Friday Update: January 10, 2025

SALUTE Meeting on Monday

Join Lucas DD's self-advocacy group for their monthly meeting from 5:30 - 7 p.m. on Jan. 13. This meeting can be attended in person or virtually, is free, open to the community, with light snacks. The focus of this first meeting of the year will be planning for the rest of 2025. Please contact Deetra Kelly at dkelly@lucasdd.org with any questions.

Common Ground on Tuesday

Lucas DD's Common Ground and Friend Network is for people 18+ to gather and build lasting friendships and connections. The next meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 at our Larc Lane Training Center. Questions? Contact your Service and Support Specialist or click here to email Deborah Tyree.

Family Ties on Thursday

Lucas DD's Parent Connection Group, Family Ties, aims to help families make connections and build a network that they can lean on for support. The next meeting is 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 16. Light snacks will be served. We hope to see you there! Please email familyties@lucasdd.org if you have questions, or if you need to bring your child(ren) with you.

Board Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be closed Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Lucas DD is still here to support you. For emergency assistance, or to report a MUI, please call the On-Call Service & Support Specialist at (419) 380-5100.

Board Meeting Jan. 27

The next monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 27. The meeting is open to the public at Lucas DD's South Toledo headquarters.

Tech Room Open House Jan. 30

Join Lucas DD's tech team for a drop-in event from 2 - 3 p.m. Jan. 30. You can ask questions, try out various adaptive technology, and figure out if there are ways technology can help you live your best life. Free and open to individuals, staff, providers, families, and anyone with an interest in technology. Any questions or want to come at a different time? Just reach out to our tech team at technology@lucasdd.org

Lucas DD Community Movie Day Feb. 22

Mark your calendars because you won't want to miss seeing Inside Out 2 at the Maumee Indoor Theater! Doors open at 1 p.m. on Feb. 22. Invite your friends, this event is free and open to the community! No registration required.

Local Podcast "Telling It Our Way" Receives Prestigious Award

Telling It Our Way, a local podcast through the University of Toledo, has been chosen for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)'s 2025 Media Award. The award is given "to an individual, organization, or program that has depicted Americans with disabilities in the nominated medium in a positive light." Check out the full announcement as well as winners in other fields by clicking here.

2025 Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Day 

Save the date! 2025 Developmental Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Day is on Tuesday, March 4. Registration for the event at the Ohio Statehouse will open next Friday, January 17. More details to follow!

Family Connection Forum 2025 Dates Announced

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is excited to announce an updated name for the Family Connection Forum quarterly meetings! What was formerly known as the Family Advisory Council is now the Family Connection Forum. This new name reflects the commitment to open dialogue and collaboration between families, caregivers, and DODD.

The Family Connection Forum, or FCF, provides a forum for DODD to hear directly from family members and family serving organizations. This gathering also provides the opportunity to educate the community about the department's current initiatives from executive staff. The 2025 dates are Mar. 12, Sept. 10., and Dec. 10. 

IRS Raises ABLE Account Deposit Limit

Starting this month, individuals with disabilities can accrue more money than ever before in a special type of account that allows people to save without jeopardizing access to Medicaid and other government benefits. Contributions to ABLE accounts can total up to $19,000 for 2025. That’s an increase from $18,000 last year. Any questions regarding this change, please reach out to Lucas DD's Community Work Incentives Counselor.

DODD Cross System Behavioral Health Webpage is Live

The Cross System Behavioral Health team of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities aims to set the standard for behavioral health services and supports for individuals with both mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities through innovative programming and cross system collaboration. Learn more about the team and its programs via this link or email CSBH@dodd.ohio.gov.

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.

TOPSoccer on 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 first one of 2025, is 2 - 3 p.m. on Jan. 12. 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.

Accessible Communications Webinar

From 10 - 11 a.m. on Jan. 15, OOD will share best practices for creating communications that are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This webinar will address why it’s important to create and distribute accessible communications, what guidelines and key elements help to make materials accessible to a broader audience, and what tools and resources are available to prioritize accessibility and create accessible communications.

Advocacy 101 Workshop (virtual) Jan. 21

Join We Thrive Together for a virtual advocacy workshop. The workshop will last two hours and will cover the following topics: Personal Advocacy, Collective Advocacy, Technology Advocacy, and Building Your Advocacy Army. Click headline for full details and registration link.

Pathways for Pops

Pathways for Pops is excited to announce the Weekend Retreat for fathers on Jan. 24 - 25. This inaugural event is a unique opportunity for fathers of people living with disabilities across Ohio to come together. Pathways for Pops was launched in May 2024 thorough a partnership with Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD). Keynote speaker Rob Snow, father of a 15-year-old with Down syndrome, will share his journey as a father.

OADSP TRAINING SERIES

Join us 9 a.m. - noon Jan. 22 for the first of our monthly OADSP training sessions: Module #118: The Profession of Direct Support in Disability Services. This module focuses on the role of the DSP and their ability to demonstrate basic work readiness skills. The purpose and importance of the 12 competency areas will be examined, as will the importance or Ethical Practice Skills. 3 hours of CEUs for IA, EI, SSA, Adult Services, and Superintendent have been requested. 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. To register, please e-mail drussell@lucasdd.org.  

Disability Advocacy Tips - Video Playlist for Families

PACER, a nonprofit organization serving children with disabilities, created a unique set of short videos that address parents' common questions and concerns about advocating for their child with a disability at school and beyond. These videos cover topics such as “What is special education?” and “How can I ask for an evaluation?” to help families better advocate for their children. Each video has an accompanying tip sheet linked in the video description. The videos are available in English, Spanish, and Somali.

Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo Newsletter

DSAGT's January newsletter features many events for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. You'll find a variety of activities for all ages and stages!

Is Your Vehicle Ready for Winter?

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.

Ability Center Scholarship Program

The Ability Center is accepting applications for their Student Scholarship Program. This is an opportunity for students to receive up to $5,000 in funding to help with their educational costs. The scholarship aims to ease financial challenges and provide the necessary support for students to excel in their studies. The funds can be applied toward tuition for college, trade school, or certification programs. Whether it’s for tuition, textbooks, or other academic expenses, the scholarship can help students achieve their dreams. Application deadline is February 18.

FANs Network Diaper & Wipes Drive

Our FANS network is hosting a Diaper & Wipes Drive for families in need. 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.

Share your story with Ohio DD Talks

Ohio DD Talks is the podcast hosted by the Ohio DD Council. The Ohio DD Council wants to hear YOUR stories and they want to share theirs. The series will feature Council members, agency leaders and YOU - people with developmental disabilities, family members, and community members. The goal is to collect stories and perhaps even have you on the series! Submit your story on their website through an easy-to-use form (click headline). 

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.