1. Holiday hours and emergency phone line
Happy holidays from the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities! During the holiday period (Dec. 24-Jan. 2), the Board will be here to support you and meet your needs. We will have staff on call at 419-380-5100 to respond to urgent requests from the individuals we serve, families and providers. We hope you have a wonderful and magical holiday season!
2. 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.
3. 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.”
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Corey Pappas to present Holiday Piano Concert
Pianist Corey Pappas will present an evening of holiday music at the Maumee Indoor Theater on Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
Pappas will be joined on stage by members of the St. George Cathedral Choir along with family and friends. This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Maumee Indoor Theatre is located at 601 Conant Street in Maumee, Ohio.
7. Nabil Shaheen named public information manager for the Board
Nabil Shaheen has been named public information manager for the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Shaheen brings 20 years of communications and marketing experience to the organization. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and editor with award-winning stints in Hays, Kansas; Sandusky, Ohio; Findlay, Ohio; and Toledo, Ohio. He eventually transitioned from journalism to content marketing, spending the past five years helping companies find their voices through consistent branding and increased engagement with customers. He has a passion for instilling communication with a humanizing element to better connect subject and audience.
He earned his master’s degree in mass communication from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Kansas State University.