March is DD Awareness Month

March 2020
INSIDE Bill and Sherri Adams attend

Advocacy Day at the Statehouse

Levy renewal on the primary ballot Absentee voting continues, in-person voting moved to June 2

Scioto County Developmental Disabili-	continues for the next 11 weeks, including	Service & Support Administration ties has a levy renewal on the March 17	the vote on the SCDD levy renewal.	■ Medicaid waiver services ballot that will affect services for the next         SCDD serves people of all ages and	■ Behavior support services
five years. As this issue is a renewal, that	across all demographics in Scioto County.	■ Guidance for transition-age youth means there is no new tax involved. The	Services include:	■ Employment navigation
vote simply means the levy will continue	■ Early Intervention for children birth-2	■ Family-directed services, including
as is for five more years. It will continue to	■ Early Childhood Services ages 3-6	respite and home modifications for individ-cost the owner of a $50,000 home $2.84	■ Educational services through Vern Riffe	uals to have increased accessibility
per month.                                               School (kindergarten-transition age)              ■ Partnerships with area service providers Due to the pandemic declared because        ■ School-based therapy programs,              ■ Assistance in obtaining remote supports
of the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Mike	including physical, occupational, speech	for eligible individuals who want to live DeWine and Secretary of State Frank	therapies, and adaptive physical education	more independently
Larose’s have moved in-person voting in	■ Partnership with Special Olympics	For more info about the levy renewal, visit the primary due to June 2. Absentee voting	■ Case management through SCDD’s          SciotoLevy.com.

Coronavirus causes changes in SCDD operations, events

At the order of Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio schools closed due to concerns surrounding the potential spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19. As of right now, Vern Riffe School is closed to students until at least April 6.
COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that has been declared a pandemic in size. The illness causes fever, dry
cough, shortness of breath. Some who contract the virus show no symptoms or have a mild case resembling a mild ﬂu. However, those who have existing health issues, are immunosuppressed, or are senior citizens may have increased difficulty fighting the virus.

The situation with COVID-19 and scheduling for March DD Awareness events has seen the cancellation of all Scioto County Special Olympics games, including the annual Rivals Game with Open Door School and the
Hardwood Heroes Celebrity Basketball Game.
SCDD is implementing an intensive regimen of cleaning and sanitizing facilities in order to maintain the safety of students and staff of all programs housed in the VRS building.
For more info, check out SCDD’s Facebook page or view the agency website at SciotoCountyDD.org.

SCDD’s response to CORVID-19/Coronavirus

■ Students will receive food from VRS via bus delivery today. For more info, call the school at (740) 353-1876.

■ See Page 2 for a letter from Superintendent Matt Purcell.

■ Updates will continue via the one-call system, Facebook, and SciotoCountyDD.org.

CORONAVIRUS Frequently Asked Questions

What is the coronavirus?

“Coronavirus” refers to a large family of viruses. However,the specific virus being referenced in media reports is a novel (or new) type of coronavirus that had not been previously identified.

Is the coronavirus like the common cold?

There are several types of coronavirus.The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not the same type that commonly circulates and causes mild illness like the common cold.

How does it spread?

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading person-to-person. For that reason,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends patients with the coronavirus be isolated either in a hospital or at home until they recover and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

What are the symptoms?

Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. It is believed that symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Is it dangerous?

The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood, but reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest information, visit www.cdc.gov.

What is the risk for our area?

For the general American public,the immediate health risk is considered low. However, healthcare workers and travelers returning from certain locations are at an elevated risk of exposure. For a complete list of countries currently affected, visit www.cdc.gov.

How is it treated?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus, and no specific treatment.The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure.The CDC does not recommend wearing face masks unless you are sick.They are not an effective way for a healthy person to avoid the virus.

What steps can I take to avoid exposure?

There are several simple, everyday actions you can take to help prevent the spread of illness:

» Avoid close contact with people who are sick » Stay home when you are sick, unless you
have called your doctor and been instructed to receive medical care
» Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue

» Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily
» Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

How can I make sure I have the latest information?

This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest information on the coronavirus and COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov.

03/09/20

Mr. & Mrs. Adams go to Advocacy Day in C’bus

ABOVE: SCDD Self-Advocacy Specialists Sher-ri and Bill Adams met with State Rep. Brian Baldridge’s legislative aide Sam Creech on DD Advocacy Day at the Statehouse. The annual
event encourages self-advocates to meet with their representatives about legislative issues important to them. BELOW: Bill and Sherri with Community Opportunities Navigator Theresa Rowland and fellow self advocate and Scioto County native Marci Straugher, who is now a Project STIR trainer in
Franklin County. BOTTOM: Bill and Sherri meet with State Sen. Terry Johnson’s aide Abbie Benjamin.

VRS visits Scioto County Commissioners to mark March as DD Awareness Month

Vern Riffe School students and staff joined Scioto County Commissioners Mike Crabtree and Bryan Davis at the Scioto County Courthouse as March was declared Develop-mental Disabilities Awareness Month in Scioto County. Front row: Gabe Martin Justin Sanford, Jon Mitchell, Andrew Myer, Jasmine Yinger, Beth Grate. Second row: Principal Tammy Guthrie, Jaycee Yearwood, Alex Shortridge, Michael Kirkendall, George Jewell, Jon Adkins, Tristin Mollett, Chris Glispie, Zach Kigar, Brodie Wyatt, Donna Tackett. Third row: Teresa Seidel, Karen Carver, Lori Morton, Mike Crabtree, Bryan Davis, Amanda Adams, and Dana Jones. Many thanks to the commissioners!

Pre-trout derby fun for students at VRS

Todd Dunn, who with volunteers sponsors the annual trout derby for disabled children and disabled veterans at Lake Roosevelt, and Shawnee State Forest Naturalist Jen-ny Richards stopped by Vern Riffe School with some of the volunteers to do a fishing demonstration with students as part of March’s DD Awareness Month events. Every student received a wristband and bobber, and a few -- Aaron Jacobs and Chris Glispie
-- won fishing rods. The trout derby is over the weekend of April 24-26 at Lake Roosevelt, and will feature waived license fees, live music, a hog roast, and church on Sunday. Dunn said the experience is not limited to Scioto County residents, and volunteers will be on-site to assist individuals as needed.

this is CARDINAL

COUNTRY

The Valley-Northwest (red jerseys) team kept it a tight game with the Vern Riffe School Cardinals (white jerseys), but the Cardinals managed to keep a lead and end the game at 36-16 at the end of the fourth quarter.
It was a fast-paced game with several players scoring buckets. For the Cardinals, scorers included: James Charles, Gabby Collins, Aaron Jacobs, Michael Kirkendall, Carson Lewis, and Johnny Royalty. Many thanks to our friends at Valley and Northwest for a great game!