Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use

Golf Scramble on Aug. 19

Fore! It's the 4th Annual Lucas County Special Olympics Golf Scramble, Aug. 19 at the South Toledo Golf Club. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a beverage at the turn, and dinner afterward.

For more information, registration, and sponsorship opportunities, click here!

CommUNITY Film Fest is Aug. 20

Back and better than ever, the 9th annual Community Film Festival is 2-5 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Maumee Indoor Theatre! The event showcases the partnership between Lucas DD, FilmToledo, and the Maumee Valley Chapter of Partners for Inclusion. 17 films will be screened before award winners are announced as selected by our panel of judges. Free and open to the entire community!

Click here for more information.

Toledo Adult Autism Tabletop Group Game Night Tonight

The Toledo Adult Autism Tabletop Group (for ages 18+) will be meeting tonight (Friday) @ 7:30 p.m. 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.

Special Needs Planning with Ohio SIBS on August 1

Siblings and families who are worried about Future Planning of their loved one with a disability - this session is for you! This interactive session at 6:30 p.m. on August 1 will offer insightful strategies and best practices to help plan for the future of a sibling with a disability. Please join us with attorney Derek Graham in this interactive webinar. Derek Graham is also a parent of an individual with a disability, and he understands how stressful it can be for families to plan for the future. He can explain complex information in a way that is digestible and points participants in the right direction to get their questions answered. Click here to register.

Let's Get Moving on August 3

Join the city of Toledo for their "Let's Get Moving" program, a low-impact walking program for the entire community. At 6:30 p.m. on August 3, meet at Navarre Park. There will be a Senior Farmers Market, Community Health Nurses, Mobile Van, and vision screenings from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Click here for full details.

Guided Nature Walk on August 5

Join The Nature Conservancy in Ohio on August 5 at 10 a.m. for a guided walk exploring Kitty Todd, one of Ohio's natural areas. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature during a fun and informal nature walk. All ages and abilities are welcome! Registration required. For full details and registration link, click here.

Summer Fun & Games on August 6

Looking for a Sunday Funday? Look no further! Join Avenues for Autism at TolHouse on August 6th from 5 - 7 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of relaxation, connections, and pure enjoyment. Don't miss out! Limited tickets available, and all funds benefit Avenues for Autism programs and services. To register for this event, click here.

Lucas DD Summer Playgroup on August 7

Join Lucas DD staff for a fun summer playgroup! Open to all families and their children. We will be meeting at Promenade Park Splash Pad in downtown Toledo on August 7 from 10 - 11:30 a.m., held rain or shine. No registration is required! If you have a Development Specialist, you can contact them for updates to the playgroup.

Dementia Friends on August 10

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 next session is on August 10 from 12:00-2:30 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.

Community Games and Movie Night August 10

The City of Toledo is hosting a community night of fun! There will be fun outdoor activities at Ottawa Park starting at 7 p.m. on August 10, with the movie beginning around 8:30 p.m. There will be oversized games like Jenga and Connect 4 as well as an eSports video game tournament. The games provided are for all ages. For more information, click here.

Sounds of Sunshine: Skittlebots Concert on August 11

Sunshine Communities invites you to enjoy their Sounds of Sunshine summer concert series on Friday, August 11 from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy this free, family-friendly event on their beautiful Maumee campus. Set right in their backyard at their outdoor stage, local northwest Ohio band the Skittle Bots will perform 90s cover music. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks will be available for purchase. Please call 419-865-0251 if you have any questions. Click here to visit the event on their website.

Lucas DD Summer Rec Jam is Aug. 30!

Our always popular Summer Rec Jam returns to Centennial Terrace, 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 30. This FREE dance party is for anyone 18 and older. Registration is required. For more and info and to register, click here.

SAVE THE DATE!

We have an exciting Fun Fall Family Festival coming in September. On Sunday, September 17 from noon - 4 p.m. to be exact... Mark your calendars now, you will want to be there! Click here to see more details.

Did you know?

You'll find even MORE events on our online calendar, as well as further details on these highlighted events.

Click here to view our calendar of ALL upcoming events!

Lucas DD Offers a Free Category One Certification Course

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is proud to once again offer a free DODD Category One CERTIFICATION for Medication and Health Related Activities to area Providers and their Direct Care staff. The 2-day trainings will be at our Larc Lane Training Center in South Toledo. To achieve certification, you must attend both days of the 2-day trainings. Only 9 trainings remain through the end of 2023, so click here to see dates and sign up. Questions? Email Lucas DD Nursing Supervisor Amy Annarino at aannarino@lucasdd.org.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

The Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs. This program provides $50 worth of coupons to eligible adults 60+ years of age to purchase locally grown produce from local farmers. This USDA program serves Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties. Contact the agency office at 419-382-0624 with any questions, or click here to submit your application.

Administration for Community Living Resource

The Administration for Community Living was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. By funding services and supports provided primarily by networks of community-based organizations, and with investments in research, education, and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans. Click here to learn more.

Lucas DD Senior Committee

The Lucas DD Senior Committee offers consultations and resources for providers, family members, and Lucas DD staff with cases involving an individual with a developmental disability who is aging and/or experiencing dementia-related symptoms. This includes helping families plan for when the caregiver ages, and other family members and friends may need to take on a bigger role. To learn more, click here.

Local Resource Especially for Families with Autistic Individuals

The Autism Counseling and Support Services program at Avenues for Autism specializes in providing autism-focused counseling to autistic individuals and their families. Our expert therapists support clients to improve coping tools, develop new communication strategies, and build skills to create emotional connections with others and promote independence – all while embracing neurodiversity. Sessions are provided via telehealth with flexible scheduling options available. Life can be overwhelming, with many forks in the road. You’re not alone. Avenues for Autism will be with you every step of the way. To learn more or request services, please visit avenuesforautism.org or call (419) 210-5095.

Individuals Seeking Providers

Individuals served by the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities often look for providers of services and support. These individuals may need ongoing services or help with a one-time project. If you’re a provider, you can search the listings by clicking here.

Opportunity to Nominate Outstanding Organizations and/or Individuals

Do you know of an individual or organization that has had a significant impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities? Courageous Community Services is seeking nominations for their annual awards celebration. You can make nominations in the following categories: Outstanding Community Service, Outstanding Employer, Outstanding Self-Advocate, and Outstanding Direct Support Professional. Click here for full details.

OSU Study Seeks Families who need/use Home Care Nurses

Ohio’s developmental disabilities community has long struggled with a shortage of nurses to provide care to people with developmental disabilities living in the family home. The pandemic, coupled with significant pay increases for travel nurses, has heightened the nursing workforce shortage crisis across the state. Families are often having to consider out-of-home options for their loved ones with developmental disabilities, which range from small private providers to large intermediate care facilities (ICF), and state developmental centers. The goal of the study is to assess and report on the home care nursing crisis and formulate recommendations to key stakeholders to reduce the nursing workforce shortage in the field of developmental disabilities. For more information and the study link, click here.

Take the Rights on Flights Survey

AccessNow is collecting data surrounding the experience of individuals with disabilities in the air travel industry. If you would like to contribute your thoughts and experiences, please check out the survey by clicking here. If you are interested in an app that features accessible places across the world, check out the AccessNow website where you can download the app.

Golf Scramble Sponsors Needed!

Do you have a business (or know of a business) that would be interested in being a sponsor for The 4th Annual Lucas County Special Olympics Golf Scramble on August 19? Access the form here or email us at specialolympics@lucasdd.org!

Video of the Week

Last week, we asked for video submissions about the anniversary of the ADA passing. We complied the responses into a video that you can check out here!