At its February meeting, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities gave its Special Recognition to a Toledo bowling alley that has been of great help to our Special Olympics programs. It also recognized the February Staff Person of the Month as well as the January winner, who was unable to make it last month.
Special Recognition: All Strikes Lanes
Since assuming ownership of All Strikes Lanes in 2022, Lakeila Carter and her business partner, Latoya Brown, have quickly become friends of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
For six months out of the year, they graciously host our Unified Bowling League, which runs every other Saturday from September through March.
When we started a brand-new bowling league for our Little Lightning Special Olympians, All Strikes was very accommodating, easy to work with and very understanding and patient with our individuals. In addition, Ms. Carter and Ms. Brown have always been generous in making this activity very affordable.
Our inaugural “Bowling with Heroes” event last year during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was a huge success with a fantastic turnout and so much fun had by our individuals and members of the Toledo police and fire departments. We look forward to bigger and better things at the event this year coming up in April!
It is generosity and on-going support of individuals with developmental disabilities that make it a joy to partner with businesses such as this one in our community. And it is why the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is honored to present All Strikes Lanes with the February 2024 Special Recognition Award.
February Staff Person of the Month: Kristin Vescelius
For those of you that have not had the pleasure of knowing Service & Support Specialist Kristin Vescelius, she is a true hidden gem in the West Wing. Kristin has been an SSA since November 2010. She came to Lucas DD with a strong background in case management and mental health services. Her skills are a true asset to the SSA Department as demonstrated by her strong organizational skills, detailed case notes and ability to complete and track follow-up tasks.
It is easy to forget how amazing Kristin is until a crisis occurs. Less than a year ago, Kristin was given a case where an individual was struggling with their mental health, maintaining housing or an HPC provider, and had lots of changes in medications. She had recently been removed from all psychotropic medications and was terminated by her psychiatrist. The individual, who had moved out of her mother’s home less than a year prior, had been served two evictions in 4 months and was relocated 4 different times within just 7 months.
When the individuals we serve are in crisis, their families also experience crisis. The fear and anxiety of another move, another provider change and the reality of facing legal sanctions was understandably taking a toll on not only the individual served but also her mother/guardian. During this time, Kristin remained calm and provided facts that the team needed to hear. Her calm demeanor and ability to problem solve, even when she did not have the answers, had a positive effect on the team. This allowed them to review the options available and maintain an action plan. Kristin was able to locate housing on a minimal budget and within a 30-day timeframe. She also found HPC providers that could implement restrictive measures and linked her individual to new mental health services. Even under tight deadlines, a limited budget, and difficult family dynamics, Kristin was the voice of reason for the individual’s team.
The individual’s mother/guardian is someone that historically would call the SSA Coordinator multiple times whenever her daughter was in crisis. These calls were always riddled with anxiety, tears and desperate pleas to get her daughter the care she needs and deserves. Since Kristin has been assigned to the case, the mother has had nothing but praise for her daughter’s new SSA. Even after a police incident that resulted in a traumatic hospitalization followed by placement into NODC, the family continues to praise the work Kristin has done for their daughter.
Thanks for all that you have done and continue to do, Kristin. The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is pleased to name you the February 2024 Staff Person of the Month!
January Staff Person of the Month: Diane Harrah
Diane Harrah could be working anywhere in a clinical setting as a physical therapist. Luckily, for all of us, and especially the infants and toddlers we serve, she stays with Lucas DD because of her passion for working with children in their natural environment.
As the only PT on our Early Intervention team, Diane’s schedule is usually very busy. Yet she knows every child and family that she works with and always takes time to get to know them better. Diane focuses on the child and how we, as a team, can help build on the skills they have and help them meet their desired outcomes.
Diane will always team with staff, answer questions and provide recommendations. She locates needed equipment to loan to a family to help their child, leads trainings of our assessment tool and always makes herself available when a developmental specialist may need some extra help with a particular child or family.
Diane sees many children served by the Board and has been able to loan equipment to help with their gross motor skills. She takes time to explain and demonstrate how to safely use the equipment at home.
Diane is patient, kind and caring for every child and family. She goes above and beyond when needed and treats everyone with respect and understanding. Diane is a wealth of knowledge and we are so fortunate to have her as part of the Children’s Department.
The Board is honored to recognize Diane as the January 2024 Lucas DD Staff Person of the Month.