4 • The Beacon March 27, 2025
Awards presented during DD Awareness Month Luncheon
By Josie Sellers Beacon Editor
Several awards were presented during the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Luncheon held March 19 in the Coshocton Community Room and hosted by the Coshocton County Board of DD.
Buehler’ s received the Employer Award, which recognizes a community employer who employs a person with a developmental disability and goes above and beyond to help the employee be successful.
Debbie Christmas, employment manager for the county board, read about why Buehler’ s was nominated for the award.
“ They have been supporting several of the people in our program for many years in a variety of ways. One of our individuals is preparing to celebrate six years of employment with Buehler’ s. They work closely with job coaches to ensure timely and consistent longterm employment supports are provided,” Christmas said.
The Local Hero Award was won by Erwin Family Eye Care. This award recognizes someone in the community whose basic nature is to give without expecting anything in return. They promote healthy ideas and offer support and guidance to those with developmental disabilities.
Erwin Family Eye Care was nominated for the award because of the approximately 35 years the office has performed eye exams for students at Hopewell School.
“ They knew that a lot of the students in our school never had the opportunity to be able to visit the eye doctor for an exam,” said Jill Lahna, human resources for the county board.“ He has continued to provide eye exams for our students each year, and now his daughter Danielle Ellis has also joined him in providing the services to our students. He has never charged us for this service and has a great skill set and presence in performing the exams on some of our more difficult students.”
Dr. Erwin was appreciative of the award.
Josie Sellers
Awards were presented during the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Luncheon held March 19. Winners were Buehler’ s managers Amy Hazlett, Carol Christner and Nathan Asire, Employer Award; Marybeth Slater from Slater Family Farm Outreach, Community Partner Award; Dr. Danielle Ellis and Dr. David Erwin from Erwin Family Eye Care, Local Hero Award; Cody Croy, Individual Spotlight Award; and attorney Kelly Bratton, Community Partner Award.
“ This is quite the honor,” he said.“ With Danielle helping now too, hopefully we can continue this for many more years.”
Two Community Partner Awards were presented. These awards are given to an individual, family member, staff person, volunteer or organization that has worked diligently to create partnerships and alliances within Coshocton County.
Charity Simmerman, SSA manager for the county board, recognized Slater Family Farm Outreach with the first award.
Their nomination form said,“ They allow volunteers from Hopewell Industries to help care for the animals on their farm. Marybeth brought the Ag for All Abilities program to our county fair. She organized practice and show times, the volunteers needed for the event, and she was in the ring helping individuals in our program show the animals. They have brought their animals to events so children can have the experience of playing with or cuddling an animal. Marybeth and her team at the farm are always looking for ways to include everyone with her animals and is the very definition of a community partner.”
Slater was surprised by the award and the opportunity to speak in front of a large crowd.
“ Slater Family Farm has been a dream of mine for a long time,” she said.“ We have mental health issues in our family, and the farm really helps us. I wanted to share how it helps and give back to the community. I appreciate the opportunity of being able to give back.”
The second Community Partner Award was given to Kelly Bratton, attorney, and presented to her by Steve Oster, superintendent of the county board.
The nomination he read said,“ Kelly is an attorney for Bratton Law, and she has been instrumental in helping us navigate guardianship questions and resources. She makes the process of guardianship as easy as it can be for the individuals and families in our program. She works quickly and diligently to answer questions and offers guidance and support with any situation.”
“ I joke that I practice the kind of law that keeps me out of the courtroom, so I’ m not much of a public speaker,” Bratton said.“ This award is a shock but thank you so
Josie Sellers
A panelist of those involved with Special Olympics spoke during the March 19 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Luncheon. DD public outreach manager Brittany Coon, left, asked questions to Norman Wheeler, Shawn Neighbor, Jacob Yocum and Wendy Croy.
very much for it.”
Oster presented the last award, the Individual Spotlight, to Cody Croy. He is a junior at Ridgewood High School and was born with spina bifida but has never let that stop him from setting goals and achieving them. Croy has earned his driver’ s license, secured a part-time job, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and placed second at the Special Olympics Basketball Skills Competition.
All his accomplishments made him the perfect selection for an award that honors someone who has overcome adversity and has a
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I hope you learned some new things here and leave feeling inspired.”
Steve Oster, superintendent of the county board
desire to be more independent and make a difference in their own life and others.
His mother Wendy spoke at the luncheon as a member of the Special Olympics panel. She said Special Olympics gave Cody the chance to participate in sports and be a part of a team like his brothers.
“ He was offered the opportunity to run the scoreboard at games or be a team manager, but he wanted to compete,” Wendy Croy said.
After high school Cody Croy plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to participate in its newly formed adaptive sports program and study sports journalism. In addition to Wendy Croy, the Special Olympics panelists were Jacob Yocum, athlete; Shawn Neighbor, coach and parent; and Norman Wheeler, referee.
“ This is the only sport where if you make a call, a player comes and gives you a hug,” Wheeler said.“ It’ s a blessing to be involved in the program.”
Neighbor said he has thought about coaching other places but quickly realized there is no where else he’ d rather be than with the Hopewell Indians Special Olympics teams.
“ Our No. 1 rule is to have fun,” he said.
Yocum has participated in golf, basketball and bowling for the Hopewell Indians. He’ s enjoyed having fun and learning about the sports and appreciates all his coaches.
Another topic discussed at the luncheon was grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act. Coshocton County was awarded $ 524,000 to make the community more accessible to those with disabilities. A variety of projects were completed including updates to playgrounds in the county, Caroline’ s Carts at Walmart, Tractor Supply, Rural King, universal changing tables for the Coshocton County Fair and River View Schools, accessible picnic tables, a pool lift at the KOA Campground Pool, and an accessible stage and ramp at the community room for events.
“ We were thankful to be able to do a lot with the money and give back to the community,” Oster said.
The luncheon wrapped up with a book raffle.
“ I hope you learned some new things here and leave feeling inspired,” Oster said.