FANS Network Goodwill Donation Drive is May 20-21
This year, why not do some good along with your spring cleaning? On May 20 and 21, you can support the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities FANS Network when you donate your gently used goods at participating Goodwill locations. Your donations will provide Goodwill vouchers to individuals the Board serves who need clothing and household items. For more information and a list of participating locations, click here. Make sure you tell them you’re donating on behalf of the FANS Network!
Save the date! Board to host Employment Fair June 7
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will host an Employment Fair on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Larc Lane Training Center at 1155 Larc Lane in Toledo. The event will focus on filling vacancies at the Board as well as direct support professional and other employment vacancies with providers that support people with developmental disabilities.
Many positions are available, including those in personal care, health care/medical, social services, business/finance, human resources, case management, personal transportation and group transportation.
This Employment Fair is ideal for those who want to gain experience working with people with disabilities. For more information about participating as an employer or as a prospective employee, contact Melissa Merritt at mmerritt@lucasdd.org.
Board to present final SSI Spotlight Class
The Board’s final SSI Spotlight Class will take place May 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This final virtual session will feature a deeper dive into working while receiving Social Security benefits, including reporting income and overpayments. To register for this session and receive class materials, email shathaway@lucasdd.org.
Next Grant Workshop Wednesday is May 25
The Next Grant Workshop Wednesday is scheduled for May 25 at noon. The featured guest this month will be Amanda Buzo from Community Fund Ohio, a nonprofit tax-exempt organization that enhances life for Ohio residents with disabilities by protecting their eligibility for government benefits and funding their current and future needs through pooled trusts, grants, community education and related services. Community Fund Ohio’s next grant cycle deadline is June 30. Instructions and eligibility requirements for these grants can be found here. To join the virtual workshop, click here.
Participants needed for accessible news focus groups
A group of researchers, including a professor in the University of Toledo Disability Studies program, is recruiting for focus groups to talk about accessible news for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project focuses on how people with disabilities get their news, where they get it, what stories they are interested in, problems they have getting the news, and ideas for making it easier to read the news. These focus groups will be held virtually or in person at the University of Toledo, and each participant will receive a $25 gift card. To participate, complete the sign-up form here. Please direct any questions to 623-696-0104 or plainlanguagenews@gmail.com.
Metroparks Toledo to host Outdoor Expo May 21
Metroparks Toledo will host an Outdoor Expo at Side Cut Metropark on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this event, Metropark’s outdoor skills experts will guide participants through a number of potential outdoor passions, including tree climbing, archery, disc golf, kayaking, mountain biking and stand-up paddleboarding. This is an inclusive event, and staff members have been trained and are ready to make accommodations. Adaptive equipment will be readily available.
Side Cut is located at 1025 W. River Rd. in Maumee. For more information, click here.
Ability Center to host open house for assistance dog volunteers June 15
The Ability Center of Greater Toledo will host an open house for assistance dog volunteers on Wednesday, June 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. During this open house, visitors will learn how these volunteers teach basic obedience, manners and foundational skills to the Center’s assistance dogs in training.
The Ability Center is located at 5605 Monroe St. in Sylvania. For more information, click here.
‘Let’s Glow’ prom night is June 18
Adults who receive services from the the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (and their guests) are invited to iDance APAC’s Let’s Glow prom night on Saturday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. The event, which will include dinner and dancing, will take place at the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall at 4645 Heatherdowns in Toledo. The cost is $25 per person.
In addition, iDance APAC will hold a Free Dress Day on Sunday, May 22, from noon to 4 p.m. at 151 N. Michigan Street, Suite 229, in Toledo. Dresses are available while supplies last, and no alterations will be available.
For more information about Let’s Glow, click here.
Next Sight Center Blind Ambition employment class is June 9
The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio is accepting applications for the next class of its Blind Ambition Project, which begins Thursday, June 9.
This project empowers people who live with vision loss to gain, advance or transition to meaningful competitive employment that utilizes their skills, knowledge, interests and experience. This is accomplished through a series of intensive workshops, personal mentoring and ongoing group job club activities.
To learn more and to register, click here.
Board to present training on sensory stimulation/relaxation techniques May 26
The Board will present “Using Sensory and Relaxation Techniques for Individuals with IDD and Dementia” on Thursday, May 26, from noon to 1 p.m. This training will be presented by Jennifer Kinney, provider support specialist with the Board, and Claire Copa, coordinator of education, training and outreach at MemoryLane Care Services.
Kinney and Copa will provide an introduction to sensory stimulation/relaxation techniques and discuss benefits for the aging IDD population. The presentation will conclude with an opportunity for attendees to practice a relaxation technique along with the presenters.
Attendees can earn one hour of continuing education units for LSW/LPC, DODD SSA/AO and Provider Training.
This session will take place over Zoom. To register, contact Sara Gardner at saragardner@lucasdd.org or 419-380-5164.
DODD to provide free provider training
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities’ Office of System Support and Standards is offering free online provider training on the last Thursday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m.
All training will be recorded and available to view any time after the event via the same registration link. For more information and to register, click the title below.
May 26, 2022 – OhioISP
June 30, 2022 – Maintaining Compliance
July 28, 2022 – Medication Administration
Aug. 25, 2022 – Billing & Claims Process and Cycle
Sept. 29, 2022 – Behavioral Supports
Oct. 27, 2022 – Unusual Incidents and Major Unusual Incidents
Please address any questions to OSSAS@dodd.ohio.gov.
Wood County Board of DD and BGSU Football Clinic is June 30
The Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) will team up to present a football clinic on Thursday, June 30, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Any individual age 8 and above who is served by any board in northwest Ohio is invited to learn about football from current BGSU players, coaches and staff.
This clinic will take place on the BGSU practice fields near Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green. For more information, contact the Wood County Board of DD at 419-352-5115. To register for this clinic, click here.
Affordable Connectivity Program provides internet access discounts to SSI recipients
The Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) gives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients access to reasonably priced internet services. The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Eligible households also can receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Any household with an individual who receives SSI is eligible to receive discounted internet service through the ACP. To learn more, click here.
DODD offers OhioISP information session for families
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has developed an Ohio Individual Service Plan (OhioISP) that Ohioans with developmental disabilities can use to outline the services and support they receive. To learn more about the OhioISP, join a free virtual information session June 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. To register, click here.