Community Connections Newsletter | |
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We Are Looking For Gifts Card Donations
We have had several scenarios lately where someone we support is in need of basic goods like groceries and gas. We are looking for donations of gift cards to Walmart and Kroger to fill this need. Any amount is helpful though we prefer donations of $25 and $50. If you would like to donate, please deliver or mail the gift cards to:
Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Att: Jenny Mann
282 N. Fair Avenue
Hamilton, OH 45011
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Art on the Rise
Saturday, June 15 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Visit the Cincinnati Art Museum for Art on the Rise, a monthly program built on community partnerships that brings together live performances and art-making activities. This event is free! Visit the Cincinnati Art Museum website for more details!
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Join the Speak Up Self Advocacy Group!
Tuesday, June 25 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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Abilities at Bat Day
Sunday, July 7 at 1:40 p.m.
The Cincinnati Reds Abilities at Bat Day highlights and celebrates people of all abilities while building awareness of disability services in our community. The day includes fun giveaways, pregame ceremonies, on-field parade, shout outs on the scoreboard, and a special ceremonial pitch. Be sure to arrive at the ballpark as soon as the gates open at 12:10pm, so you can join the on field parade. Those who want to be in the parade will convene in the Fan Zone. A special Graham Ashcraft City Connect bobblehead will also be given away as fans enter the ballpark, while supplies last! The first 500 people to purchase Abilities at Bat tickets receive a commemorative 2024 Abilities at Bat Drawstring Bag. The bag can be claimed in the Fan Zone. Purchase tickets!
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The Future is Now is Open for Registration!
Tuesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Future is now is a two-part series that takes place at the Janet Clemmons Center that is 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. 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. 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 for the Future is Now!
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Cookies and Connections Parent Networking: Housing 101
Tuesday, July 16 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Join us for this special parent-networking event focused on housing. BCBDD Residential Options Coordinator Christy Ross will guide participants through the process of finding the right living situation for their loved ones.
Topics covered will include:
-Steps to take before seeking housing
-How to find housing
-Where the individual can live
-What they are responsible for
-Determining if the person can live on their own
-And more.
Visit our website to register! If you have any questions please reach out to Jenny Mann at jamann@butlerdd.org or 513-785-2813.
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Ohio State Fair Sensory-Friendly Morning
Tuesday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Ohio Stte Fair is turning down the lights and volume to make the Fair more sensory-friendly in partnership with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Autism Society of Central Ohio (ASCO), and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD). Ride the rides with no flashing lights or music or take a break in the quiet room. Visit ohiostatefair.com/events, or download the Ohio State Fair app, to view a complete schedule of activities and exhibits.
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Marcum Park Fun Day
Saturday, August 17 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Help bring awareness to the ID and DD community at the first annual Fun Day at Marcum Park in Downtown, Hamilton! The celebration will include face painting, a DJ, disability friendly games and activities, inflatables, food, and a wheelchair maze. For more information visit www.reach-me.info.
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Virtual Programming for the entire month!
Every single day in June!
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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Congratulations to June's DSP of the Month, Monica Williams!
Congratulations to Monica Williams, June's Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Month! Monica started her career as an HCP. Monica enjoyed the field so much that she dedicated herself to the position and eventually decided to make it her "forever" career. "Monica understands and communicates with this person in a way that they understand and has set up structure and systems that allow this person to have greater independence," Holle said. "She is devoted, kind, creative, and compassionate. This individual used to struggle with staff, kicking them out, verbally attacking them, even physically attacking them at times. Monica has worked through all of these issues with this person and has helped with reducing not only behaviors but increasing this individual’s independence."
Do you know an amazing DSP who deserves to be recognized for everything they do? Nominate them below! Nominations for July's DSP of the Month are due by Monday, July 1. Read More About Monica and Nominate a DSP!
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Congratulations to June's Employee Spotlight Winner, SSA Rebecca Shepherd!
Join us as we pay tribute to the incredible staff, we have here at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities (BCBDD) through our appreciation series called “The Employee Spotlight of the Month!” Congratulations to Rebecca Shepherd, June's Employee Spotlight winner! Tina Jameson, whose daughter Tiffany has been on Rebecca's caseload for the past 6 months, says she is so thankful and grateful for Rebecca as she has been instrumental in helping Tiffany get her own apartment.
"One of Tiffany's goals was to be in her own apartment," Tina said. "Rebecca was and is a huge help in getting Tiffany in her own apartment. She has advocated for Tiffany to get the best staff when she saw that the staff assigned wasn't a good fit for Tiffany. She also got the remote home care setup. Rebecca continues to check in on Tiffany to confirm that everything is going well including staff and home services. Rebecca has guided me with processes and advice on what I can or should do with my daughter being out on her own."
Is there someone from the BDBDD that has changed you and your family's lives? Submissions for July's Employee Spotlight of the Month are due by Monday, July 1! Read More About Rebecca and Nominate a BCBDD Employee!
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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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We were on Fox19 NOW News!
We got the opportunity to share with the community all the fun and exciting things we have going on at the BCBDD on Fox19 Now News on Tuesday, June 11! Julie O'Neil interviewed Superintendent Lee Ann Emmons and Public Relations Coordinator Cassie Mattia about our new mission statement, gaining our 3 year accreditation, being named one of the top workplaces in Cincinnati for 2024, and what it's been like for Lee Ann thus far as a new Superintendent for the BCBDD. If you missed the interview watch it now! If you would like to meet Lee Ann attend the meet and greet on Tuesday, June 25 from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Janet Clemmons Center located at 282 N Fair Ave. in Hamilton!
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The Nurse's Notes Are in!
Every 3 months, our staff nurses share important health updates. This month, our nurses are talking about Burns. Burns are tissue damage brought on by heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation, or the sun. To learn more about Burns read this month's Nurse's Notes!
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Disability Rights Ohio seeks public input to shape 2025 goals and objectives
Every year, Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) gathers public input from Ohioans with disabilities, advocates, allies, and partner organizations to better understand the issues and barriers faced in their communities. This information is used to inform and shape their work in the upcoming year. The 2025 Goals and Objectives Survey is open now through Friday, June 21. Take the survey!
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USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse
The USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse has a mission to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. If you are looking for resources resources to combat hunger including food banks and summer food programs please call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or text 914-342-7744 with key words such as “food”, “summer”, “meals”, etc. to receive an automated response to resources located near an address and/or zip code. To learn more visit the USDA website.
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Fairfield City Schools Summer Meal Program
Fairfield City Schools have launched a summer meal program in which anyone under the age of 18 years old can receive a FREE lunch! All meals are served between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on first come first served basis. On Mondays and Thursdays meals will be served at Hamilton Fairfield Skate Park, on Tuesdays meals will be served at Fairfield Lane Library, and on Wednesdays meals will be served at Jungle Jim's in Fairfield. Meals will be available Monday - Thursday in June and July. All meals must be eaten on site. To-go meals will be available at Joyce Park in Fairfield Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more details visit the Fairfield City Schools website!
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Middletown Residents Can Get up to $3000 For Home Improvements
The City of Middletown's Home Improvement Repair Program is open to single-family, owner-occupied homes in the Oakland, Mayfield and Sherman neighborhoods. Approved homeowners can receive up to $3,000 for repairs and improvements. Up to 50% may be requested to be paid in advance of the project, with the balance to be paid as a reimbursement after completion. A homeowner can participate once a year. Homeowners will have 90 days after approval for work completion, and inspection will also happen after the repairs are completed with before-and-after photos. To apply, complete the application on the City of Middletown website and provide all supporting documentation to the city of Middletown Development Services Department at 1 Donham Plaza, third floor, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Note that applications must be submitted in person to the department.
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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.
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Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Summer Safety Alert
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has released its latest health and welfare alert. The "Summer Safety #02-05-24" alert provides critical information to caregivers about summer safety. Read the tips for summer safety!
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Free Summer Concert Series
Warm summer nights are perfect for kicking back to relax and enjoying a good show. The summer concert series features a variety of live music, local bands and theatre performances that you can attend any night of the week over the summer. Grab your friends and family, and get ready for a good time. Concerts are weather-permitting. Dates, times, and performances are subject to change. View the full free summer concert series schedule!
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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! | | | | |
