Disability Services & Support
A Local Guide to Special Needs Community Resources
Akron Blind Center
Phone: (330) 253-2555
Website: www.akronblindcenter.org
The Akron Blind Center Inc. is a membership-based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1948 to serve the blind and low-vision communities. They also provide resources, programs, services, and classes for Summit and surrounding counties.
Akron Children's Hospital
Phone: (330) 543-1000
Website: www.akronchildrens.org
Akron Children’s Hospital has been caring for children since 1890, and its pediatric specialties are ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. With two hospital campuses, four health centers, and 50+ primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, they’re making it easier for today’s busy families to find the high-quality care they need.
Arc of Ohio
Phone: (234) 571-5689
Website: www.thearcofohio.org
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Autism Society of Greater Akron
Phone: (330) 940-1441
Website: www.autismakron.org
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 founded in 1987 by parent volunteers of children with autism.
Phone: (330) 253-2555
Website: www.akronblindcenter.org
The Akron Blind Center Inc. is a membership-based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1948 to serve the blind and low-vision communities. They also provide resources, programs, services, and classes for Summit and surrounding counties.
Akron Children's Hospital
Phone: (330) 543-1000
Website: www.akronchildrens.org
Akron Children’s Hospital has been caring for children since 1890, and its pediatric specialties are ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. With two hospital campuses, four health centers, and 50+ primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, they’re making it easier for today’s busy families to find the high-quality care they need.
Arc of Ohio
Phone: (234) 571-5689
Website: www.thearcofohio.org
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Autism Society of Greater Akron
Phone: (330) 940-1441
Website: www.autismakron.org
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 founded in 1987 by parent volunteers of children with autism.
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio
Phone: (216) 447-8763
Website: www.dsaneo.org
The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio is a nonprofit that provides support, education, advocacy, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
Greenleaf Family Center (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services)
Phone: (330) 376-9494
Website: www.greenleafctr.org
Greenleaf is a nonprofit organization that strengthens families in our community through counseling, education and support. By offering a variety of programs and services, we are here to help families with the many challenges of daily living and personal crises.
Help Me Grow
Phone: (330) 492-8136
Website: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/help-me-grow/help-me-grow
Help Me Grow is Ohio’s evidence-based parent support program that encourages early prenatal and well-baby care, as well as parenting education to promote the comprehensive health and development of children. Help Me Grow System includes Central Intake, Help Me Grow Home Visiting, and Help Me Grow Early Intervention.
Ohio's Parent Mentor Project
Phone: (844) 382-5452
Website: www.parentmentor.osu.edu
It is the mission of the Ohio Parent Mentors to provide the necessary support and resources to families of children with disabilities and the professionals that serve them by connecting families, schools, and the community to the benefit of students with disabilities.
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Phone: (844) 382-5452
Website: www.ocecd.org
The OCECD is a statewide nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities in Ohio, educators, and agencies who provide services to them.
Ohio Department of Medicaid
Phone: (800) 324-8680
Website: www.medicaid.ohio.gov
The ODM provides health care coverage to more than three million Ohioans through a network of more than 165,000 providers. Learn more about Ohio's largest state agency and the ways in which they continue to improve wellness and health outcomes for the individuals and families served at our website.
Ohio Dept of Job and Family Services
Phone: (800) 720-9616
Website: www.jfs.ohio.gov
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is responsible for managing many vital programs that directly affect the lives of Ohioans.
Ohio Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Website: www.ddc.ohio.gov
Phone: (800) 766-7426
The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council is a planning and advocacy body committed to community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. It is the mission of the ODDC to create change that improves independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. This council is made up of over 30 members, with the majority being individuals with developmental disabilities and parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Phone: (800) 282-4536
Website: www.ood.ohio.gov
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is the state agency that empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. It is accomplished through its Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI), and Division of Disability Determination (DDD). A fourth area is the Division of Employer and Innovation Services (EIS), which is responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships with employers.
Philomatheon Society of the Blind
Phone: (330) 453-9157
Website: www.philomatheon.com
This organization is a gathering of blind and visually impaired people, along with sighted family and friends, with a mission and goal to help the blind and visually impaired in the community to help themselves to remain or to become able to live independently and an active member of their community.
Phone: (216) 447-8763
Website: www.dsaneo.org
The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio is a nonprofit that provides support, education, advocacy, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
Greenleaf Family Center (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services)
Phone: (330) 376-9494
Website: www.greenleafctr.org
Greenleaf is a nonprofit organization that strengthens families in our community through counseling, education and support. By offering a variety of programs and services, we are here to help families with the many challenges of daily living and personal crises.
Help Me Grow
Phone: (330) 492-8136
Website: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/help-me-grow/help-me-grow
Help Me Grow is Ohio’s evidence-based parent support program that encourages early prenatal and well-baby care, as well as parenting education to promote the comprehensive health and development of children. Help Me Grow System includes Central Intake, Help Me Grow Home Visiting, and Help Me Grow Early Intervention.
Ohio's Parent Mentor Project
Phone: (844) 382-5452
Website: www.parentmentor.osu.edu
It is the mission of the Ohio Parent Mentors to provide the necessary support and resources to families of children with disabilities and the professionals that serve them by connecting families, schools, and the community to the benefit of students with disabilities.
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Phone: (844) 382-5452
Website: www.ocecd.org
The OCECD is a statewide nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities in Ohio, educators, and agencies who provide services to them.
Ohio Department of Medicaid
Phone: (800) 324-8680
Website: www.medicaid.ohio.gov
The ODM provides health care coverage to more than three million Ohioans through a network of more than 165,000 providers. Learn more about Ohio's largest state agency and the ways in which they continue to improve wellness and health outcomes for the individuals and families served at our website.
Ohio Dept of Job and Family Services
Phone: (800) 720-9616
Website: www.jfs.ohio.gov
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is responsible for managing many vital programs that directly affect the lives of Ohioans.
Ohio Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Website: www.ddc.ohio.gov
Phone: (800) 766-7426
The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council is a planning and advocacy body committed to community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. It is the mission of the ODDC to create change that improves independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. This council is made up of over 30 members, with the majority being individuals with developmental disabilities and parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities who are appointed by the Governor of Ohio.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Phone: (800) 282-4536
Website: www.ood.ohio.gov
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is the state agency that empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. It is accomplished through its Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI), and Division of Disability Determination (DDD). A fourth area is the Division of Employer and Innovation Services (EIS), which is responsible for establishing and maintaining partnerships with employers.
Philomatheon Society of the Blind
Phone: (330) 453-9157
Website: www.philomatheon.com
This organization is a gathering of blind and visually impaired people, along with sighted family and friends, with a mission and goal to help the blind and visually impaired in the community to help themselves to remain or to become able to live independently and an active member of their community.
Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Phone: (330) 297-6209
Website: www.portagedd.org
Since 1967, The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been providing services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities in Portage County.
Portage DD operates on the foundational belief that greatness lies in every person we connect to – the individuals we serve, our staff, providers, stakeholders, administrators, and community members – and that the key to unlocking it is making sure we interact in a way that emphasizes that we are here to support and provide value to the community.
Sharing Solutions
Phone: (330) 546-2001
Website: www.sharingsolutions.info
A community of parents/guardians of individuals from transition to adult age with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, professionals who serve the IDD community, caregivers, and policymakers. The focus is to provide information, support, and assistance to all. Everyone is encouraged to play an active role in sharing their resources, knowledge, and experiences.
Phone: (330) 546-2001
Website: www.sharingsolutions.info
A community of parents/guardians of individuals from transition to adult age with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, professionals who serve the IDD community, caregivers, and policymakers. The focus is to provide information, support, and assistance to all. Everyone is encouraged to play an active role in sharing their resources, knowledge, and experiences.
Stark County Board of DD
Phone: (330) 477-5200
Website: www.starkdd.org
Stark DD connects individuals and families with the services persons with developmental disabilities need for health, safety, education and quality of life.
Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board
Phone: (330) 634-8000
Website: www.summitdd.org
Summit DD offers early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, as well as transition services for students with developmental disabilities to vocational, habilitation and retirement programs for adults.
TRIAD Deaf Services
Phone: (330) 768-7272
Website: www.triadds.org
TRIAD Deaf Services Inc is an agency providing services to the deaf community in Stark, Carroll, and Tuscarawas Counties. They provide support services, interpreting, leadership, deaf advocacy and education.
UDS Toy & Resource Center
Phone: (330) 762-9755
Website: www.udsakron.org
United Disability Services’ toy lending library loans developmental toys and resource materials to preschools, therapists, parents, grandparents and anyone working with a child from birth to six years of age. One of the largest in the state, we have 4,200 toys kids love to play with that help foster essential developmental skills. We also have a large number of items adapted for children with special needs, including new toys that are beneficial to individuals on the autism spectrum.