Lucas DD Board Meeting Dec. 16

The Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will hold its final meeting of 2024 beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. The meeting is open to the public and held in the Training Center at Lucas DD's South Toledo headquarters.

Wealth & Wisdom on Wednesday

The next Wealth & Wisdom will be a wrap up discussion covering 2024. It is your opportunity to ask the experts any questions you have about, SSI, SSDI, STABLE accounts, and more! This free class will be held remotely from 6-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 18. Email wealthandwisdom@lucasdd.org with any questions.

Special Olympics Holiday Basketball Game Dec. 18

Put on your best holiday costume or Lucas County Lightning apparel and head over to Horizon Science Academy for the 3rd annual Holiday Game! Watch the festive athletes compete in a fun game against the Wood County Wildcats. There will be special guests and prizes for the most festive outfit as well as the most spirit (Lightning gear). Doors open at 5:30 p.m., tip-off is at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18! Questions? Email Kelley Watson.

Lucas DD Offices Closing Dec. 24 for Winter Break

The offices of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 for winter break, however, Lucas DD is still here to support you. For emergency assistance, or to report a MUI, please contact the On-Call Service & Support Specialist at (419) 380-5100.

Snowy Social Success!

Lucas DD's Early Intervention team hosted the 2nd Annual Snowy Social this week. Due to the large crowd last year, the event was split into two sessions this year. We are thankful for all the staff and volunteers who made this hands-on event such a hit with 150+ people! Check out some photos of the event on our Facebook page.

2025 Waiver Changes

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, following CMS approval, a new DODD waiver service has been added and updates have been made to a few others. Click here to learn more about the changes or reach out to your Lucas DD Service & Support Specialist.

Upcoming Parent Cafe begins in January

The Lucas County Family & Children First Council, in partnership with the Mercy Health Foundation and Lucas DD, are proud to present Parent Cafe, as part of the Marian Brannon Parent, Advocacy, and Leadership Project. Enjoy great round table conversations with other parents and caretakers facing similar concerns in raising children. Meetings are from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 16, 23, and 30 at Lucas DD's South Toledo headquarters, 1154 Larc Lane (Door A). Breakfast and childcare will be provided. Transportation is available. Click here to go to the registration page. Questions? Call 419-251-2469 or email tamara_mckittrick@mercy.com.

Sensory-Friendly Morning Tomorrow at Great Lakes Museum

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, 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. Dec. 14.

Super Saturday Dance is Tomorrow

Five Lakes Church's Super Saturday Dance is for adults with special needs and their caregivers, who must be present. The dance 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 Dec. 14. Please note, registration is now full, this is a reminder for those who have already registered.

TOPSoccer Santa Sunday

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, which is the last one of 2024, is 2 - 3 p.m. on Dec. 15. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Please register. Click headline for details.

Disability Connect on Dec. 18

Disability Connect is a gathering for DODD leaders to hear directly from the people they support about issues affecting their lives. It is also a chance to learn more about different projects at DODD and across Ohio government while also sharing accessible resources and making connections to help everyone live their good life. This Zoom meeting is from 1-2 p.m. Dec. 18. There will be an ASL Interpreter and C-Print Captionist streaming live through the meeting. If you need other accommodations or have suggestions, please contact ohiolifecoursenexus@dodd.ohio.gov. Register in advance for this meeting.

Charting the LifeCourse Introduction Dec. 19

Join the Family Resource Network of Ohio from 9-10 a.m. Dec. 19 for an engaging introduction to the Charting the LifeCourse framework. Discover how this powerful tool can help individuals and families achieve their vision of a good life and take control of their future. 1-hour DODD CEU credit available for those who attend.

ASNO Parents' Night Out

Join the Autism Society of Northwest Ohio for a Nailed It! Workshop — a fun and relaxed crafting class where creativity and good vibes are the focus. No experience needed, just come ready to enjoy the process and make something uniquely yours! Must register, click headline for details.

Is your vehicle #WinterReady?

Winter has arrived! It's essential to ensure your car is equipped to handle icy roads and frigid temperatures. Ready.gov provides a plethora of winter safety tips including a quick guide to staying safe while driving this winter. From ensuring proper winter maintenance to preparing an Emergency Car Kit, this site will help prepare you for the risks and rigors of winter driving. For more details, visit Ready.gov and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Winter Weather Safety.

Winter Communication Board Available

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities created this new communication board filled with everything winter! Communication boards help people communicate with others by using symbols, pictures, or photos. They can be used by people to express their needs, preferences, and decisions.

988 and Mental Health Resources

The holiday season can be mixed with joyful and stressful feelings (plans, socializing, expectations, fun, and exhaustion). It can be a lot for your nervous system to manage! DODD created a playlist titled “12 Days of Holiday Stress-less Strategies” to help bring more ease into your life. A new video will be posted each weekday through Dec. 20.

If you need professional mental health support, call 988. 988 is a quick and easy number to remember for mental health support in Ohio. You can call or text the number or message online at 988lifeline.org. When you call 988, you’ll speak with trained experts ready to help with mental health challenges.

Additionally, DODD created a mental health communication board to give Ohioans a visual tool to communicate their needs to those around them.

FANs Network Diaper & Wipes Drive

Our FANS network is hosting a Diaper & Wipes Drive for families in need this holiday season and beyond. There is an Amazon Wishlist already set up if you’d like to donate. If you prefer to drop them off, please bring them to the Board and let the front desk know it's for the Diaper & Wipes Drive.

Toledo Community Needs Survey

The City of Toledo is updating its 5-Year Consolidated Plan for its investment of Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant funds with respect to community and economic development, homelessness services, and affordable housing activities. In an effort to best understand what issues are most important to Toledo residents, the city is asking for the community's input about priorities for housing, homelessness, public services, and other community development needs. The following survey allows residents to add their voice about what community needs are most important to them. This includes disability services and programs. This information will be gathered and used to shape future spending and project priorities over the next five years. Take the survey to let the City of Toledo hear directly from you.

Anthony Wayne Inclusive Sports League

A new Anthony Wayne Inclusive Sports league is forming! Anthony Wayne Inclusive Sports will offer accessible youth sports and activities as an inclusive unit within the Anthony Wayne and Greater Toledo Community. You do not have to live in the Anthony Wayne district to participate! AWIS is for children with (any and all) disabilities, or children who may not otherwise participate in recreational or competitive sports. The program is expected to launch in fall 2025 and will begin by exploring a few sports, with the goal of developing into leagues in future years. Parents, guardians, and caregivers of children who may be interested in participating are asked to complete a survey to assist in planning the pilot season: https://forms.office.com/r/QqXZ1z1WYH. Contact awinclusivesports@awyf.org with any questions you have regarding the program or if you are interested in volunteering.

Autistic Adults Needed for Focus Group Study

Michigan Technological University is looking for volunteers to take part in a study exploring how autistic adults use AAC in social and community contexts. The focus group will be conducted online over the course of 5 weeks through an anonymous, text-based discussion board. You will be asked 2-3 questions per week and will post your answers on an anonymous discussion board. You will also be encouraged to reply to the posts of other participants. This will take approximately 1-2 hours per week. Participants will be paid $40 per week, for a total of $200. Participants must meet certain requirements. Please contact email bwfrisch@mtu.edu or vertanen@mtu.edu for full details.

People First Requests Feedback

People First of Ohio is collecting information on needed trainings for I/DD individuals and/or their family members to effectively serve on executive boards, commissions and councils. The information collected will be shared with DD Council to identify targeted training needs. Please complete the survey to share your ideas. Let’s get all 88 Ohio counties represented! Questions? Email kraig.walker@peoplefirstohio.org.