1. Department of DD issues health alert on coronavirus
Follow this link to read the latest health and safety alert regarding the importance of reporting cases of COVID-19.
2. Ability Center will offer a webinar on school planning
The next webinar from the Ability Center will discuss what support will be available for students on IEP plans, securing needed technology for virtual learning, and exploring resources from local agencies will be covered during this webinar with local school districts. The webinar will be August 6 at 10:00 a.m. Click here for more information.
3. Registration is now open for the Crisis Academy
Ohio Crisis Academy: Mobile Teams for Adults & Youth – August 5th
Join the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) for a Crisis Academy around mobile teams for adults and youth. This 3.5 hour Zoom webinar will focus on crisis response systems—from models, to the individual components and how they can work in partnership. Speakers will also discuss Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) within a Children’s Crisis Continuum. Click here for the agenda.
Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4tVVlnF2TB2uwZscju9-eg7.
4. Trauma Informed Care is the topic of the latest podcast
The series of podcasts from the Lucas County Board of DD continues with guest Jennifer Wolfe discussing trauma informed care - what is it and how is it being used in interactions with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Other topics in the series include the importance of self-advocacy, early intervention, developing positive relations with the police, Special Olympics, and how we make the Toledo area the most disability friendly.
Listen to the podcast episodes at this link or download the Breaker Audio app.
5. Epilepsy Center offers Freedom Tour
The Epilepsy Center wants to offer a safe event for families to attend.
In lieu of its usual fundraiser, the Epilepsy Center is planning an evening of togetherness at a distance, fun without risk and an opportunity to support the work we do for the epilepsy community.
Join the Freedom Tour 2020 with skydiving, pyrotechnics, music, food and all in the safety of your vehicle. Click here for full details and ticket sales.
6. Renee Wood receives NCIL Advocacy Award
Renee Wood of Toledo, a former chair of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) was recently awarded the National Council on Independent Living's (NCIL) Region Five Advocacy Award for her efforts in advancing independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through her advocacy work. Renee, herself, has cerebral palsy.
About her advocacy efforts, Renee explained, "What we need to work on is the underlying cause of all these systemic issues (transportation, housing, health care, direct workforce crisis). The fact is people with disabilities are not seen as equal in society. We may be included now, but inclusion is not equality. Inclusion is tolerating our presence in the same space with those who are not disabled, but tolerance is not acceptance. When someone is equal, their gifts and talents are recognized and valued. Their talents are not just recognized but sought after. Equality means people with disabilities are not just present but belong and have dignity.
"I believe when people with disabilities are valued as equals, everything else will start to work itself out, because the community will finally have the will and a reason to change these systemic issues. The disability community may still have to be the experts in how to build an accessible community for all, but at least the need by the greater community will be there, as well as the financial investment to achieve it. Until our equality is recognized and valued, we will continue to advocate for slices of bread at various locations and have to claim the crumbs they bestow on us as victory.”
7. SALUTE members featured in television stories.
Two members of the self-advocacy SALUTE group were featured this week in television stories about the thirtieth anniversary of the ADA. Watch the story on Channel 11 featuring Nate Turner at this link. And the story on Channel 13 is at this link featuring Phillis Schmidbauer.
8. Job postings
For information on open positions with the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, follow this link.
9. Worth Repeating
"Once you tell your story, it can be empowering.” -Olivia Benson
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