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 Thursday

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.

SALUTE Meeting Nov. 11

SALUTE is… A self-advocacy group for those served by the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD). Meetings are the second Monday each month and typically include refreshments as well as a speaker. November's meeting is 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 and the speaker is Jane Meyer, LSW, Lucas DD Provider Support Specialist & PATH Coordinator. The topic is Human Trafficking 101 and there will be a Q & A opportunity. The meetings can be attended in-person and via Zoom.

Common Ground Nov. 12

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather together and build lasting, sustainable friendships and connections. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at our Larc Lane campus (Training Room). Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

Lucas DD's Transition Fair is Nov. 13

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!

Lucas DD Board of Directors Opening

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is seeking applicants to join its Board of Directors. Must be a Lucas County resident with a passion for the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Preference for those with a background in business management, finance, law, health care, personnel administration, or government service. The 4-year term begins Jan. 1, 2025 and ends Dec. 31, 2028. The 7-person Board is required to have at least two individuals who are eligible for services provided by the county board or are immediate family members of such individuals. Whenever possible, the appointing authority shall ensure that one of those two members is an individual eligible for adult services or an immediate family member of an individual eligible for adult services and the other is an immediate family member of an individual eligible for early intervention services or services for preschool or school-age children. Application deadline is Nov. 11, 2024. Interested applicants must fill out the county's Application for a Public Volunteer Committee, Board, or Agency Appointment Form and submit it with a resume via email to jlrichmond@co.lucas.oh.us or via mail to Justin Richmond, Board of Lucas County Commissioners, One Government Center, Suite 800, Toledo, OH 43604.

Ohio's peer mentorship project seeks mentees

The Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council's Peer Mentorship Project is seeking people with disabilities to join as mentees. The program is designed to connect people with disabilities across Ohio, offering support, encouragement, and guidance through trained peer mentors. Mentors will help mentees better understand their disabilities, develop self-advocacy skills, and create meaningful connections.

Mentees — anyone age 18 or older with a disability — will have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor who shares similar experiences. Whether someone is new to living with a disability, seeking guidance, or wanting to strengthen their advocacy skills, this program is designed to provide a supportive partnership Ideal candidates for the program are those open to sharing, learning, and receiving feedback. The deadline to apply is December 1. For questions about this program, contact mentoring@ohiosilc.org.

Goodwill Donation Drive Update

To everyone who donated items for the Goodwill Donation Drive that was held Oct. 20-21!

There were 52 donors who gave to Goodwill during that time on behalf of the Lucas County FANS Network! What a great turnout! This means that we will be able to provide 52 vouchers to individuals we serve who are in need. That's $1,300 in vouchers! Thanks again!

Sensory-Inclusive Experiences

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is talking all about Sensory-Inclusive Experiences! Sensory-friendly experiences have become more common as more individuals are comfortable expressing their sensory needs. Explore ways to create enriching, inclusive experiences that benefit everyone at the Accessible Ohio resources page on Sensory-Inclusive Experiences! This page includes Sensory Considerations, Sensory Inclusion Best Practices, Ohio Venues Taking Steps Toward Sensory Inclusion, About Accessible Ohio, and how to host and create a Sensory Friendly Event. Click here to learn more.

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.)

Family & Advocate Forum Date Set

The final Family & Advocate Forum of 2024 will be the morning of December 3. Mark your calendars to attend and stay tuned for further details!

People First Halloween Party this evening

People First of Toledo is having their annual Halloween Party from 6 - 8 p.m. tonight 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 is tonight

The Ability Center has something spooky brewing! Join them for their Trail of Terror from 8 - 10 p.m. this evening! 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 tomorrow

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. tomorrow at 3939 Wrenwood Rd, Toledo. To register, click here.

12th Annual Autism Walk is Sunday

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.

Project STIR Quarterly Meeting Nov. 1

Attention Project STIR Ohio Leaders, Trainers, Coaches, and Allies! You are invited to the quarterly Project STIR Quarterly Network Meeting! Join OSDA from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Nov. 1 for some exciting updates on Project STIR 2025, Upcoming Leadership Opportunities with OACB Charting the LifeCourse, DODD, Updates, and Q&A with Deputy Director Lindsey Nash (come with your questions). OSDA has hosted 39 Project STIR training sessions over the past 13 years and many other sessions have been hosted locally. If you participated in any of those trainings, you are part of the OSDA statewide network of Ohio Leaders. They encourage you to join each quarter.

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.

Sensory-Friendly Pinkalicious Performance Nov. 3

The Valentine Theatre’s Weekend Family Series is now sensory-friendly! Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed performances are for everyone and include minor accommodations for patrons with autism spectrum disorders or other sensory sensitivities. The performances provide an opportunity for all families to enjoy a live theatre performance together in a relaxed, inclusive environment. Must purchase tickets. Doors open at 1 p.m. on Nov. 3. Please reach out to Kelby Sodeman at 419.214.4803 or  ksodeman@valentinetheatre.com with any questions.

The Death Deck Program Registration Deadline Approaching

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.

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. Click the headline to learn more and apply! 

Adult Day Grants Application Deadline is Thursday

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.

Parent Advocacy Study (Virtual)

A UNC-Chapel Hill team is conducting a virtual parent advocacy study for parents and caregivers of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They welcome parents of this population – with children aged 11-27 – to participate in a total of four virtual parent groups. In these groups, parents share experiences and work alongside a facilitator to build advocacy skills while navigating their child’s transitional period of life. The overall goal is to improve parent and caregiver mental health. Click headline for full details.

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.