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Friday Update weekly newsletter
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July 23, 2010

This is the weekly e-mail newsletter from the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Please forward this newsletter to others interested in activities, events and issues concerning individuals in our community with developmental disabilities. Use this website address to quickly find this newsletter: www.FridayUpdate.info   We update this information every Friday.

  1.   Special Olympians to be featured on television broadcast
  2.   Volunteers needed for Special Olympics State Softball Tournament in Oregon
  3.   County Commissioners recognize the 20th anniversary of the ADA

  4.   Great Lakes Region "ADA Report Cards" Released
  5.   Open House and Tour Schedule for adult facilities
  6.   Peggy Martin will be the guest at the August public forum with John Trunk
  7.   Ready to Work Academy starts July 27
  8.   Keeping Children Safe During ‘Trauma Season’
  9.   ESDY Award Nominations Due August 30
  10.   Upcoming Events

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1.      Special Olympians to be featured on television broadcast

13 ABC will be airing its special feature with  local athletes who participated in the National Games this past week in Lincoln, Nebraska. The special, hosted by Diane Larson, will air on Saturday, July 24th at 7:30 p.m.   It's called "Special Olympics 2010: Champions of Bravery." 

One of our local Team Ohio members,  James Reiter, teamed up with tennis great  Andy Roddick for a doubles match. Read more.

The athletes will be returning home tomorrow. Michael Davis has won one silver and one bronze. James Reiter has won two bronze medals.

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2.   Volunteers needed for Special Olympics State Softball Tournament in Oregon Read more

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3.    County Commissioners recognize the 20th anniversary of the ADA

Lucas County Commissioners Tuesday issued a Certificate recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Read the Certificate. Accepting the Certificate on behalf of all people with disabilities were Sean Poole and Wanda Huber, President and Vice-President respectively of the Telegraph Employee Advocate and Advisory Council.

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4.    Great Lakes Region "ADA Report Cards" Released

To mark the 20th Anniversary of the ADA the DBTAC - Great Lakes ADA Center conducted a poll to learn more about the perception of people with disabilities, their family members and individuals who work with people with disabilities regarding the implementation of the ADA in their communities. Here are the results for Ohio:

C+        Access to local government and community programs and services
C          Removal of physical barriers and buildings
C-        Use of communication supports and alternatives formats
C-        Access to accessible transportation

Top priorities for action included:

  • Increase employment opportunities
  • Advocate for more accessible transportation
  • Educate business and government officials about their rights and responsibilities
  • Provide accommodations for employment

Individuals can view the Region and State by State report cards on-line at www.adareportcard.org/ReportCard

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5.      Open House and Tour Schedule for adult facilities

As the reorganization of the Board's Adult Options Department continues, to include the phase out of the Telegraph Road facility, we want to help individuals and families become more familiar with all the Board facilities. See the attached open house and tour schedule.

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6.     Peggy Martin will be the guest at the August public forum with John Trunk

Peggy Martin, Family Advocate with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, will be the featured guest at the August 10 public forum with Superintendent John Trunk. This forum will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building, 1154 Larc Lane. This is a change in location. Ms. Martin will be discussing the importance of family advocacy and how to become involved. Ms. Martin's discussion are always interesting and insightful. Please plan to attend.

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7.    Ready to Work Academy starts July 27  

The Ready to Work Academy starts July 27 sponsored by The Arc of Lucas County and funded by the Lucas County Board of DD. Ready to Work Academy provides young adults and graduating seniors (ages 17-25) with information and tools about what they need to get a job, interview skills, and how to be a good employee, via classroom work, role-play experiences, and one-on-one mentoring. See the attached flier.

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8.   Keeping Children Safe During ‘Trauma Season’

from Pipeline

The office of Major Unusual Incident (MUI) Investigations within the Department of Developmental Disabilties offers this seasonal article as a summer reminder, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Health. Additional topical information is available at www.dodd.ohio.gov/health/ under ‘Health & Safety Alerts’ and ‘Information Notices.’

According to the Ohio Department of Health, across the country, children age 14 years and younger will be rushed to emergency rooms for treatment of injuries nearly three million times from May through August.

Summertime is often referred to as ‘trauma season’ by healthcare professionals working in emergency departments. The summer months offer more time and longer days for play, and there are many opportunities for children to become injured. In fact, injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for children and youth. The majority of unintentional injury deaths and traumatic brain injuries during the May through August timeframe involve drowning, biking, falls, motor vehicle accidents, and pedestrian incidents. Statistics tell the story:

Thirty-five Ohio children between the ages of 1-19 drown each year, and 77% of these deaths occur between May and August;

Each year, about 200 Ohio children between ages 5 and 15 are admitted to hospitals for injuries received while riding a bicycle. Thousands more are treated in emergency rooms;

Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death for Ohioans between the ages of 5 and 20. On average, 80 Ohioans in this age range lose their lives each year as occupants in motor and recreational vehicles;

An average of 20 Ohio children lose their lives each year in pedestrian-related incidents;

Falls are the overall leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions among Ohioans younger than 14. It is important to supervise children when engaging in summertime activities. Also, make sure that children wear well-fitting safety equipment -- such as a lifejacket or bike helmet -- and, make sure that play sites have age-appropriate equipment and are safely designed.

Parents, guardians, and caretakers play a key role in protecting children from injury. Therefore, while playing with children it is important for adults to model proper safety behavior. Research shows that children are more likely to follow safety rules when they see adults doing so.

According to Scott Phillips, DODD Assistant Deputy Director, Major Unusual Incident (MUI) Investigation Unit,

"The MUI/Registry Unit has issued Summertime Health and Safety Alerts based on MUI case reviews, outlining precautions to take when enjoying the summer season. Injuries typically seen during the summer months include: sunburns; falls on uneven surfaces; dehydration; bug bites and infections; water- related injuries; and, burns from barbecue grills and fireworks. We hope that our stakeholders will reference our Health and Safety Alerts* in addition to checking the Ohio Department of Health website at www.odh.ohio.gov to help make this summer safe and enjoyable for everyone.”

*Alerts are posted at http://dodd.ohio.gov/health/alerts.htm  

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9.    ESDY Award Nominations Due August 30

The Ohio Self Determination Association (OSDA) reminds us of an upcoming opportunity to honor self advocates, family members, and/or professional staff who have gone ‘above and beyond’ in supporting individuals or agencies in furthering the philosophy of Self Determination. An ESDY Award is presented to those who have played a vital role in advancing self determination in the lives of people with developmental disabilities -- including the elements of freedom, authority, support, responsibility, and confirmation.

Deadline for receipt of ESDY nominations is August 30. Send your nomination to Sharon Travis at

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10.    Upcoming Events

The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) has reserved the Statehouse Atrium and West Lawn for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 20th Anniversary Celebration in Columbus on July 26, 11:45 a.m. -1:00 p.m.. In addition to several interesting speakers and a variety of information tables, the event will feature the creation of an art mural on-site, and coordinated by VSA Ohio. The public is invited to attend.

July 26 will be the annual ADA Day at the Zoo sponsored by the Ability Center. Two special commemorations to celebrate that day. The 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 90th birthday of the Ability Center! More than 100 local disability service organizations and providers are expected to attend.

July 27 Anne Grady Services will have a Pizza Jam. Read the attached flier.

ABATE of Ohio, Region 7; Ottawa County presents the 2nd Annual Margaret Stintsman Run on Saturday, July 31, 2010. This fundraiser for ABATE – American Bikers Aimed Toward Education and The Epilepsy Center of NW Ohio will begin and end at Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery located at 3845 E. Wine Cellar Rd. in Port Clinton. Registration starts at 11:00 AM, with the last bike out is set for 1:00 PM. The cost for this fun event is $15 for a single rider and $20 for couples. The scheduled conclusion, with the last bike in, is set for 6:00 PM. Prizes are $500, $250 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively, for the best Poker Hand. Please contact Ray at 419-797-9040 or visit www.spiderrays.com for more information on the Poker Run and Maggie.

As part of its 60th Anniversary celebration, Sunshine has partnered with The Toledo Jazz Orchestra to offer the Sunshine Summer Jazz Concert Series. August 21 will be free and open to the public. The setting will be outdoors on the Sunshine campus at 7223 Maumee Western Road in Maumee, Ohio. These concerts start at 6 PM and last until 7:30 PM. 

The next Rec Jam will be Tuesday, August 24, from 7:00-9:00 pm. at Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania, Ohio 43560. A Rec Jam is a dance where you can expect a lot of fun! Registration is not necessary. Just show up and pay $3.00 at the door. No charge for caregivers. DJ and refreshments are provided. Adults, 18 years of age and older only. So that   large groups may be served,  if you require supervision for dietary, medical, or behavior support that your caregiver accompanies you. If you cannot provide a caregiver, please contact George Leist at 419-704-6432 and he will work with you to develop a plan to safely meet your needs. If you are coming to the event without a caregiver, please carry an identification card and emergency contact information.

The Next DODD Family Advisory Council meeting is August 31. All meetings welcome new attendees! FAC meetings are generally hosted by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) in Columbus.  For more information on FAC contact Peggy Martin at .

September 20 and 21 is the annual conference of the Ohio Self-Determination Association at the Doubletree Hotel in Worthington. This year the theme is Celebrate the Fire Within. For details on registration information call 614-846-5400 ext. 209 or e-mail

Save the date –  September 23 –  for the The University of Toledo Center for Excellence in Autism 1st Annual Critical Issues in Autism Conference. This one-day conference for professionals and for parents of individuals with autism will provide information regarding why, over the years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of autism. This conference will also address the risk factors and the environmental factors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For more information contact: Sherry A. Moyer at 419-383-4438.

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Please forward this newsletter to others interested in activities, events and issues concerning individuals in our community with developmental disabilities. Use this website address to quickly find this newsletter: www.FridayUpdate.info  Please send comments and information updates to