Caleb Hostetter wins ACBDD shirt design contest for advocacy support

Caleb Hostetter’s shirt design will soon move from a community contest to a public fundraiser, giving Adams County a new way to see local talent while backing services for people with developmental disabilities.

The Adams County Board of Developmental Disabilities named Hostetter the winner of its ACBDD Shirt Design Competition after eight artists submitted entries. The board said every design was unique and creative, and community voting helped determine the winner, turning the contest into a public show of support rather than an inside decision.

Shirts featuring Hostetter’s design were scheduled to go on sale June 22, with the first sales booth set for the Ramblin’ Relics Car Show on June 28. That debut gives the campaign a clear local stage, with the winning artwork expected to be seen in a well-known Adams County setting and worn around the county after the show.

Proceeds from the shirts will benefit the ACBDD Advocacy Program. The board said that money will help support opportunities, education, inclusion, self-advocacy and experiences for the people it serves, tying the contest directly to the agency’s broader mission. ACBDD says it exists to empower people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, work and be involved in their community, with a vision of “a lifetime of dignity and opportunity.”

That mission reaches across a wide range of services in Adams County, including Early Intervention, Service and Support Administration, Adult Day Services, Community Employment, Family Support Services and Transportation. The shirt campaign adds a visible layer to that work, giving residents a simple way to support the board’s advocacy efforts while also recognizing the creativity of a local artist.

For families, supporters and self-advocates, that visibility matters. A shirt worn at a car show, around West Union or anywhere else in Adams County becomes more than merchandise: it becomes a public sign that people with developmental disabilities are part of the county’s civic life and should be seen for their talents, not only for the services they may need.

Those who want to buy a shirt or learn more can contact Charissa Gardner at 937-515-1117. The Adams County Board of Developmental Disabilities also lists its general phone number as 937-544-2574 and an on-call emergency number at 937-768-2055.