After many years of frustration trying to find answers for their children, a group of Amish parents with special needs children set out to create a clinic that would provide the comprehensive care their children desperately needed. These children had complicated medical conditions that were extremely difficult and time-consuming to diagnose and treat. Only by creating a unique clinic, one that provided the doctor and staff with the time and resources to dedicate to these children, would they find the answers they were seeking. Click here to read more about the history of DDC Clinic.

Located in Northeast Ohio, DDC Clinic is a non-profit primary care and research facility for special needs children with genetic and metabolic disorders. The clinic is a unique collaboration between the Amish and non-Amish communities, families, medical professionals and research scientists.

DDC Clinic’s services concentrate on three critical areas:

Comprehensive patient care ~

• Serving patients with complex medical needs, demonstrating an exemplary model of a “medical home” advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Providing medical services for children with over 60 different rare conditions, recognized as a leading international medical facility for such complex disorders as
  • Prolidase deficiency
  • Cohen syndrome
  • Glucose-galactose malabsorption
  • Ganglioside GM3 synthase deficiency

• Focusing on early diagnosis and ground-breaking treatment, bringing relief to the children and hope to their families
• Translating research immediately to patient care to help affected children
• Improving the patient diagnosis rate from 22% in 2002 to 70% today
• Enhancing our understanding of common medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and autism that affect millions of people in the world.

Multifaceted education ~

• Partnering with the families, the community and medical professionals to empower them with knowledge
• Offering family support services such as family gatherings and a parent lending library

DDC Clinic is a model of high-quality health care and cost containment. Genetic testing and counseling, newborn screening and early diagnosis all dramatically reduce the costs associated with genetic and metabolic disorders.

As a non-profit organization, DDC Clinic would not exist without the generosity of our donors. We are mindful that we have a responsibility to be watchful stewards of all contributions. 89 cents of every dollar spent at DDC Clinic goes to program-related services.