Message From The Superintendent - November 2025

Greetings!

We hope everyone is doing well!!

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Portage DD Trunk or Treat and Family Fun Day last month.  Kudos to our wonderful staff who made it an enjoyable experience for all who attended!

In October, Portage DD’s Board passed the 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan has the guiding principles for Portage DD in the coming years. Please take the time to review the Strategic Plan and contact Portage DD if you have any feedback or questions.

Click here to view the Portage DD 2026-2028 Strategic Plan.

Feedback can be sent in by email (info@portagedd.org) or phone (330.297.2083).

We previously mentioned the significant increase in costs associated with our statutory requirements for funding waivers over the last two years.  It has been a 4-million-dollar increase.  Due to that, we have had to make some cuts.  We have already announced the termination of our youth Respite home.  We have also decided to discontinue our PEERS Program contract for parents, the Children’s Advantage contract, the Youth Social Recreation program for teens, and the Step Up Program for day programs at the end of 2025.

We will also reduce our PT contract for adults and our Family Support Services Programs and reinstitute income guidelines for receiving funding starting January 2026.  Essential services that support people with developmental disabilities to live, work, and be as independent as possible will continue.    

We are grateful to all the organizations with which we partnered, and this isn’t a reflection on anything they did wrong.  We are deeply disappointed that we must make these cuts, as we had wanted to continue all services and programs. However, our financial situation has forced us to make some necessary changes.

Believe in People!

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti