Come one, come all!

Please join us next Friday morning as we send

our Lucas County Special Olympics athletes

off to Columbus for Ohio's State Games.

Lucas County Special Olympics Cheer Clinic Deadline Extended!

Lucas County Special Olympics has teamed up with Sylvania Northview Cheer squad to offer a 3-day cheer clinic this summer! Athletes ages 8+ are invited to participate. The clinic will take place July 11th-13th from 6-7 p.m. at Sylvania Northview High School. Registration by Monday, June 19 is required. Click here to register.

Music Vine Concert Series Today

Join Bittersweet Farms today for their Music Vine Concert Series, located in the Pavilion at Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse. The series is every Friday, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (except July 21). This event is free and open to the public. Click here for full details!

Summer Concert at Sunshine is tonight

Join Sunshine Communities from 6-8 p.m. on June 16th for another outdoor concert on their beautiful campus. In their “backyard” will be a local band, Arctic Clam, performing pop/rock covers on the boardwalk stage. This event is FREE and open to the public. You are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food trucks will be on site. Click here to visit the event on their website.

Practically Golf Event supporting the Epilepsy Center this weekend

Come out to have some fun and support a great cause! The Practically Golf event is today and tomorrow, June 16-17, and your participation will help fund events such as Purple Day, Family Camp, prescription assistance program, and many others. No registration required. For full details, click here.

Picnic at the Park on Saturday

The Ability Center is hosting a FREE event at Perrysburg's Rotary Community Park! Gather the family and head to the accessible playground from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on June 17th for a fun-packed picnic outdoors, featuring exciting games and activities that are inclusive for everyone to enjoy! Chalk art, bubble blowing, and water activities - don't forget to bring clothes that can get wet or dirty. Stay as long or as little as you want! Bring a picnic lunch - snacks and drinks will be provided. For questions, click here to email Jennifer Engelmann or call 419-885-5733. Click here to register.

Free Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday

There is a FREE Juneteenth Community Health and Wellness Fair on June 17 from noon - 3:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Academy in Toledo. This event will feature medical screenings as well as activities for children, bike giveaways, free food, and more! Click here for more details.

Lucas DD Facilities Closed for Juneteenth on Monday

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. On-call staff are available 24/7 on the emergency/after-hours line at 419-380-5100. Regular business hours will resume at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20.

Free Art Class for Kids on June 20

NAMI of Greater Toledo is offering a FREE art workshop just for kids/teens. Creative Kids provides an opportunity for children/adolescents (6 to 17 years old) to express themselves creatively through art and identify positive coping skills! It is held at the NAMI Office on June 20 from 5-6:15 p.m. Limited space and registration is REQUIRED to attend. To register your child(ren), please click here to email Kristen Zientek.

W

igwam & Water Fun on June 21

The Ability Center is hosting an interactive wigwam building experience at Wildwood Metropark on June 21 from 10 a.m. - noon. Learn about Natives of the Maumee Valley with the MetroPark staff. Afterwards join for some water games & wet FUN or play at the park! If your child needs adaptations and modifications, breaks, or supports, just let us know how to help your child participate! Everyone is welcome. Click here for full details and registration link.

Plein Air in Pastel Art Class on June 21

Discover the art of Plein Air painting with Red Bird Sylvania! Join instructor Mary Jane Erard on Wednesday, June 21 from 1-3 p.m. for a special course designed for all skill levels and abilities. Learn composition, color, and technique while exploring the beautiful landscape. Ages 14+, no experience needed. All materials provided, courtesy of The Art Supply Depo. Click here to reserve your spot now for a captivating art experience!

Wealth & Wisdom Class on June 21

June's Wealth & Wisdom topic is: Social Security Disability Insurance: The Basics and More. This FREE class from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on June 21 is presented by Lucas DD as part of our Wealth & Wisdom series. Class will be held in person at 1154 Larc Lane, in the Multi-Purpose Room, and includes a free meal! Remote option is also available. Print materials will be provided. Deadline to register is today! Send an email now to: wealthandwisdom@lucasdd.org

Playgroup & Parent Talk on June 23

The Ability Center is hosting a playgroup on June 23, from 10-11 a.m. This free, accessible and sensory-friendly playgroup is geared toward families with children of all abilities, aged 6 and under. Click here for location and to sign up. Call Jennifer at 419-855-5733 or click here to email Jennifer if you have any questions.

Free Watch & Listen Golf Clinic on June 23

First Tee Lake Erie invites you to The Dennis Walters Golf Show. This free event will be held at the Dattilo Youth Leadership Center starting at 1 p.m. on June 23. Dennis Walters was a successful amateur golfer who was in a golf cart accident that led to his diagnosis as a T-12 level paraplegic. Dennis would not let this diagnosis stop him from making the game of golf his career. He went to work and designed/engineered a custom golf cart that would allow him to continue playing the game. Registration is not required. For full details, click here. If you have any questions, click here to email Michael Prothe.

Disabled Women Make History (and Art) on June 24

This is the second annual Disabled Women Make History (and Art): A Celebration of Creative Women in the Community event, hosted in partnership between the Toledo Museum of Art and Disability EmpowHer Network. This FREE event commemorates the Supreme Court Olmstead decision and showcases the artwork of local disabled women artists. The event will also feature disability advocates sharing their stories about community living, and takes place in the Glass Pavilion, which is fully accessible with a no-step entrance and accessible restroom facilities. ASL interpretation and CART/live captioning will be provided. If you have any accessibility needs or concerns, please e-mail Katie Shelley by clicking here. While admission is free, registration is recommended for the event, to help ensure a great experience for all attendees. Click here to register.

Teen-Tastic Social Group (virtual) on June 26

Gigi's Virtual Playhouse is hosting a social night especially for teens on June 26 from 7-8 p.m.! This free, 1-hour group session focuses on building social skills with friends (with and without Down syndrome) by participating in team-based activities in a casual and fun setting. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking and problem-solving abilities. For full details, click here. To obtain the link, you must register for a (free) My GiGi's account, which you can do by clicking here. If you have any questions about signing in, please email virtualprograms@gigisplayhouse.org.

Dementia Friends Sessions Offered

Looking to become an Ohio Dementia Friend, Dementia Friends Champion, or simply need a refresher? Please join Dementia Friends for a free, virtual session with optional Dementia Friends Champions training. These sessions are now offered twice a month for individuals who work and live in Ohio. The daytime offering will occur on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 12:00-2:30 p.m. and the evening offering on the 4th Tuesday of every month, starting June 27, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Attendees interested in becoming a Dementia Friend will participate for the first 75 minutes. Attendees seeking to become a Dementia Friends Champion will participate for the entire 2.5 hours. Click here to pre-register (required). Visit their website here for general information. If you have any questions, please click here to email Elizabeth Kinzig or here to email Marty Williman.

Grant Workshop Wednesday on June 28

Grant Workshop Wednesday$ is a monthly series of a live virtual conversation led by Lucas DD parent partner Tammy Eisenreich. It focuses resources available to help find funding for children with developmental disabilities. This month, at noon on June 28, you can join Tammy as she speaks with Colleen Errington about how she recruited volunteers for the Son-Rise program to help with her son. Helping families find college students and others to assist at home or in school as a paraprofessional for their child with special healthcare needs is one of the topics that will be addressed. Click here to join this month's session! or Click here for more information or to watch past sessions.

BGSU Special Needs Football Clinic on June 28

All individuals (ages 8+) served by any Ohio Board of DD are invited to join current BGSU football players, coaches, and support staff for a fun (and free) afternoon of learning all about football! The Wood County Board of DD and BGSU Football Clinic is on June 28th from 3:30-5 p.m. It is scheduled to be in the Perry Field House, but stay tuned for more information should the location change on BGSU Campus. Registration by June 21st is required, and a waiver must be signed. Click here to register. Questions? Please email contact@woodcountydd.org

Goalball Exhibition Event on June 29

Experience the thrill of Goalball at a community event on June 29, from 7-9 p.m. This FREE event is presented by The Ability Center and The Sight Center, in partnership with Five Lakes Church at 4765 North McCord Road in Sylvania. Liability waivers must be signed. Sign up as a team of 4 or by yourself! Click here for full details and to register

Lucas DD Summer Playgroups start on July 10

Come join Lucas DD for a fun summer playgroup from 10-11:30 a.m. on July 10! Open to all families and their children. We will be meeting at Nature's Neighborhood at the Toledo Zoo. Lucas County residents are free from 10am-noon on Mondays at the zoo (parking fees apply). You will need identification to verify your address. No registration is required. If you have a Development Specialist, you can contact them for updates to the playgroup. Click here to see a flyer with information about additional playgroups.

Salute Storytellers Performance on July 15

To commemorate Disability Pride Month, The Toledo Museum of Art, in collaboration with the University of Toledo's Disability Studies Program, and Lucas DD, present the Salute Storytellers: Stories of Disability Pride. Join these self-advocates on Saturday, July 15th at 3 p.m. in the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion as they share their stories and celebrate their disability identity. Program will feature a special performance by iDance as well as artwork created by individuals served by the Board! For full details, click here. If you have any accessibility needs or concerns, please click here to e-mail Katie Shelley. The event is free, but registration is encouraged. Click here to register.

New Common Ground Social Skills Group for Adults

Lucas DD is proud to announce a new adult social skills group. This group is ideal for individuals who are interested in simply hanging out, while also enjoying some structured social skills training, games, activities, and snacks! The Common Ground and Friend Network will help individuals build lasting and sustainable friendships and connections, whether they are looking for friends, roommates, dating interests, or other relationships. The summer session will meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on July 18, August 15, and September 19. Click here for full details.

Agility Angels Summer Camp Registration is open

Looking for a summer camp that’s fun, engaging, and inclusive? Look no further than Agility Angels Summer Camp at The Ability Center! Designed specifically for kids with disabilities, our camp offers a wide range of activities to keep everyone moving, learning, and having a blast. Ages 10-15, on Monday mornings from July 26-August 14. For full details and registration, click here.

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.

Computers for Ohioans with Disabilities

Assistive Technology of Ohio has a statewide program that helps people with disabilities obtain their own computer. Knowledge of how to use a computer, the Internet, e-mail and social networking are becoming fundamental, basic skills necessary for community living, employment and education. Recent studies have shown that, due to financial considerations, people with disabilities are among the most likely group of people to not own a computer. Any legal Ohio resident with a disability, any age, with a need for a computer, is eligible for the program. Click here for full details, including the cost and the application process.

Free Resource for Transition-age Youth (Online course)

Looking for something for your student to work on this summer? Check out this free program, brought to you by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD). It’s My Turn training is a self-determination curriculum for students with disabilities in middle school through high school. Students will learn about themselves, the choices they have, becoming better self-advocates. Click here to learn more or to sign up.

Challenging Behaviors Learning Series by TACA

Behavioral issues in autism may be one of the hardest issues for parents to manage. Children with autism may display extensive, long-lasting behavior. Addressing challenging behaviors is complex. This month, The Autism Society in Action (TACA) discusses both therapeutic and medical aspects of challenging behavior. Click here for more information.

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!

Take the DODD Family Caregiver Survey

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, is conducting an online survey to gain feedback from family/guardian caregivers. The goal is to hear about the different ways families/guardians are impacted by caregiving. Family members have the choice of completing the survey online or by phone. Just click here to request a link to the survey or request a phone call. For more information about the survey, click here.