July’s Employee Spotlight of the Month: Community Outreach Advocate Courtney Hineman

Join us as we pay tribute to our incredible staff through “The Employee Spotlight of the Month!” Every month, we will spotlight a new employee so that we can share with the community the wonderful things our employees are doing every day!

Congratulations to Courtney Hineman, our Employee Spotlight for the month of July!

In 2017, Courtney attended Miami University’s Inclusive University Program, which is a program where individuals with and without disabilities attend a college class together and at the end of the week complete a group project. During the program, Courtney particularly fell in love with one class: Disability Studies.

“I asked Professor Ashley Johnson, who ran the program, if I could audit her Disability Studies class, and she advocated for me so that I could audit it,” Courtney said. “During my time in the class, I learned about disability history, language around disability (person first and identity first), different ways of viewing disabilities (the medical and social model), and we talked about how to help other people with disabilities advocate for themselves. Participating in Miami’s summer program and auditing the Disability Studies class helped me realize that I wanted to share my experiences to help others with disabilities.”

Shortly after Courtney completed Miami’s Inclusive University program, Ashley invited Courtney to co-teach her class. This led Courtney to wanting to use what she has learned even more, so she joined the BCBDD self-advocacy group Speak UP and decided to participate in the Best Buddies Ambassadors training.

“I really enjoyed the Best Buddies program because it allowed me to build my leadership skills,” Courtney said. “I then decided to attend the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, which ended up helping me improve my leadership skills even more!”

In 2019, Courtney learned at a Speak UP meeting that the BCBDD was looking to hire an advocate. Courtney knew her calling was to advocate for those with disabilities, so her job coach helped her apply for the position and in April of 2019 Courtney officially became the Community Outreach Advocate.

Almost immediately after earning her new position, Courtney began to impact the BCBDD organization with her advocacy ideas and dedication to inclusivity within the community. Courtney was selected to co-lead the BCBDD Speak Up group, serve on the Human Rights Committee, and was appointed by Governor DeWine in 2020 to be on the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council.

“I am proud to say I have presented to our SSA’s, self-advocates, and families about how they can use Supported Decision Making in addition to my other advocacy work,” Courtney said. “For example, I’ve spoken to students in Project Life about Supported Decision making, and I’ve spoken to families about how my parents prepared me to move out on my own. I’ve also gone with my co-workers to local day programs to give them information about our self-advocacy group so we can get new members. I enjoy sharing my story and my experiences because I get to help other people with disabilities and their families.”

Since Courtney has begun working at the BCBDD she has touched the lives of many individuals, including the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine, David Miller.

“Although I am not one of Courtney’s co-workers, I now consider her a cohort,” David said. “I was first introduced to her by Cassie Mattia and Connie Mehlman when they did a video interview here in our studio for a spotlight for Loveland Magazine about Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and now collaborating with her on a regular series we will ‘brand’ as ‘Courtney Explains It All.’ In person, and via Zoom meetings, I can see that her work qualities include being able to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing. She has confidence in her abilities, which is also essential when working with others in a constructive way. Courtney possesses a combination of hard and soft skills, motivation, and the ability to get the job done on time and without supervision.”

Courtney says she absolutely loves her job and believes that all Ohio County boards should have an advocate position.

“It’s powerful to hear from someone living with a disability,” Courtney said. “It’s very fulfilling to get to share your story to help people with disabilities and their families. Being an advocate is vital to the developmental disabilities community because when we share our stories or situations where we are struggling that can make a change for the better.”

Several of Courtney’s co-workers in the Community Services Department said that Courtney is a vital part of the BCBDD organization because she is not afraid to speak up for the developmental disability community and fight for inclusivity within the workplace and community.

“Courtney is a joy to work with and her dedication to her role is inspiring,” Lynn Goodwin, Community Connection Coordinator said. “She is an excellent advocate and leader for our community.”

“Courtney is such an extraordinary advocate,” Patricia Dawson PR Coordinator II said. “It feels like every time I talk to her, I learn something new about the DD system. She’s taught me so much about person-first language and identity-first language and why people might prefer one over the other. She’s also just hilarious and so fun to have as a co-worker. I’m really grateful to be working directly alongside her.”

“I love Courtney’s passion that she has to advocate for others,” Jenny Mann, Community Connection Coordinator said.

“Courtney has been a great addition to the Community Services team,” Sherry Dillon, Community Services Director said. “Over the last five years she has help grow our advocacy group, sat on the statewide DD council and been a champion for supported decision making. She also has a great sense of humor.”

“Words cannot describe how important Courtney is to our organization and community,” Cassie Mattia, PR Coordinator said. “I have had the pleasure working with her at the BCBDD and at my magazine in Loveland and wow is she an impressive individual! Everything she voices and everything she does is so well thought out and powerful! I can say I have never met an advocate for the DD community that is as passionate and knowledgeable as Courtney is. I am lucky and very grateful to have the opportunity to learn from Courtney and help share her powerful words with the community! I wish we had 10 more Courtney’s!”

Although Courtney has accomplished so much in the past 5 years at the BCBDD, she says that she wants to turn her focus on helping the transition age students with developmental disabilities.

“One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to help other people with disabilities, especially when I get to meet transition age students,” Courtney said. “I feel like I’m helping the people coming behind me.”

Is there someone from the BDBDD that has changed you and your family’s lives? Submissions for August’s Employee Spotlight of the Month are due by Friday, August 2!