Friday Update: November 1, 2024

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! Pre-registration is appreciated so that we can adequately prepare.

SALUTE Meeting Nov. 11: Human Trafficking 101

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 or virtually. Email Deetra Kelly with any questions..

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. The next meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m. on November 12 at our Larc Lane campus (Training Room). Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

Wealth & Wisdom Nov. 20

The next Wealth & Wisdom will be a discussion about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you have any questions about SSDI, this is the place to be! Want to learn more about how earning money will affect your benefits? Do you have questions about qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits? Do you need to know where to get help with your Social Security questions? This free class is presented by Lucas DD as part of our Wealth and Wisdom series. November's class will be held remotely, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 20. Email wealthandwisdom@lucasdd.org with any questions.

Lucas DD Tailgate Party/Pep Rally on Nov. 22!

Come enjoy fellowship, food and fun with our Annual Inclusive Pep Rally/Tailgate Party from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on November 22. Wear your OSU or Michigan colors, or Tennessee, or Alabama or whatever team you want to support. Be on the lookout for a survey of food options so we know what to prepare for this free event!

Family & Advocate Forum Dec. 3

Join Lucas DD Superintendent Michele Myerholtz and other department directors for our quarterly Family & Advocate Forum at our Lucas DD campus. This will serve as a public hearing for our 3-year strategic plan, which will be presented by the Superintendent. It is also an opportunity to ask about anything on your mind regarding our services. The Lucas DD Family & Advocate Forum is open to individuals served, their families, providers, and any other advocates in the I/DD system to meet and have conversations with Board leadership.

Highlights from the October Board Meeting

At its Oct. 28 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities gave a Special Recognition award to Luther Home of Mercy and recognized an Early Intervention Developmental Specialist, Teresa Miller, as its Staff Person of the Month. Click here to read more and see photos!

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.

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.

Reserve your spot at the 2nd Annual Snowy Social!

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.)

Carpe Diem Epilepsy Walk-Run is Sunday

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 is Sunday

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 is Monday

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.

One-Day Self-Advocacy Conference next Friday

People First of Toledo, in partnership with the Disability and Aging Rail Coalition, the Ohio Self-Determination Association, We Thrive Together, and the Ohio Tech Ambassadors, will be holding a self-advocacy conference from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on November 8, hosted by the University of Toledo Disability Studies program. The conference will cover self-advocacy focused topics such as accessible passenger rail, the basics of advocacy, intersectionality, building a social network, and adaptive technology for independence.

TARTA Community Update

Team TARTA invites you to join them at the Glass City Center from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on November 14 for a community update. This is your opportunity to learn about the exciting ways TARTA is delivering on its promise to the community. Discover how they're making services more accessible, empowering people to make connections, and improving northwest Ohio’s mobility system for those who depend on it every day.

Aging Gracefully - November 2024 Edition is available

In this issue of Aging Gracefully, you'll find helpful information about Seasonal Affective Disorder, types of dementia, advice from longevity experts, local events including the Justice Bus, healthy aging activities, and more! Click here to check it out!

Misappropriation/Financial Oversight Training Next Friday

From 9 - 11 a.m. on Nov. 8 at the Lucas County Board of DD Training Center, there will be a Misappropriation/Financial Oversight Training. The Personal Funds of the Individual Rule (ORC 5123-2-07) describes the standards of accountability for providers who are indicated in the individual’s OISP as being responsible for managing their personal funds. This includes any financial resources, including but not limited to, earned income, unearned income, bank accounts, investment accounts and monies distributed from a trust fund or inheritance. This free, 2-hour training is intended for provider agency administrators and managers who are responsible for the oversight of client funds. The course is approved for 2 hours of CEUs for IA (investigatory), EI, SSA and Supt. The training meets the requirements of OAC 5123-2-08 Appendix C Annual and OAC 5123-2-09 Appendix A Annual under Components of Quality Care. If interested, please email Mellisa Merritt; mmerritt@lucasdd.org.  

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.  

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! 

Mercy Health Survey

Mercy Health Toledo area hospitals (including Defiance, Huron, Lucas, Seneca, and Wood Counties) are conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment to identify and assess the health needs of the community. They are asking community members (those who live and/or work in these counties) to complete an anonymous, 15-minute survey. This information will help guide them as they consider services, programs, and policies that will benefit the community. English and Spanish versions available.

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.

Autism Awareness License Plate

Ohio residents can support individuals with autism, their families, and service providers with the Autism Awareness license plate. Purchase Ohio's Autism Awareness License Plate for $35 and spread Autism awareness everywhere you go! Your donation of $25 from your annual fee will be used for advocacy, Autism family support and programming.

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.