My Work Family Needs You
If you live in Cuyahoga County, I am pleading for your attention — and one simple act this November.
If you love, care for or know someone with a developmental disability, you likely already understand why. If you don’t, let me introduce you to my work family.
For more than 30 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside people with developmental disabilities and their families. They are some of the greatest humans I have ever known. They are passionate, loyal, loving, kind, smart, curious, creative and funny. They are our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members. And they make my role as CEO of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting them feel like far more than a job.
Right now, they need our help.
This November, Issue 10 is on the ballot in Cuyahoga County. The levy supports Cuyahoga DD, which serves approximately 15,000 people with developmental disabilities and their families across the county.
The funding helps provide services many of us may take for granted: early intervention for children, employment support, transportation, housing, independent-living assistance and programs that help people live meaningful, connected lives in their communities.
These are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
Cuyahoga DD’s levy funding has remained the same since 2005 — more than 20 years — while the agency now serves 20% more people and the cost of providing those essential services has continued to rise.
I know we’re all exhausted by politics. I know November can feel like a barrage of candidates, issues and noise. But please don’t let this get lost in it.
I live in South Russell, which means I cannot vote on Issue 10 myself. After dedicating more than three decades of my life to this community, that is difficult. So I am asking those of you who can vote to please pay attention to the people behind this issue and understand what these services mean to them and their families.
They deserve the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, purpose and connection.
Please remember my work family when you cast your ballot this November.
They are counting on you.
Meg Nachtwhey, South Russell