ACBDD Special Edition: Volunteering for inclusion in the Athens region

Below is an excerpt from the ACBDD’s 2026 Special Edition, which is produced in partnership with Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and The Post. The full edition can be found here.

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By Collin Crisp

In Athens County, volunteering with people who have developmental disabilities often begins with a simple step: reaching out. Through partnerships, events, and one-on-one relationships, community members have many ways to connect, learn, and contribute to a more inclusive region.

Autumn Brown, Director of the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Integrate Athens program, said the organizations she works with value volunteers who genuinely care about the purpose of their work, and most volunteers thrive in environments that interest them.

The ACBDD’s Integrate Athens collaborates with “hundreds of organizations” to increase public engagement across the region, Brown said. The program focuses on creating inclusive opportunities where volunteers and people with developmental disabilities participate together and learn from one another in the process.

“There’s that preconceived notion that people with developmental disabilities are not able to do a lot of the same things other people can do,” Brown said. “Once volunteers get involved, they realize that people with disabilities can do pretty much everything anyone else can do.”

One of the most visible volunteer-driven events is ATCO Idol, an annual performance organized by the ACBDD that allows people with developmental disabilities to showcase their singing, dancing, and performing on a grand stage. Volunteers and participants practice and perform together, often forming meaningful connections along the way. The ACBDD looks forward to this event every year, Brown said.

In recent years, the Ohio Valley School of Celtic Dance and Culture has volunteered to “practice and create dances with those individuals so that they’re able to perform in their own way,” Brown said. “It has also enhanced the lives of those dancers who’ve had an experience with people with disabilities.” Volunteers grow alongside their partners throughout the experience, she added.

Beyond local events, Integrate Athens also connects volunteers with regional and statewide partners. One such collaboration includes the southeastern Ohio division of Echoing Hills Village Inc., a faith-based organization that provides residential, educational, and recreational services to people with developmental disabilities. Together, they also work with the Athens chapter of Team Heart and Sole, which supports people with disabilities participating in endurance-based running and cycling events throughout central and southeastern Ohio.

Through these partnerships, people with disabilities have participated in running and biking events during Parade of the Hills in Nelsonville each August and the annual Paw Paw Festival near Albany each September.

Rachel Ulbrich, Director of adult services at Echoing Hills, said much of her work involves helping people try new activities, set personal goals, and build toward the lives they want. She said Athens has a strong network of advocacy groups, including the ACBDD and programs at Ohio University, all working to support people with disabilities.

Many people in Athens go out of their way to ensure everyone can participate, Ulbrich said.

“Just reach out, even if you’re scared,” Ulbrich said. “I came into this field never working with or even being around a person with disabilities, but once you open up your heart, you’re going to get sucked in. … I absolutely love where I am at.”

Training for volunteers typically focuses on building a comfortable relationship with a partner, Ulbrich explained, as volunteers are often matched with a person with a developmental disability. Learning how to communicate effectively is a key part of that process.

For some events, volunteer duties may include assisting with food and drinks at dances, movie nights, or events such as the Shining Stars Gala or THAS. Volunteers are expected to be aware of dietary restrictions and adaptive needs, including the use of specialized utensils, cups, or plates.

“This is something that we always go over with volunteers, and many times we ask that they ask a DSP for assistance with,” Ulbrich added.

DSP stands for Direct Support Professional, which is a paid staff person who provides support to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Brown said the goal of volunteer engagement is not only participation, but connection and purpose for everyone involved.

“It’s just important that we all remember how important it is to have meaning and purpose in our lives, and so we continue to offer and foster those opportunities,” she said. “Everyone enjoys life more, and we truly are better together.”

Anybody interested in volunteering to work with people with developmental disabilities can contact Integrate Athens at (740) 541-9600 or email Brown at abrown@athenscbdd.org

edited by doctoral student Kajah Aziz Azizuddin