Free Watch & Listen Golf Clinic Today

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 Saturday

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 at 6 p.m. on June 24 commemorates the Supreme Court Olmstead decision and showcases the artwork of local female artists with a developmental disability. 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.

Lucas DD Board of Directors Meeting Monday

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold its monthly Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 26, at its Larc Lane Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo. This public meeting is in-person only and the public is welcome to attend.

Teen-Tastic Social Group (virtual) on June 26

Gigi's Virtual Playhouse is hosting a social night especially for teens on Monday, 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 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.

Parent Resource Fair on June 29

UMADAOP (The Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program) of Lucas County is having a FREE Parent Resource Fair from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. on June 29. They are inviting you and your family (especially those expecting a baby or with a newborn) for a day filled with giveaways and resources. There will be free diapers, baby items, car seats, strollers, and more (limited quantities). Click here for full details. Call Dr. Marjorie Holt at 419-320-8571 with any questions.

Music in Green Spaces on June 29

Bring a lawn chair and your lunch to Wildwood Preserve at noon on June 29. Relax for an hour on the Manor House grounds as local musical artists provide free entertainment for a fun summer memory in the parks. Richard Wolff is the featured musician this month. Sponsored by the Manor House Volunteers. Program will be canceled if it is raining. No reservations required! For a complete list of Music in Green Spaces concerts, click here.

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.

Board Closed on the Fourth of July

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. On-call staff are available 24/7 on our Emergency/After Hours line at 419-380-5100.

Super Saturday Dance on July 8

The next Super Saturday Dance is on July 8 from 7-9 p.m.! The dance is just for individuals with special needs and their caregivers, who must be present. The Super Saturday Dance at Five Lakes Church is a time for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to enjoy an evening of music, friends, and food. Registration is recommended. Click here for full details.

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.

Free Adaptive Dance Classes July 10 and 12

Toledo Ballet Adaptive Dance offers individuals who are differently-abled FREE dance instruction! Neurodivergent learning styles such as Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder can experience the sheer joy of dance and music. For ages 10+, Adaptive Dance & Fitness: An introduction to Adaptive Dance with instructor Ann Heckler will take place on July 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Ottawa Park; and July 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Smith Park. No registration is required. Caregivers do not participate but are required to stay onsite. Additional classes available. Click here for full details.

Salute Storytellers Live 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 begins July 18

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.

Free Youth Art Workshop on July 18

NAMI of Greater Toledo is offering a FREE art workshop just for kids/teens. Creative Kids provides an opportunity for youth (6 to 17 years old) to express themselves creatively through art and identify positive coping skills! This class will be on July 18 from 5-6:15 p.m. at the NAMI Office - 4334 Secor Rd. in Toledo. Limited space and registration is REQUIRED to attend.To register your child(ren), please click here to email Kristen Zientek.

The Ability Center takes over the Main Library on July 22

Empower, Educate, and Explore: The Ability Center Takes Over Toledo's Main Library! Toledo's downtown branch will host fun and educational activities during this family-friendly event to empower, educate, and include people of all abilities. Activities include: Dog Demonstrations, Celebrity Book Readings, Basketball (Wheelchair), Art installations + Adaptive Art Tools, Disability-Friendly Awards Winner Announcement, Resource Vendors, Hands-on Activities, Yoga (Wheelchair), Sensory Spaces, and Exploring Various Ramp Angles: Testing the Limits. No registration needed, just come to the Main Library between noon - 4 p.m. on July 22!

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 Those with Rare Chromosome Disorders

Discovering that you or your child has a rare chromosome disorder, copy number variant or single gene disorder that is causing a learning disability, developmental delay or other symptoms can come as a great shock. You might be feeling a mixture of emotions; sadness, confusion, numbness, anger, guilt, "why me?", isolation, bewilderment and very often a sense of grief for the child you had anticipated. You might despair at the lack of information available or that the disorder doesn't have a 'proper' name. Whatever your feelings and emotions, it can help to talk to people who understand what you are going through. With a global network of families and professionals, the online group called Unique can help you learn more about your child's (or your own) rare chromosomal abnormality. You can ask questions and be even matched with other families who are in the same or similar situation. Click here to visit their website.

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.

Parent Mentor Program by TACA

The Autism Community in Action (TACA) offers a fully developed, managed program with experienced, trained, supported, qualified Mentors to guide parents on the Autism Journey. Our program is unique in the autism community and supports their mission: For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. 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!

New Local Podcast Seeks Individuals to Tell Their Stories

A new podcast, Telling It Our Way, is looking for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to share their stories about family, work, advocacy, and more. The podcast is part of WGTE's "Voices Around Us" Podcast Series. Recordings start in July, and the podcast is scheduled to debut on August 8. Please email Ally Day or Becca Monteleone if you are interested in learning more.

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.

Video of the Week

Parker Inks, a local individual who has muscular dystrophy, founded Parker's Purpose 15 years ago as a way to help those in need. The annual dinner and auction are June 23 (tonight) in Gibsonburg. Click here for the video.