Next Best Buddies Meetup Today

The first Best Buddies meeting was a huge success! A large number of University of Toledo students attended, so registration for individuals has been extended. Click here to register (ages 18+) so you can attend the next meetup from 4 - 6 p.m. on Oct. 18, when they'll have the opportunity to participate in go-carting! Email Deetra Kelly if you have any questions.

Goodwill Donation Drive is Sunday and Monday!

Clean out your closets and then head to Goodwill this Sunday and/or Monday! Donating to any NW Ohio Goodwill on October 20-21 and mentioning Lucas DD will result in a voucher for one of our individuals to use at Goodwill! 

Halloween Rec Jam is Wednesday!

Good tunes and great times while in costumes, it doesn't get much better than that! This event is for ages 18+ from 7 - 9 p.m. on Oct. 24. No concessions (feel free to bring your own snacks). Registration not required. See you there!

Board Meeting on Monday, Oct. 28

The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28. It is open to the public at Lucas DD's Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane (Entrance O) in Toledo.

Tech Room Open House on Oct. 31

There's nothing spooky about technology! If you are curious about how technology can help you or your loved ones, then you are in luck! Join Lucas DD's tech team for their monthly drop-in event from 2-3 p.m. on Oct. 31. 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.



Halloween Happenings!

We are halfway through October and there are many more Halloween celebrations happening in our area. To learn more about the inclusive events featured below, just click on the picture, if you dare!

Lucas County Lightning Chuck-a-Puck Fundraiser!

Lucas County Lightning is once again selling tickets to a Toledo Walleye Hockey game. These tickets ($20 each) are for Nov. 2, Saturday of Opening Weekend!

For this fundraiser, we must sell 100 tickets to the game so we can sell pucks to “chuck” onto the ice for a chance to win prizes during the game. To purchase tickets for this game that will likely sell out, you must have a check or cash (exact amount), and contact Kelley Watson at kwatson@lucasdd.org or call/text 419.380.5109 to make arrangements. To purchase pucks, please find us at the game on Nov. 2! 

2nd Annual Snowy Social Registration is Open!

Lucas DD's Early Intervention department is having their second annual Snowy Social, a celebration of all things snowy and hands-on! This inclusive, family-friendly event is geared towards children 6 and under. It is free and open to the community! All abilities are welcome. Due to the amount of interest and the space available, this year there will be TWO sessions on December 10, from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Register for this event to reserve your spot and have a chance to win a Kroger gift card! (Participants can attend one or the other, not both.)

The Death Deck Program Registration is Open

What is the Death Deck? The Death Deck offers up thought-provoking questions with a large dose of humor to help take the taboo out of the topic of death. At the completion of this program, 100% of learners will be able to identify and navigate barriers to initiating and facilitating conversations about death and dying. Presented by Lisa Pahl, LCSW, APHSW-C, Co-creator of The Death Deck. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend! Two CEs are available for nurses, social workers and counselors. To register for this FREE program, please email Mary Davis by Monday, November 4.

Lucas DD's Transition Fair Registration is Open

The 2024 Transition Fair will be at St. Lukes Auditorium from 5 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13. You'll find information about guardianship, graduation requirements, money management, and more. There will be speakers and vendors related to transition-age youth. The focus is families with individuals over 16, but truly anyone who is thinking about the future for their child is welcome to attend!

Autism Social Event at Imagination Station on Sunday

Join Imagination Station for an Autism Family Support Group event, an inclusive social opportunity where individuals identified with ASD and their families can enjoy the science center and learn together. From 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 20, explore the exhibits, engage in hands-on activities and watch a sensory-friendly film in the KeyBank Discovery Theater. Admission is $5 (free for members). Advance registration required (even for members). 

TOPSoccer on Sunday

US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local U.S. Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. The next free session is 2-3 p.m. on Oct. 20. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. They have a new registration program. Click headline for details.

People First Halloween Party Oct. 25

People First of Toledo is having their annual Halloween Party from 6 - 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Courageous Acres. There will be snacks, games, music, a costume contest, and more! Remember to RSVP if you plan on attending.

Trail of Terror at The Ability Center Oct. 25

The Ability Center has something spooky brewing! Join them for their Trail of Terror from 8 - 10 p.m. on Oct. 25! This FREE, public event will include a haunted trail full of frightful scenes, spooky sounds, special effects and MORE! Please note that while this event is designed for teens and adult that individuals of all ages are welcome to attend. Click on headline for additional details and RSVP information.

Sibshops on Oct. 26

Does your child with special needs have a sibling, aged 8-16 years old? This free group is just for them! Sibshops provide young brothers and sisters with peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting. The next meeting is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 26 at 3939 Wrenwood Rd, Toledo. To register, click here.

Manahan Halloween Dance Oct. 26

Manahan is hosting a Halloween party from 6:30 - 8 p.m. on Oct. 26. Must RSVP by today, and the cost is $10 per individual (staff are free).

12th Annual Autism Walk Oct. 27

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 is held at the Franklin Park Mall and features family-friendly activities for children, plus access to local autism and other service-based organizations. Day of registration and fun activities begin at 9 a.m. The walk begins promptly at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27.

Carpe Diem Epilepsy Walk-Run Nov. 3

Join the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio at their Carpe Diem Epilepsy Walk-Run from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on Nov. 3 at Swan Creek Metropark! This is a 5k run and a 3k walk to benefit the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio. All participants will get a t-shirt. Runners will also get a chip and bracelet. The RUN starts at 8:30am and the WALK will start at 9:00am. Well-behaved, vaccinated, leashed dogs may attend. Responsibility for the animal and its behavior is the owners.

2024 Fall iPad Grant Application Form

This grant is a collaboration between the iTaalk Autism Foundation and Parker's Purpose. If you are interested in applying for a free iPad, please start your registration process by clicking here to complete the Grant Application Form. The Grant Application will be eligible only if all required form fields have been completed and required documents provided. You will receive a response that your application has been accepted. All recipients of devices will be notified by November 15, 2024.

Secondary Trauma & Post Trauma Growth

Join Promedica for a 1-hour virtual session, from 9 - 10 a.m. on Nov. 19, that covers the differences between Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout. Presented by ProMedica’s EAP program, strategies are identified to avoid compassion fatigue and burnout. The session ends in how to grow and identify tools for your personal use. 1 hour CE credits for DODD SSA, IA and EI, Social Workers and Counselors. Providers will earn 1 hour of components of quality care. To register, email Danielle Russell at drussell@lucasdd.org.  

Jiselle Lauren Foundation

The Jiselle Lauren Foundation exists to provide financial support and a sense of community to as many children and their families as possible, regardless of disability or diagnosis. Through generous donations and giving efforts, they are able to provide financial support to children and their families that allows them access to therapies, medical care, devices, equipment, transportation, and many other resources. They are accepting applications for grants now through October 31.

Halloween Communication Board

Download and use a communication board during trick-or-treating events or at fall parties! Additional helpful DODD communication boards here.

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.

Public Input Survey from the Ohio DD Council

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council's work is guided by its Five-Year State Plan, which is developed based on input from individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), their family members, and community stakeholders throughout the state. Currently, the Council is in the early stages of developing its next Five-Year State Plan for 2027-2031, with the first step being to gather public input through a survey. By participating in the survey, individuals can help focus on the issues that matter most to them and their communities. Their voices are essential to improving independence, productivity, and inclusion for Ohioans with DD. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Somali, and will be open now through December 31. Participants can use the links below to take part:

·   English

·   Spanish

·   Somali

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.