History of the Fayette County Board of DD

In 1967 there were more than 10,000 people with developmental disabilities in Ohio institutions. At that time parents of children with disabilities had the option of sending their child to a state institution or having them live at home. On July 18, 1967, the Ohio legislature passed H.B.169 which mandated services for the “mentally retarded” and developmentally disabled through county boards of mental retardation.

In the fall of 1967, Fayette Progressive School opened with 8 children at the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street. Nancy Black was the teacher, Fern Ginn was part-time administrator, and board members consisted of Mary Alice Graumlich, Martha Wagner, Dr. Robert Heiny, Judge Omar Schwart, Jane Mossbarger, Pauline Beatty, Claire Weade, and Nobel Pompel. The first year’s budget was $10,000, most coming from billing the school districts for the students attending. Other funds came from donations. Two buses were used for transportation, one leased from the Fayette County Children’s Home.

In the fall of 1968, the Progressive School moved to 3 rooms at the Washington Junior High School (the “Old Middle School”). There were now 14 students and two new teachers, Mrs. Garnette Kendall and Claudia Coe.

In 1971, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was amended to bring people with disabilities (other than blindness) into the sheltered workshop system. In 1972, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was created, relieving families of the financial responsibility of caring for their adult disabled children. Carl Whitacre was hired in ’72 as teacher and school administrator. In November of 1973, the first levy, .35 mills for 5 years was passed, and the budget was $43,600.

In August of 1974, attendance rose to 41 students in 5 classes and 14 staff members. School began in the Sunnyside Building on South Fayette Street. Voters turned down a request for a .65 mill additional levy – so far, the only time in FCBDD’s history. The Board decided that the public needed more information about what the school does, emphasizing that we were separate from the local schools.

In 1975 Donna S, a student in the teenage class was hired as the school dishwasher. The budget for 1976 was approved at $126,400. The school reached 46 students. Bobbie Van Bargen was hired as ½ time Home Trainer, Ruth Raypole was hired as Clerk/Stenographer, Janelle Dove became the first full-time Speech Therapist, Steve Davis was hired ½ time with both Fayette and Clinton counties as the first Physical Development Specialist and Special Olympics Coordinator. The new workshop, called the Fayette Adult Training Center (FATC) opened in one room at the Sunnyside Building with 8 people from the previous teenage class. Bill Creamer was the first Workshop Director, with Virginia Jordan as an aide (or first Workshop Specialist). The first jobs included applying gaskets to pumps for Calmar, assembling pens, wrapping parking meter token and ceramics.

In the first official Special Olympics activity, the Fayette volleyball team placed 2^nd in a tournament at Orient State Institute in March of 1977. Also in ’77, FATC moved to 426 N. Fayette St. In the first annual report form FATC, it was reported that the average annual income per client was $372. The average hourly wage was $.15 to $.90. In 1978 the FATC Board voted to change the name of the workshop to Fayette Progressive Industries (FPI).

The 80’s bring more change. In 1983, FPI began a contract with Chappell Door to manufacture ironing board covers and with Calmar to assemble inhalers. This 8 year contract with Calmar will eventually require extra non-handicapped 2^nd shift workers. At the peak, FPI shipped 115,000 units per week. In December of ’85, the Rest Area Program began for FPI clients through a contract with Ohio Industries for the Handicapped and ODOT. The Fayette County Commissioners donated 5 acres of land on Robinson Road for a new workshop in 1986. One Special Olympics athlete, Rosemary M. was selected to attend the International Special Olympics Games at Notre Dame University in Indiana in 1987.

Steve Hilgeman was hired as the 3^rd Superintendent of FCBDD in 1997 and construction began for the new Early Childhood Family Center (ECFC) at the current site on Leesburg Avenue. Opening day was Feb. 2, 1998.

Shared services between Highland County and Fayette County began in 2011 with the 4^th Superintendent, Fred Williams. Today, Debra Buccilla 5^th Superintendent of FCBDD, is still embracing shared services with both counties.

There have been many positive strides since the beginning of Fayette County DD in 1967, but maybe one of the greatest is the dropping of “MR” from all MRDD programs in the state of Ohio. The Board officially became the Fayette County Board