1. Circle the date for the Board of DD Annual Meeting – April 26

Barbara This year the Board’s Annual Meeting will be streamed live on Facebook on April 26 at 6:00 p.m. The keynote speaker this year will be Ms. Barbara Sapharas, an Independent Consultant working with the Nisonger Center to share information about Charting the LifeCourse. She has worked in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) for over 45 years with a focus on empowering and supporting people with disabilities and families, driven by her experience as a sibling. Barb was a founding member of both Ohio SIBS and the Sibling Leadership Network. She is currently a Board Member of the Ohio Self Determination Association.

Also at the Annual Meeting the Board will present several honors to Community Partners, name its staff member of the year, and present the award for Self-Advocate of the Year.

Please join us!

2. Inclusion Fair information still available

Parents who are looking for information on summer options will find a wealth of information at inclusionfair.org The fair may be over, but the information from the multitude of participating vendors is still available online.

3. Assistive Technology Help

Governor DeWine recognized April 14, 2021, Assistive Technology Awareness Day. Browse The Ability Center’s Assistive Technology Loan closet to borrow items such as toys, instruments, games, virtual devices, switch devices.

4. "Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!"

Join the REV UP Webinar: Protecting the Right to Vote on April 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. During this virtual webinar, disability and voting rights advocates will share information and answer questions on the restrictive state voting bills making their way through legislatures and proposed federal voting bills and how these bills will impact voting rights. The panel will also discuss how organizers can protect voting access in their communities.

This event is hosted by AAPD's REV UP Campaign. Launched in 2016, REV UP is made up of state, local, and national coalitions and partners that work to advance the Disability Vote. REV UP stands for "Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!"

This event will include ASL interpreting and live captioning. To RSVP, please fill out this registration form,

5. Using technology to enhance life

The next Tech Ambassadors webinar will be April 20 at 10:00 a.m. This webinar will continue the discussion on how adaptive technology use enhances lives and independence for people with developmental disabilities. The webinar will on Zoom. Register here

6. FEMA Holds Call for Disability Stakeholders on Funeral Assistance Program

Join the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination on April 28, 2021 at 1pm ET to learn how FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief and financial hardship to many families. At FEMA, we are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

7. TARTA temporarily moves four buses downtown drop-offs and pick-ups

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) is enhancing the customer experience at its downtown Toledo Transit Hub through a pavement improvement project and installation of four new bus shelters and trash cans.

During the pavement improvement project, TARTA received approval from the City of Toledo Division of Transportation to temporarily stage four buses on Orange Street between Superior and Erie Streets that serve Routes 26, 28, 32 and 34.