Success Stories

HEATHER is a young woman who doesn’t let life pass her by!

She is very active in Special Olympics and plays on four of the Ottawa County Rocket teams—softball, basketball, bowling, and track. She told us that basketball is her favorite, but she is a fierce competitor in each sport.  Heather earned a bronze medal for bowling at the 2022 Ohio Special Olympics State Games.

Her regular participation in OCBDD’s SASSY (Self-Advocates Sayin’ Something Yeah!) group has taught Heather to speak up for herself. She enjoys the guest speakers at the meetings and said she has learned a lot from them.

Heather really loves socializing and is a frequent member of Ottawa County Board of DD’s REC group.  She enjoys going out to eat with them and participates in as many of the fun REC outings as she can.  Heather is looking forward to their trip to the pumpkin patch in October. She also likes to spend a quiet night at home watching TV.

Hobby Lobby is one of her favorite shopping trips. She needs a LOT of art supplies for her hobbies of sewing, bead crafts and jewelry making, and diamond painting!

In her spare time Heather works at a local retail store and shared that she really likes her job.

When asked to describe herself she chose the words happy, helpful, sweet, kind, and thankful.  We can’t think of more appropriate words to describe Heather and are so thrilled that she has such a full and fulfilling life!

“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet” pretty much sums up Mac’s attitude about life.  He always has a smile and some conversation ready to share with people he meets and is a very familiar face in the town where he lives.

Mac has helped at high school athletic events for many years and has formed many strong friendships along the way. He was thrilled to be able to watch the Redskins football team clinch a spot in the final four in their division in 2021! He is active in Special Olympics and plays softball and basketball with the Ottawa County Rockets teams. Family and friends, including the school superintendent, are frequent faces in the stands when Mac plays.

His church community is a very important part of Mac’s life.  Several years ago, a tornado blew through and caused a lot of damage to his hometown.  Mac didn’t hesitate to walk to his local Salvation Army office and ask how he could help.  He worked hard to help distribute boxes to his friends (old and new) and neighbors who were affected by the storm.  He proudly shared that the mayor awarded him with a Citizen of the Year Award and a key to the city. There is also a brick in the park with his name on it and a tree planted in his honor.

Mac comes from a very close-knit family filled with traditions; his two brothers and sister are very important parts of his life. His aunt made him a quilt out of his dad’s favorite t-shirts that is one of his favorite treasures.

He loves books and movies and was excited to see the new Batman movie in the theatre.

So, if you see Mac when you’re out and about, be sure to say hello. He’s always up for making a new friend.

Gabby was very recently named as an alternate for the Ohio Special Olympics swimming team for the 2022 National Special Olympics Games.   She finished in 1st place at the 2020 State Winter Games at Bowling Green State University.  

Jeannie Kimmel has found success at the end of a journey that started before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world for many. She began this journey to find a job she felt was useful and would make her happy. During this time, she learned she was important and should feel she was “more than a number.”  Today she is working at the local Wal-Mart on the maintenance crew.