Friday Update: September 20, 2024

Board Meeting on Monday

The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is 5 p.m. Sept. 23. It is open to the public at Lucas DD's Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo.

Tech Room Open House on Thursday

If you are curious about how technology can help you, then you are in luck! Join Lucas DD's tech team for their second drop-in event from 2-3 p.m. on Sept. 26. Ask questions, try out various tech tools, and figure out if technology can help you live your best life. Free and open to individuals, staff, providers, families, and anyone with an interest in assistive technology. Any questions or want to come at a different time? Just reach out to our tech team at technology@lucasdd.org.

Common Ground Oct. 8

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 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at our Larc Lane Training Center. Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

Lucas DD Trunk or Treat on Oct. 15

Get your costume ready for Lucas DD's Trunk or Treat! This is a free community event; all abilities are welcome! No registration required. We will see you on our campus at 5:30 p.m. on October 15.

Help Us Bring the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games To Cleveland!

Cleveland is known as "The Land."

Ohio is known as "The Heart of it All."

The Special Olympics is known for "The Flame of Hope" as well as the heart of these incredible, inspirational athletes.

Help the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Special Olympics Ohio and Destination Cleveland as they prepare a bid to host the largest inclusive sports event in that city's history. The USA Games, held every 4 years, bring over 5,500 athletes and coaches from around the country, as well as more than 125,000 family members and attendees. The bid committee needs our help to bring this important, inclusive event to Cleveland. Be a part of...

• The Land of Hope
• The Land of Heart
• The Land of Heroes
• The Land of the Special Olympics 2030

We can’t do it without you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your colleagues. We need your help! To make Cleveland’s application as strong as possible, we need to demonstrate community support for having the event here.

Please click the above link to sign the petition to support Cleveland’s bid!

October's Super Saturday Dance Registration is Open

Five Lakes Church's Super Saturday Dance is back! This dance is just for individuals with special needs and their caregivers, who must be present. The Super Saturday Dance at Five Lakes Church is a time for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to enjoy an evening of music, friends, and food. Whether you prefer to wear a tie, a dress, or your favorite jeans and T-shirt, come enjoy an optional Bible study at 6:15 and then a light dinner and dancing from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 12. Registration is now required!

12th Annual Autism Walk Registration is Open

The Autism Walk is the premier autism awareness event in Northwest Ohio and the primary fundraiser for the Autism Society of Northwest Ohio. The walk features family-friendly activities for children and access to local autism and other service-based organizations.

Every dollar raised at the event stays right here in the community to help the Autism Society of Northwest Ohio provide support, education, and advocacy to individuals, families, and professionals that work tirelessly to support individuals with autism. Their service area includes Lucas, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, and Wood counties. Day of registration and family-friendly activities begin at 9 a.m. The walk will begin promptly at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27.

Sensory-Friendly Morning is tomorrow at the NMGL

The National Museum of the Great Lakes offers an inclusive and serene environment for families and individuals with sensory sensitivities to explore and enjoy their exhibits during Sensory Friendly Mornings! During Sensory Friendly Mornings, visitors can expect: Limited crowds to ensure a peaceful visit, dim lighting for a calming ambiance, and reduced or eliminated exhibit sounds to minimize auditory stimulation. The next Sensory Friendly Morning is 9-10 a.m. Sept. 21.

Storytime Art Class with DSAGT on Sunday

Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo has teamed up with Create: Art Studio + Workshop to bring you Storytime Art! Join retired teacher Deb Fork each month for a 30-to-45-minute class of art and stories! Mrs. Fork will bring each book to life as she reads to the class and then leads them in an art project inspired by each book. This program is recommended for elementary-aged students. The first session begins at 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

Phoenix Residential Talent Show on Tuesday

Join Phoenix Residential for a heartwarming evening of talent and inspiration on Sept. 24 at the Maumee Indoor Theater! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Free admission - click on the headline to reserve your spot.

Charting the LifeCourse: Two Zoom Sessions on Wednesday

Join The Center for Disability Empowerment for an empowering training! The Center for Disability Empowerment proudly presents: Charting the LifeCourse: 3 Essential Tools Training for Ohio Parents & Professionals of Students with Developmental Disabilities. Don't miss this dynamic virtual session, which is an amazing opportunity to gain practical skills and insights that can transform lives! There are two sessions to choose from, offering the same content. Click on the headline for details and to register.

Fall 2024 Grants List

Looking for grants to help out with some costs? Click on the headline to find an extensive list of various opportunities to apply for grants. Reach out to Lucas DD's Tammy Eisenreich if you would like assistance with applications.

Grants Available for Lucas County Businesses!

Lucas DD is offering grants of up to $20,000 to help local businesses create more inclusive restrooms! Adult Changing Table Grants were established to award Lucas County businesses/agencies the opportunity to develop inclusive spaces with the ability to install or modify changing tables in restrooms for all individuals. Application deadline is Oct. 31. Click the link above to learn more and apply! 

Adult Day Grants Application Deadline is Oct. 31

The third and final cycle of the 2024 Lucas DD Adult Day Grant application is underway! The goal of the grants, of up to $10,000, is to help fund technologies or programs that expand or enhance Adult Day or Employment services, promote community integration and community employment, and/or helps people achieve their goals related to Adult Day/Employment services & supports. 

Polling Place Accessibility Audit Toolkits Available

Despite federal laws that require polling places to be accessible; voters with disabilities continue to experience barriers on election day. In 2016, the Government Accountability Office found that 60 percent of polling places had at least one problem that made them inaccessible.

One way to improve election accessibility is to conduct accessibility audits of polling places in your community on election day. Accessibility audits can be a huge undertaking, which is why the National Polling Access Audit Coalition has created a toolkit to support your work.

Telepsychiatry and Second Opinion Services Available

Ohio's Telepsychiatry Project and Second Opinion Psychiatric Assessment programs are still accepting referrals for youth and adults with Medicaid across all 88 counties. Telepsychiatry offers medication management for adults or youth with co-occurring mental illness/developmental disabilities. Second Opinion Psychiatric Assessment provides consultation for teams working with youth and adults with complex behavioral health needs. Questions? Email Miranda Coffee at miranda.coffee@accessoh.net.

UNITED WAY 211 RESOURCES

Emily Matthews, 211 Program Manager for Toledo Area 211 will be conducting a 1-hour informational and training session at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 at the Larc Lane Center, about United Way 211, a free information and referral service available to anyone in Lucas, Ottawa or Wood counties with a health or human service need. United Way 211 has a database of thousands of different health and human service resources for residents of Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties. Assistance in the areas of Food, Housing and Utility Assistance; Employment Services; Childcare; Healthcare; Legal Services; Veteran Services; and Tax Preparation are available. Please register by contacting Danielle Russell through the link or call her at 419-380-5132. CEUs available for Adult Services, SSA, EI, IA, CB and Superintendent.

Lucas DD is looking for some trunks with treats!

Sign up to decorate your trunk and hand out treats to all the Trunk & Treaters on Oct. 15! Email Lori Balogh to sign up.

Inclusive Haunted Trail Needs Volunteers

S.O.A.R., the Christ United Methodist Church of Oregon, and Friends of Maumee Bay State Park are working together on an Inclusive Haunted Trail fundraiser at Maumee Bay State Park. The event, 5:30-10 p.m. on Oct 11, and again on Oct.12, is aimed at bringing the community together to support individuals with disabilities and have a lot of fun. There will be a sensory-friendly trail from 6-7 p.m. on both days. The group is looking for clubs or organizations to adopt a section of the trail that they'd like to decorate as a scary scene. Prizes will be awarded for the top vote getters. Click on the link above for more info, or email jeanb@soarllc.org or call/text 419-461-7366.

Ohio Family Resource Network Survey

This survey will help the Ohio Family Resource Network better understand the experience of families and community partners as they connect with the Ohio Family Network organizations. Family Networks help connect families who have family members with disabilities, so they feel less isolated and better supported. They encourage families to have high expectations for their family members with disabilities and envision bright futures where they are active community members. They also work within local communities to help community resources better welcome and support all families.

Help Lucas County Commissioners Develop a Strategic Plan

The Board of Lucas County Commissioners is developing a strategic plan to help guide how they provide services to Lucas County residents. Let your voice be heard! Help them map out the future of public service by completing a confidential survey that will shape priorities, investments, and projects. This is your chance to help lay out an inclusive Lucas County that works for you and your family. Take the survey today!

Participants Needed for OSU Remote Support Survey

When someone uses technology to support a person from a distance, we call that remote support. Are you using Remote Support Services and have you used it for at least 1 year? If so, you may qualify to participate in a study and be compensated for it. Click the link above for more information, and help Ohio State researchers better understand the impact of remote support services.