March 2017
        In this issue TableOfContents
 
From the Superintendent

Last spring we began the formal process to find a provider to operate our three adult centers. Earlier this month we announced the operation of Beckman, Franks, and Kidd will become the full responsibility of Active Day on May 1.
 
Active Day is the largest provider of adult day and personal home services in the United States. They currently have more than 80 locations across the country helping more than 6,200 individuals achieve a healthy and active quality of life. Representatives from Active Day have met with staff and families at each adult center.
 
Hamilton County DD Services will continue to operate the centers through the end of April with everyone who chooses to attend and the staff who want to remain employed with us until then. On May 1 Active Day will assume operation of Beckman, Franks, and Kidd providing the same array of services, including work and leisure opportunities, to everyone who wants to stay at the adult centers and with staff who accept employment with the new provider.
 
Between now and May 1, service and support administrators (SSAs) will be working with individuals who attend the adult centers to complete "My Plan" revisions.
 
We recognize these times of significant change are difficult for everyone and are working to make this transition as seamless as possible for all involved. Although Hamilton County DD Services will no longer provide direct services through the adult centers, we will continue to provide quality monitoring and remain the source of funding for individuals.
 
We have a longstanding tradition of caring at this agency that will continue as we work toward our mission to promote and support opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live, work, learn, and fully participate in their communities.

Sincerely,
Alice C. Pavey
 
Read the announcement on our website, along with an FAQ for individuals and families. 
 
Celebrating DD Awareness MonthDDMonth2017

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and was celebrated with many events. 


From left: Hamilton County Commissioners passed a proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and recognizing 2017 as the 50th anniversary of Ohio's County Board of DD system; A group of our advocates spent March 8 in Columbus speaking to our state representatives and senators about legislation impacting people with DD.



From left: Advocate Diana Mairose and SSA Lainie Lynch helped Nielsen Company employees sign an online pledge to remove the "R" word from everyday speech; Lynne, Leah, Kathy and Nancy shared their stories after the screening of "Mimi and Dona," a film about aging caregivers at Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival. 


HCDDS Introduction & Eligibility staff Kathy Forte, left, Tanya Godbold, and Latrice Smith read to children at local elementary schools this month. The books had an emphasis on disabilities and diversity, and each class discussed differences among people and how to be supportive.

Get out and explore! FFCguest
 
We had a wonderful opportunity to partner with other County Boards of DD in our region to write a guest post for Family Friendly Cincinnati featuring places around southwest Ohio that offer fun activities for families with children who have special needs. They are a welcoming place for people of all abilities to be themselves, be safe, and have fun.
 
Each county - Butler, Clermont, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery and Warren - feature a few places to explore. Click here to check out the list!

Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Art Museum, which has a variety of accessibility programs each month.

Early Intervention
Waiver changeswaiver

Early Intervention , the state program previously known as Help Me Grow that supports infants and toddlers, has moved over to the Ohio  Department of Developmental Disabilities

Check out family and provider resources on the new website to help navigate the program.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved amendments to the Level One, Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF), and Individual Options (IO) Waivers. The changes will be effective April 1. 

Learn more about the changes to each type of waiver on the DODD website.

The LEND program at Cincinnati Children's is accepting applications for family members who would like to participate in leadership and advocacy training. 

Click here to learn more about the program and how to participate. Applications are due by April 28. 

Shootin' HoopsKiddFT

Michelle focuses and lines up her shot at the Kidd Center's free throw contest. The annual event celebrates March Madness and happens just in time for the Final Four, this year with some help from St. Xavier High School students. 

See more pictures on our Facebook page


Volunteer at the Flying Pig MarathonMarathonvols

People for DD Services is once again hosting a fluid station at Mile 25 for the Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday, May 7. We're looking for volunteers to fill three shifts:  7:30 - 10 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to noon, and 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. We need 10-15 people per shift, and all volunteers get a free T-shirt.
 
Follow the instructions below if you want to volunteer! 
Questions? Email Lisa Danford 



2. Find and select  People for DD Services from the Group list

3. Complete Required Volunteer Information; please note your preferred shift

4. Use  dds  as the group password when asked near the end of the form.

5. Click "Get Me Registered" to submit your information.

  • Autism and All Expo10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Sharonville Convention Center . Free event for families to connect with providers and other resources. More details online .
  • STABLE Account Webinar.  11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 4. Learn more about these accounts that help people with disabilities and their families save money without losing benefits. Free, but registration required.
  • Transition Bootcamp Booster Session. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at the Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. Learn about educational, vocational and other opportunities after high school. Free to attend. Click here for more details.
  • New World of Adult Day Array. 9 a.m. to noon Monday, April 10, at HCDDS Queensgate office, 801 W. 8th St. Discussion focused on changes to adult day array service options, person-centered planning, community integration and more. Event is free, but registration requested via email to Carin Sherman. Click here for a more detailed agenda.
  • HCDDS Board Meeting. 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Support Center, 1520 Madison Road.
  • Navigating the Ohio Means Jobs website. 8-11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Hamilton County Educational Service Center, 11083 Hamilton Ave. Kristina Ropos, Career Technical Planning Consultant, will present on how to access the Ohio Means Jobs website and teach families and professionals how to interact with this career tool throughout a student's secondary school years. Click here for a flier and registration details.
  • Families in the Know. 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, April 12, at the Support Center, 1520 Madison Road. This session will cover the Ohio DD Services budget, local work centers, waiting list updates, and the critical empowerment of families. Free to attend, but registration requested online. Click here for a flier.
  • Facilitating Play Skills in Preschoolers with ASD. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Cincinnati Children's Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave. This presentation will focus on identifying motivating play materials for children with ASD (sensory based, functional, and imaginative play) as well as child-oriented behaviors and language modeling strategies parents may use. RSVP to cwillenborg@autismcincy.org
  • "Uncanny" art exhibit. Visionaries and Voices, 3841 Spring Grove Ave. This portraiture show examines our concepts of what is real and how we represent reality. Exhibit open through May 25. Click here for details.
  • Common Threads Network. 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 19, at Crossroads Church Mason, 990 Reading Road. This session is an introduction to Charting the LifeCourse, a way of thinking about planning a rich and inclusive life. Free for families, $5 for professionals. Click here to register online. Click here for a flier.
  • Incline to the Finish Line 5K. 9 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at St. Joseph Home, 10722 Wyscarver Road. Registration is $35 before April 7. Click here for details.
  • "In the Middle of Grand Central Station."7:15 p.m. Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, at the Carson Masonic Lodge, 218 Ludlow St. The Marjorie Book Continuing Education Society performance of a play about a young homeless woman living in Grand Central Station. Click here for details.
  • Family Advisory Council Meeting. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Delaware County DD office, 7991 Columbus Pike in Lewis Center. This session will focus on how families can get involved and provide input at the state level. The meeting also will be streamed live on the DODD Facebook page. Registration and agenda details available online
  • Pigabilities. 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6. This one-mile event is open to people with disabilities of all ages who want to be part of the Flying Pig Marathon weekend but do not want to compete. Registration is $15 and must be complete by April 23. Click here for information.
  • HCDDS Board Meeting. 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Support Center, 1520 Madison Road.
  • NAMI Walks 5K. 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Sawyer Point. Hamilton County DD Services has a team participating in this walk. Click here for more information or contact Renee Dunn