From the Superintendent 
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As 2019 gets under way, I look forward to a happy and productive year. As you may have already seen, our Board recently approved our
2019 Annual Plan, which features 10 goals related to our strategic focus to guide us this year. The Board also approved our
2019-2022 Strategic Plan
, which includes five focus areas that allow us to respond to the needs of our stakeholders and position Hamilton County DD Services for the future
. I encourage everyone to view both plans and see the exciting progress we have planned over the coming years.
The new year also brings new statewide leadership in Ohio. We want to congratulate and welcome Jeff Davis as the new director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. We look forward to working with him to continue to improve Ohio's system of supporting people with developmental disabilities. Davis was appointed to the position by Governor Mike DeWine, who, on his first day in office,
signed an executive order establishing Ohio as a disability inclusion state and model employer of people with disabilities.
In Hamilton County, we welcomed new Commissioner Stephanie Dumas. We look forward to working with her and the other commissioners on issues important to people we support and their families. This year we are also preparing for a levy renewal. When the Developmental Disabilities Services levy was last on the ballot in 2014, voters overwhelming approved the levy. We look forward to working with the county commissioners and the Tax Levy Review Committee on this important issue this year.
We have an exciting year ahead of us, and I encourage you to visit our website and social media profiles to stay up-to-date on all our news.
Sincerely,
Alice C. Pavey
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Wheelchair-accessible snow fort goes viral
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 With the first big snow of the season, the Eichhorn family wanted all their children to experience the winter wonderland. A small igloo became a 10-foot snow fort with an entrance wide enough for 19-year-old Zahara who attends Rost School, and 11-year-old Elijah, both of whom use wheelchairs, to fit.
Neighbor Daniel Thoms posted a photo on Reddit, and their story soon went viral. It was featured locally on
WCPO and
Fox 19; nationally on
CBS News and in
People magazine; and even internationally
on BBC!
Though surprised by all the publicity, Gregg Eichhorn said he's thankful for it because it's been "a great platform for promoting special and medical needs adoption."
The Eichhorns have nine adopted children, eight of whom live with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Photo by Daniel Thoms
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Our new strategic plan allows us to respond to the needs of our stakeholders and position Hamilton County DD Services for the future.
The five focus areas are: Family Engagement, Community Partnershi
p, Go-To Resources, Innovative Solutions and Service Quality & Fiscal Responsibility. Click here to view the 2019-2022 strategic plan.
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Our 2019 Annual Plan identifies 10 goals and action steps for the upcoming year related to provider capacity, waiting list support, housing and transportation, transition planning and more.
Each goal is rooted in our Strategic Plan and represents concrete steps toward our long-term objectives.
Click here to view our 2019 Annual Plan.
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How I See It - Disability Cocoon Tech:Festival
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Last fall we had a fantastic opportunity to film "How I See It" on location at the American Sign Museum during the Disability Cocoon Tech:Festival.
Host Robert Shuemak interviewed several vendors, attendees and the Disability Cocoon founder about
how their products and services can help people with disabilities be more independent and live full lives.
- Dustin Wright, founder of Disability Cocoon and organizer of the Tech:Festival
- Nick Alexander of Total Homecare Solutions, on remote support technology
- Matthew Kaufman of StationMD, which provides telemedicine services to people with disabilities
- Tim Jones, creator of the LeanOnMe smartphone app, which connects people with disabilities to a parent, guardian, job coach, or other key people
- Duane Tempel of Night Owl Support Services, which specializes in remote support technology
- Steve Hendrick of Scioto Properties, a sponsor of the festival. Scioto Properties supports people with disabilities through housing and financing of new technology
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Future is Now
Our Future is Now series is returning in April. This series is designed to help older caregivers and their family members capture
desires and goals for the future of their loved ones.
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Leaders in Action
Earlier this month, members of the advocacy group Leaders in Action came together for a reunion lunch. The group formed in 1998 and met multiple times each month for nearly 20 years!
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Provider Certification Training. 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at LADD
. Meets requirements for both initial provider certification and mandatory annual training for current providers. For information, please click
here
.
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CPR and First Aid.
10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25 at LADD.
CPR and AED Training.
This meets the standard for Provider Certification through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. For information, please click
here
.
- Caring for Children and Youth with Disabilities Babysitter Course. 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 29 to Feb. 26 at Cincinnati Children's Medical Office. Space is limited. For information and to register, please click here.
- Fun with Shrinky Dinks! 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at V+V Visionarium. Make some mini magic into pins, earrings, or other crafts! For more information, please click here.
- Victoria Theatre Sensory Adventure Class. 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2-Mar. 9 at the Victoria Theater. Program for young adults with ASD. Each week will focus on different aspects of theatre. For more information, please click here.
- Provider Certification Training. 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 at LADD. Meets requirements for both initial provider certification and mandatory annual training for current providers. For information, please click here.
- CPR and First Aid. 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at LADD. CPR and AED Training. This meets the standard for Provider Certification through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. For information, please click here.
- Memory Café. 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Greenhills Branch. This is a place for people with Alzheimer's or dementia and their care partners. For more information, please click here.
- Crafting Buddies. 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at North Central Branch. Make a craft and help a different-abled adult make theirs, too. For information, please click here.
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Family Navigation Workshop for Caregivers.
6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Children's Hospital Liberty Campus.
Learn how to develop an individualized plan the reflects your strengths and goals. Meet with other caregivers. For information, please click here.
- Prevent and Manage Supervisor Stress, Burnout and Secondary Trauma. 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at LADD. This training will assist supervisors to manage and prevent stress, burnout and secondary trauma in themselves as professionals so we can take better care of those we serve. For information, please click here.
- Family Organization Forum. 12 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 at DODD. Organizations supporting families of Ohioans with disabilities are invited to hear updates from DODD, provide feedback and network. For information, please click here.
- Sibshops 2019. 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at Cincinnati Children's. This nationally acclaimed program provides peer support for siblings of children with special needs. For more information, please click here.
- Memory Café. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18 at the Blue Ash Branch. This is a place for people with Alzheimer's or dementia and their care partners. Click here for information.
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