Other parents who were instrumental in the development of the Licking County Council for Retarded Children were:  Mrs. Mary Zerger, Mr. Phil Young, Mr. Vin Davidson, Mrs. Helen Schnaidt, and Mr. & Mrs. Paul Marsh.

By November 1952, Starlight School was founded, giving parents of children with MRDD an educational choice. Mrs. Katie Carter suggested the school be named Starlight because it signified "the light that shines in darkness."  Mrs. Southard, the first teacher, held class for 12 students in a room at the former Mound School (now the headquarters of Jobes, Henderson & Associates), 59 Grant Street, in west Newark. To be eligible for state funding from the Office of Mental Hygiene, students must have been refused admission to public schools, be at least 6 years of age, toilet trained and, if they had a physical handicap, they must be able "to care for themselves so as not to require too much of the teacher’s time." Classes could be no smaller than eight and no larger than 12. There could be no more than a five-year age difference among the students in each class. The state provided only $200 per child. It was the hard work of Mrs. Eleanor S. Weiant, parents and the generous donations of civic organizations that made the opening and operation of Starlight possible.

The Starlight Country Day School was opened in 1954 to provide education and recreation for children who were not eligible for the state funding. Eight young men gathered at the home of Mrs. Katie Carter "to learn and have a little fun." Because there was no government funding for this program, it relied on donations from the community and ingenuity. The Country Day School was open only one year. By 1955, some of the children had become eligible for Starlight and others had gone to the state schools.

The second class at Starlight School began in 1955. Mrs. Pyle taught Class I with the assistance of Mrs. Johnson. Class II was taught by Mrs. Wilson. In 1955, a parent said, "My little girl liked school last year and progressed under the program. Seeing her speech development and her appreciation of the school and the friends in the school not only gave her a better outlook, but also increased the morale and happiness of the home. Each of us has much appreciation to all who have made the program possible." In October 1957, legislation was passed which allowed the local school districts to assist children with mental retardation. Up until this time, public schools were not able to provide any funds or services for Starlight students.

In 1957, community job training met with great success. It was predicted that within 5 years, many children with mental retardation would "find sheltered (working) conditions to be useful in an adult working world."

In November 1959, a new parent group was formed. Parents and Friends of Retarded Children was "interested in promoting legislation favorable to all retarded children and in providing services to state institutions for the retarded with special attention for those residents from Licking County." Mrs. Eleanor Kobe was the first chair of this group.

The first graduate of Starlight School was David Banks, class of 1960. Mrs. Eleanor S. Weiant, President of the Licking County Council for Retarded Children, presented David’s diploma.

Because of new legislation prohibiting private corporations from receiving state funds, the Licking County Council for Retarded Children was dissolved in 1960. They retained their name and became an advisory board.

At the beginning of the 1960 school year, Starlight was holding five classes for 60 children. Mrs. Edward Wilson was the supervisor and also taught a class. In November 1960, the generous taxpayers of Licking County passed Starlight’s first operating levy of 0.3 mills.

In 1963, Mrs. Jane Marsh became the Executive Director of the Licking County Council for Retarded Children.

In 1964, Mr. Baird Krueger was selected the first administrator of Starlight. Since that time, only eight people have been responsible for the administration of the programs offered by the Licking County Board of MRDD:                                                                        

The first home training consultant was hired in 1964. Mrs. Alma Schuh worked with students unable (for varying reasons) to attend Eleanor S. Weiant Starlight School. During her seven years with the school, Mrs. Schuh provided services to 145 youngsters.

Most adults take great pleasure in earning their own living. Adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities are no different. Recognizing that need, Starlight began a sheltered workshop in 1965. Enrollees made various craft items, then sold them to members of the community.

From Starlight’s inception 11 years before, it had been moved from building to building. With the passage of a levy, funds were available in 1965 to build a school specifically designed to meet the needs of children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Ground was broken on August 14, 1966. The building housed 13 classrooms, a multi-purpose gymnasium, an apartment for prevocational education, the sheltered workshop for  adults, a clinic, a speech and hearing room, and offices for the home visitor and administration. The multipurpose room was dedicated in Mrs. Katie Carter's honor, and on October 22, 1967, the school was named after Mrs. Eleanor S. Weiant.

The landmark Ohio House Bill 169 legislation was passed on October 25, 1967. This law created the County Boards of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and granted authority to acquire funds and provide programs for county citizens with MRDD. The first members of the Licking County Board of MRDD were:

The first community residential facility was opened in 1973 by the Licking County Council for Retarded Citizens. Mrs. Jane Marsh was the program director for the homes, as well as the Council’s executive director. Eight men lived in the home at 400 Hudson Avenue, Newark. The designs for the needed renovations were donated by Glenn Abel. Parents and their children were offered an option to institutional placement. Residents of the group home were learning to care for themselves and to be members of the community.

Ohio House Bill 455 became law in 1976. This law required that local school districts work with the Licking County Board of MRDD in the education of children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. An infant development program was started in 1977. The program, serving children from birth to age 2. assisted those with developmental delays to learn the skills necessary to attend public schools when they became old enough.

The first group home for women was opened in 1977 by the Licking County Council for Retarded Children. As with the men’s home, Jane Marsh was the program director and Glenn Abel designed the plans for the renovations. Eight women were now offered an opportunity to live in the community. The Licking County Board of MRDD opened two group homes in 1980, one for six men on 21st Street, and one for six women on Church Street, both in Newark.

Because of an increase in job opportunities and enrollment, the former Starlight workshop -- now called LICCO Inc. -- moved from the Eleanor S. Weiant School to its own home at 675 West Church Street, Newark, in 1978. At that time, LICCO had several contracts, including those with the former Newark Air Force Base, Holophane and Callander Cleaners. By 1981, LICCO had outgrown the Church Street site. Ground was broken for the current LICCO workshop on Industrial Parkway, Heath. In early 1982, LICCO moved into the new facility, and the Administration, Case Management and Residential offices moved to LICCO’s former site at 675 West Church. LICCO began as a separate, non-profit  organization to act as the employer for individuals served by the county board. In naming the new non-profit workshops, counties throughout Ohio -- with some exceptions -- tended to adopt names that were part of their individual county names, with "CO" (short for "county") at the end, thus LICCO. For example, Perry County's workshop is call PERCO; and Belmont County uses the name BELCO, and so on. Because of increased demand for LICCO services, the workshop was expanded in the fall of 1990.

The Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities continues to evolve. In July 2009, the Administration Offices at 65 W. Church St. in downtown Newark closed. Administration staff moved to the LCBDD's flagship building, the E.S. Weiant Center, and set up offices following the merger of the LCBDD's preschool program with similar programs operated by the local public school systems. The building at 675 West Church now houses the bus garage and offices for the Transportation Services department. In the mid-1990s, the LCBDD purchased a building across the street from LICCO, which now houses the Service Coordination offices, 565 Industrial Parkway.

In September 1983, the Licking County Board of MRDD received a grant from the Rehabilitation Services Commission to begin the Community Employment Program. This program provides assistance to individuals in finding and maintaining jobs in the community. This program is now called Community Employment Services (CES). In 1989, CES placed 49 individuals into competitive employment. In 2009, CES assisted 164 adults who were employed in the community with ongoing support, and those working at subcontracted sites.

Due to increased population growth, we recognized a need for a satellite early intervention program in western Licking County. In January 2003, the Ann Davino Center opened at 12201 Morse Road, Pataskala, in the former Jersey Elementary School. This effort was made possible thanks to a partnership with the Licking Heights Local School District, and generous support from the family of the late Ann Davino, who for many years served as an early intervention specialist for the agency. The Ann Davino Center closed in 2009 in favor of home-based intervention and therapy services. Read more about this innovative approach here.

And finally, in the summer of 2009, our organization changed its name to the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, dropping "Mental Retardation," or "MR" from our name, following state law.

Today, the LCBDD provides comprehensive services to more than 1,300 children and adults with developmental disabilities including early intervention services at the E.S. Weiant Center in Newark, and the Ann Davino Center in Pataskala; adult services at the LICCO Inc. workshop in Heath; residential support; family respite; transportation; and service coordination. The LCBMRDD is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for providing high-quality support services to individuals with disabilities and their families.