1. Board to cosponsor training series with the Dementia Coalition
As part of its ongoing partnership with the Dementia Coalition, the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is again cosponsoring a training series with Dr. Phil McCallion, a world-renowned expert in dementia and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Click on any of the session names below for more information. Free social work, counselor and DODD certification credits are being offered for attending these sessions. The schedule is as follows:
- Symptom Identification and Assessment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia – Tuesday, March 15, from 1-3 p.m.
- Advanced Dementia Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – Monday, March 21, from 1-3 p.m.
- Redesigning Day, Employment and Living Situations for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia – Monday, March 28, from 1-3 p.m.
- Ask the Expert Session with Dr. Phillip McCallion, Ph.D., director of the Temple University School of Social Work – Tuesday, April 12, from 1-3 p.m.
- Train-the-trainer for Basics of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia – Friday, April 22, from 1-3 p.m.
2. Community ADS/VH training is March 17
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will host Community ADS/VH training on March 17 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Covered topics will include incorporating ADS/VH into the Ohio ISP, billing for services, and a provider’s experiences with providing Community ADS/VH. To register for this training, contact Sara Gardner at sagardner@lucasdd.org or 419-380-5164.
3. SALUTE to meet March 14
SALUTE will hold its next meeting March 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the training room of the Lucas County Board of Development Disabilities’ Larc Lane Building. (Use door O.) This meeting will feature state Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson, who will discuss the DSP crisis and state funding.
You’re welcome to bring another staff member of support person; please mention your guest when you RSVP.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and light snacks will be provided. To RSVP, please contact Deetra Mitchell at dmitchell@lucasdd.org or 419-380-5141.
4. People First to meet March 17
People First of Lucas County will hold its March meeting over Zoom on Thursday, March 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. This month’s meeting will feature a guest lecturer who will provide information about Special Olympics. For more information, contact Quinn Thomas at quinnt@ccsohio.org. To join the meeting, click here.
5. Save the Date! CCS Black and White Gala is April 22
The Courageous Community Services (CCS) Black and White Gala will be April 22 at the Parkway Plaza in Maumee.
During this fun-filled evening, CCS will recognize the individuals and companies that have gone above and beyond to support the advocacy and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in our community. The event also will include entertainment from dueling piano players. Proceeds from this event will ensure the continuation and expansion of the quality programs CCS offers for people of all ages with disabilities. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
6. SALUTE to present Adaptive Storytelling Workshop
SALUTE is partnering with Rebecca Monteleone, assistant professor of disability and technology at the University of Toledo, for an eight-week Adaptive Storytelling Workshop. The series begins March 17, and all sessions will take place in the training room of the Lucas County Board of Development Disabilities’ Larc Lane Building.
The goal is to help individuals with disabilities learn how to share their personal stories with a wide audience. The weekly workshop will cover everything needed to write and perform impactful and entertaining stories. All stories will be performed on stage before a live audience at the conclusion of the program. There is no age limit, and participants must commit to attending six of the eight once-weekly workshops. For information, contact Deetra Mitchell at dmitchell@lucasdd.org.
7. Social Security Administration issues scam alert
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued an alert urging the public to beware of scammers. The SSA will never threaten, scare or pressure you to take immediate action. If you receive a call, text or email that does these things, it is a scam. Do not give them any money or personal information. To learn more about protecting yourself from Social Security-related scams, click here.
8. Monthly legal workshop to discuss tips for parents
The Special Education Legal Clinic will present “Reducing Barriers Through Advocacy – Tips for Parents from OCECD,” a virtual workshop and Q&A panel, on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m.
Participants will learn strategies that will enable them to become confident advocates for their child’s education needs. The parent’s role before, during and after the IEP meeting will be explored. Suggestions for recordkeeping and for effectively communicating with school district personnel will be discussed in detail.
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.
9. OCALICON call for proposals now open
As the premier autism and disabilities conference, OCALICON is committed to providing informative, engaging, applicable, interactive, world-class sessions presented by leaders in the field and content experts from across the nation and around the world. This year’s conference takes place Nov. 15-18.
To learn more about joining OCALICON as a presenter, click here. The deadline for submissions is March 31.
10. Coffee, Tea and Autism set for March 14
The Autism Society of Northwest Ohio invites you to a virtual chat Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Coffee, Tea and Autism is designed as a resource for people feeling overwhelmed, alone or confused about what to do next. If you seek others who understand your situation, join Coffee, Tea and Autism to chat.
Coffee, Tea and Autism can be joined via Zoom here.
11. The next Sibshop is March. 19
Brothers and sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities are invited to attend the next Sibshop meeting on Saturday, March 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.
12. 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.
13. Register for the 2022 Autism Walk
The ninth annual Autism Walk takes place at the Franklin Park Mall on Sunday, April 3, at 10 a.m.
Participants will walk the hallways of the mall before enjoying post-walk festivities in the food court area. There will be games, crafts and an Autism Resource Fair featuring service organizations in the area. All proceeds from the Autism Walk fund programs that support, advocate and educate on behalf of the autistic community. To register or donate click here.
14. 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 remaining schedule is as follows:
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.
15. The Ability Center offers college scholarships
Ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities to achieve higher education is critical. That’s why, in partnership with its auxiliary, The Ability Center of Greater Toledo has provided nearly $500,000 in college scholarships to area students with disabilities. 2022 scholarship applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and apply by March 31. For more information and to apply, click here.
16. 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.
17. DODD seeks feedback from families
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) works to communicate and connect with families and people with lived experience. To align its communication and resources with these preferences, the DODD invites families of people with disabilities to take this short survey about what DODD family resources they use and how they were involved with DODD during the past year. The results will inform DODD how to best support families in 2022. This survey closes March 18, 2022. To take the survey, click here.
18. Providers invited to join OhioISP
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is actively preparing for the release of OhioISP and wants to assure all providers that the OhioISP is available to them, even those working with a county board that uses a third-party vendor. With OhioISP, providers working with multiple counties can find all the assessments and ISPs for the people they support in OhioISP with one simple login. Also, there is no cost to use the OhioISP. There’s more information to come, including training videos and materials. If you have any questions about using the OhioISP, contact OhioISP@dodd.ohio.gov.