Activist group marks 50th anniversary

It's the 50th anniversary of the Mahoning County Council for Retarded Citizens.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- When Liz Ricciuti's daughter reached school age in the 1950s, she wasn't able to go to regular school.
Patricia Ann, now 61, is mentally retarded, and public schools couldn't accommodate mentally retarded children then.
Ricciuti, of Boardman, and several other parents of mentally retarded children began meeting regularly and tried to collect money to start a school for their children.
They organized classes in church basements and wherever else space would allow it.
Fifty years ago those parents formed Mahoning County Council for Retarded Citizens.
The Mahoning County Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities Board marked that anniversary with several activities this month to coincide with MRDD Awareness Month.
Today, Mahoning County Council for Retarded Citizens serves about 450 clients and 225 parents annually, said Elaine Walters, executive director.
The council provides recreational activities as well as support and information.
Forming MRDD
Progress, legislation and hard work from many people enabled formation of county MRDDs in 1967 with a mission to provide programs and services for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
Ricciuti pointed to the late Leonard Kirtz, for whom the school is named, as being instrumental in the changes. He met with county commissioners, school board members and others trying to effect change.
"He was a wealthy man, and he had a retarded child," she said. "He would travel to Columbus on his own and meet with state legislators."
Kirtz led the charge for a child welfare levy, which was approved in 1960.
In 1968, Leonard Kirtz School was dedicated. It provided academic classes for school-age children as well as the workshop for adults. Kirtz's son, Leonard, still works at one of the workshops that his father's efforts helped create.
By the time the school opened, Patricia Ann was too old to go to school, but in 1971, she started at the workshop.
"She loves it," Ricciuti said.
Patricia Ann works at the Mahoning Adult Services Co., or MASCO Inc., workshop on Bev Road, where she assists other workers who use wheelchairs.
Long-time participant
Mary Lou Nevi's daughter, Susan, has been in the programs 45 years. Susan, 55, works at Meshel MASCO, assembling hangers that are used on overhead pipe work.
Nevi, of Austintown, said Susan enjoys the work.
"If she's home three days in a row, she's bored," said Nevi.
Because Susan couldn't walk as early as other children, she couldn't go to school because the buildings weren't handicap-accessible then. She attended the Cerebral Palsy Center in Youngstown.
"They said that balance was all a mental thing, and they taught her to balance, and they taught her to walk," Nevi said.
Susan was then able to go to one of the classes for retarded children held throughout the county. Later she attended the Leonard Kirtz School until she turned 18 and moved into the workshop.
Nevi said she doesn't know what she'd have done without the creation of the services for mentally retarded citizens.
"I worked with her as much as I could at home, but a child won't do for a parent what they will for an outsider," she said.
Sometimes she'd get frustrated and retreat to the back yard or basement for a brief cry.
"I never wanted her to see that I was discouraged, though," Nevi said.