Community integration for all people with developmental disabilities
Hamilton County  Developmental
Disabilities Services
November 2015



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The stakeholder work group has met three times since we announced the consolidation of our adult centers. This group includes families of people who receive all kinds of different services, people served, providers, and staff. 

They have been discussing what the future of services will look like in Hamilton County.

You can find documents and information from the stakeholder group on our website
Strong Families,
Safe Communities  


Superintendent Alice Pavey was a panelist with Ohio DODD Director John Martin and Ohio MHAS Director Tracy Plouck during a Nov. 2 virtual town hall.

The session focused on "Kids in Crisis" and discussed a project that improves care coordination and provides support for families. Watch the presentation and learn more about the initiative   by clicking here.  

Autism Study
 
Cincinnati Children's Hospital is looking for kids ages 18 months to 3 years to participate in a research study.

This study/clinical trial will help evaluate a blood test being developed to identify children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Researchers want to know if this type of blood test will differentiate children with ASD from children with developmental delays and/or children who are developing normally. 

Click here for additional details about the study and how to participate.

Theresa Faison and her three grandchildren -- Nautica, Cortez and Anthony -- will be featured as part of the Enquirer and United Way's annual Wish List. 

Ms. Faison recently took over care of her grandchildren, who all have developmental delays. In the above photo, the family gets their photograph taken by Enquirer reporter Cameron Knight. 

We will share the story on our Facebook page when it is published.

Hamilton County DD Services has a team for the 2016 Polar Plunge. Click here to join the team or make a donation. Have questions? Contact Jeff Gardiner.

We're on Instagram!
Follow us @hamiltondds
Celebrating Award-Winning Work 

Hamilton County DD Services won two silver awards at the Cincinnati Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Blacksmith Awards! Director of Community Relations Jenny Dexter and Community Relations Coordinator Lisa Danford show off the awards for our blog, Employment Spotlight, and for the People First Language Style Guide.

Also, the employment billboards and related videos we created as a joint effort with Boards of DD in Butler, Clermont and Warren counties, also won a silver award for public service announcement! 

We're excited that most of our billboard stars were able to join us for the award ceremony at the Bell Event Center. See more photos on our Facebook page
 
When he's not at Beckman, you can often find Jimmy Spampinato, center, at 4 & 1 Imports, where he's chatting up customers or walking among the shelves filled with tin signs.

Spampinato is part owner of the company, a family business his parents started that has evolved over the years.

"This is perfect for Jimmy, and he's successful because he can transfer his skills from the Beckman production lines to 4 & 1 Imports," said Molly Warnock, a habilitation specialist at Beckman Adult Center. "He's a big part of the family business."

Click here to read more about Jimmy on our blog.

Thank you, Greater 
Cincinnati Foundation! 

Grants from The Greater Cincinnati Foundation recently helped bring arts experiences to the Bobbie B. Fairfax and Margaret B. Rost schools.

At Fairfax, the grant brought the Children's Theater of Cincinnati to the school for a special performance of "Little Red Riding Hood."

At Rost, the grant added a computer group to an existing partnership with St. Jude School. Fifth-graders from St. Jude and Rost students can now play art- and music-related games. 

Click on either photo to see more on the schools' respective Facebook pages.

Upcoming Events
  • Building Inclusive Neighborhoods forum. 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Road. Learn how four different neighborhoods created inclusive communities. Presented by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), and Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC). Click here for details.
  • Join the Force for Autism Family Fun Walk. Noon - 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Amelia Elementary School, 5 East Main St.  Click here for details.
  • Service Dog Awareness gathering. 4-8 pm. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Below Zero Lounge, 1120 Walnut St. Event raises awareness for House Bill 121, which would make the last week of July "Service Dog Awareness Week" in Ohio. People with and without disabilities are invited to attend this free event. Email Christopher Cooley with questions or for more information.
  • Board Meeting. 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Support Center, 1520 Madison Road.
  • Annual Plan Public Hearing. 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Support Center.