings a month
- Classroom sessions will be held at Happy Day Services once a month and business tours will be held throughout Portage County.
- Contact our School-Age Transition Coordinator- Laura Fechter (lauraf@portagedd.org 330-678-2400) to sign up
Let’s Talk About Transition
Join us, Via Zoom, on the first Tuesday of the month, for parents, and the second Tuesday of the month, for students, for an informal discussion about the transition journey and what happens after graduation. Meet parents, DD Staff, community members, and former students to help support through the transition process.
Title IX
In regards to the Title XI policy and procedure regarding sexual harassment and misconduct, No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
To report any such harassment or misconduct, please reach out to one of Portage DD’s two Title IX Coordinators:
George Winsen, Director of Service & Support Administration
Phone: 330.297.4118
Email: GeorgeW@portagedd.org
Alicia Hall, Director of Education & Child Development
Phone: 330.678.2400
Email: AliciaH@portagedd.org
5.08 Title IX Policy and Procedure Regarding Sexual Harassment
Policy 5.08 Appendix A
Akron Area YMCA/Rotary Summer Day Camp:
https://www.gotcamp.org/rotary-camp-portage-trailblazers-day-camp
Parent Council for Portage County Developmental Disabilities:
https://www.facebook.com/Portage-County-Parent-Council-1536164543289804/