Dear editor, We are writing to support the Angeline developmental disabilities levy. We are self-advocates. We are a group of adults who receive services.

Dear editor, My 4-year-old son Grayson has autism. He is non-verbal and has more than his fair share of challenges. Each day brings new hurdles to jump and unexpected victories. Raising a child with special needs is a bittersweet journey.

Dear editor, I am writing in support of Angeline’s developmental disabilities levy Nov. 7.

Dear editor, I am a licensed psychologist and a licensed professional clinical counselor with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. I also am the site director for Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services of Wyandot County.

Dear editor, I have been a registered nurse for over 30 years working both at Wyandot Memorial and Tiffin Mercy hospitals. I have cared for people daily and tried to understand the difficulties they faced with their healthcare needs.

My wife, Lana, and I spent 35 great years in Wyandot County before retiring and relocating to the Cincinnati area last June to be closer to grandkids. We were proud to call Wyandot home.

I support the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and the programs that its levy supports in our community. This levy helps to meet the community’s mental health treatment needs and it supports programs supported in our local schools.

I am a former history teacher at Carey High School. I taught in Carey for 30 years, and during that time I witnessed the broad range of both supports and stressors that the students of our county experience. Though we are a rural area, our children still face pressures, stress, negative messages and exposure to losses and sometimes trauma.

As a business owner, former fireman on the Carey Fire Department and a current member of the Carey Police Department, I have seen the severity that mental illness and addiction has on our community. The loss of productivity and the impact on one’s quality of life are just two costs when these illnesses go untreated.

I support the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. The Board has provided levy funds that support our parenting program, The Incredible Years, and our youth mentoring program, The Way.