Summit DD, the Akron-Summit County Public Library, and the Children’s Museum of Akron , in partnership with ReelAbilities Cleveland are proud to announce the return of the ReelAbilities Film Festival – Cleveland (RAFF-CLE) – This year in a new virtual format. Read More ›
DD Awareness Month 2020
March DD Awareness Month is just around the corner. Celebrate with us and let’s make this year the best one yet!
Kick off the month with Inclusion Day (3/2) and look through some of the other ways you can join in the month-long celebration below – or create your own and tag us on Facebook to share! Read More ›
Advocacy and Networking
Summit DD is the community resource that makes meaningful connections for nearly 5,000 children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities. Those connections become part of your journey. With each connection, your network grows, helping you on your path to becoming your own strongest advocate. We encourage you to connect with these groups and strengthen your own network.
Below we have compiled some of the local networking and advocacy groups for you to tap into.
Self-Advocacy
- The ARC of Ohio: The Arc is a grassroots organization which advocates for human rights, personal dignity and community participation for individuals with developmental disabilities through legislative and social action, information and education, local chapter supports and family involvement.
- Disability Rights Ohio (DRO): Disability Rights Ohio (formerly Ohio Legal Rights Service) is a non-profit corporation with a mission to advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities in Ohio.
- Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Advocacy resources: Thanks to the DODD, there are a variety of advocacy resources, tools and councils available to help you make your voice heard. Find the one that is right for you.
- Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD): Empowering Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Find the resources you need to live your best life.
Networking and Advocacy
- Autism Society of Greater Akron: The Autism Society is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots autism organization committed to improving the lives of those affected by autism. The Greater Akron affiliate was established in 1987 and serves Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, and Stark counties.
- Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support.
- Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Networking groups: Check out the networking groups and councils available through the DODD. From the Early Childhood Forum to the Family advisory council, there are a number of ways to stay connected to people and families just like you.
- The Upside of Downs: The Up Side of Downs is a nonprofit organization for people with Down syndrome which started as a grassroots parent movement that now joins families throughout Northeast Ohio.
- Don’t forget to check out our event pages for additional opportunities to learn and network with other families!
Useful Links & FAQs
Useful Links & FAQs
There is a wealth of resources and information available to you.
Below are links to helpful organizations and answers to many of the
top questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need to understand the MUI process? Aren't sure what IEP stands for? Let us help! From services to levy funding, you can find the answers you need right at your finger tips in our library of frequently asked questions.
Advocacy and Networking
Connecting with others is the first step to empowerment and self-advocacy. Let us help you find the parent networking group or advocacy organization that is right for you.
Rights and Resolving Complaints
Everyone is afforded certain rights and freedoms under the law. It's important to know those rights. It's also important to know how to resolve a complaint about services should you ever need to.
Funding
Summit DD is a levy-funded agency that relies on the generous Summit County tax payers to support the more than 5,000 children and adults with disabilities in Summit County. Thanks to those levy dollars, we are able to tap into state and federal funding which invests an additional $60 mil into our county. Learn more about how Summit DD and the essential services that people rely on each day are funded.