Community Connections Newsletter | | |
Check out what's new this issue!
- Furniture Donations
- Put in a Nomination for the 2025 Community Recognition Awards!
- Berachah WOW Fishing Day
- Summer Bash
- Run With Me: Cincy Summer Session
- Safety Town for Children with DD
- Resource Butler County Social Services Expo
- Luke5Adventures Reds Game
- Hamilton Chalk the Block
- Outdoors for All
- Advocacy in Action With Courtney Hineman & Cassie Mattia
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New Life Furniture is looking for furniture donations! To meet their goal of 2,500 households in 2025, New Life Furniture NEEDS furniture! There is a listing of items that New Life Furniture accepts and doesn't accept on their website. To get all the donation details, visit https://nlfurniture.org/take-action/donate-furniture/.
| | Put in a Nomination for the 2025 Community Recognition Awards! | | |
We are accepting nominations! Help us celebrate the many unsung heroes whose work and advocacy make the world a better place for people with developmental disabilities! We'll honor them at the Community Recognition Awards on Thursday, September 18. Nominations are due by Friday, June 6. This year, the award categories will be Partner of the Year Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Community Advocate Award, Young Pioneer Award, Community Inclusion Award, Volunteer of the Year Award, Outstanding Educator Award (new this year), and Community Impact Award. To put in a nomination and see the descriptions of each award, visit the link!
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Are You Ready to Move Out?
Sunday, May 18 and 25, June 1 and 8 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Join the 4-week series on what living independently could look like, especially if you aren’t sure where to start or if it’s even a possibility. The series will take place at EmpowerMe Living located at 6600 Clough Pike. The cost is $100 per adult/caregiver team. Register today!
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2025 Abilities at Bat
Saturday, May 24 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Independence Alliance is proud to again be a participating agency for Abilities at Bat, an event celebrating individuals in the community with disabilities. Don't miss this exciting game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs with pre-game activities raising awareness of local organizations supporting people with disabilities. Watch for updates on how to purchase your tickets and support Independence Alliance.
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Join the Speak Up Self Advocacy Group!
Tuesday, May 27 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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Berachah WOW Fishing Day
Saturday, May 31 from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Attend the Berachah Church WOW Family Fishing Day! Lunch will be provided. Fishing equipment will be available, but if you have your own, feel free to bring it along! If you would like to register, visit the website!
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Summer Bash
Thursday, June 5 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join us at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields for a Summer Bash! This will be our first-ever outdoor dance at the Miracle League Fields featuring the GE Title 14 Band! The Summer Bash will take place on Thursday, June 5, from 6-8 p.m. All ages are welcome. Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 28, by visiting our website! If there is inclement weather, the event will be cancelled. Please watch our Facebook page for updates.
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Annual DD Fishing Derby
Saturday, June 7 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Hamilton Optimist Club will be holding the Annual DD Fishing Derby at Joe Nuxhall Way in Fairfield, Ohio! All food, drinks, and bait will be provided. Participants should bring a fishing rod. If participants do not have a fishing rod, one can be provided. All participants receive a prize. Please arrive early to sign up for the fishing derby. Please contact Terry Baker at troscoeb1959@gmail.com or 513-603-0021 with any questions.
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4th Annual Challenging Perceptions Adaptive Trail Race
Saturday, June 7 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Greene County Board of DD will be holding their 4th Annual Challenging Perceptions Adaptive Trail Race at Russ Nature Preserve located at 2380 Kemp Road in Beavercreek, Ohio! Anyone is welcome to participate! To get more details and register visit the website!
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The Future is Now
Tuesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Future is now is a multi-part series designed to help caregivers and their family members make plans for the future. Throughout this journey of discovery, we will guide families in creating their own letter of intent. A letter of intent is a non-legal document that captures family desires and goals for the future. Parents, caregivers, individuals with developmental disabilities, and siblings are encouraged to attend as a family unit. Sessions will be hosted by people with a passion for helping individuals and families prepare for the future. Participation is limited to eight families per session. You MUST attend all sessions within the series. Series will take place at the Janet Clemmons Center located at 282 N. Fair Ave., Hamilton, OH 45011. A meal will be provided. Registration must be completed 1 week before the session begins! Please contact Jenny Mann at jamann@butlerdd.org or call 513-785-2813 if you have any questions. REGISTER FOR THE FUTURE IS NOW!
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Regional Tech Summit
Tuesday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Attend the Regional Tech Summit where you will learn how the Ohio Tech Ambassadors use technology to live their best lives! There will be many featured topics such as, tech for work, tech for the bathroom, tech for low vision, and tech for dressing. The tech summit will take place at Cincinnati Deer Park Branch Library located at 4020 E Galbraith Road in Cincinnati, Ohio. Register today to attend!
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Cookies & Connections: Shared Living & Respite Services
Tuesday, June 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Join the latest Cookies & Connections workshop! This workshop will focus on personal care and support services that create a family-oriented environment for individuals living in a care provider’s home, including respite services for temporary arrangements. Shared Living Providers make long-term commitments to sharing a home, helping with daily routines, and inviting someone with a developmental disability to be part of their family, resulting in lifelong relationships. This session will take place at the Janet Clemmons Center. Register for the session!*(Parents and other family members can now provide support to their loved ones as a Shared Living Provider. However, they are required to complete the same background check, training, and onboarding as un-related caregivers. Their family member must also have a qualifying Waiver to pay for these services)*
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Safety Town for Children with DD
Monday, July 28 - Friday, August 1 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join Hamilton's 53rd season of Safety Town! Safety Town is a free, interactive summer program for children that teaches them safety tips and information. Your child will be instructed in pedestrian, vehicle, school bus, stranger dangers, gun safety, and fire safety. This year, Safety Town is offering a special week designed specifically for children ages 6-10 with developmental disabilities! While Safety Town is inclusive of all children and welcomes those of all abilities throughout the summer, the week of July 28th is a week tailored for children who may benefit from a more focused experience. The program will cover the same content but will include a sensory-friendly environment, breaks throughout the morning, and a smaller class size. Safety Town will be held at Office Bob Gentry Park, 105 Williams Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45015. A caregiver/parent will be required to attend. Register today!
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Resource Butler County Social Services Expo
Friday, August 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Attend the 13th Annual Resource Expo! This is an incredible opportunity to share information about your organization and learn more about Butler County's services. The event is free and will be held at Spooky Nook Sports Complex, 601 North B Street in Hamilton, Ohio. Sign up as a vendor!
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Luke5Adventures Reds Game
Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Join Luke5Adventures for the first-ever Luke5Adventures Reds game on September 2nd as the Reds take on the Blue Jays! Tickets are $20, and there will be MANY accessible seats reserved for those who need them. If your family needs accessible seats, please request enough for your entire group, not just the person requiring accessibility. For more details and to register, visit Luke5Adventures' website!
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Hamilton Chalk the Block
Sunday, May 25, June 22, July 13, and August 10 from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Chalk the Block is a free, non-profit event dedicated to connecting art and the community. Held once a month at Rotary Park, located at 208 High St. in Hamilton, Ohio, this five-hour event invites kids and families to explore their creativity, meet professional artists, and engage with special guests from a variety of fields. Each event will feature hands-on artistic experiences, themed guest appearances, and opportunities to celebrate self-expression in a welcoming environment, with a special focus on creating a sensory, engaging, and friendly atmosphere. Each of the 4 days Chalk the Block will take place, a different theme will be featured as well as different activities! To volunteer for the Chalk the Block, visit the link! For Artists who would like to sign up for Chalk the Block, visit the link! To keep up to date on all things Hamilton Chalk the Block, visit their Facebook page!
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The Arc of Ohio Young Adult Hangout Group
Meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join the Arc of Ohio Young Adult Hangout Group every 3rd Tuesday of the month! This hangout group is for adults 18 or older. The hangout will be held at Lakota Family YMCA located at 6703 Yankee Road in Liberty Township. Register today by emailing Jen Powers Alge at jen.powersalge@thearcofohio.org.
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Advocacy in Action With Courtney Hineman & Cassie Mattia
BCBDD Community Outreach Advocate Courtney Hineman has made it her professional and personal mission to advocate for inclusion in the developmental disability (DD) community. In April, Courtney took her advocacy on the road to Washington, D.C., to attend the Disability Policy Seminar and Advocacy Day. While in D.C., Courtney met many fellow advocates, shared her story, and explained why disability policies are vital to the DD community with several U.S. legislators. Join Courtney and the BCBDD PR Coordinator, Cassie Mattia, for an all-new sit-down interview where Courtney dives into her Washington, D.C., trip and her latest Ohio Developmental Disability Council meeting in Columbus! Watch the interview!
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Wheel the World
Are you looking to travel around Butler County, but would like to go somewhere that is completely accessible friendly? Wheel the World can provide you with accessible travel in Butler County and beyond! You can book accessible hotels, multi-day trips, things to do, and more on the website! Visit the Wheel the World website now to start searching! A big thank you to Travel Butler County, Ohio for funding this initiative!
| | 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! | | | | |
