MARCH 2025
ACBDD
Special Edition Uplifting voices is ACBDD goal By Kevin Davis Superintendent of ACBDD
Personal stories have a way of cultivating appreciation for people with diverse abilities and fostering understanding of the different challenges they may face. Those of us who work at the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities could easily list all of the important initiatives that help people with developmental disabilities live the lives of their choosing and to overcome barriers. But why not, instead, show you through their stories.
Dozens of happy faces show the value of the Ray’s Days! summer camp excursion to Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills last year. The month-long day camp is provided by the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Campers thrive in enhanced ‘Ray’s Days!’ summer program By Kendall Timms & Charlie James Special Edition staff writers
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miles and summer fun continued last summer during the Ray’s Days! Summer Camp, provided by the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Located on the Beacon School campus on West Union Street in Athens, the program includes campers from ages seven to 21. The program has seen significant changes over its seven-year run, such as new in-camp activities, interactive field trips, and a more complete staff of college-aged counselors to complement the community experience. Serving in his first year as director of the summer camp, Paul Richard has introduced several innovations into the Ray’s Days! program, while still putting the well-being of the campers first with care and compassion. Local parents of children with
disabilities have been grateful for the renewed summer experience that Paul created.
ents, Ray’s Days! relieves that worry and provides a service that has no comparison in southeast Ohio.
Megan McElligott Meyer, whose Paul has 22 years of experience runchild, Fiona, ning summer camps attends Ray’s for organizations IF YOU GO Days!, lauded the around the county program, saying, and is especially good WHAT: Ray’s Days! summer camp “This past year, it at implementing a just felt incredibly more active routine WHEN: June 16-July 11, 2025 organized. It felt for the campers with like there was a disabilities — with WHERE: 801 W. Union St., Athens lot more commu“fun” as the top goal. nication. And the “This is not summer ADMISSION: See eligibility and kids were really school,” Paul noted. sign-up information on Page 7 encouraged to get “This is a camp.” out and to see the Field trips, days larger community, and for the comat the pool, group activities, and munity to see them.” guest presenters are all facets of the One of the bright spots about Ray’s Days! that makes it attractive to families comes from the price of admission: free. Whereas other camps that provide such a wide range of services might be unaffordable for many par-
program that have been added or improved to Ray’s Days! over the past few years. “The big thing for me in developing
See RAY’S DAYS, Page 8
Every year, March is designated as Developmental DisDavis abilities Awareness Month, which focuses on people’s diverse abilities and celebrates their contributions to our communities. At the ACBDD, we do this every day, all year round. But, for the month of March, we take a little extra time to promote who we are and what we do to a wider audience. One way we do that is through this Special Edition. This year, we partnered with the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and The Post to highlight the stories of individuals who have overcome challenges, reached their goals, and imagined new futures for themselves with the help of a supportive community and through programs of the ACBDD. You’ll read about young people being offered new experiences during the Ray’s Days! Summer Camp; you’ll meet Carlee, who took on a leadership role with a local theater group; and you’ll learn how Savannah was supported to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional artist. Those are just some of the personal stories that demonstrate the ACBDD’s commitment to creating an integrated and inclusive community. By uplifting such voices, we hope readers have a deeper understanding and appreciation of this field and feel proud to support the work that we do. Thank you.