Mission Statement
As a leader in the field of developmental disabilities. ADD
provides quality, flexible services to support individuals' needs, desires and
dreams.
The ADD Operating Philosophy
ADD believes that every person has abilities which have not been
fully realized and that every person is a vital part of our community. ADD is
committed to empowering the individual by providing quality services that are
flexible and supportive of one's needs, desires and dreams. ADD strives to
provide services that promote individual choice.
ADD...
is committed to quality and exceptional services
respects and values all people
empowers individuals to participate in choices that affect their lives
promotes responsibility and innovative thinking
develops supports when major service gaps occur in the community
ADD Values...
Self Determination and Individual choice
Integrity
Employee Development and Growth
Diversity
Financial Responsibility
Quality
ADD Values...
That our employees are the key to providing quality services
That each employee contributes value to the agency
That training and advancement are essential to employee value and development
That professional respect and integrity must be promoted
That employee family commitments are to be respected
About ADD
 The
Association for the Developmentally Disabled (ADD) was established on November
12, 1971 by the Franklin County Board of Mental Health and Retardation. ADD's
mission was to provide case management services for Franklin County and to
develop residential homes, respite care and public education. ADD was one of
the first private agencies created by the public sector to carry out a public
purpose. ADD provided case management services until 1975, when the State of
Ohio Mental Retardation Department assumed responsibility for all case
management services in the State of Ohio.
Between 1972 and 1976, ADD opened 12 residential and respite homes for people
with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Today, ADD
operates 17 residential homes for people with developmental disabilities
in central Ohio.
In 1975, ADD began providing day programming services for
residents who desired recreational and therapeutic daytime activities as
opposed to only vocational activities. The Adult Day Services program grew to
serve not only individuals from ADD's residential homes, but other individuals
with MR/DD in Franklin County. In 2001, Adult Day Services was renamed ADD's
Community Connections to reflect the change in program philosophy from a
facility based service to community-based recreational and educational
activities.
In 2004, Community Connections moved into the four ARC Industries workshops to
provide recreational and educational programming to individuals working in the
County Board workshops.
Also in 1975, ADD opened Developmental Daycare as the first
full-day daycare program for children with developmental disabilities in
Franklin County. The Dahlberg Learning Center, as the program was later
renamed, moved into its' current location at 1915 East Cooke Road in 1987. The
center has 8 classrooms serving up to 88 children ages 0 through 5. A special
wheelchair accessible playground was installed in 1982 with financial
assistance from the Columbus Foundation and the Friends of Dahlberg, a support
and fund raising organization.
ADD became a provider of supported living services in 1990.
ADD's Supported Living services provides individualized services to people in
their own homes. Service levels are based on the individuals' needs and range
from a few hours per week to 24 hours per day. ADD currently serves more than
120 individuals in supported living settings.
In 2006, ADD responded to the needs of individuals who wanted
additional choices in day services by creating the ADDvantage Center.This
program is based on a community center model, providing both in-center and
social, recreational and educational opportunities in the community.
In 2008, ADD launched a new vocational program.This program
provides training and vocational opportunities in small group settings with a
maximum staff ratio of 1:6. Employee participants work for ADD Vocational
Services, LLC in jobs for which they are paid at least minimum wage. The
initial job opportunities are in janitorial services, but the goal is to offer
a vocational opportunities in several different fields.
Today, ADD continues to offer a full range of services, serving
infants through adults, providing individualized services for people with
differing levels of need, always with a focus on individual choice.
|
