1. Unified Softball teams are being organized
Lucas County Special Olympics has teamed up with the City of Toledo to offer a unified softball league this summer. You do not have to be a softball star to play, but do recommend you know the game and have played at least a little at some point. Click here for all the information and to register if you are interested. Our goal is to have at least 4 teams that will play weekly games against each other.
2. Job Postings
The Lucas County Board of DD has several open positions, including Accounting Clerk and Service and Support Specialist. Click here for a listing of open positions.
The Ability Center is recruiting a Director of Youth and Transition Services.
3. TARTA Seeks Community Feedback
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will host a virtual public meeting on June 16, 2021 from 6p.m. – 7p.m. The forum is open to the public and all TARTA riders including those who use the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service (TARPS) and Call-A-Ride. The webinar-style public meeting will discuss changes that were made in the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic and receive feedback on the following topics:
- A review of fare elimination, reduced service hours and frequency and express service elimination due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Spring service changes to eight of TARTA’s fixed route services including routes 2, 5, 19, 51, 52, 12, 14 and 31.
- Service changes related to TARTA’s fixed route 10L.
The virtual public meeting will include a question-and-answer session with TARTA staff members.
In addition, TARTA will host an outdoor Open House on June 15, 2021 from 11:30a.m. – 3p.m. at the Toledo Downtown Transit Hub at 612 Huron Street where community members can receive information about the virtual public meeting, ask questions and submit feedback. A formal presentation will not be made.
Registration and additional details about the Virtual Public Meeting and Open House are available at www.tarta.com or by calling 419-243-7433. Customers and the public should submit their comments and questions ahead of time by sending them to customer-relations@tarta.com by 12 p.m. on June 16, 2021.
4. Family Choice
The Family Choice Program is a unique, self-directed program that offers people with developmental disabilities and their families the control of recruiting Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and in-home coordination of services through the SELF, Level 1, and IO waivers. Click here for more information.
5. Ohio DSP Workforce Crisis Task Force Created
Ohio’s DD system is supported by thousands of professionals who ensure Ohioans with disabilities and their families receive the supports they need daily. Meeting those needs requires skilled professionals who provide indirect and direct support. The quality of the workforce impacts options for those needing services and the outcomes achieved.
Recruiting and retaining the number of qualified staff required to provide supports has become increasingly difficult. The task force will address these challenges.
6. Board publishes Annual Report
Follow this link to read the 2020 Annual Report.
7. Share your transportation experiences
If you are an Ohioan with a disability, a family member/friend/caregiver, or transportation provider, the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Commission is inviting you to participate in a survey about transportation access for people with disabilities in Ohio. Click here to take the survey.
8. Ohio Celebrates Its Third Year as a Tech First State
In May 2018, Governor John Kasich signed the Technology First Executive Order 2018-06K, making Ohio the first Technology First state in the country. The order emphasizes the expansion of access to technology for people with developmental disabilities. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is the lead agency working on technology projects and continues to work with other organizations, including the Ohio DD Council, as well as individuals with disabilities to expand access to people with developmental disabilities across the state of Ohio.
You can learn more about the Ohio’s Technology First Initiative here.
9. Upcoming Events and Activities
June 14 – Project V COVID-19 Provider Forum
June 14 - Autism Society Coffee, Tea & Autism
June 15 - OSDA Transformation Tuesday
June 15 - OCALI Transformation Tuesday
June 16 - Family Advisory Council
June 17 – Bittersweet Farms Celebrating Possibilities
June 19 – Courageous Family Services Food Truck Fest
June 24 - We Thrive Together Social Hour
June 27-July 3 - Deaf/Blindness Awareness Week
August 13-14 - Epilepsy Center Practically a Golf Tournament
See the entire virtual Calendar for 2021
10. Worth Repeating
"We have no proof, but if we extrapolate, based on the best information we have available to us, we have to come to the conclusion that ... other life probably exists out there and perhaps in many places..." -Neil Armstrong