Community Connections Newsletter | |
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Check out what's new this issue!
- A Quiet Christmas: Sensory-Friendly Holiday
- Tim Tebow's a Night to Shine
- Best Buddies Friendship Walk
- Driving With a Disability
- Butler County Community Needs Assessment Survey
- Autism Study for High School Juniors and Seniors
- EmpowerMe Living Survey
- How to Create an Inclusive Thanksgiving Experience
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YMCA Camp Campbell Gard Open Enrollment 2025
Begins now
Open enrollment is open now! A deposit of $100 (non-refundable) is required. The final payment is due on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Visit the website for all the details! You may also call their office at 513-867-0600 for assistance!
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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 November!
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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Adult Game Night
Friday, November 29 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Adult Game Night is a social program designed to encourage engagement and independence, help develop social skills, and provide a hang-out space for adults with autism ages 18 and above. Registration is free. Register on the website!
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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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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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Butler County Community Needs Assessment Survey
Help us Get 550 survey responses by Friday, December 20
Do you use Butler County community services and resources? Help us understand the gaps and needs for future planning by taking the Butler County needs assessment by Friday, December 20! Scan the QR code to take the survey or visit the survey link!
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EmpowerMe Living Survey
EmpowerMe Living is seeking feedback to understand the needs and preferences for housing and support options accessible to autistic adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Cincinnati. Survey data from this process will be shared with local housing leaders, service providers and governmental entities in order to develop a blueprint for increasing future options. Self-advocates 18 and older and their families in Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, and Warren Counties can take the survey. Take the survey!
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How to Create an Inclusive Thanksgiving Experience
While the holidays bring joy for many, they can be overwhelming for those with developmental disabilities or sensory-processing needs, who thrive on routine. To make your Thanksgiving celebration more sensory-friendly, consider these top five tips brought to you by Easterseals Midwest!
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Provider Office Hours
Thursday, December 3 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Butler County Board of DD will holding 4 trainings/office hours for providers at the Janet Clemmons Center located at 282 N Fair Ave in Hamilton, Ohio. All sessions will take place in Conference Room A.
Session 4 Topic: Billing - Dec. 3
Contact Amy Winkler at arwinkler@butlerdd.org or 513-785-2876 or Cathy Borders at cmborders@butlerdd.org or 513-785-4680 with any questions.
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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! | | | | |
