1. The Board’s annual meeting is April 25
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities has scheduled its annual meeting for April 25 at 6 p.m. at the Larc Lane Training Center. This annual meeting celebrates the Board’s accomplishments for 2021 and anticipates the goals for 2022. We also will hand out awards that celebrate the best of our staff and our community partners. Trevor Lane, director of God’s Abled Ministries in Circleville, Ohio, will be our keynote speaker, and some of the individuals we serve will be there to show off their talents. We’re excited to be back in person this year and hope you can join us at our South Toledo Headquarters!
2. 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 cosponsoring a training series with Dr. Phil McCallion, a world-renowned expert in dementia and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Click on either session name below for more information. Free social work, counselor and DODD certification credits are being offered for attending these sessions. The remaining schedule is as follows:
- 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.
3. CDC introduces new Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have introduced a new interactive tool that allows users to input their symptoms, along with dates their symptoms started, to receive information about how long they need to isolate or quarantine. Hopefully, this Quarantine and Isolation Calculator will clarify the new CDC guidelines. The calculator can be accessed here.
Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration authorized second booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that can be given four months after the first. The second booster has been approved for adults aged 50 and older and for individuals 12 and older who are immunocompromised.
4. The Ability Center to celebrate 419 Day
Toledo’s official unofficial holiday, 419 Day, is April 19. If you love all things Toledo – especially inclusive people, spaces and places that make the city unique – then the Ability Center wants to hear about it on April 19. Proudly wear your Jupmode “Toledo is for Everyone” T-shirt and use the hashtag #ToledoIsForEveryone on social media. Click here to learn more.
5. The next Sibshop is April 9
Brothers and sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities are invited to attend the next Sibshop meeting on Saturday, April 9, 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.
6. Coffee, Tea and Autism set for April 11
The Autism Society of Northwest Ohio invites you to a virtual chat Monday, April 11, 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.
7. SALUTE to meet April 11
SALUTE will hold its next meeting April 11 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 a representative from the Ability Center’s assistance dogs program.
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.
8. April’s ‘Aging Gracefully’ now available
The latest edition of “Aging Gracefully” is now available. This issue covers a new Ohio law designed to expose nursing home abuse, the new and improved TARTA system, information about upcoming webinars and training opportunities, and more. Read the entire issue here.
9. Super Saturday of Toledo to hold monthly dance
Super Saturday of Toledo will hold its monthly Super Saturday Dance on April 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.
This dance is for individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. (Caregivers must be present.) All Super Saturday Dances take place in the Five Lakes Church gymnasium at 4765 McCord Road in Sylvania. Admission is free, and a light meal will be served. A bible study will precede the dance at 6:15 p.m.
For more information, check out the Super Saturday of Toledo Facebook group.
10. Urban Air Adventure Park sensory-friendly event April 10
Urban Air Adventure Park will host a sensory-friendly event on Sunday, April 10, at 9 a.m. Urban Air is located at 5243 Airport Highway in Toledo and features trampolines, indoor climbing walls, interactive games and more.
11. People First to host Wednesday Walk at Wildwood
People First will host the second of six free social walks at Wildwood Metropark on April 13 at 5:30 p.m. The group will walk the 1.65-mile Brown Trail. Walkers should meet at the Visitor Center. For more information about Wednesday Walks and to register, click here.
12. TARTA seeks input about potential new service scenarios
TARTA Next has evaluated existing transit ridership, local market conditions and regional travel patterns. The project team has also gathered feedback from the community through an online community survey of existing transit riders, public meetings, and ongoing discussions with stakeholders. Using feedback received during the first phase of the project, two conceptual service scenarios have been developed. Learn more about these scenarios and provide your thoughts here.
13. CCS Black and White Gala to be held April 22
The Courageous Community Services (CCS) Black and White Gala will be April 22 at the Parkway Place 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.
14. The Sight Center launches Blind Ambition employment project
The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio has announced a new resource for sight-impaired job seekers: the Blind Ambition Project.
This pilot project will serve working-age adults who are blind or visually impaired who reside in the metropolitan Toledo area. Specifically, the focus will be on those seeking to become newly employed, those trying to transition from a sighted career to a sight-impaired career, and those seeking to gain meaningful part-time employment while retaining current disability benefits.
As part of the Blind Ambition Project, the Sight Center will host an intensive quarterly workshop series consisting of three weekly day-long workshops. The first session will be April 14, 21 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshops will take place at the Sight Center at 1002 Garden Lake Parkway in Toledo.
Registration is free, but space is limited. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Lunch will be provided, and transportation assistance is available. To register for the three-session April series, complete the online form here or call 419-720-3937.
15. Monthly legal workshop to focus on ‘Understanding Autism’
The Special Education Legal Clinic will present “Understanding Autism,” a virtual workshop and Q&A panel, on Monday, April 11, at 7 p.m.
Participants will learn about the current diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The discussion will address individual education program (IEP) goals along with strategies and possible methodologies for educating children identified on the autistic spectrum. A comparison between services received through the Autism Scholarship Program and public-school IEP programs also will be discussed.
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.
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. 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.
18. Preferred Properties looks to fill Board of Directors vacancies
Preferred Properties Inc. is seeking to fill several vacancies on its Board of Directors. The mission of Preferred Properties is to develop, manage and maintain accessible and affordable housing for persons with disabilities, seniors and others in need that will facilitate opportunities to reside in livable communities. Applicants should be residents of the state of Ohio, and the appointments will serve a three-year term. Interested applicants should contact Cheryl Wilson, executive director of preferred properties, at cwilson@preferred-properties.org.