Lucas Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities News You Can Use |
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10th Annual CommUNITY Film Fest is Sunday! Come see the 15 film entries submitted by our talented individuals! The CommUNITY Film Fest is a fun and FREE event open to the whole community. Enjoy the 5-minute films and see who wins what category, including the coveted Best of the Fest Award. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the show starts at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at Maumee Indoor Theater. Click here to find the latest information about the event, including parking. Family Ties on August 22 Lucas DD Family Ties is a parent connection group that regularly meets to help families build a supportive network. The next meeting is from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on August 22. Light snacks are served, and a special guest is present as a resource for parents! This month, Lucas DD Community Inclusion & Employment Manager Lori Balogh will be available to speak about upcoming inclusive events. Please email familyties@lucasdd.org with any questions, or if you need to bring your child or individual with you. Lucas DD Board Meeting August 26 The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will begin at 6 p.m. on August 26. The meeting is open to the public at Lucas DD's Larc Lane Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo. Move to the Groove at the August Rec Jam The always-popular Lucas DD Rec Jam is 7-9 p.m. Aug. 28 at Centennial Terrace in Sylvania. No registration required. See you there on the dance floor! Change the Language Training August 29 Words matter and do make a difference, not only how we say something but what we say. This training, 1-2 p.m. on Aug. 29 at Lucas DD, will focus on common words used today such as “behavior,” “biter,” “allowance,” “attention-seeking” and instead put a focus on person-centered language we can and should be using in order to respect those we work with. Andrea Jaworski, Director of Residential Services for Assured Health Services will be facilitating the training. CEUs are available. To register, email Mellisa Merritt or call 419-381-5300. |
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Lucas DD Announces Grant Funding For Adult Changing Tables Lucas DD Adult Changing Table Grants of up to $20,000 are available for Lucas County businesses interested in installing or modifying changing tables in restrooms for use by adults with developmental disabilities. “We want to continue to help foster a community where everyone feels included and valued,” said Lucas DD Superintendent Michele Myerholtz. “Our agency is thrilled to launch this grant program, which will help businesses remove barriers and expand opportunities for all residents and visitors of Lucas County." Click here to learn more and apply! Special Olympics Fall Sports Registration is now Open If you are a Special Olympics athlete over the age of 16, you should have the latest Lucas County Lightning newsletter in your inbox! Click here to see the newsletter. You'll find information about the signups for Football (Flag and Unified), Powerlifting, Walking Group, and Healthy Athletes. Must register before August 30 to participate. TARTA Seeks Feedback on Fare System Upgrade The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has scheduled a series of public events to collect community feedback on the planned rollout of an account-based ticketing system. This fare-capping system, if approved by TARTA’s Board of Trustees, will allow customers to get the value of extended passes without paying the upfront fee. The day cap will be $3, the 7-day cap will be $15, and the 31-day cap will be $45. These events will include two in-person forums and two virtual feedback sessions. These forums will focus on the Title VI equity analyses surrounding the service changes. A virtual session will be recorded and posted on the TARTA website. Public meeting dates are: - Virtual meeting, Monday, Aug. 19, 5-6 p.m., Register at tarta.com/publicmeetings
- In-person meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6-7 p.m., Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Kent Branch, 3101 Collingwood Blvd.
- In-person meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., TARTA Transit Hub, 612 N. Huron Street, Toledo
- Virtual meeting, Friday, Aug. 23, 10-11 a.m. Register at tarta.com/publicmeetings
Free Youth Golf Clinics at First Tee First Tee has teamed up with Lucas County Special Olympics to bring young athletes two FREE golf clinics, on September 3 and 5. Space is limited, and registration is required. Click on the headline for details. Lucas DD Closed on Labor Day The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. Lucas DD is still here to support you. For emergency assistance, or to report a MUI, please contact the On-Call Service & Support Specialist at 419-380-5100. |
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Tech Fest on Tuesday in Tiffin Discover the possibilities of supportive technology at the Tech Fest event sponsored by the Clearwater Council of Government and Ohio Self Determination Association. Tech Fest, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 20, aims to educate participants on supportive technologies, promote inclusion, experience new technology innovations, help promote independence, and showcase how to overcome common barriers. This event is suitable for self-advocates, families, providers, and county boards. Accessible Ohio Feedback Forum Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) invites you to share your ideas as they continue into year two of the Accessible Ohio program. Please join them for the Accessible Ohio Feedback Forum on Wednesday, August 21 at 10 a.m. Accessible Ohio reinforces Gov. Mike DeWine’s Executive Order which established Ohio as a disability inclusion state and a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The team’s mission is to prioritize accessibility from the start, promote inclusiveness, and ensure everyone can experience Ohio in an equitable way. Accessible Ohio is a resource for Ohio’s businesses, communities, venues, attractions, and employers by providing consultations, education, and resources. To register, click here. Toledo Adaptive Dance Classes Start August 22 Toledo Ballet Adaptive Dance offers differently-abled individuals specialized adaptive dance instruction. Students reap many other important benefits, including improvement in coordination, fitness, balance, focus, listening, self-esteem, self-expression, positive social connections, rhythm, and musicality. Adaptive Dance Director and Toledo Ballet faculty member, Ann Heckler, is dedicated to creating a positive learning environment and helping each student develop his/her own self-confidence and freedom of expression. The Ability Center Family Fun Day August 24 Join The Ability Center for a day of excitement from noon - 3 p.m. on August 24. Bounce houses, bubbles, music, face painting, tree climbing, art activities, story time, snacks, a fire truck, and more will be at The Ability Center’s campus. Families with and without individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend! For questions, contact Jennifer Engelmann, Ability Center's Youth Family Services Coordinator, via email at jengelmann@abilitycenter.org or by phone at 419-885-5733. |
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OpenSpot and Inclusive Theatre This Fall At UT OpenSpot is coming back to the University of Toledo this fall! The University of Toledo (Disability Studies and Theatre and Film) is collaborating with OpenSpot Theatre for a 6-week acting workshop for adults with developmental disabilities. Work with UT students and trained facilitators to learn singing, dancing, and acting skills. The workshop ends with a performance that you will write and star in! Fall classes run Thursdays 5:30-6:30 at the UT Center for Performing Arts from Sept. 12 through Oct. 24. To learn more and sign up, visit OpenSpot’s registration page. There is a suggested class fee, but no one is turned away if they are not able to pay. Free Back-to-School Haircuts for children with DD There are free haircuts available for children with developmental disabilities on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. Supervision and transportation not provided. Appointment required, call 419-320-0758. WonderFold Special Needs Discount Program WonderFold is offering families who have a member with special needs a 25% discount on any WonderFold wagon and accessories of your choosing! Must have a licensed medical provider include a note verifying the special needs of your family member. A communication card is available to help individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing and police officers communicate with each other. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and statewide law enforcement partners developed the communication card to help individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing safely exchange information with law enforcement. The card can be downloaded onto a phone or printed and stored inside a vehicle, wallet, or purse. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can point to various pictures on the card more easily communicate with law enforcement. We Thrive Together WE THRIVE TOGETHER is an Ohio based non-profit organization. Since the beginning of the pandemic, We Thrive Together has hosted over 6,000 virtual programs including games, classes, virtual trips, advocacy training, educational presentations, arts & crafts, discussion groups, parties, and so much more. Individuals in all 88 counties in Ohio and from over 18 states, Canada, and Mexico have participated in We Thrive Together programming. Check out all the free virtual programming available to you and your friends during the day, at night, and on the weekends. Consider this your personal invitation to Talk, Laugh, Play, Sweat, Draw, Dance and Connect with awesome people and make new friends. Don’t miss out on all fun. Join individually or as a group from home, school, work, or day center — and don’t forget to invite a friend. To see a list of upcoming events click here, email us at Alyssa@WeThriveTogether.org or call us Toll Free at (866) 584-5640 |
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Lucas DD seeks Human Rights Committee Participants Lucas DD is seeking individuals, family members, guardians and/or providers to actively participate in our Human Rights Committee (HRC). Monthly HRC meetings are hybrid on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. - Members are only required to attend one HRC meeting per month. Members can attend in person at Lucas DD or online via Zoom.
- Members are provided information the week prior via email regarding individuals being presented at HRC.
- Committee members should review the provided information (OISP and Behavior Assessment) prior to HRC meeting.
Committee Members discuss how to ensure: - Individuals with developmental disabilities are supported in a caring and responsive manner that promotes dignity, respect, and trust; that they are equal citizens with the same rights and personal freedoms granted to Ohioans without developmental disabilities.
- Their services and supports are based on an understanding of the individual and the reasons for the individuals' actions
- Effort is directed at creating opportunities for individuals to exercise choice in matters affecting their everyday lives and supporting individuals to make choices that yield positive outcomes; and
- Restrictive measures are used only when necessary to keep people safe and always in conjunction with positive measures.
Individuals who receive, or are eligible to receive, specialized services receive a $50 payment per session attended! If you are interested in being part of this committee, please email Sarah Dodson. Support The Arc by Shopping at LIDS In August, The Arc is working together with Lids—in stores nationwide—to tell the story of The Arc and their mission! Click the headline to see the various ways you can help. |
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