1. Free vaccine clinic for those with developmental disabilities
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is working with ProMedica to help protect you and the community with a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic. This clinic is scheduled for Dec. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. at Flower Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio.
This clinic will offer initial doses of the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. For second doses or boosters, all three varieties (including Moderna) will be available.
All ages are welcome. For more information and to register, visit lucasdd.org/covid.
2. Virtual town hall to address COVID-19 vaccine questions
Find answers to your vaccine questions during a virtual town hall on Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. Dr. Eileen Quinn, developmental and behavioral pediatrician, and Janet Moore, a certified nurse practitioner specializing in pediatric infectious diseases, will be available to answer your questions.
This town hall will take place over Zoom here.
3. Updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
The Ohio Department of Health has issued the following updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses:
- Certain recipients of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are eligible for booster doses to prevent serious outcomes from COVID-19. Eligibility for booster doses is currently limited to individuals at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 based on their age, certain underlying medical conditions, or occupational/institutional settings.
- Johnson & Johnson/Janssen booster doses are now authorized for all recipients of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone age 18 or older who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a second booster dose at least two months after the initial dose.
- Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. This mix-and-match approach only applies to booster doses. A primary vaccination series should be completed using the same product.
Click here for the booster dose fact sheet.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave final authorization of the pediatric dose for children age 5-11 in early November. Children can be vaccinated through many different providers, including local health departments, pediatricians, family physicians, community health centers, adult and children’s hospitals, and pharmacies. Click here to find a provider or here for the pediatric dose fact sheet.
4. Board issues urgent call for DSPs via new landing page
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities has called for more direct service professionals (DSPs) to assist individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Lucas County. The Board created a new webpage to help community members learn more and find open DSP jobs within the Board’s provider network.
According to the Board, DSPs are essential to the developmental disabilities service delivery system; they are the front line of assistance for individuals in need of support to live, work and participate in the community at their full potentials.
“We are facing a critical shortage of DSPs in Lucas County and throughout Ohio. The recruitment and retention of DSPs are top priorities. We’re hoping our new landing page will assist community members to find and apply for these much-needed DSP positions,” said Lisa Poiry, provider and development coordinator for the LCBDD.
“The mission of the Board is to improve life so individuals with developmental disabilities can reach their full potential,” Poiry continued. “In order for individuals with disabilities to live their lives in the same manner as we do, they require support services and the assistance of DSPs.”
5. Spend some quality time with the Cuyahoga DD Good Life Ambassadors
Every month, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities offers the opportunity to connect with its Good Life Ambassadors. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 11 to 11:40 a.m.
This Zoom meeting can be joined here. The passcode is 3gDQiE.
Questions? Please contact 216-736-2722.
6. The next Sibshops is Dec. 18
Brothers and sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities are invited to attend the next Sibshops meeting on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
These free gatherings give kids the chance to meet other kids and talk about the good and not-so-good parts of having a sibling with a developmental disability. Sibshops also feature fun games, cooking activities and hands-on activities that will keep your kids engaged in an energetic way.
Sibshops are for 8- to 16-year-old brothers and sisters who have a sib with developmental disabilities. The events are run by a team whose members have a professional or personal understanding of the impact a child’s developmental disability can have on brothers and sisters. Equally important, they have great kid skills!
All Sibshops take place at the Alternate Learning Center at 3939 Wrenwood in Toledo, Ohio. CDC prevention guidelines will be followed. Sibshops are free!
For more information and to register, contact Wendy Smenner, Lucas County parent mentor, at 419-214-3066 or wsmenner@esclakeeriewest.org. Space is limited, so register today.
7. TARTA seeks feedback on upcoming service changes
TARTA will host five public events to gather community and business feedback about its upcoming service changes.
The first two meetings will be virtual on Dec. 20 and Dec. 28, 2021.
An in-person open house will follow on Jan. 3, 2022.
The final two meetings will be in-person on Jan. 5 and Jan. 11, 2022.
For more information about these meetings, please visit the TARTA website.
8. Toledo Lucas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program to reopen soon
The city of Toledo and its partners will soon reopen the Toledo Lucas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which can be used for rent, utilities, water and the internet. Funding is first come, first served, so interested individuals should visit the program’s website for additional information about eligibility requirements and the application process.
The new portal is expected to open before Christmas.