Janet Keeler, director of community development for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, reintroduced the agency’s services to the Orange Village Council and described how levy funding supports local programs.
Keeler told council that two‑thirds of the board’s approximately $150 million budget is funded by a $3.9 million continuous levy passed by county voters in 2005, and she said the agency’s mission is “to support and empower people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in their community.” Keeler said the board served 23 people with developmental disabilities in Orange and roughly 15,000 people across the county, a recent increase from prior years.
Keeler outlined three community‑facing areas in her community development department: a workforce development team that works with local employers to hire people with developmental disabilities and other disadvantaged groups; a team that helps organizations improve accessibility and inclusion (including ADA coordinators who can assess buildings); and grant programs that have provided nearly $1 million since 2021 for libraries, arts, culture and recreation organizations. Keeler said the board awarded $180,000 in community grants this year and specifically cited past grants to Orange Community Education and Recreation.
Council members and residents asked how the board works with schools and employers. Keeler said the agency employs about 275 support administrators (case managers) who engage directly with individuals and that workforce staff will meet with local chambers or employers interested in hiring vetted candidates. “We have a workforce development staff working specifically in this region,” Keeler said.
Keeler left informational materials and invited follow up contact, including sharing job postings and making ADA coordinators available to help village organizations identify accessibility improvements.
What’s next: Keeler encouraged the village to post a link to the board’s resources on the village website and offered to set up further meetings between her workforce staff and local employers.
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