Lucas DD Support Group for Parents with Disabilities ends next week

This 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's last gathering is on Wednesday, April 3 from 5 - 6 p.m. Have questions? Email jzydorczyk@lucasdd.org. To register, click here. To see the informational flyer, click here.

SALUTE Meeting April 8

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 April 8 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. The meeting can be attended in-person and via Zoom. They will be discussing advocacy, planning next quarter events/speakers, playing advocacy bingo, and discussing 2024 Solar Eclipse! Free and open to the community, light refreshments served. Please contact Deetra Kelly at dkelly@lucasdd.org for details.

Common Ground Social Group (18+) April 9

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, April 9 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.

Family Ties Support Group April 18

Lucas DD has a new Parent Support Group in 2024 called Family Ties! The next meeting is April 18 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Lucas DD. 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. Click here and take the survey to help determine the details about Family Ties. Light snacks will be served. If you cannot attend this meeting in person, click here to join via zoom. Please email familyties@lucasdd.org with any questions.

Board Closed today

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is closed Friday, March 29, in observance of the Spring Holiday. On-call staff are available 24/7 on our Emergency/After Hours line at 419-380-5100.

Toledo is coming closer to being a Certified Autism Destination

Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) became the first transit agency department in Ohio to become a Certified Autism Center. It's a part of a goal to make Toledo more autism friendly. TARTA is making sure all 275 staff undergo autism-specific courses to offer more accommodating services. Click here to read more.



Nationwide Arena unveils new room for guests with sensory needs

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena unveiled a new room for guests with sensory challenges. The Safelite Safe Spot is designed for individuals who experience difficulties processing sensory information — including those with autism, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other similar conditions. Click here to learn more.

Bowling Green Curling Club makes the ice inclusive to everyone

The Bowling Green Curling Club provides those with a variety of physical abilities to curl. They were privileged to have Team USA Wheelchair curler Laura Dwyer visit the club to educate on wheelchair inclusive practices. Click here to learn more.

Severe Weather Information

The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness has provided information about being prepared for emergencies here. Need help building an emergency kit? An easy-to-use checklist can be found here.

Easy-to-read materials about tornados, floods, and other types of severe weather can be found here: 

·    National Weather Service Lightening Safety Easy Read Document

·    National Weather Service Tornado Safety Easy Read Document

·    National Weather Service Flood Safety Easy Read Document

Innovation Series 2024 Kicks Off April 3

The 2024 Innovation Series begins Wednesday, April 3. DODD's Quality and Innovation Office team has partnered with OSDA leaders and OCALI to facilitate the series centered on, “A Day in the Life: Amplifying Voices, Building a More Inclusive Tomorrow.” The virtual series sessions will offer practical strategies on:

• Integrated Support  
• Person-Centered Outcomes  
• Community Building  
• Relationships  
• Employment Opportunities   

The series topics will build toward an in-person summit on May 29 in Central Ohio honoring the stories – including yours – that inspire action. Click here for more information.

The Ability Center Career & Resource Fair April 6

Come to the Ability Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 6 for a Career and Resource Fair. The goal of this event is to be all-inclusive of ages and abilities, meeting every person where they are in life – whether it's college exploration, gaining job experience, volunteering, and more! It is an opportunity to explore employment and volunteer opportunities, college information, accessibility services, and local support resources. Click here to reserve your spot.

Toledo TOPSoccer April 7

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 from 2 - 3 p.m. on April 7. Registration required. Click here for more information and to register. If you have any questions, please email toledotopsoccer@gmail.com.

'Un'Sunshine Solar Eclipse Watch Party April 8

Join Sunshine Communities from 1 - 4 p.m. on April 8th as they become “Un”Sunshine while celebrating a total solar eclipse. Take part in the “Un”Sunshine on their beautiful Maumee campus and enjoy the festivities. Food trucks, music, free eclipse sunglasses, science activities, games, and more! Click here to visit the event website.

Game Night with People First on April 12

People First of Toledo is having a game night! They'll have board games, card games, yard games, air hockey, or bring your own favorite game to play that! Please RSVP to quinnt@ccsohio.org. Click here to see more details.

Free Eclipse Glasses

Get ready for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, by ordering your free eclipse glasses from the library! The glasses are from StarNET/SEAL and the Astronomical League and meet the safety requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Must be picked up within 24 hours (no delivery). While supplies last. Limit four pairs per order. Click here to complete the form.

A Mother's Rest

A Mother's Rest is a 501c3 charitable foundation which coordinates therapeutic respite retreats exclusively for caregivers who have loved ones with disabilities and/or chronic medical conditions. These 3-night B&B retreats are held at B&B "Porch Partners" nationwide. Click here to learn more.

Challenged Athletes Foundation

It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence, and enhances quality of life. They provide funding grants for equipment such as sports wheelchairs, handcycles, mono skis and sports prosthetics, and resources for training and competition expenses directly to physically challenged individuals. Click here to learn more.

Community Fund Ohio

Community Fund Ohio is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization that enhances life for Ohio residents with disabilities by protecting their eligibility for government benefits and funding their current and future needs through pooled special needs trusts, grants, community education, and related services. They provide a few different types of grants to individuals in Ohio. Click here to learn more.

CARE Foundation

CARE Foundation is an organization devoted to improving the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. CARE Foundation provides ABA therapy for children with autism and other form of developmental disabilities. Click here to learn more.

Lucas DD Parent Support

To learn about additional grants and funding resources such as the ones above, please reach out to Tammy Eisenreich at teisenreich@lucasdd.org or 419-356-3824.

Help Shape the Future of Lucas DD!

As we begin to develop our new 3-year Strategic Plan, we are reaching out to key customers, partners and stakeholders to provide us with valuable information that will be used by our Strategic Planning Team to help shape the future of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 

Please take a few minutes to answer these 5 quick questions, which you can access by clicking this link or scanning the QR code. Your responses will be completely anonymous.

Thank you in advance for providing us this critical information that will help shape the future of Lucas DD.

Local Podcast Seeks Individuals to Tell Their Stories

The podcast, Telling It Our Way, is looking for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to share their stories about family, work, advocacy, and more. The podcast is part of WGTE's "Voices Around Us" Podcast Series. Recordings start in April. Please email Ally Day or Becca Monteleone if you are interested in learning more. Click here to listen to Season 1 episodes.

DODD Survey

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is currently gathering feedback from people who receive services or work within Ohio's developmental disability services and supports system. DODD wants your input as it relates to the entire DD services and supports system, as well as the specific role of DODD within the system. Click here to take the survey. Please complete the survey by April 4, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Blick at Rachel.Blick@dodd.ohio.gov.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requests public comments

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) is proposing to strengthen its rule implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to address the serious problems that individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs and scooters face when traveling by air that impact their safety and dignity, including mishandled wheelchairs and scooters and improper transfers to and from aircraft seats, aisle chairs, and personal wheelchairs. Click here to read more and/or submit your comments. Deadline is May 13.

Call for Artists! Disabled Women Make History (And Art)

Disability EmpowHer Network and the Toledo Museum of Art are proud to host “Disabled Women Make History (and Art)” a workshop and art show celebrating disabled women on June 15, 2024! Women with disabilities are invited to submit their art for consideration to be displayed as part of this unique event. We will select a total of 20 artists. Artists selected will be invited to display their work at this event and receive admission to two exclusive workshops to enhance their skills in marketing themselves and their artwork. Preference will be given to artists currently residing in Ohio, NE Indiana, and SE Michigan. Artists of all ages and skill levels and encouraged to apply. Deadline for submissions is April 14. Click here to learn more.

Greater Toledo Challenger Little League Needs Additional Coach

The Greater Toledo Challenger Little League is very excited to have so many interested players this year! Between the returning players and all of the new players that have signed up, they could use another coach for an adult team. Please email glanning@nbls.org if interested or for more information! To learn more about the league, click here.