Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (TCBDD)

For Infants - Early Intervention:

Early Intervention is a partnership developed to offer help to parents and families when there are concerns with their child's development. Our Early Intervention Specialists build supports and resources that
enhance children's learning and development through everyday activities in everyday places.

Pre School & School Age: 

Preschool and School-age students ages 3 through 18 (age 21 if the student has not completed the academic standards) are placed at Starlight School by their Local School District of Residence through an Individual Education Planning (IEP) Team after determining this to be the least restrictive environment. Only students with multiple issues, needing a smaller student to staff ratio, support from therapists, as well as a modified curriculum attend Starlight School.

During the Preschool years (ages 3 and 5), students are introduced to structure and routines; basic preschool skills such as shapes, letters, numbers, etc.; work on independent skills of dressing, feeding, and toileting; as well as social skills of learning to share, play with others, take turns, follow directions, etc. Preschool students attend four (4) full days a week with the fifth day used for teachers to make home visits to complete necessary paperwork and/or transfer skills from one environment to another. Typically developing students also attend to serve as role models.

Students turning five (5), either transition to their home school district or remain at Starlight School for additional work on the necessary basic skills needed to move
on. School-age students age 6 through 18 (age 21 if the student has not completed the academic standards) are provided educational services in one of four (4) classroom settings.

Intensely Structured Classroom:

The classroom setting includes structured routines, focus on communication skills, focus on being more independent, and a decreased amount of environmental stimulation.

Technology Classroom:

This classroom setting uses of a variety of assistive technology modalities to the extent possible with increased therapist involvement, (Speech/Occupation Therapy/Physical Therapy) as well as Adaptive Physical Education.

Employment Navigation:

The employment navigator SSA facilitates access to, and ensures coordination of needed employment services and supports from various systems and resources, including but not limited to Medicaid, education, vocational rehabilitation, workforce centers, mental health services, benefits planning, counseling services, transportation services and employment wraparound services. Specific facilitation and coordination efforts are based upon the individuals’ person centered plan and their current place on the Path to Community.

Functional Academics:

Through a more traditional approach of teaching, Starlight School provides students an increased potential to expose students with more specific academic skills in the areas of math, reading, and writing. This classroom will work more closely with the Public Schools to identify what skills students need to return to their home district and work collaboratively to make the transition back as smoothly as
possible.

Independence/Vocational Classroom:

provision of increased opportunities for successful "transitions" (School to Work). Collaboration with the Adult Program (as well as our Pathways/VRP3 Project) to provide students with volunteer unpaid and paid work experiences will also take place.

Service & Support Administration:

Service & Support Administrators (SSA) provide support to link individuals to the services and supports they need. They help discover what is important to the person and what is important for the person. The everyday focus is on the person and their service needs. The SSA is the primary point of coordination responsible to the individual for the effective development and implementation of the individual service plan. They promote independence, choice and community integration for individuals and work together with the person, family and other important people in the life of the individual.

If you wish to receive services, we will need to determine if you are eligible. In the State of Ohio, the guidelines for eligibility depend on the age of the individual. For any TuscBDD service, an individual must reside in Tuscarawas County. Eligibility for services is also one of the responsibilities of service and support. One SSA is assigned to determine if someone qualifies for County board of Developmental Disabilities services. Call the main telephone number to be connected to the staff person assigned to the eligibility process.

Family and Service Support: 

Family and Service Supports include respite care, special dietary needs, counseling, training and education for parents and other members of the family, lease or purchase of adaptive equipment, assistance in modifying the home to facilitate the care of the individual, other services needed by the family to maintain the individual in their home, and other resources that can assist the family to learn how best to help their child grow and develop skills needed for success.