Friday Update: March 31, 2023

Adult Autism Spectrum Board Game Night tonight

Come out for some FUN and games starting at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Toledo Game Room, 3001 Sylvania Avenue, parking/entrance rear of building. Click here for more details.

Ability Center offering scholarship opportunities

The Ability Center and its Auxiliary is once again offering college scholarship opportunities to area students with disabilities. Open to all students with a disability and a permanent address in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Wood, or Williams counties in Ohio and Monroe or Lenawee counties in Michigan. Click here to learn more and download an application. Application deadline is today!

Lucas DD Special Recognition for March

At its monthly meeting on March 27, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities recognized Employment Navigator David McLaughlin as the Staff Person of the Month. They also gave a Special Recognition Award to a local family that has been foster parents to 100 children over the past 54 years. Click here to read more.

Social Event for Neurodiverse Individuals tomorrow

Join Solace Health and Wellness in strengthening the community through fellowship and shared experiences at this social event for neurodiverse individuals from 5-7 p.m. on April 1. Activities, coffee, tea and water provided; feel free to bring caregivers as well as other items. Space is limited! Click here to register for this FREE event or here for details.

Free Assistance with Grants on April 4

Do you need help obtaining grants for the many things that medical insurance doesn't cover? There are organizations out there that will help! We have checklists to guide you, grant lists to help, and sample letters that have received funding. We will help you through the whole application process. Registration required for this session at Rehab Dynamics on April 4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.! Please click here to register. Click here to schedule a free, private appointment with parent mentor Tammy Eisenreich. Additional details here.

Empowering Parents through Support on April 5

The Autism Society of NW Ohio is offering a parent support group from 6-7:30 p.m. on April 5 at 1660 Amesbury Rd, Toledo. Wholehan Wealth advisors will be there to explore financial options for your loved ones. Dinner and childcare provided! Pre-registration required. Click here to register or click here for more information.

Honoring Heumann: "Crip Camp" Screening April 6

In memory of disability activist Judy Heumann, who passed away March 4, The University of Toledo's Disability Studies Department is hosting a screening of "Crip Camp." A quadriplegic since childhood, Heumann began her career in activism waging a one-woman battle to be allowed to work as a teacher when discrimination against disabled people barred that. She was featured in the Oscar-nominated 2020 documentary "Crip Camp," which will be screened on April 6 at 6 p.m., at the University of Toledo's Rocket Hall, Room 1558. Click here for full details.

Board Closed on April 7

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Friday, April 7, in observance of the spring holiday. On-call staff are available 24/7 on our Emergency/After Hours line at 419-380-5100.

SALUTE Meeting on April 10

SALUTE, the self-advocacy group of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, is having its monthly meeting on April 10 from 5:30-7 p.m. State Representative Elgin Rogers, Jr., will be the guest speaker. You can attend the meeting in person at the Larc Lane Center, 1155 Larc Lane (use door O). Click here to join the zoom meeting or here to send an email if you have any questions.

Miracle League Registration Day is April 16

The 2023 Miracle League of Northwest Ohio baseball league will be starting in May! Player registration day is on Sunday, April 16 from 1-3 p.m. at the Northwood AAA building (the old high School) at 700 Lemoyne Rd, Northwood. The $25 registration fee is waived for players who register on or prior to April 16th. Click here to learn more. Additionally, their Here for Good fundraiser is now live. $20 per t-shirt with half the proceeds directly benefiting Miracle League. Deadline is today! Click here to see the shirt or place an order.

Little Hands Sensory Group - 4 sessions in April

YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral Presents Little Hands Sensory Group! Designed for families with children ages 2-5 years old, this group provides an opportunity for families to connect with each other and engage in fun activities related to sensory needs and play. Two sessions on April 18, one April 19, one April 21. Click here for more information or here to register.

Autism Parent Support Group on April 19

AB Education & Behavior Consulting LLC presents a FREE Autism Parent Support Group at Sylvania Playland on April 19 from 5-7 p.m. Pizza and drinks will be provided! Please click here to register or click here for more information.

Wealth and Wisdom Hybrid Class on April 19

April's Wealth and Wisdom class is on April 19, 5:30pm-7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person. The topic is “all about STABLE accounts". It will be a hybrid class, with in-person attendees offered a free dinner. Please register by April 18. Click here for more information or here to register.

People First of Toledo Self-Led Disability Advocacy Group April 20

Engage with your community, learn self-advocacy skills, meet other people like you at the People First of Toledo group on April 20 from 6-7:30 p.m. In this month's meeting, a guest speaker will be talking with attendees about ABLE/STABLE accounts. Meetings are held at The Ability Center on Monroe St. Click here for further details or here to email any questions.

Northwest Ohio Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month Recognition

The Northwest Ohio Children’s Trust Fund is recognizing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month with a Zoom event on April 20, from noon to 1pm.

The event will recognize the NW Ohio Hero Award winner, Genevieve Stults from The National Exchange Club. A keynote address will be delivered by Elizabeth Kregel, who works in the Family Engagement Office at the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West. Elizabeth will share her personal experiences as a foster and adoptive mom of a child who has experienced significant childhood trauma. Click here to register!

Assistive Technology Fair on April 21

Wood County Board of DD and Owens Community College are partnering to provide a day full of fun and education regarding assistive technology and remote supports. This event is FREE and open to the public on April 21 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Click here for full details.

Lucas DD Annual Meeting is April 24

The Annual Meeting of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 24 at its South Toledo campus. This year's speaker is Michael Marshall, Provider Support Specialist for Nineteen Services. The public meeting is in-person only and will take place inside the LLC Training Center at 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo.

Partners for Inclusion at the Wranglers April 30

Join Partners for Inclusion at the Glass City Wranglers game on Sunday, April 30 at noon. Tickets are $10 with pizza and beverages included. For more information, click here or to reserve tickets click here to email Lon Mitchell.

Autism Walk on April 30

The Autism Walk is happening Sunday, April 30 at the Franklin Park Mall. This walk helps to raise funds, all of which stay here in Northwest Ohio to directly benefit services and programs for the mission of Autism Society of NW Ohio. Click here to donate or register! For full details, click here.

Nominate NOW! Disability-Friendly Awards 2023

The Toledo City Paper has partnered with The Ability Center for the Disability Friendly Awards. Please nominate your favorite Inclusive Family-Friendly Event, Disability-Friendly Workplace, Local Disability Ally, Most Accessible Restaurant/Bar, and Best Adaptive Outdoor Activity. Deadline is April 30. Click here to get your nominations in!

Save the Date! Bike Safety Fair is May 15

Mercy Health and Lucas DD have joined together to bring you a Bike Safety Fair from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, May 15 (rain date May 18) on our South Toledo campus. This is a family-friendly event for all ages. You can have your bike and helmet inspected, learn safety rules of the road, ride your bike, enjoy food from the food trucks, enter to win prizes, and more! Stay tuned for further updates.