Pickaway County will be a community where individuals with developmental disabilities are empowered to achieve their goals and lead safe, healthy and enriched lives. Our agency will support individuals and their families by promoting self-advocacy and community partnerships, as well as providing education and awareness.

Pickaway County Board of DD strives to incorporate 4 Keys of Service to the people and families we support, Direct Support Professionals, our community and within our internal team. Our 4 Keys of Service are:

• Partnership
• Safety
• Communication
• Opportunity 

A developmental disability is defined as a severe, chronic disability that is characterized by all of the following:

• Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental or physical impairments, other than a mental or physical impairment solely caused by mental illness Is manifested before age 22 Is likely to continue indefinitely
• Results in one of the following:
  • If under the age of three, at least on developmental delay
  • If age three until age six, at least two developmental delays
  • If over the age of six, a substantial functional limitation in at least three of the following life areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency (ages 16 and older only)
• Causes the individual to need a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary, or other type of care, treatment or provision of services for an extended period of time that is individually planned and coordinated on behalf of the individual.

Developmental disabilities can result from a variety of circumstances before or during birth, or in the early years of development. Often there is no known cause for a developmental disability, but several common factors include: problems or illness during pregnancy, exposure to drugs or alcohol, premature birth, illness, and injury.

The Board is comprised of seven members who are appointed by either the Pickaway County Probate Judge or the Pickaway County Commissioners. Law requires that at least three of the Board representatives be family of individuals who receive or are eligible to receive services from the Board. All members of the Board volunteer their time, with no compensation for their services.