1. A few words from Ye Olde Editor
My goal for the Friday Update has always been to not only be a source of news and information from the Board of DD but also to serve as a hub for the entire Lucas County area DD community. You've probably noticed that there hasn't been an activities list in this newsletter since the beginning of the pandemic. We know that large group events such as the Dinner-Dance and Camp cannot take place, but I want to make sure we don't miss activities that may be taking place virtually, such as support groups.
We want to list activities in the Friday Update and we are planning a calendar that you can download and use virtually or print and post on the fridge.
If your club, group, organization or agency has scheduled activities, please let us know so we may share the information. Click here to email me. -Lon
2. Department of DD helps families link
Families can find valuable information about resources and programs designed to support families statewide and in their local communities at loopohio.org. The website also serves to link families with mentors and subject matter experts who can provide answers and insight to questions.
3. All Social Security offices continue to work via phone and online
Employees at Social Security have not been given an expected date as to when they will see the public in person. Many services may be accomplished online. Click here for more information.
4. You can help develop the Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) and Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) are working together to update the Locally Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan (LOCHSTP). The purpose of the plan is to identify community resources for transportation, understand the gaps and unmet needs within those resources, and to determine an approach to addressing those gaps and unmet needs. Additionally, the coordinated plan is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirement for Specialized Transportation (Section 5310) funding in that only projects included in a coordinated plan may be eligible for Section 5310 funding.
A public survey is now available. The brief survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will provide stakeholders with valuable information. To request a version of the survey in a different format please contact Marissa Bechstein at 419.241.9155 ext. 1117 or bechstein@tmacog.org
The survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LOCHSTP
5. Website offers information for families in Early Intervention
The BOLD Beginning website is a way for Ohio’s parents, grandparents, caretakers, teachers, and child care providers to access resources related to early childhood from Ohio’s state agencies.
6. Work group on Autism releases 2020 Annual Report
The Interagency Work Group on Autism shared a report of how state agencies are working together to support people with autism and their families. Click here to read the report.
7. This is National Disability Voter Registration Week
The week of July 13 is National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) to increase the political power of people with disabilities. The effort, to share information about voter registration, is coordinated by the REV UP Campaign.
The disability community will play an immense role in upcoming local, state, and federal elections. In 2020, over 35 million people with disabilities are eligible to vote, a number which increases to 62 million when including family members in the same household. The power of the disability vote can hold our elected officials accountable for decisions that directly affect the programs and services people with disabilities rely on to live independently in the community of their choice.
Justin Dart, father of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), said it best: “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.”
8. Job postings
For information on open positions with the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, follow this link.
Bittersweet Farms has two 2 new positions for posting: Director of Nursing and Development Specialist. Follow this link for more information.
9. Action Alert: Sustaining Ohio’s Medicaid Program
(Information Provided by The Arc of Ohio)
To protect health coverage and critical state public services during the public health and economic crises, Congress must substantially increase the share of Medicaid costs paid by the federal government.
Congress reconvenes on July 20. Contact Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Rob Portman to ask them to support:
- An increase of at least 14 percentage points in each state’s FMAP (the share of a state’s Medicaid costs paid for by the federal government);
- Extending the FMAP increase until unemployment goes down to pre-recession levels and state budgets recover; and
- Continuing strong maintenance-of-effort (MOE) protections that prevent cuts to coverage.
E-mail Senator Brown and Senator Portman and tell them to protect our health care today!
10. Athlete leaders salute Toledo Police Department
The Special Olympics Leadership Team paid a special visit to the Toledo Police Scott Park Station to show their appreciation for the support TPD officers have shown individuals with developmental disabilities, such as the Bowlymics and High Noon Showdown.
11. Worth Repeating
"My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging." -Hank Aaron
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 us your email address. You may also read the Friday Update on the Board website and on the mobile app