September 4, 2024

New This Issue...

Check out what's new this issue!

• SALT TALKS Lunch & Learn: Social Security and Transition
• Legislature Advocacy Day
• SALT TALKS: Planning for Life Skills & Employment through the Project Life & Project Search Programs
• Corn Stand Jam 2024
• SALT TALKS: What are some post high school options?
• "Walk On" For Safe Haven Farms
• Cookies and Connections: Wonderful World of Waivers
• Fall Farm Fun Day and Walk Fundraiser
• Skateway Middletown Party
• How to Thank a DSP/Caregiver During DSP Appreciation Week

The Future is Now September Series

Tuesday, September 10 and Thursday, September 12 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.

Each session offers an opportunity to learn more about important topics:

• Hopes, dreams, and worries for the future
• Expanding personal networks
• Maximizing public benefits (SSI/SSDI/Social Security, STABLE accounts, and Trusts)
• Future living arrangements
• Supports for caregivers
• Keepers of the dream

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. Both sessions 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 Lisa Tirey at ltirey@butlerdd.org or 513-785-4667 if you have any questions. Register on our website!

SALT TALKS Lunch & Learn: Social Security and Transition

Wednesday, September 11 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 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 Lunch & Learn session keynote speaker, Tammy M. Disney, Community Partner Work Incentive Counselor Benefits Analysis Coordinator for Service and Support Administration Residential and Family Support Services, will discuss:

• How to begin preparing for when your child turns 18 years old.
• What transition services do you need to have on your radar.
• What kind of application timeline can you expect for the different services.
• Understanding when to apply for the Social Security Benefits and associated services.
• Who can help you.
• Helpful websites such as Disability Benefits 101.

All are welcome to attend! If you have any questions about the SALT Talk Lunch & Learn series please email prtpattis@gmail.com.

To register for the SALT Talk Lunch and Learn click here! For more information on the SALT Talk Lunch & Learn Series and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!

Legislature Advocacy Day

Monday, September 16 all day long

Join the Ohio 14c Task Force for Legislative Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse! Help eliminate subminimum wage for people with disabilities in Ohio! You can also sign up for a time slot to meet with your legislator(s). There will also be in-person speaker presentations, including Representative Lipps, The Arc of Ohio President/CEO Gary Tonks, Suzanne Turner, Katie Hunt and others. To schedule a time with legislators, please register today: https://forms.office.com/r/jNGB1FKxTa.

SALT TALKS: Planning for Life Skills & Employment through the Project Life & Project Search Programs

Tuesday, September 17 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

During this virtual session, keynote speaker, Michael Albrecht, Supervisor of Transition Programs at Butler Tech, will provide an overview of some of the Southwest Ohio Project Life and Project Search programs. All are welcome to attend! 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. To register for the SALT Talk click here! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!

2024 Community Recognition Awards

Thursday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m.

Join us in honoring our community’s best at the 2024 Community Recognition Awards, which will be held at the Butler County Fairgrounds! This year, we will be celebrating

those that have gone above and beyond for the developmental disability community Carnival style! Attire is business casual, but if you would like to participate in our Carnival theme show us your best outfits! In addition to the awards ceremony, there will be carnival entertainment, decorations, and food! Register for the 2024 Community Recognition Awards today!

Corn Stand Jam 2024

Saturday, September 21 from 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Corn Stand Jam is a community based, all- volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness towards mental health, increasing access to services for those living with mental health issues and to provide resources that help facilitate a more productive life. This year the event will be held at Marcum Park in Hamilton, Ohio. The Corn Stand Jam will include food, vendors, live music, a kids zone, and Rozzi Fireworks! If you would like to volunteer, sponsor, or be a vendor at the event visit the Corn Stand Jam website.

Join the Speak Up Self Advocacy Group!

Tuesday, September 24 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: What are some Post High School options?

Tuesday, September 24 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

During this virutal session, keynote speakers Racheal Spangler, OOD; Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Ohio Transition Support Partnership and Tabbatha Hall, OOD; Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, will discuss employment, post secondary education, and other alternatives. All are welcome to attend! 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. To register for the SALT Talk click here! For more information on the SALT Talk and registration details visit the BCBDD event page on Facebook!

Cookies and Connections: Wonderful World of Waivers

Wednesday, October 9 at from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join Gary Tonks, President/CEO & David Lewis, Executive Vice President of The Arc of Ohio for a presentation and overview of Ohio’s Medicaid and Waivers System, with an update of waiver eligibility and available services, and due process rights. This is a perfect opportunity for families and professionals to explore how waivers can best meet the needs of Ohioans with developmental disabilities. This session will take place at the Janet Clemmons Center located at 282 N. Fair Ave. in Hamilton, Ohio. DODD Approved for 2 hours of Continuing Professional Development Units: Adult Services, County Board Members, SSAs, and Superintendents. Register on our website today. If you have any questions, Dena Barrett at dabarrett@butlerdd.org or call 513-785-4634.

Tartan TOPS Open House

Monday, October 14 from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Come as your schedule allows to learn more about how the Sinclair Community College Tartan TOPS Program supports college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities! The open house will be at Sinclair Community College's Dayton Campus in Building 9, Room 315. If you have any questions email Tartan TOPS at tristan.caput@sinclair.edu or call 937-512-2309.

Skateway Middletown Party

Thursday, October 17 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join us at Skateway Middletown for a skating party! During the party each person will receive 2 slices of pizza and a pop. No walk-ins will be accepted. Please register for every person attending including non-skaters. After registering each person attending, please email Lynn Goodwin at mgoodwin@butlerdd.org with the names of all ticket recipients. For the school-age party (ages 5-18), you may receive up to 5 tickets per family. In order to sign up for tickets one individual needs to be served by the Butler County Board of DD. Please RSVP by Friday, October 4 using the form on our website!

Annual Halloween Dance Party

Saturday, October 26 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled Inc. is hosting their annual Halloween Dance Party at the Fairfield Optimist Club! Space is very limited for this event! RSVP to Lynn Goodwin at mgoodwin@butlerdd.org by Friday, October 18.

Virtual Programming for the entire month!

Every single day in September!

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!

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!

Walk With a Doc Middletown

3rd Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Walking is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health! Walk with a Doc is a walking program designed for anyone looking to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Participants spend a few minutes learning about a current health topic from a healthcare professional, followed by a healthy walk and engaging conversation. It’s an excellent opportunity to get active, enjoy the benefits of walking, and have fun. You can walk at your own pace and cover the distance you’re comfortable with. The walk will take place at Rosa Parks School located at 1210 Verity Pkwy, Middletown, OH 45044. If there is inclement weather the walk will take place at the YMCA located at 1020 Manchester Ave. To learn more visit the Walk with a Doc website!

Thank a Caregiver or DSP!

DSP Appreciation week begins on Sunday, September 8! Next week is your chance to show Caregivers and Direct Support Professionals how much you appreciate their dedication to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities! Not sure how to show your appreciation? We have created a flyer listing 8 ways you can thank a DSP or Caregiver for doing what they do! Feel free to share this with your friends, families, and co-workers so that DSPs and Caregivers can have the BEST DSP Appreciation week yet!

Roll Mobility App

The new Roll Mobility app is designed to make life easier for people who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues. The platform provides you with reliable information on the accessibility of restaurants, public spaces, businesses, trails, and parking spaces, so you'll never have to worry about whether a place is truly accessible. With Roll Mobility, you can easily find and share detailed information on features such as wheelchair ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. You can download the Roll Mobility app on the Google Play store or the Apple app store.

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!