Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use |
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Last Chance to Help Shape the Future of Lucas DD! Lucas DD is asking customers, partners, and stakeholders in the community — individuals served, families, providers, school districts, community partners, any Lucas County taxpayer — to provide us feedback about the Board. If you have already taken the survey, thank you for your input. Your anonymous responses will be used to support the development of our new Strategic Plan. The survey closes on Wednesday! Please take a few minutes to answer 5 quick questions. Your responses are completely anonymous. |
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SALUTE Storytellers Summer Workshop continues Monday Learn to write and perform impactful and entertaining stories of self-advocacy and personal growth for a wide audience. Summer workshop is on Mondays from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. (on SALUTE meeting evenings, the workshop ends at 5:30 p.m.) and continues through July 8, ending with a performance in front of a live audience on Saturday, July 13. This workshop is facilitated by Becca Monteleone, PhD, Assistant Professor of Disability Studies, University of Toledo. Questions? Contact Deetra Kelly at 419-380-5141 or dkelly@lucasdd.org SALUTE Monthly Meeting Monday The Lucas DD SALUTE self-advocacy group will hold its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 13 inside the Larc Lane Training Center on our South Toledo campus. May's featured speaker is Erica Harris from the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She will be talking about preparedness during emergencies and disasters. Beginner's Tennis Clinic Starts Tuesday; Registration ends Sunday Have you ever wanted to try tennis? This is your chance! Lucas County Special Olympics is having a 4-week beginners' clinic just for athletes who are new to tennis. The sessions start Tuesday and run for 4 weeks. Dates are May 14, 21, 28 and June 4, and will be from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. If you have a tennis racket, please bring it. Please do not skip practices for other sports to participate! If you are interested, please click here or the title above to learn more and/or register. Act soon, deadline to register is Sunday, May 12! If you have any questions, please reach out to Sherrie Hathaway at 419-380-4021. Common Ground Social Group Tuesday 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, May 14 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at our Larc Lane campus (Training Room). Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree. Wealth & Wisdom Wednesday This free class is presented by Lucas DD as part of our Wealth and Wisdom series. The topic on May 15 is SSI. You may attend in person or virtually. In-person attendees are offered a free dinner at 5:30 p.m. The presentation/zoom begins at 6 p.m. Click here to join the zoom meeting, or copy/paste: https://lucasdd-org.zoom.us/j/86538139753 Attendees can also receive 2.0 hours of DODD continuing education credits. Questions? Email us: wealthandwisdom@lucasdd.org. Family Ties Thursday Lucas DD's Parent Support Group, Family Ties, is having their next meeting on May 16 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 helps families make connections and 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. Bike Day at Outdoor Expo next Saturday Visit Lucas DD's bike safety station as part of the Metroparks Toledo Outdoor Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 18! Click here for more information about the Outdoor Expo. Options for Tomorrow Sessions May 20 and 22 Did you know that Lucas DD has a program directly addressing future care planning for families and individuals with disabilities? It is called Options for Tomorrow. Register for this free presentation to be proactive in planning for emergencies and future care for loved ones with special needs. Get priceless peace of mind that your loved one will be cared for according to your standards. You can select from two presentation times, May 20, 9:30 - 11 a.m.: Click here to register, or May 22, 5:30 - 7 p.m.: Click here to register. |
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TARTA Youth Summer Blast Pass application is open The Youth Summer Blast Pass is intended to help youth aged from 6-19 find independence and allow them to learn how to travel throughout the city. The YSBP is good for unlimited rides on TARTA services from June 1 - August 31 – including fixed route buses, TARTA Flex microtransit and TARPS paratransit – during the summer months. TARTA has both digital and physical passes available for use. Registration Open for DODD's FAC & DC Joint Meeting Family Advisory Council (FAC) and Disability Connect (DC) meetings take place regularly and are an opportunity for people with disabilities and family members to connect directly with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Presentations with valuable information and updates will be provided from different divisions and DODD leadership. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 12, participants will engage in activities to provide feedback and cultivate a community of connections. Space is limited! Click here to attend in person (limited space/lunch provided). Click here to register for the virtual experience. Lucas County Lightning Unified Golf League Registration Opens Lucas County Special Olympics is offering unified golf! Athletes golf 9 holes with a unified partner in an alternating shot format. All golfers must possess the basic skills to play a round of golf, including golf etiquette. SO staff will assign teams to two different courses. Practices on Monday begin June 17; times and locations will be announced once registration closes on May 27. Do you know someone who is interested in being a unified partner? Please contact Kelley Watson at 419.380.5109. Early Intervention Summer Playgroups start in a few weeks! The Lucas DD Early Intervention team is pre-registering families for their inclusive Summer Playgroup series. The dates are June 5 at the Toledo Botanical Gardens, June 24 at the Zoo, July 10 at Side Cut Metropark, July 31 at Glass City Metropark, and August 12 at Sylvania Playland. Playgroups are ideal for those up to 6 years old, but ALL ages and abilities are welcome to attend. Those who pre-register and check-in with staff upon arrival will be entered to win fun prizes. Spectrum Sailing Registration is Open Join Spectrum Sailing for a FREE 3-day sailing camp, June 11-13! 20 autistic children (ages 10-17 years old) will have the opportunity to attend and learn how to sail. These camps provide opportunities for skill development, social interaction, and confidence building. Sailors will learn knots, parts of the boat, why the boat sails, and most importantly, how to sail! Space is limited and registration is required. 10th Annual CommUNITY Film Fest Accepting Entries The deadline to submit your film to be featured in the CommUNITY Film Fest is fast approaching! Entry deadline is May 31. Movies can be up to 5 minutes long and most individuals shoot films on their phone or tablet. The 10th annual CommUNITY Film Fest is scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Maumee Indoor Theater! SALUTE Seeks Artists for Disability Pride Event in July In conjunction with the SALUTE Storytellers event, SALUTE is looking for artists with disabilities who would like to display their art and tell stories about their art. This event will be on Saturday, July 13. Artists will not be selling their items but can provide their contact information if people are interested in purchasing. Please reach out to Deetra Kelly at 419-380-5141 or dkelly@lucasdd.org if you would like to participate. |
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Bittersweet in Bloom is Today Need flowers or special gifts? Join Bittersweet for their free pop-up spring shopping event today from 4 - 8 p.m.! You'll find hanging baskets, seedlings, potted plants, spring and Mother's Day gifts, and more! Remote Supports in Action Training Monday In January, DODD issued guidance concerning the remote support service. This free training, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on May 13, will take a deeper dive into the guidance and offer a Q + A session with stakeholders. To request an accommodation due to a disability, reach out to communications.team@dodd.ohio.gov. Virtual Art Workshop on Tuesday NAMI Toledo offers a virtual art workshop for adults 18+ via zoom. The next one is on May 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Supplies will be provided and delivered to your home (must be in Lucas County). To RSVP, contact Kristen Zientek at kzientek@namitoledo.org or 419-243-1119. NAMIWalks next Saturday NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They provide advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI of Greater Toledo is having their fundraising walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 18 at Middlegrounds Metropark. Contact Sarah Gross at 419.243.1119 with any questions. Spring Fling Dance next Saturday The Autism Society of Northwest Ohio invites individuals to dance the night away! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on May 18. The dance is open to those ages 16+ and caregivers are required to stay. Pizza will be served to those in attendance. Last names A-M, please bring a snack to share. Last names N-Z, please bring a dessert to share. RSVP by emailing Martha Kruez at marthakruez@aol.com with the number of people attending, including caregivers. DSAGT First Steps Baby & Toddler Group Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo is having their First Steps Baby & Toddler Group from 3 - 5 p.m. on May 19 at Sunshine Studios in Maumee. Join them for an afternoon of pottery painting! This program is designed as both an educational and social opportunity for parents with babies and toddlers who have Down syndrome. |
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2024 Inclusive Community and Specialty Programs List Have you been waiting for the Inclusive Community and Specialty Programs List? Well, it's here! Check out this 15-page document with various programs, there's sure to be something for everyone! DODD's Wellness Project Launched In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, check out DODD's Wellness Project! The Wellness Project is a collection of resources and practices to support and enhance your individual and organizational wellness and resilience. It includes a holistic system of wellness activities such as reading, listening, watching, cooking, connecting, moving, breathing, and resting. Connecting Kids to Meals Program Community partners have connected with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library to ensure that no one goes hungry. Connecting Kids to Meals provides onsite after-school meals during the school year and lunch during the summer to all youth under 18. There are no income restrictions or registration requirements to participate. Call your preferred library to verify pickup times. Play-4-All Grant Application is Open Wood County Plays understands the importance of inclusive play. That's why they've established the Play-4-All Grant, partnering with local schools to fund inclusive play equipment. No child should be hindered by their ability level when playing with their peers. Grants are available for schools Pre-K through 12. Take advantage of an opportunity to transform your school playground! Have your child's school apply for the Play-4-All Grant today and make a lasting impact and create a future where every child can play, learn, and thrive together. Deadline to apply is May 31. National Parks Accessibility Access Pass Available Discover accessible adventures with the National Park Service! The National Park Service is dedicated to accessibility, offering resources for visitors and employees with disabilities. Each park's website features an accessibility section for trip planning. Plus, the Access Pass provides lifetime access to 2,000+ federal recreation sites. Autism Guide Available Online Uncover crucial insights and debunk misconceptions about autism through "Myths & Misconceptions in the Educational Identification of Autism." This guide offers non-regulatory guidance, aiding early childhood and school-based professionals in the ASD evaluation and eligibility process. Brought to you by the Ohio Department of Education and Interagency Work Group on Autism. 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. |
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Help Celebrate Fathers Throughout Ohio Celebrate dads with DODD this June by participating in a video celebration of the dad or father figure in your life! Join people with disabilities and family members throughout Ohio in submitting a 15-to-30-second video of you sharing about the dad in your family. Videos can be recorded with your phone and included in a compilation video to be released in June. Feel free to use any form of communication (Speech, ASL, communication devices, etc.) and share information about your dad. Deadline is May 31, 2024. OCALI Seeks Video and Photo Submissions The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Center for the Young Child invites you to submit videos of your child participating in different activities. Capture mealtime, bedtime, playtime, or other daily rituals to help shed light on the incredible milestones and developmental stages that infants, toddlers, and preschoolers experience. Your footage can help provide practical, real-world examples that showcase the diverse ways in which children, of all abilities, learn and grow. TheCYC is also looking for photos of young children and their families. Whether it's capturing those heartwarming smiles, memorable family outings, or everyday moments of growth, your photos will help us create engaging resources that represent real families across Ohio. Reading Beyond High School: a survey for Individuals with DD Adults (18+) with intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to complete a brief survey about their interest in improving their reading skills as an adult (post-high school). The survey can be completed independently by the person with IDD or with support from a family member or other support person. The survey is being conducted by ElevateDD and supported by the Ohio Center on Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI). ElevateDD’s mission is to increase authentic inclusion for people with developmental disabilities by amplifying voices, supporting families, illuminating opportunities, and launching innovative solutions. Through ElevateDD’s brand, Adult Literacy Ohio, they want to hear from adults with developmental disabilities about their interests and needs related to reading. Those completing the survey who provide their contact information will be entered into a drawing for one of twenty Walmart gift cards (worth $25 each), provided by ElevateDD. The deadline to participate is May 24. Survey for Caregivers in Ohio Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are looking for caregivers to take part in a voluntary study to understand their experiences as caregivers of individuals with disabilities in Ohio. Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out the survey. |
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