1. Federal government makes free at-home COVID-19 tests available
The federal government is offering four free COVID-19 at-home rapid tests for every household in the U.S. You must place your order at COVIDtests.gov. The process is very easy and takes about two minutes to complete. Order your free tests now, so that you’ll have them if you need them. Those without internet access and those needing assistance may order by calling 1-800-232-0233.
2. Federal government to provide free N95 masks
The federal government has made 400 million N95 masks available for free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country. Every person can receive up to three masks, depending on availability. We recommend calling your local store to confirm that masks are available.
3. OOD schedules ‘Inclusive Employer Handbook’ webinar series
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) will host “Inclusive Employer Handbook,” a monthly webinar series designed to help employers create and sustain a disability-inclusive workplace.
The series will conclude with an Accessibility Hour to answer frequently asked questions from the previous webinars. The schedule is as follows:
Feb. 16: Recruiting, Hiring and Supporting Employees
March 23: Workplace Accommodations
April 21: Workplace Accessibility
May 19: Accessibility Hour
All webinars begin at 10 a.m. More information can be found here.
4. February’s ‘Aging Gracefully’ now available
The latest edition of “Aging Gracefully” is now available. This issue covers the benefits of assistive technology, ways to manage the “dark days” of winter, upcoming webinars and training opportunities, and more. Read the entire issue here.
5. Autism Society of America to host virtual town halls
The Autism Society of America’s ABA Commission will host virtual town halls this month to hear from diverse voices across the autism community.
Feb. 9: Professional Perspectives
Feb. 16: Autistic Perspectives
Both webinars begin at 7 p.m. To learn more, click here.
6. ASNO Support Group to meet Feb. 14
The Autism Society of Northwest Ohio Support Group will meet every two weeks until April 25. The next meeting will be Feb. 14. To join this virtual session, click here.
7. Enter to win a two-night stay at Cannaley Treehouse Village
Courageous Community Services has launched a raffle for a two-night stay at Cannaley Treehouse Village at Oak Openings Park, one of the newest outdoor spaces developed by Metroparks Toledo.
The raffle winner will win two nights (March 4-5) at an ADA-accessible treehouse designed by Nelson Treehouse and Supply. Tickets are $25 each or $100 for six. Click here to purchase your tickets today.
Proceeds from the raffle will directly support Courageous Community Services’ recreational programming and advocacy for those with disabilities and their families. The winner will be randomly chosen on Feb. 21. For more information about the raffle and Courageous Community Services, please visit www.ccsohio.org.
8. Register for Courageous Acres
Registration is now open for summer 2022 camp sessions at Courageous Acres. Each session is themed and tailored for a specific age group. Dates are available from June to August. To learn more and to register, click here.
9. CSS Community Award nominations are open
Each year, Courageous Community Services (CSS) recognizes people in the community who work to advance the lives of those with disabilities.
CSS is now accepting nominations in three categories:
- An individual or organization doing excellent community service to advance the lives of those with disabilities
- An employer advancing the inclusion of those with disabilities in the workforce
- An outstanding self-advocate working toward the betterment of their own life and the lives of others
To learn more and to submit your nominations, click here before Feb. 6.
10. March Forth to Employment Conference
Nationwide Children’s has scheduled its March Forth to Employment Conference for March 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are two tracks for this virtual conference. The first track focuses on information valuable to individuals, families and providers who are working towards and gaining skills for employment. The second track highlights organizations that have successfully hired individuals with disabilities and the ways employers can increase their accessibility practices. Guests are welcome to attend presentations within both tracks.
For a complete schedule and to register, click here.
11. Register for the 2022 Disability Policy Seminar
The 2022 Disability Policy Seminar is scheduled for March 28-30 in Washington, D.C. Attendees can join in-person or virtually.
The Disability Policy Seminar offers the chance for advocates, self-advocates, experts and professionals in the field to come together and learn about key issues that affect them most. Attendees leave with the tools to bring strong advocacy to virtual meetings and other follow-up actions as efforts are made to raise awareness among members of Congress about issues important to the disability community.
For more information, including registration, click here.
12. Aetna Better Health of Ohio seeks input about OhioRISE
Aetna Better Health of Ohio has scheduled several listening sessions to gain opinions from its community partners about the OhioRISE program, “a specialized Medicaid managed care plan with tailored services to meet the needs of youth with complex needs” that launches July 1, 2022.
Participants will have opportunities to share their thoughts on topics such as access, services delivery, gaps in support systems, engagement with system staff, cultural competency, consumer knowledge of services and supports, and professional- and family-focused training needs.
OhioRISE listening sessions will be held from Feb. 15-24, 2022. They will be held virtually, and registration is required. For a complete schedule and registration information, click here.
13. OSU Nisonger Center seek advisory team members
The Ohio State University Nisonger Center seeks individuals to join its state advisory team. Specifically, the Center seeks:
- Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID)/developmental disabilities (DD) and mental health disabilities (MHD) who have experience with mental health services
- Caregivers of adults with ID/DD and MHD
Members of this state advisory team will attend meetings via Zoom, learn about mental health, share experiences and help the state team develop a survey. Member also can get paid up to $20 an hour.
Further information can be found here.
14. Monthly workshop to discuss the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
The Special Education Legal Clinic will present “OCECD: Who We Are and What We Do,” a virtual workshop and Q&A panel, on Feb. 14, 2022.
This workshop will cover the history of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children (OCECD) with Disabilities as well as the services and support it offers to parents and professionals. Available OCECD trainings, materials and publications also will be addressed.
The Clinic is a public-private collaboration between three independent organizations: Disability Rights Ohio, the OCECD and Albeit Weiker LLP.
In addition to monthly workshops, the Clinic offers individual guidance sessions to review specific situations with advocates or attorneys. For more information, to register for a monthly workshop or to schedule an individual guidance session, click here.
15. The next Sibshop is Feb. 19
Brothers and sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities are invited to attend the next Sibshop meeting on Saturday, Feb. 19, 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.
16. Arc of Ohio to present trust-planning webinar
The Arc of Ohio will present “Special Needs Trusts and STABLE Accounts” on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. This webinar will feature Logan Philipps, attorney with Resch, Root, Philipps & Graham LLC, and Doug Jackson, deputy director of STABLE Accounts with the Office of the Ohio Treasurer. To register, click here.
17. Save the Date! Annual Inclusion Resource Fair
The Board has scheduled its annual Inclusion Resource Fair for Wednesday, March 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bowsher High School in Toledo. More details will be available soon.
18. 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.”