Join Center for Independent Living Options (CILO), Hamilton County DD Services and many others for the Disability Pride March on Wednesday, July 26. It begins at 4 p.m. at Washington Park
Taking place on the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), our march is a platform to publicly embrace disability and empower people with all abilities to raise their voices and pursue their dreams. We will begin to gather at 3:45 p.m. inside Washington Park at the bandstand; the route will continue from the park to the city sidewalks; it is flat, accessible, and does not cross any city streets. It will take about 30 minutes to complete the route. Parking is available under Washington Park for a fee. Dress for the weather and bring your own water bottle.
At the end of the march plan to stay for CILO's 40th Anniversary Party on The Deck@Washington Park. This free event will include dinner by the bite, cash bar, and music. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
Email [email protected]
with questions.
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This year marks the 50-year anniversary of Ohio's county boards of developmental disabilities, including Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services. In 1967 the Ohio state legislature approved Senate Bill 169, establishing county boards of DD across the state.
Our rich history of supporting people with DD stretches back even further than our official designation as a county board. Decades before county boards of DD existed in Ohio, parents in Hamilton County came together to create opportunities for their children and build networks of support for people with DD in our community. Their advocacy work and the organizations they developed formed the bedrock of Hamilton County DD Services and the county board system across the entire state of Ohio.
We kicked off our 50th anniversary by joining with county boards of DD across the state for a week of service July 17-21 (learn more below). We'll also be participating in other anniversary activities this year with the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD (OACB). You can learn more about
OACB's activities here
and see their great
history project here.
Throughout the rest of 2017, we'll be celebrating our long history as we remember our past and look forward to our future. Check our website regularly for photos, stories, events, and more.
If you have stories, photos, or anything else you'd like to share from our history, let us know by sending an email to Ryan Braun.
Although the ways we support people have changed over our history, our commitment to supporting people with developmental disabilities in Hamilton County will always remain.
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Budget Update
On June 30, Gov. John Kasich signed the Fiscal Year 2018-19 biennial operating budget for the State of Ohio, bringing the budget process to a close.
The current operating budget builds on the historic $286 million investment made two years ago by investing $65 million in new dollars over the next two years.
This new funding makes new initiatives possible and will strengthen opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to receive services in the community as well as meet the needs of those living at intermediate care facilities.
Read more about how the state budget impacts individuals with DD and their families
by clicking here.
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Accessible Places
Access Cincinnati is now live! It's a crowdsourced mobile site that provides users with an interactive map of more than 150 restaurants and bars in Over-the-Rhine, downtown and the Banks.
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Health Care Bill
As you may know, the US Senate has postponed the vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act, its version of a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that would impact health care for millions of Americans and included significant cuts to and caps on Medicaid.
Thank you to individuals, families, providers and other organizations who shared their stories with Sen. Rob Portman and others about how this bill would affect people with developmental disabilities in our community. Your calls and visits made a difference!
We expect the Senate to revive this bill, or introduce another version,
in the near future. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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Week of Service and Giving Back to the Community
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| From left: HCDDS staff and families attend the monthly community dinner at My Neighbor's Place in Westwood; Keya Curtis and Holly Watson at the YWCA before teaching a Project CARE class; St. Joseph Home helps pack items at Matthew 25 Ministries. |
As part of Always There - a campaign to recognize the 50th anniversary of Ohio's County Boards of Developmental Disabilities - Hamilton County DD Services and people the agency supports participated in a Week of Service July 17 - 21. You can see a few of the activities above.
Many people with developmental disabilities, as well as our employees, volunteer for local organizations throughout the year. We're highlighting many of those activities on Facebook. We'll keep adding to this photo album throughout 2017 to showcase their service to the community.
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- STABLE Account forum. 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Abilities First, 4710 Timber Trail Drive in Middletown. Representatives from Treasurer of Ohio Josh Mandel's office will be available to discuss STABLE Account benefits, eligibility, qualified expenses, and how to open an account. Click here for details.
- Special Needs Family Night. 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the Anderson Branch Library, 7450 State Road. After-hours program for families with special needs. This open house event is designed to provide an opportunity for a low stress visit to the Library to explore the collection, activities and educational resources. Open to all ages. Recurs the last Friday of the month through August.
- Adults with ASD at the Observatory. 9-11 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Cincinnati Observatory, 3489 Observatory Place in Mt. Lookout. Enrichment program hosted by Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati. No charge for adults with autism spectrum disorder who RSVP by July 27. Friends and relatives $10 at the door. RSVP via email to [email protected]
- Inclusive Community Conversations. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, July 31, at Starfire, 5030 Oaklawn Drive. Open to all: families, ordinary citizens, people with disabilities, inclusion advocates. Learn more here.
- HCDDS Board Meeting. 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the new Kingsley Center in Madisonville, 5093 Kingsley Drive.
- Autism Conversation: STABLE Account. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at Mercy Health, 1701 Mercy Health Place. Doug Jackson, with the Ohio Treasurer's Office, will present. RSVP via email to [email protected]
- Early Intervention Summer Playgroup. 9-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Rost School, 5858 Bridgetown Road. Playdates include sensory play and other activities. Open to all families enrolled in EI.
- Transition Bootcamp: Understanding the IEP Process. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. Learn about relevant federal laws, construct a draft transition plan and more. View the flier, which includes registration details, by clicking here.
- Dinner & a movie for adults with autism. 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at Envision Cinemas Bar & Grill in Blue Ash. Click here for a flier. RSVP required.
- Provider Training: MUI. 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the HCDDS Kingsley Center, 5093 Kingsley Drive. Learn more about work process and flow, provider requirements, common mistakes, and tips for success. Click here to register.
- Funding 101 for providers. 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the HCDDS Kingsley Center, 5093 Kingsley Drive. Learn more about how funding works in the DD system, common mistakes, and tips for success. Click here to register.
- Anxiety and ASD. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 30, at the Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. This session will discuss symptoms of anxiety, practical strategies to address these symptoms and structured programs to manage anxiety. Register by calling 513-636-2742 or sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Click here for a flier of all sessions.
- How to regulate sensory systems. 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. This session will focus on common sensory sensitivities and strategies to address these sensitivities. Register by calling 513-636-2742 or sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected].
- Buddy Walk Cincinnati. 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 at Sawyer Point. Registration begins at 9 a.m. This one-mile walk and after-party benefits the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati. More details online.
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HCDDS Board Meeting.
5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Support Center, 1520 Madison Road.
- Transition Bootcamp: Medicaid and County Waiver Services. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. Click here to learn more
- Dinner & a movie for adults with autism. 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Envision Cinemas Bar & Grill in Blue Ash. Click here for a flier. RSVP required.
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