Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities starts virtual project on how to better include people with disabilities

MEDINA — The Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities recently began Committed to Inclusion, which showcases how business, organizations and community members can be more inclusive to people with disabilities. The online project started because MCBDD has an active advocate group who is always looking for ways to create more opportunities for people with disabilities, said Patti Hetkey, public relations and communications coordinator for MCBDD. It began by focusing on how businesses could be more accessible and then expanded to other community organizations. "It's kind of limitless as to where we can go with this project, which is very exciting," Hetkey said. This project consists of YouTube videos and other online resources, Hetkey said. The additional resources consist of tip sheets for how to create a welcoming environment, tax benefits for being an accessible business and more. The first video in this series is targeted toward local business owners by showing an accessible business. This video features Amanda Hudak, the owner of All Fired Up! in Medina. In this video, she meets with local disability advocates to discuss the changes she made in her business to make it more welcoming for people with disabilities to participate. For instance, people can use a ramp outside to enter her shop instead of having to get over the step. "We're all the same in many aspects," MCBDD Superintendent Stacey Maleckar said. "It's important to share that with the larger community and to provide an opportunity for people to better understand how they can accommodate and be welcoming to people with disabilities." More videos and online resources are to come which focus on how community organizations and activities can be more inclusive to people with disabilities. Other topics will cover employing a person with a disability as well as general community inclusion. This project can be found at MCBDD's website at bit.ly/3z2w7FG. "It's to show the value that people with disabilities have in our community, and we are not complete without them," Maleckar said. "They add so much to our community, and it's important to showcase that." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.