Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use

Little Lightning Golf Clinic Registration is OPEN

Lucas County Special Olympics' Little Lighting program is offering free youth golf clinics! Three dates available (October 6, 20, November 3). Must register, space is limited. First come, first served. For individuals with special needs, ages 8 - 16 years old. (They do not have to be receiving services from Lucas DD to attend.) Clinics will take place from 5 - 6:30 p.m. at First Tee in Toledo. All equipment will be provided! Clinics are weather permitting; if there are any changes, you will be notified. Click here to reserve your spot.

Glass City Glow-Tacular is tomorrow

Light up the night with glow skating, rock climbing, mountain biking, paddling and more at this family-friendly event at Glass City Metropark from 7 - 11 p.m. on September 16. Metroparks outdoor skills experts will be on hand to guide you as you discover your next outdoor passion – regardless of ability. This is an inclusive event and staff are trained and ready to make accommodations. A quiet and low sensory zone will be available at the Glass City Pavilion. Metroparks outdoor skills experts will be on hand to guide you as you discover your next outdoor passion - regardless of ability. Registration not required. For more details, click here.

Special Education Free Legal Clinic on September 18

The Special Education Legal Clinic (a collaboration between Disability Rights Ohio, the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children With Disabilities, and AW Law) offers parents and guardians an opportunity to meet with a special education advocate or attorney in an open and welcoming environment to ask questions and discuss specific challenges related to education. Clinic staff members and volunteers will help guide parents and guardians through the special education process and provide resources to request and secure special education services. The Clinic includes a group workshop followed by a Q&A panel from special education professionals. Attendees participate virtually. Free 30-minute individual guidance sessions with attorneys are available for scheduling as well. The topic for September 18 from noon - 1 p.m. is Transition Planning and Section 5 of the IEP by OCECD. Click here to reserve your free spot.

Parent Advocacy Training Series begins September 19

Mercy Health is offering a Parent Advocacy Training Series on Tuesdays between September 19 - October 24. Sessions run from either 9-11 a.m. or 12:30-2:30 p.m. Participation is free and space is limited. Registration is open now! Please contact Tammy at 419-251-2469 or tamara_mckittrick@mercy.com to register. Click here for full details.

Creative Kids Art Workshop on September 19

NAMI of Greater Toledo is offering a FREE art workshop just for kids/teens on September 19 from 5 - 6:15 p.m. 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 in Toledo. Limited space and registration is REQUIRED to attend. Click here for additional details. To register your child(ren), please email Kristen Zientek at kzientek@namitoledo.org no later than September 18.

Lucas DD Common Ground Social Group on September 19

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather together and build lasting, sustainable friendships and connections. The first two meetings were a wonderful success! The last gathering for this session is at our Larc Lane campus on September 19 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Also, please mark your calendars now, as the fall sessions have just been announced to be October 12, November 9, and December 14. If you are interested in joining this group, please click here to sign up today! (If you previously registered for the summer group, there is no need to re-register for the 19th; however, if you are interested in the fall  sessions, please register.) Questions? Contact your SSA or click here to email Deb Tyree.

Lucas DD Fall Pool League on Thursdays

The Lucas DD pool league is going strong! This awesome group has grown to over 40 people and is now meeting in two groups on Thursday evenings, with the early group starting at 5:30-7:00 and the late group starting from 7:00-8:30, now through November 9. No registration necessary, just come out for some fun! Click here for more details. Questions about which group you're in? Click here to email an organizer.

People First of Toledo meeting on September 21

People First of Toledo, affiliated with Courageous Community Services and People First of Ohio, invite you to a Self-Led Disability Advocacy Group on September 21 from 6- 7:30 p.m. at the Ability Center. Engage with your community, learn self-advocacy skills, meet other people like you! At this month's meeting, healthy relationships of all sorts will be discussed: romantic, platonic, familial, and even professional. Meetings are $5 (or $50 for 12 months) and open to everyone. Questions? Click here to email Quinn Thomas. Click here to see more from People First of Toledo.

Best Buddies Buddy Match Up on September 22

NOW is your chance to register for Best Buddies, which is an international, nonprofit program designed to empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. The University of Toledo's Best Buddies chapter has monthly social events and more! Program is for individuals ages 18-30 years old. Buddies will be matched up on September 22 at 5:30 p.m. Click here for full details. After September 21, registration will be closed until August 2024! Click here to register.

Free Sled Hockey on September 23

Adaptive Sports Ohio is having a free sled hockey clinic from 10:30 - 11:20 a.m. on September 23. Come to the Toledo Ice House and have fun learning the basics of sled hockey with the Walleye Sled Hockey team! All equipment is provided. Open to any person, youth or adult, with a primary physical disability, NOT restricted to wheelchair users. FREE, but registration is required. Click here to register. Questions? Click here to email Alex Yoder.

Family Fun Day on September 23

The Ability Center is having a Family Fun Day on September 23, from noon - 3 p.m. Experience a fun-filled afternoon with the whole family at this inclusive event. Bounce houses, bubbles, music, face painting, tree climbing, art activities, story time, snacks, a fire truck, and more will be at The Ability Center’s campus. Learn about their family services and network of support. Families with and without disabilities are encouraged to attend. Click here to RSVP.

Family Fall Outing on September 24

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo's (DSAGT) Family Fall Outing is on September 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fleitz Pumpkin Farm. Registration and parking are FREE and DSAGT families will receive coupons for the day's festivities upon arrival. Don't miss out! Click here to register. 

Toledo TOPSoccer on September 24

The Toledo TOPSoccer Program is a free program that offers soccer for anyone (ages 5+) facing special cognitive, physical and/or emotional challenges, including those who are blind, confined to a wheelchair, and those who have autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or other conditions that impair mobility, strength, and/or comprehension. Come check it out on September 24 from 2 - 3 p.m. Registration required. Click here for more information and to register.

Lucas DD Monthly Board Meeting on September 25

The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is on September 25 from 5:45 p.m. The meeting is at Lucas DD's Larc Lane Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo. The public is welcome to attend this in-person only meeting.

Phoenix Residential Talent Show September 26

The "Keepin' It Real" talent show is back! This talent show is not just for Phoenix Residential clients. Practices take place on Thursdays at the Phoenix Residential office from 6p-8p. Click here to purchase tickets online. Tickets are $5 but the first 200 sold are $3. Click here for full details.

Young Adult Game Night September 26

The Ability Center invites you to a TRIVIA and GAME NIGHT with pizza! Get together for fun, food, laughs and lots of games! There will be trivia, video games, cards and board games. This FREE event is from 6 - 8 p.m. on September 26 and is just for young adults, from 18-24 years old. Must register. For questions, contact Laurie Kimura at Lkimura@abilitycenter.org or 419-885-5733 ext. 145. Click here to register.

Autism Play and Parent Support Group on September 27

Avenues for Autism is having their Autism Play and Parent Support Group at Sylvania Playland on September 27 from 4 - 6 p.m. This is a space for children to explore and socialize in a supportive environment while parents connect. Cost is $5 per evening. Click here to register.

Sibshops on September 30

Does your child with special needs have a sibling, aged 8-16 years old? This free group is just for them! Sibshops provide young brothers and sisters with peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting. The next meeting kicking off the fall season is on September 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 3939 Wrenwood Rd, Toledo. To register, click here. For more information, click here.

Buddy Walk on October 1

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo's Buddy Walk is on Sunday, October 1 from noon - 4 p.m. The Toledo Buddy Walk is celebrating its 22nd year this year and will be held at Owens Community College. They are hoping to make this the biggest and best year yet! Click here to sign up your team today.

Disability Download by Dawn Bently on October 5

The Toledo Public Library is hosting Disability Download, a discussion focused on disability etiquette and visiting current best practices and guidelines to consider when interacting with people with disabilities. This includes a brief overview of the major disability laws and creating universally designed spaces, programs and services. This event, from 3 - 5 p.m. on October 5, is sponsored by The City of Toledo Human Relations Commission and is part of Better Toledo, a personal and professional development series to ensure “you will do better in Toledo.” For full details, click here. 

Lucas DD Offering Flu Vaccine Clinic on October 11

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, is offering a flu vaccine clinic. Vaccines will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Lucas DD's South Toledo headquarters, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O). Must register and bring forms. For full details and registration link, click here.

The September Aging Gracefully Newsletter is available

Aging Gracefully is a monthly newsletter published and edited by the Senior Supports Committee at the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Click here to see the latest issue of Aging Gracefully.

SAVE THE DATES!

Lucas DD's second annual Trunk or Treat will be on October 25! If you love costumes and candy, you'll want to be there! Click here for full details.



Lucas DD is having a Transition Summit on November 8! Stay tuned if you are curious about the transition process and/or are around the transition age (16-20 years old). Pre-register for a chance to win one of five prizes! Click here for more details.

The leaves may just be starting to turn color, but Lucas DD's Early Intervention department is proud to announce their Snowy Social, a celebration of all things snowy and winter! This inclusive, free, family-friendly event is geared towards young children. It will be on December 6 and is open to the community! All who pre-register will be entered to win a Kroger gift card! Click here to learn more.

Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment Educational Savings Program

The ACE application window for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides qualifying families with a $1,000 credit per child. These funds can be used to pay for a variety of educational activities designed to help accelerate learning for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stipends are available for all students in Ohio ages 6-18, whose family makes at or lower than 300% of the poverty level. Click here to learn more or apply.

EmpowHer Expressions Fall 2023 Applications 

The Disability EmpowHer Network is excited to open applications for EmpowHer Expressions, our public speaking and career coaching program for disabled women to improve their public speaking skills and confidence in order to achieve career goals and succeed in the working world. EmpowHer Expressions is an 8-week virtual program with regular assignments, weekly 30 minute 1-on-1 mentor meetings, and virtual class periods every Monday 7 - 8:30pm EST starting Oct 23. Participants in EmpowHer Expressions learn about and practice important soft skills including perfecting elevator speeches, presenting to various stakeholders, answering and asking tough interview questions, and negotiating their salary and benefits. We also cover disability specific topics like disclosing disability at work and how to ask for reasonable accommodations. Applications close September 20th at 11:59pm EST. Click here to apply.

Parent Advocacy Connection

The Parent Advocacy Connection (PAC) Program is a NAMI Ohio grassroots program that offers trained Parent Advocates with lived experience who reflect the cultural and ethnic make-up of the families they serve. When children require services from multiple sources (i.e., mental health, schools, juvenile courts, developmental disabilities, and alcohol/drug addiction services agencies), it can be difficult for parents to navigate their way through these various service systems. Families may become overwhelmed and have difficulty expressing their concerns and the needs of their child(ren). Ohio’s service coordination process recognizes this challenge and has made support for families available through the Parent Advocacy Connection. The mission of the PAC Program is to empower, educate, encourage, and equip families to partner with professionals in promoting access to services that are family-centered, community-based, comprehensive, and culturally competent. To learn more about what Parent Advocates can do for you, click here.

TutorSmart Registration is open

TutorSmart enrollment is now open! The Toledo Library has once again partnered with TutorSmart to provide free tutoring and homework help for grades 1-6. Tutoring is offered at ten Library locations. Spots fill quickly, so enroll your child today. Click here to enroll your child.

Baby Talk for Children under 6 years old

Do you live in Lucas County and have a child under 6 years old? The YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral Baby Talk Program may be of interest. Baby Talk is currently accepting new families. Baby Talk offers monthly socialization days, which give families an opportunity to network with one another in a safe environment. There are many fun and engaging hand activities that help parents and children grow together, which aid in a child's development and with parenting skills. To register, click here. For additional questions, please contact 419-255-5519 extension 161 or email LMcCullers@ywcanwo.org.

Wheelchair Halloween Costumes

It's the perfect time to think about your Halloween costume! Click here to check out some creative wheelchair costumes at The Costume Shop. (Additional ones available if you special order.)

Special Olympics Ohio Needs Volunteers

The State Softball competition is tomorrow, September 16! Special Olympics Ohio is in need of some AMAZING volunteers at the William P. Coontz Recreation Complex in Oregon, OH for the State Softball Tournament and Skills Competition. Must be 14+ years old, some positions require experience. Click here to check out the available volunteer positions.

Do you have eyeglasses, sunglasses or hearing aids that you don't use?

The Maumee Senior Center is now a site to drop off your used eyeglasses and hearing aids gathered by the Lions Club. Drop off at 2430 S. Detroit Ave, Maumee, anytime between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Share your Story with Sunflower Conversations

While it's easy to feel that your story can't possibly make a meaningful difference, the truth is that it can influence individuals and the wider community. Whether you or someone you care about has a disability (invisible or not), you can empower others and encourage people to support them by sharing your experience. Check out the Sunflower Conversations, and if they impact you, share them with your friends and family. If you want to share your experience, click here to send an email.

Partners for Inclusion Krispy Kreme Fundraiser

From now through September 25, 2023, 50% of your order will be donated back to Maumee Valley Partners for Inclusion when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Simply buy online, visit your local store & redeem using your code. Treat yourself or even gift them to friends and family. Click here to get your doughnuts!

Walk to End Alzheimer's Needs Volunteers

Can you spare some time to help the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Promenade Park in Toledo on October 14th is a success? Several positions need to be filled, from set up to cheering to tear down. Click here to learn more about volunteering positions.

Video of the Week

Did you know it's DSP Appreciation Week? 

Lucas DD staff members say thank you in this short video.

Quote of the Week

"Never assume that loud is strong and quiet is weak. Quite often, it is the other way around."

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