Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use

Special Olympics Spring Sports Registration is Open

Spring will be here soon, and that means a new season of sports! We will be offering Volleyball, Tennis, Bocce, Track & Field, and Walking Group. You can join Walking Group plus ONE other sport (or just one sport). Click here to read the full newsletter. Click here to register.

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.

Lucas DD Board Meeting Feb. 26

The next monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be on February 26 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public at Lucas DD's Larc Lane Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo.

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 Monday for Presidents Day

The offices of Lucas DD will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 for Presidents Day, but 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.

Inclusive Sports Project Survey Results

Last year, the Inclusive Sports Project, led by the Government Resource Center through funding by Ohio DD Council, sent out a survey to learn about the state of Ohio's inclusive sports opportunities and how to promote equitable access to physical activity and recreational opportunities for youth with disabilities in Ohio schools, included alongside their peers without disabilities, to improve overall health, physical fitness, and decrease the risk of chronic disease. Click here to see what they learned.

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.

Greater Toledo Challenger Baseball Signup tomorrow

Greater Toledo Challenger Baseball is a 10-week season for individuals of all abilities ages 5 and up. In-person sign up is 12 - 2 p.m. on Feb. 17 at the Assured Health Services Thrive Center. The fee for the 10-week season is $45 per player. If finances are an issue, please let them know as no player will be turned away. Buddies are welcome to assist on the field. Adult and children's teams are available, and games are held April through July at 6 p.m. on Sundays at Rolf Park in Maumee. Season ends with a statewide tournament. For more information email glanning@nbls.org or follow the Greater Toledo Challenger Little League Page on Facebook!

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.

Walleye Sled Hockey Game Feb. 20

The Toledo Walleye Sled Hockey Team is taking to the ice for a scrimmage against the Toledo Walleye at 7 p.m. on February 20! Similar to rules of traditional hockey, this is no "traditional" competition. Players utilize a hockey sled and pick in their sticks to propel themselves down the ice. This event is FREE! Parking is FREE! Click here for complete details.

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) is on Feb. 21 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. and 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.

SibTalk: Sib Life and Resilience on Feb. 22

Join Ohio Sibs with Dr. Jill Crane in a supported and interactive discussion about lives as sibs and how resilience shows itself in the support of loved ones and grows in the support of each other and ourselves. This virtual gathering is on February 22 from 7 - 8:15 p.m. Click here to reserve your FREE spot.

Disability Rights Town Hall

Join the advocacy conversation in this town hall with Disability Rights Ohio and The Ability Center of Greater Toledo. This is an in-person event from 1 - 3 p.m. on Feb. 23. Click here to register. If you have questions, please click here to email an organizer.

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.

World Institute on Disability Fellowship Program

WID’s Global Heumann Fellowship Program honors and grows Judy Heumann’s legacy by supporting disability leaders and advocates around the world to work on projects that promote disability rights and disability justice in their regional communities. As a bridge to an equitable, inclusive, and just world, The Global Heumann Fellowship seeks disabled, visionary leaders with a demonstrated history in advocacy, communications, and influential collaboration. Must have the ability to be effective while working remotely and maintain flexibility working with a diverse, global team.

This is a part-time, twelve-month fellowship, with a term from July 2024 to July 2025. Individuals who have lived disability experience, active in the disability community and have extensive experience or leadership within the disability rights and disability justice fields are encouraged to apply. The application will be open through March 31, 2024.

Click here for more information or to apply.

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.

Acoustics for Autism Volunteers Needed

The Autism Society of Northwest Ohio is looking for volunteers to help with two sensory areas at Acoustics for Autism on Sunday, March 3. Volunteers are needed from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at one of two stations, the Maumee Indoor Theater and Sunshine Studios. To sign up, go to the Acoustics for Autism Volunteer Page and, in the comments section, put a note that you are volunteering for the sensory areas.

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.