Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities

www.murrayridgecenter.org

1Who Are We?We are the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD)We are NOT the Lorain County Board of Mental HealthWe have been providing services for 45years, and currently serve more than 2,000 Lorain County residents with DDWe employ/fund employment of more than 700 people who serve individuals with DD

Every county has a board of DD; boards were established by state legislation in 1967, through Senate Bill 169The governing board is comprised of 7 individuals, which includes family members of individuals served; 5 are appointed by the Lorain County Commissioners and 2 are appointed by the Lorain County Probate JudgeUp until October 2009, we and other boards were known as the board of MRDD; In October 2009, the state legislature removed the term mental retardation from the names of county boards of MRDD. In October of 2010, federal legislation replaced the term mental retardation with intellectual disabilities in the federal register.Murray Ridge works with a number of individuals who have dual diagnoses and we attempt to help them to access the appropriate mental health services2Helping PeopleFor a Lifetime

Our MissionTo ensure the availability of services and supports that assist eligible individuals in living the life they choose; to promote their health and safety; and to assist and support the families of these individuals in achieving these goals.

Whom Do We Serve?Developmental disabilities includes such diagnoses as:

Autism Spectrum Disorders Cerebral Palsy Traumatic Brain Injury Downs SyndromeMental RetardationPrader-Willi SyndromeSpina Bifida

Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments.ASDsare a group of developmental disabilitiesthat can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges; include such disorders as Aspergers Syndrome. CDC estimates that an average of 1 in 88 children in theU.S have an ASD.Cerebral Palsy is condition, sometimes thought of as a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinkingDowns Syndrome is a chromosomal disorderMental Retardation is a intellectual impairmentPrader-Willi Syndrome is a congenital (present from birth) disease that involves obesity, decreased muscle tone, decreased mental capacity, and sex glands that produce little or no hormonesSpina Bifida is a birth defect in which the spinal cord does not develop properlyTraumatic Brain Injury is a developmental disability only if it occurs prior to age 225To Qualify for Murray Ridge Center Programs and Services One Must:

Have a developmental disability documented by a qualified professional (mental illness is not a qualifying diagnosis)Exhibit characteristics prior to age 22Have substantial functional limitations in at least three major life activitiesReside in Lorain County

Most of our consumers are diagnosed by medical doctors, but diagnoses may come from other medical professionals such as psychologistsSelf-direction refers to an individuals ability to decide for him or herself what he/she needs to do in management of ones lifeEconomic self-sufficiency refers to ones ability to manage ones finances and maintain employment6What Do We Do?

2014

ProgramNumber Served NotesEarly Intervention733Murray Ridge School171Includes Preschool and School-Age studentsAdult Services996 Ages 18-24148 Ages 25-45457 Ages 46 and older391Community Employment419More than 200 work in both the community and Opportunity/Vocational CentersFamily Support680 eligible children and adultsResidential 567Many require this care because their parents are elderly or deceased8Murray Ridge CenterEarly Intervention

Offers services to children birth to three years of age who have or are at risk of having a developmental delay.

An example of a developmental delay is when a childs language skills fall significantly short of the expected milestones.Pre-mature birth is an example of a condition that puts a child at risk of a developmental delay.Early Intervention is funded almost entirely through local levy dollars.

9The Story of Hope and Faith

Twins born 11 weeks early (29 weeks gestation)Weighed 2 pounds eachBecause they were born prematurely, they had several medical conditions associated with risk for developmental disabilitiesThey were enrolled in Help Me Grow and received home visit services from the Early Intervention Department at Murray RidgeAn Early Intervention Specialist monitored their development and referred them for occupational and physical therapies. Their parents received information on how to stimulate development through everyday activities in the home and instruction on therapeutic interventions such as infant massage.

10Murray Ridge School PreschoolMurray Ridge Preschool offers individualized, classroom-based speech, occupational and physical therapies, state-of-the-art educational equipment, outstanding staff and an integrated classroom enabling children with developmental disabilities to learn and grow alongside their typically-developing peers.

Typically-developing students are served at a fee.Children with disabilities must be referred to the preschool program by their local school districts.The Preschool is funded by a combination of Ohio Department of Education (ODE) unit funding and contributions from the referring school district, and is subsidized through local levy dollars.11Murray Ridge SchoolServes Lorain County students (ages 6 through 21) with significant developmental disabilities

Uses a functional life skills curriculum

Recognized by the Ohio Center for Autism for its outstanding Autism program

Approximately 1/3 of all county boards of DD in Ohio operated schools in 2011. Stakeholder feedback indicates a strong demand for Murray Ridge School to continue operation.Approximately half of the cost of operating our school comes through local levy dollars. The other half comes through Ohio Department of Education per-pupil funding. Murray Ridge School charges Lorain County school districts nothing for school-age services. School districts provide one-on-one aides for students if needed in the Murray Ridge School classrooms.State law requires school services up to age 22 if needed. Many of our students do stay until age 22, which reflects the complexities of fully serving this special needs population at an appropriate pace of learning.The decision to enroll a student at Murray Ridge School is made by a team consisting of parents, local school district personnel and Murray Ridge personnel, and is guided by the needs of the student.

12Murray Ridge School

Adult ServicesOpportunity/Vocational CentersVocational training and habilitation services are provided at three Opportunity/Vocational Centers in Elyria, Lorain, and Oberlin

These day facilities operate Monday through Friday year round

In 2011, 622 adults attended the WACs. The Murray Ridge Adult programs are funded through a combination of state, local and Medicaid funding. When the Medicaid funding can be accessed, more than six dollars of federal funding is provided for every four dollars of state or local monies expended.Murray Ridge Service and Support Administrators plan and coordinate most adult services and provide quality oversight.

14Adult ServicesCommunity EmploymentAssists and supports individuals with developmental disabilities to find and maintain jobs in the community

Some individuals receive vocational training with Murray Ridge mobile work crews

More than 100 local businesses utilized Murray Ridge vocational services in 2014

In 2011, 256 consumers receiving services, 166 consumers participated only in community employment services, while 90 attended an Opportunity/Vocational Center as well. An additional 102 consumers that attend an OVC also receive prevocational skills training from Community Employment.15The Story of A. J. A.J. and his brother were both born with p4-minus, a rare genetic cause of DD. In addition, this condition can cause a variety of medical problems.Having attended Murray Ridge School since preschool, A.J. graduated in 2008.During his senior year, A.J. participated in the Transition program to determine what he would do post-high school.At the end of the Transition program, A.J. opted to attend the Lorain Opportunity/Vocational Center.He is now participating actively in the adult program, where he focuses on social and daily living skills development.

P-4 minus, or Wolf-Hirsch horn Syndrome, is a chromosomal disorder.16The Story of Jesse

Jesse is a 25 year old man who has a developmental disability and is legally blind.He was referred to Murray Ridge by the Cleveland Sight Center for vocational assistance.Through Murray Ridge he attained a desired janitorial position, but his impairment posed challenges when completing job duties.A Murray Ridge Job Coach trained Jesse to map out areas to be cleaned (utilizing a feel technique) so that he knew how many laps would be required for thoroughness.Later in Jesses career, he was hired by Marshalls Department Store and his Murray Ridge Center Job Coach assisted him in using a similar feel technique to sort clothes.

17Murray Ridge Seniors Program

Young-at-Heart is a community-based program that enables participants 55 years of age and older to be physically and socially active.The needs of our seniors reflect the needs of seniors in general in our community. Murray Ridge strives to meet the special needs of maturing adults. Services provided to our seniors are funded the same way other adult services are funded. The life expectancy of individuals with developmental disabilities varies depending on a number of factors, such as the specific disability.The oldest person in our program is 84 years old.18Special Olympics

During the 2013-2014 season, 166 adults with developmental disabilities participated in Special Olympics sports through the Murray Ridge program.The Special Olympics program is funded through local levy dollars and a small amount of local donations.Funds solicited by the national program (and often advertised by major corporations) do not fund the Murray Ridge Special Olympics program.19Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

Pentathlon Gold Medalist 5-a-Side Soccer Team Gold MedalistsA pentathlon is five events which include, long jump, high jump, shot put, 100 meter dash, 400 meter dash

20Residential

Murray Ridge Centers Residential & Supported Living Programs provide the support that individuals need to be safe and successful in their home settings.

There are waiting lists for residential services in Lorain County and throughout Ohio and the United States because demand for these services significantly exceeds the ability of the developmental disabilities system to fund the requested services. Most people on residential waiting lists live in the family home.When parents die or become incapacitated, Murray Ridge Center must provide necessary residential services.Support is provided in a number of different types of settings: licensed group homes, small group settings of three-to-four people (many of whom rent a house from Murray Ridge Housing Corporation, which owns 22 homes for people with developmental disabilities throughout the county), semi-independently in their own apartments or homes, or in the family home. Note: Murray Ridge Housing Corporation is a non-profit organization that is not funded by the LCBDD.Nearly all residential services are funded through a Medicaid program whereby more than six dollars of federal funding is provided for every four dollars of state or local monies expended.Murray Ridge Service and Support Administrators plan and coordinate most residential services and provide quality oversight.

21Family Support Program

The Murray Ridge Family Support Program assists families with the care of eligible individuals who reside in the family home by providing limited funding for respite services, adaptive equipment and other expenses associated with meeting the needs of their family member with developmental disabilities. Supporting family caregivers helps to reduce the need for comprehensive residential services.

Nearly 700 individuals and their families received Family Support assistance in 2010. Of this number, 310 consumers received Family Support as their only Murray Ridge funded service. This program is funded through a combination of state and local levy dollars.Anyone who is determined eligible through the county board eligibility determination instruments may participate in the family support program. The amount of money allocated to each family depends upon dollars available for the program, the number of program participants and the level of need of the family. There are three need levels that are determined by a parent committee based on the circumstances of the eligible individual and the family. Family Support is the funder of last resort. A sliding income scale is used to determine what percentage of the cost of each item or service requested must be covered by the family. 22Sources of FundingMore than half of Murray Ridge Centers funding comes from local levies. Many levy dollars are used to access federal dollars through the Medicaid program. In this case, Murray Ridge Center pulls down more than six federal dollars for every four levy dollars spent.

Operating budget is approximately $34 million.Other funds include such things as social security benefits of residents of Board group homes, which go to offset their room and board costs, and funding that is received from private intermediate care facilities for the provision of day services to their residents.

23Thank you for helping us to help others for a lifetime.