SPONSORED CONTENT
WORDS BY LISA DAVIS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
CLERMONT COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Turning it UP in Clermont County
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and encouraged the public to join him in “according our fellow citizens with such disabilities both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” A lot of things have great happened since then, including the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, transformations in employment opportunities, and the rise of self advocacy. In Clermont County, our self advocacy group is called “Turn Up Clermont.” The group was established in 2017 and works in partnership with the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities to raise awareness of disability rights in the community. The name was created by one of the members who encourages everyone to “turn it up;” no matter how your day is going or what is ahead, you can always turn it up and make it better!
Turn Up Clermont holds two meetings each month (one in the morning and one in the evening to accommodate work schedules) and has 15 members. Co-facilitators from Clermont DD attend meetings to discuss how members should advocate for themselves in an appropriate and meaningful ways. Members attend local networking opportunities and statewide conferences to develop leadership skills. In addition, they volunteer in the community when they can, both individually and as a group. This month, Turn Up Clermont members attend the annual Advocacy and Awareness Day at the Ohio Statehouse which includes guest speakers in the morning and meetings with their senator and state representatives in the afternoon. Whether they are advocating for a common cause or just want to express their appreciation for support, Turn Up Clermont is making a difference in the lives of people who have disabilities— one conversation at a time.
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March 2020 I CINCINNATIPARENT.COM
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