Former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” in the late ’80s with the goal of integrating citizens with disabilities into the general community by fostering programs for careers, education and job coaching.

This year, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, while partnering with other agencies, launched the March 2016 campaign called “Side-by-Side,” which highlights ways people with and without developmental disabilities come together to form strong and diverse communities.

In March, as well as year-round in the Marietta area, that mission is not lost on local agencies and organizations.

Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities

With the board preparing for the upcoming privatization of its adult arm of WASCO, Inc., the adult services sector is also celebrating its move into the Marietta Armory as it plans to continue to serve the community and its adult participants.

“On April 6, the state director of Ohio Developmental Disabilities will be in town, and (we) will be taking him around to the Courthouse Cafe and they will be checking out a residential home and programs in the area,” said business development manager Nancy Felix. “We’re hoping to just get the word out there.”

With Ohio Gov. John Kasich coming in that day for his State of the State address, the board will also be getting governor-level attention that Felix hopes can help foster improvements while also garnering recognition for existing services.

WASCO, Inc., recently moved into the Marietta Armory, and has been spending Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with adults working on projects for its Heart to Art Galleria, which produces items for sale at the River City Farmers Market and at its space on Colegate Drive.

“We rotate who is down here about every two weeks, but it’s about the same amount of people each time,” said coordinator Ezra Carpenter. “We’re actually working on coasters right now, which are stained with images of Marietta from a local photographer.”

WASCO operates not only the art gallery and Courthouse Cafe on a regular basis but also the Marietta Harbor for the summer season, and also has a variety of other employment services.

“Ewing School is a great avenue with the kids, too,” Felix said.

Ewing School is the student education end of the board, which offers preschool programs and specialized education for students ages 6 to early adulthood with multiple disabilities. The board also coordinates area Head Start programs and the vocational enrichment program called Project WAVE.

Marietta Middle School

Marietta Middle School is not the only public school in the area that offers specialized programs

and opportunities for students with special needs, but the school is currently working to send a group of middle and high school students on a trip they previously did not have the opportunity to enjoy.

“Deborah Kiefer and I co-teach students with disabilities at the middle school, and we have a traditional (Washington) D.C. trip for eighth-graders, but our students have never been able to participate for various reasons,” said intervention specialist teacher Elizabeth Houck. “We have a group this year of kids that are all physically able, just not all financially able.”

Houck, along with other teachers and with help from some parents, are now planning a trip for a group of 22 students in the intervention program to take a trip to D.C. from May 12-14.

“Each student will be doing research on all the monuments and we’re really going to cover about all of them,” Houck said. “We have 22 students going, 16 at the middle school and the rest from the high school.”

Though some parents have pledged funds for the trip, the group needs about $17,000 to make it possible for students to attend. Houck said they have been hard at work fundraising, including an event this week.

“This weekend on (Saturday) is an all-you-can eat Pasta Night with Nate Diruzza at The Adelphia,” Houck said. “The kids will be there busing tables for that.”

The $20 event begins with dinner starting at 5 p.m. and entertainment by Nate Diruzza starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at Marietta Middle School or the evening of the event at the door.

“We’re pretty close to the goal,” Houck said. “This is our last big fundraiser.”

The group has also received grants from the Marietta Community Foundation and Marietta alumni, among more contributions. Those wishing to help out that cannot attend the dinner can donate to the trip’s GoFundMe account at Gofundme.com/9c6kwj54.

Washington County Public Library

Those stopping into the Washington County Public Library in Marietta will find featured information and books on famous and notable individuals with disabilities throughout the month, too.

“We have several books for both adults and children that show that people with disabilities have needs and feelings and are accomplished just like the rest of us,” said adult services librarian Andrea Adkins.

In both the children’s department on the basement level all the way up to the mezzanine, children and adults alike can find featured books and literature on display about a variety of disabilities.

“We hope many local residents will check out these books to better their understanding of disabilities and increase awareness,” Adkins said.

Everything from books about sign language to information about different developmental disabilities will be featured, often material that sometimes book browsers might not see or think about.

“We have coloring in the children’s section for it, and in the adult’s section, we have a small display with handouts and books,” Adkins said.

The library is sponsoring the program with Supporters of Disability Rights of the Mid-Ohio Valley. Founder Terrie Lincoln said the displays will travel to Marietta College March 22 and March 29 and Washington State Community College on March 24 and March 31.

“We will be visiting some of the schools during the month, too, and my teen ambassadors from my program are reading stories about disabilities and doing a craft with them,” Lincoln said. “We’re getting it out to them at a young age so they have a better understanding when they grow up.”