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 Board Meeting Monday

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.

Lucas DD Support Group for Parents with Disabilities Continues next week

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 everything pregnancy and parenthood related. The group will run for 6 more weeks, two times offered each week. Have questions? Email jzydorczyk@lucasdd.org. To register, click here. To see the informational flyer, click here.

Wear Your Stripes for Rare Disease Day on Thursday (Feb. 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 or before Feb. 29 and send your photos to marketing@lucasdd.org to be in a group video!

Lucas DD Night at the Pistons on March 9

Join us as the Pistons host the Dallas Mavericks inside Little Caesars Arena in beautiful downtown Detroit! Discounted ticket prices include a free gift item as well as an opportunity to go on the court after the game to shoot a free throw! But that's not all! The Pistons are donating $5 from every single ticket purchased to the Lucas DD FAN Network. If we sell 100 tickets, the team will match the $500 donation to make it $1,000! Tickets must be purchased through this link https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/LucasDD for the Board to get credit for the purchase. See you there!

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!

DODD Releases Update on Safe Eclipse Viewing

As part of DODD's online toolkit, they send out a Well-Informed newsletter to promote the health and welfare of people with developmental disabilities wherever they choose to live, work, and spend their day. This week's focus was on safely viewing the upcoming eclipse on April 8. Click here to see their update, which includes additional links to NASA and the National Park Service.

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.

Understanding Eligibility Resource developed

The Department of Developmental Disabilities created resources to help understand eligibility for developmental disability services in Ohio. DODD worked with stakeholders to develop guidance clarifying when a developmental disability manifests and how that impacts a person’s eligibility for services. Click here to see the resource.

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.

TOPSoccer on Sunday

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 at the Maumee Soccer Centre on February 25 from 2 - 3 p.m. Registration required. Click here for more information and to register.

DSAGT First Steps Baby & Toddler Group on Sunday

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo's First Steps Baby & Toddler Group is for newborns up to those who are 4 years of age. At Trinity Lutheran Church on February 25 from 3 - 5 p.m., families will have 2 full hours of Q&A with experts on everything from Physical Therapy to Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy! Click here to submit questions in advance. Among the panelists are local Down syndrome expert and Lucas DD Board Member, Dr. Eileen Quinn. Click here for full details.

RallyCap Sports Bowling Party on Sunday

Join RallyCap BGSU for a fun Bowling Party, 3 - 4 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Bowling Green! Open to all past RallyPlayers and new friends who would like to check out the program. Invite a friend and have some fun! This event is FREE, but registration is required. Click here to register.

Acoustics for Autism Silent Auction Opens Feb. 26

The Silent Auction opens Feb. 26 and closes March 3. The Acoustics for Autism event begins at noon on March 3. This event is in uptown Maumee and benefits Project iAm. Click here for more details.

Navigating Supportive Technologies Webinar

Join the YMCA for a free (virtual) evening with Ohio Tech Ambassadors! This webinar from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 caters to families and individuals intrigued by the world of supportive technology. Share your concerns about using supportive technology in your home, and the Tech Ambassadors will help to provide potential solutions! Registration required. Click here to register today! (The zoom link will be sent to your email after you're registered.)

Rare Diseases Day Event at NIH (In-Person & Virtual)

Sponsored by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, Rare Disease Day at NIH will be held both in-person at the NIH main campus (Natcher Conference Center) and virtually on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The event aims to raise awareness about rare diseases, the people they affect, and NIH collaborations that address scientific challenges and advance research for new treatments.

Rare Disease Day at NIH seeks to bring together a broad audience including patients, patient advocates, caregivers, health care providers, researchers, trainees, students, industry representatives, and government staff. The event is free and open to the public. This year’s event will feature panel discussions, rare diseases stories, in-person exhibits and scientific posters, and an art exhibition. Click here for more details or 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.

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.

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.

Ohio Parent 2 Parent Applications Open

Are you an experienced caregiver who would like to help other parents? Ohio P2P is an evidence-based, statewide parent support program that matches parents, siblings, self-advocates, foster parents, grandparents, etc. who have family members of any age, with a disability or special healthcare need, to an experienced, trained, volunteer support parent. Apply to be a volunteer support parent at: Ohio P2P Support Parent Trainee Application. Questions? Contact Jena Wells at 513-636-1245 or Jena.Wells@cchmc.org.

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.