Friday Update: July 19, 2024

The 5th Annual LCSO Golf Scramble is next Saturday!

Grab your team and your golf clubs and get ready for some fun that directly benefits Lucas County Special Olympics! The 5th annual golf scramble is Saturday, July 27. Business sponsorship opportunities are also available. Click the headline for more details!

The next EI Summer Playgroup is July 31!

Lucas DD's Early Intervention team welcomes everyone to the remaining inclusive Summer Playgroups. Playgroups are ideal for those up to 6 years old, but ALL ages and abilities are welcome to attend. Parents are encouraged to connect as well. Register and check-in with staff upon arrival for a chance to win fun prizes! Remaining dates, from 10 a.m. to noon are:

• July 31 at Glass City Metropark,
• August 12 at Side Cut Metropark*.

*Please note the location of our August 12 playgroup was changed due to the number of pre-registrations.

Project STIR is coming to Toledo!

Project STIR is a training program for self-advocates designed to provide people with disabilities with the tools to advocate for themselves, work with others in advocacy and gain leadership experiences. This FREE training (for ages 16+ only) takes place August 7 - 9 in Toledo. Registrants must attend all 3 days.

Supervision is not included; it is recommended that individuals attend with an ally. Registration required; space is limited. Once registration has closed, all details will be forwarded to the participants.

New Inclusive Playground at Ottawa Park

Last Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to unveil a new $1 million inclusive playground at Ottawa Park. The playground includes equipment that can be used by people with disabilities, as well as a model of the Anthony Wayne Bridge and a Jeep replica.

August Rec Jam scheduled

The August Rec Jam has been scheduled for August 28 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Centennial Terrace. No registration required. We hope to see you there!

UBS PREVENTION PLAN TRAINING VIDEOS

Effective MUI and UI prevention plans are critical to minimize the risk of reoccurrence and prevent injuries. The use of unapproved behavioral supports, especially physical restraint, places those we serve and others at increased risk for injury, trauma and even death. Dr. Sorg, Medical Director for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, recently completed a short 3-part training series on physical restraint. These quick videos review the history, consequences and alternatives to physical restraint and specifically review the ban on prone restraints. These informational videos make an excellent addition to any training catalogue and can be utilized as part of an effective prevention plan for UBS incidents.  

Disability Inclusion Webinar Schedule

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) recently announced the second half of its 2024 webinar series to help employers support disability inclusion in the workplace. The webinars align with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Executive Order 2019-03D, establishing Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. The monthly webinars correspond with OOD's Inclusive Employer Toolkit and the Governor's Inclusive Employer Award criteria, providing practical steps and strategies for creating inclusive workplaces.

Social Security to Simplify Disability Evaluation Process

In response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government, the Social Security Administration is proud to announce changes that will reduce administrative burdens for applicants and help more people with disabilities receive government benefits and services if they are eligible. On April 18, 2024, Social Security published a final rule, “Intermediate Improvement to the Disability Adjudication Process, Including How We Consider Past Work.”

Special Needs Free Beach Party

Getaway Bay in Milan, Michigan is hosting their third annual special needs day on Thursday, July 25! Come enjoy the day with your family without having to worry about the public crowd. Free admission and food for all. Donations welcomed! Registration required. Please call 313-732-8424 or email matt@migetawaybay.com with questions.

Mud Hens Field of Dreams Special Needs Camp July 26

The Mud Hens are holding a camp on July 26 just for boys and girls ages 5 and up with special needs. Price is $30 / camper (adult chaperone is required to be in attendance with each camper.) The camp will feature three simultaneous games on the field with Mud Hens players. Each camper will have the opportunity to bat at least once at home plate complete with an introduction on the PA system and a live shot on the videoboard! All participants will receive a souvenir Mud Hens baseball + two (2) ticket vouchers to a Mud Hens game during the 2024 season.

Virtual Disability Pride "Parade" July 26

Make a statement and join Easterseals for their virtual disability pride parade on the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! To join, use the hashtag #VirtualDisabilityParade on July 26. Create a virtual 'sign' that shows your pride and share with them using the hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They will feature signs throughout the day!

Or you can grab some of the "signs" by clicking the headline above! Be sure to caption them when you post.

Other ways you can participate under the #VirtualDisabilityParade hashtag:

• share why you have disability pride
• share a photo or video
• share stories showing the positive difference people with disabilities are making in people's lives.

Free Autism Masterclass for parents of younger children

Children with autism can face challenges in toilet training due to sensory sensitivities, developmental readiness, and resistance to change. In this talk, Dr. Rick of the P.L.A.Y. Project, draws from extensive research, clinical literature, and decades of experience, to present a systematic, developmentally sensitive, and practical six-step approach to supporting children on the spectrum in transitioning to independent toileting. Register for this webinar/Masterclass to have free access to the prerecorded webinar content from July 1 - August 2. Then join Dr. Rick for a MasterClass over Zoom on July 30 to delve even deeper into the subject matter.

Lucas DD Adult Day Program Grants

The next cycle of the 2024 Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities Adult Day Grant application process ends on July 31! 

Funding is capped at $50,000 for each grant cycle, not to exceed $10,000 per award. Awarded funds will be distributed directly from the Lucas County DD ADA Grant Fund.

The goal of the grants is to help fund technologies and/or programs that expand and/or enhance Adult Day and/or Employment services, promote community integration and community employment, and/or helps people achieve their goals related to Adult Day/Employment services & supports. 

We Are Brave Together

The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire, and validate all moms of children with disabilities through their unique and difficult caregiving journeys. To be a caregiving mom is to be a mother who cares for any child or adult child with any type of challenge: medical, mental, behavioral, genetic, developmental, psychiatric, learning, cognitive, or physical. The We Are Brave Together community is woven with one common thread; we are here to support and strengthen one another. Every caregiving mom leaves a Brave Together retreat, gathering, workshop, support group or online event feeling both recharged and empowered. Your story matters, and you are not alone.

Lori's Voice

Lori's Voice mission is to provide financial assistance for families who are unable to afford adaptive equipment, travel, therapy and other items that are not [fully] covered by insurance or other organizations. Vehicle assistance is limited to Michigan residents.

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.

Board Vacancy at Preferred Properties

Preferred Properties, Inc. has a current vacancy on its 9-member Board of Directors. The not-for-profit focuses on creating housing opportunities through a variety of housing programs for persons with developmental disabilities. Its goal is to develop housing in such a way that persons living with disabilities are effectively integrated into communities and neighborhoods. Learn more at p2housing.org, and if you are interested in being a part of the Board, please email cwilson@preferred-properties.org.

Support OOD's Business Enterprise Program

Did you know that if you stop at any Ohio Department of Transportation rest areas and purchase an item from the vending machines, you are supporting small business owners participating in our Business Enterprise Program? The program provides Ohioans who are legally blind entrepreneurial career opportunities in food service management. Click here to learn more.

Support Toledo on Track

Interested in supporting the FRA's select proposed passenger rail corridor from Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA, and help improve the personal mobility and independence of Americans with disabilities? Then consider signing the petition to show your support for the development of the FRA's Selected Proposed Preferred Long Distance passenger rail corridor!