1. Update on vaccine distribution
Now is the time to preregister to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. You will want to check if your provider has already done this. Individuals with developmental disabilities are eligible for a vaccination in Phase 1. Please keep in mind the Pfizer vaccine is only approved for individuals over the age of 16; Moderna vaccine for individuals over the age of 18. Here is the link to preregister with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. Please share this information.
The Ohio Department of DD has produced a "plain language" flyer describing theCOVID-19 and some information about the vaccine. Click here to read or download.
2. Sessions begin Saturday discussing parent empowerment
Lucas County Children Service’s Parent Empowerment Institute is sponsoring sessions for parents and caregivers focused on Advocacy, Legal, and Resources and Support starting Saturdays beginning January 9. Click here for more information.
3. Cassandra Wilson named NW Ohio Self-Determination Association Chair
Congratulations to Cassandra Wilson on her selection as the new Chair of the NW region Ohio Self-Determination Association. Cassandra has a long history of self-advocacy and is currently an officer with SALUTE, Self-Advocates of LUcas County and TolEdo. Cassandra has been recognized as Self-Advocate of the Year by the Lucas County Board of DD.
4. Aging Gracefully newsletter
Click here to read the January issue.
5. Sustainable Transportation Conference
Moving Ohio Forward will be an all-day online conference January 14 for advocates and professionals of transportation services in Ohio. Click here to register.
6. OOD to host online series to help employers navigate ADA
Moments after taking office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D establishing Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is honoring the Executive Order’s second anniversary by hosting “The Employers’ ADA Handbook,” a five-part series to help employers navigate Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Disability inclusion positively impacts individuals and families while contributing to improved business performance,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “As we work toward economic recovery, it’s critical that we leave no one behind by ensuring equal access to opportunity for all Ohioans.”
- January 13, 2021: Title I Overview
- February 24, 2021: Reasonable Accommodations and Undue Hardship
- March 24, 2021: Performance, Conduct, and Safety
- April 28, 2021: Resources and Funding
- May 26, 2021: Accessibility Hour
All webinars will begin at 10 a.m. and take place as Microsoft Teams Live events. Each webinar will be recorded and archived for future viewing. One Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) credit hour will be available for attendees of each live broadcast. More information, including the link to join, can be found here.
7. Newest podcast is an interview with Tim Harrington
The latest in the Board's series of podcasts features Tim Harrington, Executive Director of the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, discussing the 100th anniversary of the Ability Center and plans for the future. Listen at this link.
Join The Ability Center on Monday, January 11, for a virtual information night about our Youth Leadership Forum summer program. Open to high school seniors and juniors with disabilities, students will have the chance to work with Toledo government officials during a four-day training program. Visit https://bit.ly/3hHliQD to RSVP and for more information.
8. Fraud Alert
As the number of people and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic grows, so do the scams associated with it. Scammers use public health emergencies as opportunities for new fraud schemes, and because older adults and people with disabilities are at greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19, they may target these populations.
It’s important to remember that although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health officials may contact you if they believe you may have been exposed to the virus, they will not need to ask you for insurance or financial information.
Scammers rapidly alter their tactics and adapt their schemes to the changing landscape, and we anticipate that they will leverage the COVID-19 vaccine to prey on unsuspecting people. Be vigilant and protect yourself from potential fraud concerning COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
9. Special Olympics/Recreation virtual calendar
10. Worth Repeating
"What comes from the heart, goes to the heart." -Samuel Taylor Coleridge