The Ohio Association of County Boards Serving People with Developmental Disabilities (OACB) announced Wednesday they have hired Dr. Leslie McClain, Children's Services Administrator at the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) in Dayton, as their Children's Services Coordinator beginning March 1. Dr. McClain will manage all of the association's education, training, and government advocacy activities concerning the delivery of services to children with developmental disabilities at Ohio's 88 county boards of DD.
"Children's services are a critical component of the overall support system provided by county boards of DD because they have the potential to dramatically alter the effect a disability will have on a person throughout their life," said Executive Director Dan Ohler. "We are thrilled that Leslie has agreed to join us because she brings a wealth of valuable experience to the position and is best-equipped to help our members across the state provide better services to children with disabilities."
Dr. McClain managed all children's services for the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disability Services in Dayton. Since joining the agency in 2005, she achieved a number of honors and awards - including a "Best Practice" recognition for the county's Early Intervention program from the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an international non-profit group that reviews health and human services providers.
Prior to this position, Dr. McClain worked for private, public, and non-profit providers of services to women and children, including the Dayton Public School district and the American Red Cross.
In her new role at OACB, Dr. McClain will cover a wide variety of subjects pertaining to children with developmental disabilities, including: autism programs, early intervention services, the state's Help Me Grow program, and pre-school/school-age programs. She will advise member boards as well as state and federal policymakers on programs, proposed legislation, and agency rules in these areas, as well as conduct research on best practices for possible statewide modeling and implementation.
"Children with developmental disabilities are a passion of mine, and this position offers me the unique opportunity to help improve their lives on a larger scale," McClain said. "I am excited to begin this new challenge."
Dr. Leslie McClain earned her Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in Speech and Hearing Science. She also holds a Master's degree in Speech/Language Pathology from Central Missouri State University, and received her Bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She lives in Dublin.
