Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use

Sounds of Sunshine Tonight

Sunshine Communities invites you to enjoy their Sounds of Sunshine summer concert series tonight 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 90's cover music. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks will be available for purchases. Please call 419-865-0251 if you have any questions or click here to visit the event on their website.

Shoe Fest by Helping Hands tomorrow

Helping Hands of St. Louis is having their 10th Annual Shoe Fest on August 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. This event helps each child start their school year off on the right foot. In addition to new athletic shoes for kids (sizes toddler 10 through adult 10), this festival will feature face painting, games, and more! Click here for full details.

Community Day tomorrow

There are lots of fun activities planned at the United Vision Baptist Church "Community Day" on August 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. including a rock-climbing wall, bouncy houses, mobile library, free haircuts, food trucks, and more! School supplies are available and will be distributed at noon (students must be present). Please bring your child(ren) to Wilson Park and join the fun! For more information, click here.

Kindness Kickoff Party on Sunday

Presented by Toledo's Kid Mayor and Kid Council, everyone is invited to Ottawa Park for the grand launch of the Spread Peace & Love Kindness Campaign, from 1 - 3 p.m. on August 13! The goal is to show everyone the immense importance of kindness and the lasting, positive effects it can have on our lives and our community. This kick-off event is the beginning of a transformative journey where our Kid Mayor and Kid Council will grace various events across Toledo, passionately spreading the message of kindness, inspiring the youth to join in by signing their Kindness Pledge. Click here to reserve your free spot. 

Art Workshop for Kids/Teens on August 15

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 from 5 - 6:15 p.m. on August 15 at the NAMI Office in Toledo. Limited space: registration is REQUIRED to attend. To register your child(ren), please click here to email Kristen Zientek.

Common Ground Social Group on August 15

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather together and build lasting, sustainable friendships and connections. The first meeting last month was a wonderful success! The next meetup is again at our Larc Lane campus on August 15 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining this group, please click here to sign up today! (If you previously registered, there is no need to re-register.) Questions? Contact your SASS or click here to email Deb Tyree.

People First of Toledo meeting on August 17

People First of Toledo, affiliated with Courageous Community Services and People First of Ohio, invite you to a Self-Led Disability Advocacy Group on August 17 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Engage with your community, learn self-advocacy skills, meet other people like you!

Click here for full details. Zoom option available. Click here to connect via Zoom.

Playgroup and Parent Talk on August 18

The Ability Center is hosting an inclusive playtime coupled with parent support. Weather permitting, this event will take place from 10 - 11 a.m. on August 18 at the Inclusive Playground Perrysburg Rotary Community Park. Rain/bad weather location: Heatherdowns Library. Ideal for families with children ages 6 and under, of all abilities. Everyone is welcome to this accessible and sensory-friendly experience. Click here to email Jennifer if you have additional questions or concerns. Click here to register.

NAMI Community Garden on August 18

NAMI of Greater Toledo invites you to grab your green thumbs, long sleeves, and sunscreen! Join them from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on August 18 to learn how to grow your own food at have some outdoor fun. Gardening gloves and tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Kids ages 6+ are welcome, including parents. Click here for full details. For questions and to RSVP, click here. 

Autism Night at Imagination Station on August 22

Join Imagination Station for Autism Family Support Group Night, an inclusive evening where individuals identified with ASD and their families can enjoy the science center and learn together. On August 22 from 4:30 - 6 p.m., explore the exhibits, engage in hands-on activities and watch a sensory-friendly film in the KeyBank Discovery Theater. Admission is $5 (free for members). Advance registration required (even for members). Please register/purchase ticket(s) by clicking here.

Game Night on August 22

The Ability Center is hosting a TRIVIA and GAME NIGHT with pizza! Get together for fun, food, laughs and lots of games! There will be trivia, playing video games, cards and board games August 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. for young adults (ages 18-24). $5 program fee. Click here to register (please note dietary needs so they can be accommodated). For questions, contact Laurie Kimura at Lkimura@abilitycenter.org or 419-885-5733 ext. 145. 

Lucas DD's Final Summer Playgroup on August 23

Join Lucas DD staff for the final summer playgroup! Open to all families and their children. We will be meeting at KidSpace inside Imagination Station in downtown Toledo on August 23 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. (Families must cover cost to enter the facility.) No registration is required! If you have a Development Specialist, you can contact them for updates to the playgroup, or click here to view more information.

Disability Connect Meeting (Virtual) on August 23

Disability Connect is a gathering for DODD leaders to hear directly from the people they support, their families, and allies about issues affecting their lives. It is also a chance to learn more about different projects and resources at DODD and across Ohio's government, while making connections to help everyone live their good life. Disability Connect will meet virtually on August 23 from 3 - 4 p.m. Click here for full details/registration link.

Art on the Lawn August 25

The Toledo Museum of Art will be hosting Ability Center for an outdoor art experience on the lawn. From 6 - 8 p.m. on August 25, children can see the sculpture garden, make a sculpture, draw, and paint. Come early if you want to eat dinner in the Art Museum Café (kid-friendly and veg-friendly options available). Suggested ages: families with children 12 and under. Click here to register. For questions, click here to email Jennifer Engelmann or call 419.885.5733.

Positively Portable Preschool on August 26

The Ability Center is having a Positively Portable Preschool! Bring out your youngsters to the East Toledo Family Center from 10 - 11 a.m. on August 26 for a fun, imaginative, engaging, learning, dancing, singing, moving and grooving time. Lead by Teacher Denice, a talented Early Childhood Teacher. Families and children of all abilities are welcome. Registration is not required. For questions, click here to email Jennifer Engelmann or call 419.885-5733. 

Shine a Light on Hate on August 27

Organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo's Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio and working together with over a dozen community partners, Shine a Light on Hate: Creating a Compassionate Community is a response to the significant recent increase in violence, harassment, and intimidation against a variety of groups. The event on August 27 from 1 - 5:30 p.m. includes a keynote address, three rounds of breakout sessions offering multiple opportunities to learn about specific community issues, and a concluding panel. Click here for full details or click here to register for this FREE event.

Grant Workshop Wednesday on August 30

On August 30 at noon, Lucas DD Parent Support Staff Tammy Eisenreich will be talking with Michael Rychener from Sara's Garden about their amazing programs and how parent sponsorships have helped families obtain funding for such things as Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. Click here for full details and zoom link.

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. Concessions will be available at a reduced price (no outside food allowed). Registration is required. For more and info and to register, click here.

REGISTER NOW for a Fall Theatre Workshop

The University of Toledo (Disability Studies and Theatre and Film) is collaborating with OpenSpot Theatre for a 6-week acting workshop for adults with developmental disabilities. Work with UT students and trained facilitators to learn singing, dancing, and acting skills. The workshop ends with a performance that you will write and star in! The big showcase will take place on October 12. Classes run weekly on Thursdays from 5:40-6:40 p.m. at the UToledo Center for the Performing Arts starting September 7. To learn more and sign up, visit OpenSpot’s registration page. Please note there is a suggested class fee, but this is not required to participate.

 SAVE THE DATE!

We have an exciting Lucas DD Fall Festival coming in September. This event will be 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.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio

A strong literacy foundation can prepare Ohio’s youngest learners for lifelong success. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio mails kids one free book each month until his or her 5th birthday. Any child in Ohio between birth and age 5 is eligible for the program, which is available at no cost to families. The program is a 501 (c)3 organization. Click here to enroll.

New DODD Newsletter: Disability Connection

Have you read the inaugural issue of Disability Connection? This is Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities' newest newsletter. It is designed for people living with developmental disabilities, their families, and friends. This newsletter will be different from other DODD publications by having a direct focus on news, resources, and stories specific to people living with disabilities. This is an outlet to share information, connect a community, and celebrate the accomplishments of the DD community. Sign up by clicking here.

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. Click here to see dates and sign up. Questions? Click here to email Lucas DD Nursing Supervisor Amy Annarino.

Think College: A post-HS graduation option

What if every young adult with intellectual disabilities saw college as an option? The “Think Higher. Think College.” campaign is designed to build awareness and expand access to college for students with intellectual disabilities. The goals are to increase knowledge of inclusive college options (and there are options in Northwest Ohio!), share information about the benefits and outcomes of students with intellectual disabilities attending college, and offer people ways to spread the message: “Think Higher. Think College.”. Click here to learn more.

Lucas DD Tech Hub

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides a Tech Hub that gives staff, providers, individuals served and their families an opportunity to explore and experience the latest in life altering adaptive technology. This one-of-a-kind room contains an abundance of technological devices designed to make life safer and easier for individuals and their families. Want to learn more or schedule a visit? Click here to email Heather Burke, Lucas DD Assistive Technology & Remote Support Specialist.

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.

DODD is seeking members to serve on the Family Advisory Council

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is seeking members to serve on the Family Advisory Council (FAC) Core Group. People with disabilities and their family members are encouraged to express their interest by completing the following application.

Interested applicants should review the following information that outlines the purpose of FAC and FAC Core Group, the FAC Core Group's composition and member responsibilities, and the review and selection process. Deadline is August 31. Click here for full details.

Volunteers needed for tomorrow's Shoe Fest

Can you volunteer a few hours of your time to help make this event a success? Multiple positions need to be filled, from set up to tear down and everything in between. Click here to sign up or contact Sue Shrewsbery by calling 419.691.0613, ext. 101 or emailing Sue.

Peace Pals International Seeks Artwork by Children

Youth (ages 5-16) from around the world are invited to submit their artwork to the Peace Pals International Art Exhibition and awards for 2023. This year they have partnered with Unity Earth, a global network on a mission to accelerate the realization of unity and peace on Earth. Inspired by the world’s wisdom traditions and born out of the desire to meet global-sized challenges with global-sized solutions, the network is built to amplify the reach and impact of peace-aligned organizations and individuals. Deadline to submit artwork is August 31. For full details, click here.

Comments Requested regarding the Standards for Accessible MDE

The U.S. Access Board has extended its notice of proposed rulemaking on standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment (MDE), addressing one provision on the low transfer surface height for certain types of MDE. Public comments are now due by 8/31. Learn more at the Federal Register or view the proposed rule here.