We work with families and individuals to make sure that everyone has the supports they need.
Early Intervention & Eligibility
Early Intervention (EI) services support parents and their young child(ren), ages 0-3, with disabilities. Our team partners with parents and caregivers to support children as they learn and grow. EI is grounded in the philosophy that young children learn best from familiar people in familiar settings. Early Intervention builds upon and provides support and resources to assist parents and caregivers to enhance children’s learning and development through everyday routines. It is a collaborative, home, and community-based system where you and a team work together to provide ongoing support to your child.
To be eligible for Early Intervention services, an individual must:
Reside in Hancock County;
Ages 0-3;
The child must have 1 of the following to qualify for services:
Documented diagnosed physical or mental condition with a probability of resulting in a developmental delay as indicated on a list of qualifying diagnoses;
Documented diagnosed physical or mental condition with a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay as identified by a medical professional; or
Identified developmental delay in adaptive, cognitive, communication, physical, or social and emotional development, as determined and documented through an evaluation.
County Board Eligibility
To be eligible for services from the Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities, an individual must:
Reside in Hancock County;
The disability must have been documented before the age of 22;
Ages 3-5, the child must have two developmental delays in two different life areas;
Ages 6 and up, individuals must have documentation of a qualifying diagnosis of a developmental disability from a qualified professional; and
The assessment must include three substantial function limitations in major life areas.
Project LIFE
Project LIFE is a program that provides employment and life skills to individuals receiving supports to promote an increased likelyhood of securing community employment and independent living after completing the program.
To be eligible for Project LIFE, an indivudal shall:
Be between the ages of 18 and 25;
Be a resident of Hancock County;
Receive SSA services from the Hancock County Board of DD; and
Have completed high school.
Once offered an intern position, interns will complete three 10-week unpaid work rotations as well as participate in life skills development. Interns can participate in the program for a maximum of two sessions.
For more information, please contact your SSA.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Project LIFE program session.
For more information, please contact Nicole Gunka, Director of Community Supports at ngunka@blanchardvalley.org or 419-422-6387.
Transition Coordination
One of the most important things the Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities can do for a student receiving our supports is to prepare them for a life after school.
Our transition services prepare students ages 14-22 for the workforce or additional education. This involves working with student and their families to create a plan that will give their young adult a head start in life. Click here to find out more about Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities - OOD.
Beyond the Books
Beyond the Books is a curriculum developed towards transitional youth (14-22) who have IEP’s. It focuses on interpersonal skills individuals need to succeed in life after high school or to advocate for what they want. Some specific areas this curriculum focuses on are self-awareness, setting goals and overcoming challenges, identifying resources, communication, being involved in the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process, and more.
Service & Support Administration
Our Service and Support Administration is your first and most important contact when receiving supports from the Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Individuals receiving supports will be assigned a Service and Support Administrator, who will serve as the primary point of coordination. The Service and Support Administrator, known as an SSA, will coordinate supports in order to give individuals the highest level of independence possible.
The SSA connects individuals to needed resources. With person-centered thinking and advocacy, the SSA works with the individual they support to develop a plan that helps them reach their life goals.
Waiver Services
A waiver is a funding source that helps pay for the services and supports needed by people with developmental disabilities. It is funded by a combination of 60-percent Medicaid dollars and 40-percent local tax dollars. Waivers include:
Individual Options (IO) Waiver
Level 1 Waiver
Self-Empowered Life Funding Waiver (SELF)
Charting the LifeCourse
What is Charting the LifeCourse?
Charting the LifeCourse is a frameword designed to support families to maximize their capacity, strengths, and unique abilities to best nurture, love, and support their family member to achieve goals.
The LifeCourse framework helps people and families of all abilities, and at any age or stage of life by supporting them to:
develop a vision for a good life;
think about what they need to know and do to achieve their vision;
identify how to find or develop supports as they work toward their vision; and
discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
The LifeCourse framework operates under the core belief that all people have the right to live, love, work, play, and pursue their life aspirations.
