Friday Update: March 14, 2025

Happy DD Awareness Month!

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Lucas DD Night at the Pistons is tomorrow!

The Detroit Pistons have once again partnered with Lucas DD for an Autism Awareness Night game at 7 p.m. on March 15 at Little Caesar’s Arena. A portion of all tickets purchased through this link will be donated to our FANS network. You'll also get a free gift from the Pistons as well as the opportunity to shoot a free throw on the court after the game. If you can’t go, please share the link with your networks to help raise money for a great cause!

Cops & Conversation is Monday!

Lucas DD's self-advocacy group, SALUTE, is hosting Cops & Conversation, 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Monday. This is an opportunity for law enforcement personnel and people with developmental disabilities to get to know each other and ask questions. All are welcome to attend! Hybrid option available, click headline for full details.

Lucas DD Inclusion Resource Fair is Next Week!

Lucas DD's annual Inclusion Resource Fair is 5:30 - 7:30 on March 19 at St. Clement Hall in North Toledo. This inclusive event features many activities, resources, and giveaways! It is open to the public and FREE to attend. Click here to register!

Fitness Fun for Everyone on March 22

Get fit and have some fun from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. on March 22! Participants will be paired up and work together through various circuit stations at LBs Circuit Training. Complete all the stations and win prizes! This inclusive event is free and open to all ages and abilities. Registration recommended, waiver must be signed to participate.

Lucas DD Board Meeting on March 24

The next monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is at 6 p.m. on March 24. The meeting is open to the public at Lucas DD's South Toledo headquarters.

Bowling with Heroes Registration for Individuals is Full!

In celebration of DD Awareness Month in March, individuals served by the Board will bowl with local firefighters and police officers from noon - 2 p.m. on March 29. Registration for individuals is now full, but if you know of any first responders who can participate, please have them contact Kelley Watson.

Individuals Seeking Providers

Providers serving Lucas County, don't forget to check out our Providers Wanted page, where we currently have 34 individuals seeking services.

Lucas DD Family Ties March Meeting Canceled

The Family Ties Team has canceled the March meeting. The next gathering will be on April 17 and will be a social event featuring BINGO! Stay tuned for details.

BGSU RallyCap Sports Basketball Begins Sunday

The BGSU chapter of RallyCap Sports basketball season begins soon! Sessions will be from 3 - 4 p.m. at BGSU on March 16, 23, and 30. Lots of fun for people with special needs, all abilities are welcome. Cost for the season is $20.

DD Friendly Make & Take Workshop on Tuesday

Join Board & Brush for a Make & Take workshop! They provide all the materials and instruct you, step-by-step, to create a beautiful piece for your home or for a gift. Choose from a variety of paint colors in the workshop. This class is offered every other Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, the next one is on March 18. No registration required! Cost is $15 per workshop. 

Sibshops March 22

Does your child with special needs have a sibling, aged 8-16 years old? This free group is just for them! Sibshops provide young brothers and sisters with peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting. The next meeting is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 22 at 3939 Wrenwood Rd, Toledo. To register, click here.

Sensory Playroom on March 23

Occupational therapy students from the University of Toledo will serve as volunteers for the March Playroom, from noon - 2 p.m. on March 23. The open playroom session is geared for families who have children with sensory needs! Spots are limited to 10 children to allow for appropriate supervision (parents/guardians are required to stay in the building). Registration required.

Purple Day Egg Hunt on March 26

Join The Epilepsy Center of NW Ohio at 5 p.m. on March 26 for a fun-filled Purple Day Egg Hunt! Purple Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy. Bring your little ones for a day of arts & crafts, refreshments, and an exciting egg hunt! Free and open to the public!

Sensory Night at Imagination Station on March 26

Sunshine Communities invites you to a free event at Imagination Station, 5:30-8 p.m. on March 26! Dive into hands-on science experiments, engage in sensory-friendly activities, and explore a world of discovery. Come to learn, play, or simply connect.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has proclaimed March 16-22 Severe Weather Awareness Week and is encouraging all Ohioans to prepare themselves for spring and summer weather hazards. The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness provides a number of Safety and Preparedness Tips to help keep you safe. Ohio is no stranger to severe weather and now is a great opportunity to Build a Kit and Make a Plan. A Statewide Tornado Drill will be held at 9:50 a.m. March 19. Ohioans are encouraged to participate in the drill and practice their emergency sheltering plans. You can visit the OCSWA website or Ready.gov for additional weather safety and emergency preparedness information, tips and resources.

Great Bike Giveaway: Deadline Thursday

Riding a bike is a treasured childhood experience. Sadly, many children with special needs miss out on this opportunity. Friendship Circle’s Great Bike Giveaway provides an opportunity to win a bike as well as provides a fundraising platform for friends and family members. The Great Bike Giveaway gives a child with special needs the experience, joy and independence of riding a special bike. Click headline to learn more.

World Down Syndrome Day Resources Available

World Down Syndrome Day is March 21! It is a global awareness day that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The goal is to help people better understand and support those with Down Syndrome. The date being the 21st day of the 3rd month was chosen to represent the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.

Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP)

The Ohio Arts Council offers the Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP), which provides funding to individual artists with disabilities. These resources help them further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career. 

NACDD Seeks Photos of Individuals for National Project

Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. NACDD’s 2025 theme, We’re Here All Year, emphasizes that community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day—not just in March. 

As part of the national campaign, NACDD is seeking photo submissions to show everyday life of individuals with lived disability experiences across the country. Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to submit a photo of themselves in the community and tell the story behind the photo.

Deadline is March 31. The project will be unveiled in an online photo gallery later this spring. Learn more and submit your photo here.

Volunteers Needed for Unified Basketball Skills Day

Special Olympics Ohio is looking for volunteers to assist students with and without disabilities in a variety of stations, which will aid in the development of their athletic abilities. At Lourdes University, they will be joined by members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and will run all of the basketball skill and drill stations in a fun, exciting, and inclusive way that is tailored for students of all ages and abilities. The event will also include tabletop games, coloring stations, battle putt, and a sensory area. Contact Karla Batt kbatt@sooh.org with any questions.

Friday Update is the weekly newsletter of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

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