Friday Update: November 8, 2024

SALUTE Meeting on Monday: Human Trafficking 101

SALUTE is a self-advocacy group for those served by the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 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 on Tuesday

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 Nov. 12 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 Wednesday!

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! Registration is recommended so that we can adequately prepare.

Wealth & Wisdom on 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.

Family Ties GAME NIGHT on Nov. 21

Join Lucas DD's new Parent Connection Group - Family Ties - for a night of FUN, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on November 21! This is the last meeting of 2025, so be there! Everyone is invited to game night, where there will be a variety of games to play and snacks to enjoy. No RSVP required! The goal of Family Ties is to help families make connections and build a network that they can lean on for support. Please email familyties@lucasdd.org with any questions, or if you have specific games you would like to play. See you there!

Lucas DD Free 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 Nov. 22. Wear your OSU or Michigan colors, or Tennessee, or Alabama or whatever team you want to support. Click here to register your food choices so we can prepare for this free event! Registration closes next Friday, November 15!

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.

2nd Annual Snowy Social is Dec. 10!

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 Dec. 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.)

Lucas DD Board of Directors Opening

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is seeking applicants to join its Board of Directors. Applicants 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 Dec. 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.

TARTA Community Update on Thursday

Team TARTA invites you to join them at the Glass City Center from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on Nov. 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.

TOPSoccer Nov. 17

U.S. 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 Nov. 27. 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.

Roundabout Training Nov. 18

Roundabouts are proven to reduce the severity of intersection crashes, reduce emissions, and slow traffic while simultaneously reducing backups and delays. Does driving through a roundabout make you nervous? Sign up for a roundabout training session between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 and conquer that uneasy feeling There will be a driving instructor on site. If you would like to do a 15-minute training session, please sign up by 8 p.m. November 17. Click here to register.

Threads of Love: Winter Clothing Giveaway on Nov. 21

The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department's Office on Minority Health is hosting a Winter Clothing Giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 21! There will be various sizes of men, women and children's winter coats, jackets, gloves and hats, as well as hygiene products and community resources. Free and open to the public. Click headline for full details.

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 Nov. 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! 

Ohio Parent to Parent (P2P) Statewide Mentoring & Support Program

Ohio Parent to Parent (Ohio P2P) is a statewide parent support program. It matches parents, siblings, self-advocates, foster parents, grandparents, etc. who have a family member, of any age, with a disability or special health care need, with an experienced, trained, volunteer support parent. The support parent provides support on needs and issues related to parenting and providing care to a loved one with a disability or special healthcare need. Support is provided via email, phone, virtual communication (e.g. Skype, Zoom, etc.) and/or in-person. Questions or interested in receiving support? Fill out this form and/or contact Marion, marion.cosgroverauch@cchmc.org or 513-803-5557.

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.

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 Dec. 31. Participants can use the links below to take part:

·   English

·   Spanish

·   Somali