Lucas DD/ Mercy Health Bike Safety Fair on Monday!

Bring your bicycle and helmet and head over to the Larc Lane Center between 3-7 p.m. on May 15 for a FREE Bike Safety Fair! This is an inclusive event for all ages and abilities. You can have your bike and helmet inspected, learn safety rules of the road, ride your bike on our bike rodeo, check out vendors and enjoy food from the food trucks. Get your activity station passport stamped and enter to win prizes! We're also raffling off a brand-new bike! Registration is recommended via this link. 

Applications being accepted for Lucas DD Adult Day Program Grants

Adult Day and Employment Service agency providers within Lucas County are eligible to apply for funding to expand existing services and/or enhance their current program to be in line with DODD and Lucas DD’s vision for enhanced Adult Day and Employment Services. Each agency is eligible to receive up to $10,000 in funding that helps expand and/or enhance Adult Day and/or Employment services, promote community integration and community employment, and/or helps people achieve their goals related to Adult Day/Employment services & supports. Click here to learn more and apply!

Toledo Adult Autism Board Game Night Tonight

The Toledo Adult Autism Tabletop Group (for ages 18+) will be meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12 at the Toledo Game Room. Please park/use entrance at the rear of building. Members bring their favorite non-traditional board and card games to play. Introductory games available. Come out for a fun evening! Questions? Please click here to email the coordinator.

Zoo for All Walk tomorrow

This non-competitive walk, within the Dart Frog Dash, begins at 9:15 a.m. on May 13 and is focused on fun and access for all! The Toledo Zoo understands that some guests may require assistance or additional accommodations. They have created a safe route within Zoo grounds for guests who may find the 5k route troublesome. Special consideration given to sensory needs and ADA accessibility. For more details, contact Toledo Zoo's inclusion coordinator at 419-385-5721 x.3039. Click here to register.

Super Saturday Dance tomorrow

Save the date for another Super Saturday Dance and Bible Study! The dance is hosted by Five Lakes Church on May 13, from 7-9 p.m. This evening is just for individuals with special needs and their caregivers, who must be present. Bible study starts at 6:15 p.m. followed by the dance with a light meal at 7 p.m. Registration is recommended. Click here to register.

Ohio Self-Determination Association's Self-Advocacy Class

OSDA is a non-profit organization empowering people with disabilities and their families. The goal is to expand awareness of self-determination principles, provide valuable training resources, and promote advocacy efforts. Join them on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. - Noon to explore a variety of topics. For the rest of May, they will cover Lack of Accessible Housing, Children with Disabilities/IDEA, and Social Barriers to Inclusion. These inclusive online offerings are offered in conjunction with We Thrive Together. Please click here to RSVP through the website, or send an email to Alyssa@WeThriveTogether.org, or call (toll-free) 1-866-584-5640. Click here to see the full Self-Advocacy class schedule.

NAMI Offering a variety of FREE Art Workshops

NAMI of Greater Toledo hosts several FREE art workshops every month! These workshops are aimed at helping people express themselves creatively through art, develop coping skills, make connections with others, and experience the power of art. In May, there is a virtual workshop on May 25 and in-person workshops on May 16 and 18. Details vary (project, age range, time, location, etc.) and registration is required. If you are interested, please check out the details by visiting NAMI's events calendar.

Nationwide Map of Adult Size Changing Tables Now Available

Changing Spaces Ohio and the Inspired Access Foundation have teamed up to create an interactive map that displays locations of all adult size changing tables across the country. You can see and search the map at www.universalchangingtablemap.com. The hope is that this map will be a resource to people in Ohio and across the country when planning day trips and travel. By consulting the map, caregivers, providers, and self-advocates will be able to find locations where they can meet their restroom needs. The map is also useful to see which cities and states are making good progress, and which have more work to do. Learn more at InspiredAccessFoundation.com.

Understanding Brain Health on May 16

Join Memory Lane Care Services on May 16 from 6-8 p.m. for a free educational event exploring Brain Health. Learn ways to keep your brain healthy and some changes that can happen in mid-life and later. In-person at 2500 N Reynolds Rd in Toledo or online. Click here for full details and to register.

Autism Parent Support Group May 17

AB Education & Behavior Consulting LLC presents a FREE Autism Parent Support Group at Sylvania Playland on May 17 from 5-7 p.m. Pizza and drinks will be provided! Please click here to register.

Self-Led Disability Advocacy Group

People First of Toledo, affiliated with Courageous Community Services and People First of Ohio, invite you to a Self-Led Disability Advocacy Group. The meeting is hosted by the Ability Center on May 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. Engage with your community, learn self-advocacy skills, and meet other people like you! Meetings are $5 (or $50 for 12 months) and open to everyone. Questions? Please click here to email the facilitator Quinn Thomas.

Postcards to Legislators Event on May 18

Join artist and advocate Alicia Hopkins at the Ability Center on May 18 from 6-7 p.m. for a FREE session on writing postcards to legislators. Together we can raise their awareness of direct care workforce crisis and urge them to help solve it. Postcards, stamps, pens, and writing assistance are all provided. Pizza, too! Click here to register for this event, and please indicate if you need any accommodations. Find full details here.

Playgroup and Parent Talk on May 19

The Ability Center is hosting an inclusive playgroup, with parent connections encouraged, from 10-11 a.m. on May 19. Ideal for children who are 0-6 years old. Weather permitting, this free, sensory-friendly event will take place at the Inclusive Playground in Perrysburg (Rotary Community Park); backup location is the Heatherdowns Library. Please contact Jennifer at 419-855-5733 or jengelmann@abilitycenter.org if you have additional questions or concerns. Click here to register.

Nationwide Children's Toledo Inclusion Resource Fair on May 20

Local organizations come together to connect with families for a day of fun, family resources, networking and more during the Nationwide Children's Toledo Inclusion Resource Fair. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20 at the Perrysburg Inclusive Playground. Resource and service providers will be on site to speak with parents and provide helpful information for children of all ages and abilities. There will also be family-friendly games, crafts, and food trucks. This FREE event is open to the public. Click here for further details.

NAMIWalks on May 20

Changing the world begins at NAMI Greater Toldeo! NAMIWalks is being held at 4334 Secor Rd, Toledo, on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no fee to register, but fundraising is encouraged to directly support NAMI Greater Toledo. Every participant who raises $100+ will get a 2023 t-shirt. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Questions? Email sgross@namitoledo.org or click here to go to their event page.

Lucas DD Board Meeting May 22

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold its monthly Board meeting at the Larc Lane Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo. This public meeting is on Monday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. and is in-person only. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Spring Fling Special Needs Dance May 27

Individuals 16+ are invited to dance the night away at the Spring Fling Special Needs Dance! This FREE event is on May 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Maumee United Methodist Church. Caregivers are required to stay. Pizza will be served, and guests (with last name beginning with A-M) should bring a snack to share, and guests (with last name beginning with O-Z) should bring a dessert to share. RSVP to marthakreuz@aol.com with the number attending (including caregivers). Click here for full details.

Lucas DD Closed May 29

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. On-call staff are available 24/7 on the emergency/after-hours line at 419-380-5100. Regular business hours will resume on May 30.

Storybook Festival on June 3

The East Toledo Family Center is hosting their annual Storybook Festival on June 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waite High School. This free event will be filled with early literacy awareness, fun and interactive games for all ages, as well as prizes and raffles. There will be over 30 local agencies providing a variety of literacy activities! There will be a bounce house, corn hole, Laurel’s Princesses, Eric Chase from Q105, face painting, hopscotch, and much more! Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. Click here for details.

Spectrum Sailing Camp June 13-15

Spectrum Sailing provides maritime education, programming, and outreach for autistic individuals. They run a FREE, 3-day sailing camp June 13-15 for 10–17-year-olds. Sessions run morning or afternoon. Campers learn knots, parts of the boat, why the boat sails, and most importantly how to sail! Space is limited. Click here for details and here to register.

Celebrate the Community Kickoff for a Dementia Friendly Toledo

MemoryLane Care Services is having a Dementia Friendly event on June 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Glass City Pavillion in Toledo. The event goals include raising awareness of dementia, providing practical resources for businesses to incorporate dementia-friendly practices, and offer information about local resources that support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Registration is required and space is limited! Please click here for full details.

Lucas DD Spring Dinner Dance June 16

Adults are encouraged to get their dancing shoes ready and join us for our spring dinner dance from 6-9:30 p.m. on June 16 at the Premier! Both attendees and any necessary caregivers are required to register! Only about 300 tickets are left! Click here to learn more and register now.

TARTA Youth Summer Blast Pass Available for free

TARTA is now accepting applications for its Youth Summer Blast Pass at

https://tarta.com/blast. These passes will allow youths ages 6-19 to ride all TARTA services FREE of charge for all of June, July, and August. For full details, click here to go to their website.

Passenger Rail in Northwest Ohio: Survey

Governor DeWine has approved funding for the development of Intercity passenger rail in Ohio. Help The Ability Center advocate for expanding passenger rail in Northwest Ohio to increase access to transportation for Ohioans with disabilities. Click here to take the survey to help advocate for passenger rail in NW Ohio.