Community Connections Newsletter | |
Due to the upcoming holidays there will not be a newsletter on Wednesday, December 25. The next newsletter will be released on Wednesday, January 8 at noon. Happy Holidays! | |
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Check out what's new this issue!
- Cincinnati Zoo Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience
- SALT Talks: Is There Anyone Out There
- SALT Talks Lunch & Learn: Assistive Technology
- SALT Talks: Creative Effective Budgeting & Financial Goals
- SALT Talks: Building Life Skills/Preparing For Independent Living
- Holiday Food Safety
- Holiday Events Guide
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Cincinnati Zoo Sensory- Friendly Santa Experience
Thursday, December 12, doors open at 9:45 a.m.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Macy’s, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital are partnering again this year with Santa Claus to provide a sensory-friendly meet and greet for visitors with sensory sensitivities and/or developmental disabilities. The following accommodations will be made for visitors with sensory sensitivities and/or developmental disabilities and their families:
- Reservation times to avoid standing in a traditional line
- Meet & greets happen before crowds arrive for Festival of Lights
- Lights and music will be lowered
- A separate chair next to Santa
- 10-minute reservations to allow time for visitors to adjust to the setting and meet Santa
Reserve a 10-minute meet and greet with Santa!
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Sensory Friendly Movie Featuring "A Christmas Story"
Thursday, December 12, doors open at 9:45 a.m.
Celebrate the holidays with us by attending our Sensory Friendly Movie showing of "A Christmas Story" at the Fitton Center! We’ll turn up the lights and lower the speakers so participants can get the movie-theater experience without feeling overstimulated! Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Please RSVP to Jenny Mann at jamann@butlerdd.org by Monday, December 9.
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YAH! Young Adult Hangout
Saturday, December 14 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Meet new friends and connect with your peers at the YAH! Young Adult Hangout located at 1325 E Kemper Rd, Suite 104, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45246! Enjoy delicious food, fun games, and much more! Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. General admission is $10. Event is for adults 18 years of age or older. Register today!
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Join the Speak Up Self Advocacy Group!
Tuesday, December 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Join the advocacy group Speak Up sponsored by the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities! Everyone can be a self-advocate! Meetings occur once a month at the Janet Clemmons Center and are focused on ways to advocate for yourself and your community. If you have any questions please contact Courtney Hineman at crhineman@butlerdd.org or Lynn Goodwin at mgoodwin@butlerdd.org.
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A Quiet Christmas: Sensory-Friendly Holiday
Wednesday, December 18, Thursday, December 19, and Friday December 20 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Enjoy a sensory-friendly, 30 minute private session with Santa at Heritage Village Cincinnati located at 11500 Lebanon Road in Sharonville, Ohio. This includes a craft, a snack, and photo-ops. Admission to Train Days is also included. This event is best suited for those who need a calmer environment to meet Santa in. The cost is $25 per group of up to 8 people. Sessions occur every half hour except for noon. You must reserve your session on our website.
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Tim Tebow's a Night to Shine
Friday, February 7 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This is the eleventh year for the Night to Shine event which is sponsored by The Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is a complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. The event is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. Each event is unique to its location, but some cornerstone activities included across all of them are a red carpet entrance complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi, hair and makeup stations, shoeshines, limousine rides, karaoke, gifts, a catered dinner, a Sensory Room, a Respite Room for parents and caregivers, dancing, and a crowning ceremony where every guest is honored as a King or a Queen. The event will take place at Christ Church located at 5165 Western Row Road in Mason, Ohio. To learn all about a Night to Shine visit the website!
TO VOLUNTEER - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-to-shine-2025-volunteer-registration-choose-one-area-tickets-1056657203139
GUEST REGISTRATION - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-to-shine-2025-guest-registration-tickets-1058652741849
OASIS ENCOUNTER REGISTRATION - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-to-shine-2025-oasis-encounter-for-parentsguardians-tickets-1058719250779
GROUP HOME REGISTRATION (maximum of 10 tickets per home) - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-to-shine-2025-group-home-registration-limited-to-10-tickets-tickets-1065655005809
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Best Buddies Friendship Walk
Saturday, April 12 from 11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Join more than 50,000 participants at 80 events across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time. This year's Cincinnati Best Buddies Friendship Walk will be held once again at Marcum Park in Downtown, Hamilton, Ohio. Once registered for the walk, you’ll gain access to your personal fundraising page that you can personalize and keep track of your fundraising efforts. Individuals who raise $50 or more will receive our exclusive event t-shirt on walk day! Check in for the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Best Buddies is also looking for sponsors for the walk! To create a team, register for the walk as an individual, donate, or become a sponsor visit the Best Buddies Friendship Walk website: https://www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/cincinnati/. Did you miss the walk last year? Check out our video that captured all the memorable moments!
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Virtual Programming for the entire month!
Every single day in December!
We have partnered with We Thrive Together and are excited to share their monthly events! Each day of the month We Thrive Together features virtual events that you can register for. Find anything from games to fitness to advocacy! After registering for a virtual event you will receive an email with a link to the event. You may register through the We Thrive Together website or contact Alyssa through email at Alyssa@WeThriveTogether.org or call 1-866-584-5640. Register for an event! Want to know what's going on daily at We Thrive Together? Sign up for text message alerts by texting "wethrivetogether" to (855) 680-2486!
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Autism and WE Peer Support Call
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
AUTISM AND WE is a collaborative of Parents, Clinicians, Caregivers, and Educators whom all share a common goal. To support, educate and advocate for a unique segment of the population misunderstood, underrepresented, and often forgotten. During the monthly meetings, Autism and WE will present a variety of speakers, trainers, and representatives from various community resources. The goal is to improve the lives of those with Autism and other Developmental Disorders through open forums and discussions. Register for the Zoom link!
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SALT Talks: Is There Anyone Out There?
Tuesday, January 7 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
SALT Talk is a monthly series that provides learning opportunities, along with resources and guidance, to families of children with disabilities so that they can successfully navigate the transition from school to adult life. During this virtual session keynote speaker, Molly Blaker, Outreach Specialist for Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, will provide a wonderful opportunity to meet several fantastic organizations, who have helped many families and individuals over the years. All are welcome to attend! CEUs have been approved for those with an SSA certification who attend the full session. If you requested CEUs, you should receive your certificate of completion approximately two weeks after the session. Please email your request to prtpattis@gmail.com. Register for the SALT Talk! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!
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SALT Talks Lunch & Learn: Assistive Technology
Wednesday, January 8 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
During this virtual Lunch & Learn session keynote speaker, Carrie Hayes from SafeinHome, will explore living safely independently with Assistive Technology. All are welcome to attend! Please email your request to prtpattis@gmail.com. Register for the SALT Talk! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!
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SALT Talks: Making Budgets Work & Debt Management
Tuesday, January 21 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
During this virtual session keynote speaker, Kristina Markiewicz and Gina Schenk, will provide a “How to” Session regarding budgeting and organizing money. Both presenters are both financial planners and parents. All are welcome to attend! CEUs have been approved for those with an SSA certification who attend the full session. If you requested CEUs, you should receive your certificate of completion approximately two weeks after the session. Please email your request to prtpattis@gmail.com. Register for the SALT Talk! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!
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Driving With a Disability
Thursday, January 23 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
How do you know if your teen or young adult is ready to drive? What can you work on at home to prepare for learning to drive? How do you know if it is safe for your loved one to drive with their disability? What can you expect during a driving assessment? Who do you contact for an assessment? Speaker, Julie Dominik, OT/L, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, and Licensed Driving Instructor at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital will be walking you through your concerns and questions! Register for the virtual Zoom session.
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SALT Talks: Building Life Skills/Preparing for Independent Living
Tuesday, January 28 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
During this virtual session keynote speaker, Amie Duncan, Ph.D. Associate Professor Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, will discuss how to target daily living skills (e.g., hygiene, cooking, cleaning, money management) in order to build independence in adolescence and adulthood. All are welcome to attend! CEUs have been approved for those with an SSA certification who attend the full session. If you requested CEUs, you should receive your certificate of completion approximately two weeks after the session. Please email your request to prtpattis@gmail.com. Register for the SALT Talk! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!
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Advocacy Wednesdays
Every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
The Ohio Self Determination Association (OSDA) is partnering with We Thrive Together every Wednesday to talk advocacy! If you are looking for leadership opportunities for members of the advocacy group in your county or region, you can create an opportunity for disability experts (people who live with a disability) by contacting Dana Charlton at osda2011@gmail.com or call 614-563-0788 for more information. Join the meeting via Zoom every Wednesday!
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Holiday Food Safety
This year, help keep yourself and others safe at holiday gatherings by following these food safety tips!
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Holiday Events Guide
Spread over 88 counties, there are more than 400 events and festivals to enjoy with friends and family this holiday season! Visit the website to discover an adventure near you.
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2025 New Provider Office Hours | |
We would never be able to do all that we do without our amazing community! THANK YOU for coming alongside us in support of the individuals and families we serve! | | | | |
