April 1, 2024

Family Fun Fairs 2024

Cuyahoga DD is hosting four Family Fun Fairs in 2024.

The FREE fairs are for families with children with developmental disabilities to meet and connect, learn about Cuyahoga DD, and have fun!

Each fair is geared toward families with children ages 14 and under, served by Cuyahoga DD. All events are rain or shine and will take place from 12 - 2 PM.

Registration is required and space is limited. Click the button below to register.

Date	Location
Saturday, May 18	Big Creek Center, Parma
Saturday, June 8	Green Road Center, Highland Hills
Sunday, July 28	Big Creek Center, Parma
Sunday, October 20	Green Road Center, Highland Hills

Registration

Total Solar Eclipse on April 8

On Monday, April 8, Cuyahoga County will be in the path of a total solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves in between the sun and Earth. The moon will cover the sun and will cause darkness during the day.

Eclipse Schedule

Eclipse starts: 1:59 PM
Totality begins: 3:13 PM
Maximum totality: 3:15 PM
Totality ends: 3:17 PM
Eclipse ends: 4:28 PM

Safe Eclipse Viewing

It is never safe to look directly at the solar eclipse without appropriate eye protection. Proper eclipse glasses are needed to view the eclipse safely. Homemade filters and sunglasses are not safe for viewing. Seeing the eclipse without proper glasses can cause injuries to your eyes.

Eclipse glasses can be purchased online or obtained through local organizations. Contact your local library and organizations to learn if they have free glasses. The eclipse can be safely seen inside, on TV or live streaming, as well.

Planning Ahead

On the day of the eclipse, traffic and crowds will increase. If possible, we encourage people to view the eclipse from open spaces closer to home. If you do decide to view the eclipse at a community event, be sure to plan ahead. Click here to find an eclipse viewing event.

Resources

Ask Your Representative in Congress to Support DSP Bill

Recently, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (S. 1332). This legislation is important progress toward creating a standard occupational classification (SOC) for direct support professionals (DSPs).

The bill urges the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to make a unique SOC code for DSPs. This classification is vital for strengthening and professionalizing the DSP workforce, enabling comprehensive and accurate data collection. By providing policymakers with better insights into the direct support workforce, the SOC for DSPs will facilitate more effective policy responses to address critical issues in the field.

Click here for more information. To call on your representative to recognize direct support professionals visit ANCOR's website.

Library Facilitators Sharing Inclusion at Westlake Elementary School

Cuyahoga DD partnered with Westlake Porter Public Library and Westlake Elementary School to bring inclusive storytimes to students last month. Cuyahoga DD Library Facilitators are adults with developmental disabilities who co-lead inclusive storytimes throughout Cuyahoga County.

The Library Facilitators read We Move Together and sang songs, incorporating American Sign Language (ASL) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices.

Brigid, Library Facilitator, Natalie Bota, WPPL Disability Resources Librarian, and Stefanie Galbreath, Community Development Specialist, presented to students in the Channel 19 News coverage below.

Channel 19 News - Inclusive Story Time at Westlake Elementary School

DD Awareness Month Celebrated at Cleveland Monsters' Sensory-Friendly Game

DD Awareness Month was celebrated on March 18 with a fantastic partnership with the Cleveland Monsters at a sensory-friendly game. The Cleveland Monsters allowed our community development team to audit a game several weeks prior. Then, the team gave suggestions to better support fans during the in-game experience. Our community and workforce development team addressed guest services supervisors pre-game with tools for their teams to support fans with sensory needs and other disabilities.

To accommodate fans with sensory needs during the game, the Cleveland Monsters:

Invited our Mobile Sensory Space to park outside and fans could go in and out as needed
Lowered noise levels throughout the arena
Created a sensory-friendly information webpage, with example videos of what noises and lights to expect
Sensory Friendly Information
Created additional quiet areas for anyone who got overstimulated
Invited a person we support to drop the puck and picked him and his family up in a limo to bring them to and from the game
And so much more

Many thanks to the community and workforce development and assistive technology and children’s services teams and the Cleveland Monsters for making this a great event for the people served by Cuyahoga DD, direct support professionals, and all the fans who attended the game!

Young man standing in the middle of an aisle in the arena with the people and hockey ring behind him

Fans attending the hockey game. Brandon dropping the puck to begin the game.

Assistive Technology Lending Library Featured on WYKC's We The People

Lori Mago, Director of Assistive Technology and Children's Services visited Leon Bibb on WKYC's We The People last month.

She shared about our extensive Lending Library that houses assistive technology, and occupational and physical therapy equipment for the people we serve to test and use.

Watch the full segment here.

Left to right Lori and Leon on We The People set

Virtual Independent Provider Meet and Greet

Meet independent providers (IP) who can support you at our virtual meet and greet. Here you will be able to learn what services, availability, and certifications each IP has.

Date: Wednesday, April 3

Time: 10 AM or 5 PM

Where: Zoom

Meeting

Razzle Dazzle: Everything Old Is New Again - Cover To Cover at Beck Center for the Arts

Razzle Dazzle: Everything Old Is New Again - Cover To Cover will take place at the Music & Creative Arts Therapies Building Recital Hall at Beck Center of the Arts this month.

The cast and crew of Razzle Dazzle are people with disabilities and volunteers. The cast will perform the original, new and cover versions of songs you love. All the while showcasing ever-changing technology.

Cuyahoga DD is a producing partner for Razzle Dazzle.

Friday, April 26 at 7:30 PM, $15
Saturday, April 27 at 3:30 & 7:30 PM, Free admission
Sunday, April 28 at 2:30 PM, Free admission

Tickets

Talespinner Children's Theatre Recruiting "The Troupe" Members

Talespinners Children's Theatre presents a new free theater performance program. "The Troupe" will be a space for adults who identify as disabled to be creative, expressive, and perform. Participants will be cast in the production of "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales."

Dates:

Enrollment period: 5/1 - 5/31
Rehearsals: 6/3 - 7/29, Mondays & Thursdays from 6 - 8 PM
Performance: 8/2

For questions, contact Rebecca Burcher, Director of Education, at [email protected]. Once enrollment opens on May 1, register via their website. Cuyahoga DD is proud to fund the program.

Cleveland State University Seeking Research Study Participants

Down Syndrome Study

The Cleveland State University (CSU) Human Performance Laboratory, in partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Special Needs Fitness, is looking for research study volunteers with Down syndrome, ages 18 and older. CSU wants to observe the impact of regular exercise on biomarkers of health and Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down syndrome.

Volunteers will visit the lab one time for about 2 hours. Participants who complete testing will receive a $25 gift card. Participants will receive the following testing:

Body fat percentage
Blood lipid and glucose panel
Cognitive
Self-Esteem
Blood pressure

If interested, contact Emily Kullman, PhD at [email protected] or 216-687-4854 or William Matcham, PhD at [email protected] or 216-687-3890.

Autistic and Non-Autistic Study

Grace Blatt, Good Life Ambassador and CSU Psychological Sciences Masters of Arts student is conducting a psychology study for her graduate thesis.

What?

They seek to investigate differences between autistic and non-autistic individuals in their ability to perceive and reproduce time intervals.

Who?

Autistic and non-autistic individuals
Must be 18 - 40 years of age
Must be able to independently operate a computer

How?

All participants will be entered to win one of three Amazon gift cards ($30.00 each)
CSU students enrolled in a psychology class that requires research participation will also receive 1 research credit
This study will be conducted online
Will take approximately 45 minutes
Email [email protected] for more information and to participate

Online Resource Guide to Inclusive Places, Jobs and Events

Discover inclusive places, jobs, and events near you on our Online Resource Guide. Our community experts verified organizations and places as part of our All Means All initiative, ensuring they are inclusive and accessible.

Find your perfect job match with our Workforce Development team's assistance, as they can connect you with local businesses. Don't miss out on year-round fun events, both virtual and in-person, to build connections and experiences.

Check out the places, jobs and events listed in each category below to learn more.

We Want to Hear from You!

Supporting Staff Survey

Have you recently interacted with Cuyahoga DD staff as part of receiving services and supports from the board? Please let us know how we are doing. Complete the short survey below for each staff member you worked with.

Survey

Shout Out Your Provider

Providers play an important role in the lives of the people we serve. Now is your chance to recognize them for all the amazing work they do. Complete the form below to shout out the provider that supports you. The shout-out may appear on Cuyahoga DD's social media pages and e-News.

Form

Cuyahoga DD Employee Spotlights

Jennifer Weiss,

Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

“I love my job helping vendors, working as a team, and collaborating with my coworkers.”

Debbie Mihalik, Support Administrator Housing and Assessment

“I enjoy the cohesiveness of staff can be seen when all the subject matter experts pull together and positively change lives.”

Provider Spotlight

A Cuyahoga DD staff member wants to shout out Therapeutic Relations Healthcare Services.

"Therapeutic Relations has the patience and care that all providers need. They do a lot with their residents at home, in the community, and in their workshop. They believe in the teaching method as well showing individuals they can be independent and giving them responsibilities they can handle. Staff work to show individuals they are important and they can do it."

Learn more about Therapeutic Relations at therapeuticrhs.com.

Books with Inclusive Stories, Messaging and Representation

These books are inclusive in their messaging, stories and representation. These books are joyful, fun to read, and selected from an anti-bias and anti-racism perspective. Check out these books at your local library.

Read Aloud, 0-8 Years