October 16, 2024

Community Connections Newsletter

New This Issue...

Check out what's new this issue!

  • YMCA Camp Campbell Gard Open Enrollment 2025
  • YMCA Camp Campbell Gard Family Fall Festival
  • Future is Now
  • Breakfast With Santa
  • Young Adult Hangout
  • Key Differences Between 988 and 9-1-1
  • DODD Communication Boards

Speak Up Food Drive

Tuesday, September 24 - Friday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Speak Up is kicking off their food drive in benefit of Fairfield Food Pantry! You may drop off non-perishable food items at the Janet Clemmons Center beginning on Tuesday, September 24 – Friday, November 1 any time between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday! The most common food needs are: Peanut Butter, Canned Fruit and Vegetables, Macaroni & Cheese, Cereal, Snacks, Spaghetti & Sauce, Canned Meats (Tuna, Chicken, etc.), and Dried Pasta & Rice! Give back to your community with our Speak Up self-advocacy group!

Join the Speak Up Self Advocacy Group!

Tuesday, October 22 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.

SALT TALKS: Home Sweet Home

Tuesday, October 22 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

During this virtual session keynote speaker, Christy Ross, Residential Options Coordinator, will be talking all about the housing decisions and processes you could expect to face. 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!

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!

Trunk-Or-Treat

Thursday, October 24 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join the BCESC for their annual Trunk-or-Treat at the Butler County Fairgrounds located at 1715 Fairgrove Ave. in Hamilton, Ohio. Current families the BCESC serves as well as families they haven't met yet are invited to attend! They will supply trick or treat bags. Participants can trunk or treat at more than 50 cars, meet the Hamilton Fire Department, see one of the Fire Department's trucks, and learn more about BCESC programs.

YMCA Camp Campbell Gard Family Fall Festival

Begins on Friday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday, October 27 at 3:00 p.m.

Leave your work and worries behind and share the fun and excitement of Camp Cambell Gard (CCG) with your entire family! Activities including:

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Archery
  • Rock Climbing
  • Zip Lining
  • High Ropes
  • Pumpkin Painting
  • Fall Fest Carnival
  • Trick-or-Treating! 

Ages 4 and Under are free, Ages 5-17 is $50, and Ages 18 and up are $75. Meals are included. Please call the CCG office at 513-867-0600 with any questions.

Future is Now

Tuesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The Future is now is a two-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. Creating a letter of intent can help families gain peace of mind that comes with having a plan.

Who?

Parents, caregivers, individuals with developmental disabilities, and siblings are encouraged to attend as a family unit.

How will it work?

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.

Where?

The Janet Clemmons Center 282 N. Fair Ave., Hamilton, OH 45011. A meal will be provided. Registration must be completed 1 week before the session begins! Please contact Lisa Tirey at ltirey@butlerdd.org or 513-785-4667 if you have any questions.

REGISTER TODAY!


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!

Online Events & Trainings

Virtual Programming for the entire month!

Every single day in October!

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!

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!

Speed Friends

Wednesday, November 13 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Do you want more friends? Do you want to meet people who share your interests? Try out Speed Friends! At Speed Friends, you will have a chance to meet many possible friends. Each round, you will be chatting with someone new to see if there is a spark. This format will allow you to expand your social circle. This will be on Zoom. For adults 18 and up. Questions? Contact Ann Myres at 513-703-2138. Register on our website!

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!

DODD Communication Boards

Communication boards help people communicate with others by using symbols, pictures, or photos. They can be used by people to express their needs, preferences, and decisions. Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has created a collection of communication boards for people to download to allow people with various communication needs to engage in their communities and activities. To see and download more communication boards visit the DODD website.

Nurse's Notes: Strokes

Every 3 months, our staff nurses share important health updates. This month, our nurses are talking about Strokes. A stroke is when something blocks the blood flow to certain parts of the brain (Ischemic Stroke) or when blood vessels in the brain burst (Hemorrhagic Stroke). This causes that part of the brain to be either damaged or die. This can ultimately lead to long term damage, disability or even death. To read more about Strokes visit our website!

Provider Office Hours

Thursday, October 17, November 7, November 21, and 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 1 Topic: Documentation

Session 2 Topic: Billing

Session 3 Topic: Documentation

Session 4 Topic: Billing

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.

Accessible Free Covid-19 Tests

The federal government is once again providing free COVID-19 tests to households this year. Every US household is eligible for up to 4 tests. Visit COVIDTests.gov to have 4 test kits sent to your home for free. Additionally, there are tests available that are more accessible for people with disabilities (while supplies last). To order the accessible tests visit the website!

Take the Ohio DD Council Survey

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council work is guided by its Five-Year State Plan. This plan is developed based on input from people with developmental disabilities (DD), their family members, and community stakeholders across the state. They are in the early stages of developing the next Five-Year State Plan for 2027-2031, and the first step is to gather public input through a survey. Take the survey today! It's available in English, Spanish, and Somali, and will be open from October 1 through December 31, 2024. 

Autism Connections Events and Resources

Are you looking for autism-related resources? Do you have questions about a new diagnosis? Do you know what questions to ask? Contact the Autism Connections Autism Helpline at 513-561-2300 ext. 101 for guidance, assistance, and understanding. You may also ask your questions by emailing info@autismcincy.org. Check out upcoming programs and other community events on the Autism Connections website calendar!

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!
Tell us how we're doing
 
 
 
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube