Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use

SALUTE Monthly Meeting Monday

Lucas DD's SALUTE self-advocates are meeting 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 12 at our Larc Lane Training Center. This month, our guests will be our counterparts in Wood County, who are facilitating a technology focus group. They are seeking feedback regarding technolgy needs in Northwestern Ohio. Click here for details. 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.

Lucas DD Common Ground Meets Tuesday

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for adults to gather and build lasting friendships and connections. The next meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 at our Larc Lane Training Center. Click here for full details. Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

Lucas DD Family Ties Q & A Meeting Thursday

The first Family Ties meeting will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Lucas DD (please enter through Door O). This parent support group is for parents, guardians, and caregivers of individuals (no matter their age). Click here for full details.

Lucas DD Support Group for Parents with Disabilities Begins Feb. 20-21

This new support group is for people with any type of disability who are parents or interested in becoming parents. Participants will learn from other parents on all things pregnancy and parenthood. The group will run for 7 weeks, two times offered each week. Have questions? Email jzydorczyk@lucasdd.org. To register, click here. To see the informational flyer, click here.

Wealth & Wisdom Feb. 21

The next Wealth & Wisdom is titled, "A House Divided: SSDI and SSI. What's the same? What's different?" In this session, Lucas DD will take a closer look at the 2 major disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration. This FREE educational class will be online only, 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21. Click here to pre-register! Any questions, please click here to email the organizers.

Chuck a Puck with the Walleye & Lucas County Special Olympics

Lucas County Special Olympics is selling pucks to chuck on the Huntington Center ice for prizes during the Feb. 24 Walleye game! Pucks are $1 each and a portion of all sales goes to Lucas County Special Olympics. Look for Special Olympics staff and athletes on the main concourse to get your pucks. The Lightning are also selling tickets to the Feb. 24 game. $20 per ticket and sold exclusively online at https://give.sooh.org/give/560125/#!/donation/checkout.

Wear Your Stripes for Rare Diseases Day on February 29

Rare Disease Day is the globally-coordinated movement on rare diseases, working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for the 300 million people living with a rare disease. Rare Disease Day is observed Feb. 29, the rarest day, or Feb. 28 in non leap years. Click here to learn more. Wear stripes on Feb. 29 and send your photos to marketing@lucasdd.org to be in a video!

Inclusion Resource Fair March 13

Lucas DD's Annual Inclusion Resource Fair is on March 13 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's auditorium. There will be fun activities, giveaways, food trucks, loads of information, and more!

Pre-register for a chance to win a Kroger gift card! (Must attend to win.) Click here to pre-register for this FREE event!

Board Closed for Presidents Day

The offices of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 for Presidents 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.

Attention RNs! Delegated Nursing Informational Meetings Feb. 22 & 23

The Lucas DD Provider Support Department will be hosting two informational sessions for Registered Nurses interested in providing delegated nursing services to direct support professionals (DSPs) to completing tasks with our individuals. We are searching for RNs who might be willing to learn more about the process and what is needed in order to do this. Learn how you can make some extra money AND make a difference. Click here to learn more.

Lucas DD Offering DODD Category ONE Certification

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is proud to offer a DODD Category ONE Medication Class Certification free of charge to area Providers and their Direct Care staff. The 2-day trainings will be at our Larc Lane Center, enter through the main Door A. To achieve certification, you must attend both days of the course. Seating is limited to 12 per class. Click here to sign up! Questions? Reach out to Board Nursing Supervisor Amy Annarino at aannarino@lucasdd.org.

Vendor Registration for Inclusion Resource Fair

Lucas DD is currently registering inclusive programs to participate in ur Inclusion Resource Fair will be from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on March 13, 2024 at St. Luke's Auditorium. this event. It is FREE for everyone to participate but registration is required for vendors. Click here if you are a vendor and would like to reserve a spot.

Super Saturday Dance Saturday

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 7-9 p.m. on February 10. Registration is recommended. Click here for more information.

RallyCap Valentine's Party on Sunday

Join RallyCap BGSU for their Valentine's Party, 3-4 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Bowen Thompson Student Union Room 201 at Bowling Green State University! Open to all past RallyPlayers and new friends who would like to check out the program. Invite a friend and join us for some fun! FREE, but must register by today. Click here to register.

Inclusive Airport Experience Feb. 19

AccessTOL is a program designed to ensure travelers with disabilities have able access to all services at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. This is an event Toledo Express hosts to provide individuals with special needs and/or disabilities the experience of traveling through an airport and identify potential challenges that may be encountered. At the event, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on February 19, individuals will learn how to visit the ticket counter to receive a boarding pass, get screened through TSA, check-in at the gate, walk through the jet bridge, and retrieve a bag at baggage claim. Must register to attend. Click here for more information or to register.

Potty Training Webinar Feb. 21

Join Nikki Rotshtein, OTR/L, who will discuss the challenges of potty training. This free virtual presentation (brought to you by ESC Lake Erie West Ohio Parent Mentor) will focus on methods to support children with sensory processing, anxiety, autism, and physical disabilities, It will also be helpful for caregivers of typically developing children. Questions? Please email Wendy Smenner at wsmenner@esclakeeriewest.org. Registration required. Click here to register.

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!

Apply for Autismazing Amazing Futures Grants

Autismazing Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing micro-grant funding opportunities to reimburse grantees for expenses related to training, education and peer support. For many adults with autism, support and services need to continue in order to pursue college, career or entrepreneurship. Autismazing.org is committed to assisting by providing financial grants for services, technology or other items that are not covered/reimbursed by insurance or other providers. Click here to learn more or apply. Deadline is March 15.

Parker's Purpose Grant Application Open

Parker’s Purpose was founded in 2008 as a result of people coming together to help out the Inks family in their time of need. The mission of Parker’s Purpose is to provide the highest level of service to individuals or groups in need. The organization is committed to service with integrity and respect to all individuals or groups and also hope to foster a positive self worth and self esteem to the individual giving. They are currently accepting applications for monetary assistance of up to $1,000. Deadline is March 31. Click here to learn more or submit your application.

Community Fund Ohio Grant Application Open

The mission of Community Fund Ohio, a nonprofit tax-exempt organization, is to develop and make available trust vehicles, education, and related services that help enable individuals with disabilities to use private funds to enhance their quality of life while attempting to safeguard their eligibility for government benefits. Community Fund offers grants to nonprofits that serve Ohio residents with disabilities as well as three types of grants to individuals who reside in Ohio and have a disability. Quarterly deadline is March 31. Click here to learn more.

Special Olympics Ohio Needs Volunteers

Attention Volunteers! The 2024 State Indoor Winter Games are Feb. 23-25 at Bowling Green State University. Special Olympics Ohio is in need of volunteers to help to make the event a success.

Times and duties vary. Please click on the links below for more information and to sign up!

Any questions, please click here to contact Karla Batt.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!!

Lucas DD is seeking artwork by individuals with DD to showcase in a public art exhibit. Artwork will be on display March 18-23 at Franklin Park Mall, with a "Meet the Artists" event on March 23. Deadline to submit is March 11. Please reach out to marketing@lucasdd.org if you are interested.

DODD's Family Advisory Council seeks input from families

Family Advisory Council (FAC) meetings take place quarterly and are open to everyone. The Family Advisory Council provides a forum for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to hear directly from family members about the issues that affect their lives and provides the opportunity to learn more about the department's current initiatives from executive staff. In preparation for the Family Advisory Council Meeting scheduled March 20, 2024, DODD wants to hear what topics are important to you. Click here to submit your questions and concerns. Submission deadline is March 15. Click here to register for the zoom meeting on March 20.