Reflecting on the Past, Looking Toward the Future: Superintendent Leigh Anne Wenning’s Message

Greetings and happy 2025! The Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities had another productive and impactful year in 2024, and we look forward to continuing that momentum into the new year.

The employees at the Shelby County Board of DD work year-round to ensure that people with disabilities live fulfilling lives in our local community by providing opportunities and support to help them meet their goals.

A few highlights from 2024 include our award of a 3-year accreditation from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, our partnership with the YMCA for an inclusive camp, continued success at Shelby Hills Preschool, a new satellite location in Russia, and many other successful connections and programs.

If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on all the happenings on the hill at the Shelby County Board of DD.

Early Intervention and Shelby Hills Preschool

Beating Cabin Fever: Fun Indoor Activities to Keep Your Toddler Active and Engaged

Submitted by the Early Intervention Team

Winter is upon us, and it does not take long for families to see the effects of cabin fever on their young children. Children are built to move and groove, and we often see behaviors arise when young children do not get enough activity. Below is a list of activities that use common household items that you can try with your kids or grandkids this winter. All these activities are ways to build language and develop motor skills while having fun!

Painter's Tape

Place on the floor as a path for them to walk on

Make a car track to drive cars on

Have them try to pull it off the hard floor

Make a sticky ball with it (language: ball, sticky, help, off…)

Pretend it is a river and encourage them to jump over the tape line

Turn sticky side out and have them stick on pieces of colored paper (have them tear the pieces of paper)

Laundry Basket

Give rides by pushing around the house

Load them up with blankets and get cozy to watch a show/movie

Shoot balls into the basket

Blankets

Make a fort by covering tables or chairs

Give rides on the blanket

Make a swing/hammock (with 2 strong adults holding on)

Hide toys underneath and ‘find’ them

Fold to make a narrow strip and walk on it like a balance beam

Roll them up like a burrito

Use blankets or pillows to play “The Floor is Hot Lava”

Obstacle Course Ideas

Use chairs or ottomans to climb over/under

Use tape to make a line to walk on

Use ottoman or chairs and cover with a blanket to make a tunnel to crawl through

Use heavy books to step up/down

Balloons

Blow up a balloon and play “keepy uppy”

Put it between legs and penguin waddle

Blow balloon across floor or use straw with cotton ball/pompom

Tape balloon to the wall and jump to tap balloon.

Cups & Plates

Stack plastic cups into pyramid

Use a ball to knock them down

Place paper plates on the floor and let kids use them to “skate”

We don’t recommend screen time very often, but there is a great YouTube channel called “Danny Go! Move your Body” that does exercise, dance, and moving routines to get the wiggles out!

And lastly, a family favorite, call out a color and children race to find a toy of that color and bring it to a parent (who gets to sit on couch and relax!) Use a sample color for kids who don’t know their colors yet and have them match.

We hope these activities help relieve the winter blahs in your family. Remember, a happy toddler learns better than a grumpy toddler!

Holiday Cheer Comes to The Hill with a Unique Sensitive Santa Experience

The Early Intervention Team recently organized a special Sensitive Santa event for families in our Early Intervention and Preschool programs at Shelby Hills and Sidney. This event offered a calming and welcoming environment where children had the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and experience the magic of the holiday season in a way that was tailored to their individual needs.

Designed with sensitivity in mind, the event created a space where children could enjoy the festive spirit without feeling overwhelmed. The team’s careful planning ensured that each child could enjoy the experience at their own pace, providing them with a unique and memorable holiday moment.

A special thank you to Santa Branscum for his warm and understanding presence, which made the event even more meaningful for the children and families in attendance.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue offering opportunities for our families to connect and create lasting memories.

Community Education and Outreach

Strengthening Community Ties: Our Continued Partnership with Wilson Health

Sara flips the switch during the 2024 Wilson Health Tree Lighting

At the Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities, we are proud of the meaningful partnerships we’ve developed over the years, and our collaboration with Wilson Health is one that continues to thrive. What began as a simple Walking Club at Tawawa Park has blossomed into a wonderful partnership centered on health, wellness, and community building.

One of our most cherished traditions is the annual Wilson Health Community Tree Lighting. Each year, Shelby County Board of DD has the honor of "flipping the switch" to light the Wilson Health Christmas tree. For Sara, who had the privilege of flipping the switch this year, this moment held even more significance as her father had been a physician at Wilson Health, adding a deeply personal connection to the celebration.

We are grateful for the continued partnership with Wilson Health and look forward to all the exciting opportunities the future holds. Together, we are making a lasting impact on our community.

Kicking Off the New Year: Shelby County Eagles Special Olympics Basketball Season Begins.

The 2025 basketball season for Shelby County Special Olympics began in early January, with 35 athletes spread across two teams. The season is off to a great start, and we are excited to watch the athletes in action throughout the year.

Shelby County Special Olympics is an all-volunteer-run program, and we are incredibly grateful for the volunteers who make everything possible. This includes two head coaches who have completed training through Special Olympics North America, including concussion training, along with four assistant coaches, one medical volunteer (also a county board employee), and volunteers who serve as officials, singers, and photographers. Without the commitment and hard work of these volunteers, our programs wouldn’t exist.

Thank you to all who give their time and effort to support our athletes!

We hope to see you at a game soon!

For more information about Shelby County Special Olympics or to sign up as a volunteer, please reach out to Jessica Guillozet, Special Olympics Coordinator, at jguillozet@shelbydd.org. Stay up-to-date on all our events by following Shelby County Special Olympics on Facebook

Service and Support Administration

Staff Spotlight

Kathy Cartwright

Position: Medicaid Manager

Family: My husband, Steve, and I have two adult children. Macey Cartwright Davis is married with one son, Foster (1 ½ years old). Cole Cartwright is currently engaged to be married next November.

Favorite Food: Pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, dark chocolate with raspberries.

Hobbies: My husband and I make home items from bourbon barrels – clocks, charcuterie trays, tables, wreaths, etc.

Favorite Vacation: Anywhere on a quite beach with a good book.

One of the biggest challenges you face as a Medicaid Manager:

Keeping up and interpreting Medicaid rules to fit individual needs.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Constant change and serving individuals with disabilities so they can get what they need with as little red tape as possible. Brainstorming solutions with SSAs.

Kathy and Husband Steve's bourbon barrel clock

Kathy and Husband Steve's bourbon barrel wreath

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