Friday Update: March 1, 2024

Special Olympics Spring Sports Registration is Open until next Friday!

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. Deadline to register is March 8. You must register to participate in spring sports/summer games.

Lucas DD Storytime Extravaganza on Monday

Lucas DD's monthly Early Intervention Playgroup will be part of a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month takeover. Children and families are invited for a fun program featuring play activities including songs, playtime, and the always popular Bubble Dance Party! We'll also have book readings with special guests, WTOL Anchor TaTiana Cash and Lucas DD Superintendent Michele Myerholtz! Refreshments will be available for all in attendance. Join us Monday, March 4 from 11 a.m. to Noon at the King branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Click here for full details.

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 5 more weeks, two times offered each week. Have questions? Email jzydorczyk@lucasdd.org. To register, click here. To see the informational flyer, click here.

Inclusive Zoom Meeting on Wednesday

Join the discussion with Lucas DD on Wednesday, March 6 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for an overview of what we are doing to celebrate DD awareness month. Wear orange! See exciting reveal of Inclusion Dance and learn the dance for future use! Click here to join in the fun.

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!

SALUTE Meeting March 11

SALUTE, the self-advocacy group for those served by the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, is having their monthly meeting at the Board on March 11 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. The meeting can be attended in-person and via Zoom. Guest Presenters this month are Catherine Girves and Jalen Miller, from the Columbus office of Toole Design. They want your feedback on how to improve the region’s safety and accessibility, especially for pedestrians and bus riders. Click here for full details.

Common Ground March 12

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather together and build lasting, sustainable friendships and connections. The next meeting is on Tuesday, March 12 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at our Larc Lane campus (Training Room). Click here for full details. Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

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!

Grant Writing Workshop March 14

Need help with funding summer camp, therapy, sensory equipment, social skills groups, and so much more? We can help. Come prepared on March 14 between 6:30 - 9 p.m. to apply for some grants. Click here to register! Questions? Please contact Tammy Eisenreich at teisenreich@lucasdd.org or 419-356-3824. Click here for full details.

Family Ties March 14

Lucas DD is excited about their new Parent Support Group called Family Ties! We are still asking for input from parents, guardians, and caregivers who are interested in attending. Family Ties will help families make connections build a network that they can lean on for support. Don't miss your chance to be a formative part the group - click here and take the survey to help determine the details about Family Ties! The next meeting is on March 14 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Light snacks will be served. We hope to see you there!  Please email familyties@lucasdd.org with any questions.

New Superintendent Announcement

At its monthly meeting Monday night, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities voted to select Michele Myerholtz as the agency’s next Superintendent. Click here to read more.

Awards Given at Monday's Board Meeting

At its February meeting, the Lucas DD Board of Directors presented a Special Recognition Award to All Strikes Lanes, which has been of great help to our Lucas County Special Olympics programs. The Board also recognized SSA Kristin Vescelius and Physical Therapist Diane Harrah with Staff Person of the Month awards. Congratulations to all! Click here for full details.

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.

Vendor Registration for Inclusion Resource Fair Closes Wednesday

Lucas DD is registering inclusive programs to participate in our Inclusion Resource Fair that will be from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on March 13, 2024 at St. Luke's Auditorium. It is FREE for everyone to participate but registration by March 6 is required for vendors. Click here if you are a vendor and would like to reserve a spot.

Acoustics for Autism on Sunday

The 17th annual Acoustics for Autism begins at noon on Sunday, March 3. It is in uptown Maumee, featuring 95 bands on eight stages. The event raises funds for the non-profit organization Project iAm, which provides scholarship funds for families with children affected by autism. Click here for up-to-date information.

Sensory Friendly Play Day at Urban Air

Urban Air is transformed into a calmer atmosphere for those with special needs and sensory processing difficulty, their siblings, and caregivers, during their Sensory Friendly Play hours. There are no flashing lights, no music, and no whistles. The next Sensory Friendly Play is March 4 from 4 - 8 p.m. Questions? Contact Melissa Huebner at melissa@urbanairtoledo.com.

March Fourth: Celebrate Judy Heumann

American Association of People with Disabilities and Judith Heumann LLC invite the community to celebrate Judy Heumann on the one-year anniversary of her passing. Hosted by Diego Mariscal with presentations by others, this webinar is an opportunity to honor Judy and her lasting impact. Join us on Monday, March 4 at 8 p.m. Click here to register!

Playgroup Pals on March 8

Wood County Board of DD is hosting Playgroup Pals from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. on March 8 at the BG Community Center. Playgroup Pals is an INCLUSIVE playgroup for children aged 0-5, no registration is required! Click here for more information.

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. 

Toledo Lucas County Health Department Seeks Input

Do you live or work in Lucas County?Let your voice be heard! As part of the community health improvement plan process, Healthy Lucas County is asking for your feedback about the quality of life here: https://ow.ly/8zNn50QIJKH

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.

Avenues for Autism needs Volunteers

Avenues for Autism is looking for volunteers for the Glass City Marathon, which is on April 27-28. They will work the Registration as well as the Post Race Food tent. If you wish to volunteer or would like details, please contact Ali Cousino at acousino@avenuesforautism.org or by cell 419.210.5095 with the date and time you want.

Advocacy Outreach Encourages input to Railroad Administration

Comments are needed to spur the Federal Railroad Administration to take rail in Ohio to the next level! Visit fralongdistancerailstudy.org to leave your comments by March 8th. Ways to Help: 1. Visit the website fralongdistancerailstudy.org and write a comment, 2. Email info@allaboardohio.org for a template you can copy and paste, 3. Share this information!

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.

The Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities, an ACL grantee, is recruiting youth and young adults ages 12-26 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to participate in development and leadership opportunities. These opportunities will allow members to grow, build relationships, and impact national work while receiving a stipend for their time and work. 

There are two opportunities available:

·    Youth Steering Committee (YSC) Member: The YSC is a group of youth ages 17-26 who guide the center's design and operation. The YSC guides the work plan, develops resources, and supports evaluation efforts. YSC members receive ongoing support and education to build their knowledge about healthcare transition and leadership skills.

·    Youth Development Initiative (YDI) Committee Member: The YDI is a group of youth ages 12-17 with I/DD who will receive training and mentoring by young adult leaders also with I/DD. This initiative will help them understand healthcare transition, advocacy, and self-determination.

For more information or to apply, visit the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network website.

Friday Update is the weekly newsletter of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

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