Board Closed for Winter Holiday Break Dec. 25 - Jan. 1 The offices of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, for the winter holiday break. Lucas DD is still here to support you. For emergency assistance, or to report a MUI, please contact the On-Call Service & Support Specialist at (419) 380-5100. Also please note, there will be no Friday Update on Dec. 29. Inclusive Storytime on Jan. 4 Children and their grown-ups will enjoy stories, songs and movement designed to encourage literacy skills and connections. It's okay if your little likes to wiggle instead of sitting still! Visual schedule & sensory strategies used to keep everyone engaged. Everyone is welcome to this accessible and sensory-friendly story time experience. Call Jennifer at 419-855-5733 ext 256 or jengelmann@abilitycenter.org if you have questions or concerns. Click here to register. Sensory Night at Urban Air on Jan. 8 Urban Air is transformed into a calmer atmosphere for those with special needs and their loved ones during their Sensory Friendly Play hours. From 4 - 8 p.m. on Jan. 8, there are no flashing lights, no music, and no whistles. These nights are the first Monday of the month (except January 2024, which is the second Monday). Click here for more details. Questions? Contact Melissa Huebner at melissa@urbanairtoledo.com. Common Ground Social Group Jan. 8 Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather together and build lasting, sustainable friendships and connections. The first session of 2024 is on January 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at our Larc Lane campus (Training Center). Click here for full details. Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deb Tyree. SALUTE Meeting Jan. 8 The first SALUTE meeting of the year will be on January 8, 5:30 - 7 p.m. at our Larc Lane campus (Family First Zone/Blue Conference Room). Light refreshments will be served! In January's meeting, Healthy Lucas County for 2024 will be discussed. The guest speaker is Celia Williamson, PhD. For full details, click here. You can attend in person or via zoom. Contact Deetra Mitchell at dmitchell@lucasdd.org for the zoom link or if you have any questions. Planning for the Future Webinar Jan.9 Parents and caregivers are invited to join The Arc of Ohio for a special webinar series! They will address questions and concerns about planning for the future of a loved one with a disability. January 9 at 6:30 p.m. they will cover Guardianship & Supported Decision Making; January 30 at 6:30 p.m. they will cover Special Needs Trusts, STABLE Accounts, Benefits & Waivers. Click here to register. Family Implementation Series begins Jan. 10 Interested in learning more about Charting the LifeCourse and how to utilize tools? Then join the Family Resource Network of Ohio for the Family Implementation Series. This weekly series takes place over zoom, from 4 - 5:30 p.m. beginning January 10. Designed to guide you through the process of implementing Charting the LifeCourse, they will provide you with the information you need to effectively utilize their tools. Click here for full details. Click here to register. Super Saturday Dance Jan. 13 The next Super Saturday Dance is on January 13 from 7 - 9 p.m.! The dance is on the Second Saturday of every month and 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. Whether you prefer to wear a tie, a dress, or your favorite jeans and T-shirt, come enjoy an optional Bible study at 6:15 and then a light dinner and dancing from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Registration is recommended. Click here for to register. OpenSpot Theatre Workshop Registration is Open The University of Toledo (Disability Studies and Theatre and Film) is collaborating with OpenSpot Theatre for a 14-week acting workshop for adults with developmental disabilities. Participants will work with UT students and trained facilitators to learn singing, dancing, and acting skills. The workshop culminates with a production written by and starring the students themselves! Classes start Jan. 18 and run every Thursday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the UToledo Center for the Performing Arts. 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. Night to Shine Toledo: registration open Cornerstone Church is proud to be an official host church for Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience on February 9, 2024, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. If you would like to be an honored guest for this evening, click here to fill out the form. Space is limited, registrations will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. Board Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 15 The offices of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Jan. 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day. Lucas DD is still here to support you. For emergency assistance, or to report a MUI, please contact the On-Call Service & Support Specialist at (419) 380-5100. Wealth and Wisdom Jan. 17 (virtual) January's Wealth & Wisdom Topic is: STABLE accounts. This free class is presented by Lucas DD as part of our Wealth and Wisdom series. In January, this class is virtual only. Presenters: Lucas County Board of DD Community Work Incentives Counselor and Lucas County self-advocates. Click here if you would like to pre-register for the Zoom session. Those who pre-register have a chance to ask questions in advance! Lucas DD Offering DODD Category ONE Certification The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is offering DODD Category ONE Certification Course Delegated Nursing. The monthly classes are free of charge to area Providers and their Direct Care staff. The 2-day trainings will be at our Larc Lane Training Center. To achieve certification, you must attend both days of the course. Seating is limited to 12 per class. Click here to sign up! The Clearwater Council of Governments also offering the same course on alternative dates at our Larc Lane Training Center. Click here for more information. Little Lightning Bowling Registration is Open Registered Special Olympic Athletes, ages 8 – 16 who have a current medical/physical on file with SO staff that was signed by a physician within the past 3 years, can now register for a 6-week winter session of bowling. This will run on Thursdays from 4 - 5 p.m. starting January 18. Registration by January 15 required. The cost of shoes and bowling will be covered by Lucas County Special Olympics. Athletes are permitted to use ramps to assist them if needed. Click here for full details and to register! | 
