Open Door School is hosting a Developmental Disabilities Community Roundup today.

The outdoor event is aimed at brining together developmental disability agencies, service providers, advocacy groups and clients to plan for the future of the community.

Tim Nunnery, director of Communications and Resource Development, said that the event is so people know what services are offered.

“For example, some people ask what services are available after school,” he said. “We want people to be aware of what is being offered through various agencies.”

The event is free and open to the public. There will be grilled food and games. The event will be held outside on the playground.

“The playground will be open so kids can play. The pre-school teachers will be running games,” Nunnery said. “There will also be inflatables for the kids.”

If it rains, the event will be moved inside the gymnasium.

“Really, we want people to come out and get a feel for what is out there,” Nunnery said.

The special guest speaker will be Jeff Davis, the director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

The agenda for the coming year could prove crucial to the school and developmental disabilities support in the county.

Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities, which operates Open Door, will be working throughout this year to get public support for funding, with a 2.5 mill levy on the ballot this fall.

The agency has said it is facing a significant shortage starting in 2020 and that major changes may be needed for the operation of their programs. Due to the rising cost of services, a deficit could increase to over $2 million in 2021.

The LCDD Board says it has taken actions to operate as efficiently as possible, including moving Open Door School from its aging building to the former Tri-State Industries building in Coal Grove. They said the current building is facing expensive upgrades and repairs.

The event is set for set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at the school, located at 421 Lorain St. in Ironton.