1. Committed Board staff is working remotely
A Message from Superintendent Lori Mariucci
As we continue to work under the governor’s stay-in-place guidelines, I cannot say enough about the dedication of our staff. Working remotely has created a new set of challenges but Board staff have demonstrated their commitment to the health and safety of the individuals we serve, often in unique and innovative ways.
While our buildings on Larc Lane and the EduCare Center on Birchwood remain closed staff you may still reach staff by phone or email. The main switchboard is open 8:30 to 4:30 at 419-380-4000. The after hours number for emergency calls is 419-380-5100.
Governor DeWine has mentioned May 1st as a date to begin easing the shelter-in-place directives, but that will not mean for us a quick return to re-opening the Board facilities and an immediate end to staff working remotely. The return to a more normal method of operation will be a process that will not be hurried but will be based on the health and safety of staff and individuals being served. The Board will follow guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department as well as the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
We are working to keep everyone up-to-date and have a wealth of information on our website at www.lucasdd.org I also want to encourage you to take advantage of the information we are posting on daily basis though social media on Facebook and Instagram. And I also want to encourage you to share this information with those you know who do not have internet access.
I also want to give a shout out to our providers who are doing amazing work often working short of hand. We are assisting the providers to recruit more direct support professional staff. Daily, we are posting on our website the names of providers who have immediate job openings.
These are incredibly challenging times, but please know that we are here for you.
2. Disability Roundtable is scheduled by Ability Center
The Ability Center will host a Disability Roundtable Webinar on Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. on www.abilitycenter.org. Listen to local leaders of disability organizations provide an update on current service offerings, address challenges, and explore opportunities to enhance services in response to COVID-19.
Participating Organizations:
• Area Office on Aging
• Autism Provider Network
• Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities
• Mobile Meals
• Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Use this link to gain access to the Zoom webinar on May 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
This webinar is open to the public. A recording of the presentation will be sent to all guests. Webinar will offer ASL and CART services.
3. Provider Support Information is updated on Board website
Information helpful for providers is continually updated on the Board of Developmental Disabilities website. Providers can access this information using the Provider Support drop-down menu.
4. United Way is seeking volunteers
United Way of Greater Toledo was asked to take the lead in filling 1,500 volunteer shifts to pack 12,000 weekend snack packs, as well as distribute food for kids currently out of school. Volunteers can sign up here.
5. DODD Issues Statement on Revised Lawsuit Settlement Agreement
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio issued an order on April 24 approving the revised settlement agreement between the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and Disability Rights Ohio (DRO), which was submitted to the court in January 2020.
This agreement was the result of more than four years of work to resolve the claims and end the lawsuits brought by two groups, Disability Rights Ohio and guardians of people with disabilities living in intermediate care facilities (ICFs), with very different opinions on how Ohio’s developmental disabilities system is and should be structured. DODD and the guardian intervenors were unable to reach a settlement.
DODD’s commitment to continue providing a choice of both the ICF option and waiver option is reaffirmed in the revised agreement. The agreement maintains and expands existing initiatives and provides waiver funding without harming the ICF program, ICF funding, or a family’s right to choose an ICF for their loved one.
Background
In 2016, DRO filed a class-action lawsuit against DODD with claims that more than 27,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities were being forced to live and receive services in ICFs or were “at serious risk of institutionalization” despite preferences to live in the community and receive services via a waiver. This lawsuit created fears that ICFs were being targeted for closure. A year later, the court permitted a group of guardians with family members living in ICFs to intervene in the lawsuit. In 2018, the guardian intervenors filed claims against DODD maintaining that DODD was “phasing out and defunding” the ICF program.
Through the court process, DODD was successfully able to narrow the class members to include only those people who, after being informed about both ICF and waiver service options, requested to receive waiver services. Over the past four years, 800 residents of ICFs who requested a waiver have been enrolled in the Individual Options Waiver. The class currently consists of approximately 200 people who have requested and are waiting to be enrolled in a waiver.
6. You can now find the Board of DD on Pinterest
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities has expanded its social networking with a presence on Pinterest. Pinterest is often called the home for ideas and inspiration. Our Pinterest site offers some helpful ideas on how to spend the weekend as well as ideas on how we can better utilize People First Language. Pats-on-the-back to Board staff members Heather McVay and Emily Hughes for setting this up. If you have ideas what we can "pin," please send suggestions to pinterest@lucasdd.org
7. Job postings
Many providers in Lucas County are adding staff. We have up-to-date information on who is hiring on the welcome page of the Board of DD website. Use this link for the latest update.
Providers are also encouraged to post job openings with ohiomeansjobs.com. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is working with the Department of Jobs and Family Services in a marketing campaign urging people to become Direct Service Professionals.
8. Free instant messages from the Board of DD - how to get them
The Lucas County Board of DD has two ways for you to receive instant messages on your smart phone.
To receive free text messages text to 40404 this message: Follow LucasDDAlert. Make sure you have enabled SMS messaging in your phone settings.
You may also receive free text messages from our mobile app. Download here. If asked to enable push messaging, respond yes.
9. Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Recipients
Information is provided by IRS and the Bureau of Fiscal Service to the Social Security Beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income Recipients:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not the Social Security Administration (SSA), will send all payments electronically or paper checks by mail.
Only the IRS can answer questions you may have about your personal or family situation. Please do not call SSA with your payment questions. Visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus for the latest information available. You can find the information you need by following these steps:
- Locate the blue text that describes which monthly benefit you receive and when you started receiving benefits.
- Look for the row that matches your situation whether you filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return, and whether you have any qualifying children.
If you need to take an action, please act quickly to get your payment or a payment for your qualifying child. If you received an economic impact payment for yourself less than $1,200, you can read why at IRS’ Economic Impact
Payment Information Center and Economic Impact Payments and the Treasury Offset Program web pages.
10. Donations are being collected
A big thank you for the generosity shown in donations. Pictured to the left are donations from our friends with the Ohio Highway Patrol. The following items, though, are still requested:
• Toilet paper • Hand Sanitizer • Paper towels • Cleaning supplies • Clorox wipes • Bleach
The times to drop off donations are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and noon to 1:00 pm. Thank you for the tremendous support that has been shown. You make a difference!
11. New Aging Gracefully newsletter
Follow this link to read the Aging Gracefully newsletter for May.
12. Worth Repeating
"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." -Robert Louis Stevenson
The Friday Update is published on Friday mornings by Lon Mitchell, Public Information Manager of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. You may subscribe by sending your email address. You may also read the Friday Update on the Board website and on the mobile app