Our mission is to facilitate the education of adults with disabilities to realize their aspirations. 
November 2012
Greetings!

Welcome to LADD's online newsletter, the LADD Flyer! This monthly newsletter will update you on all of LADD's latest news, events, and happenings. This month we are introduced to some of LADD's finest service recipients and staff and learn about how they are giving back to the community and to great causes, all on their own time. LADD gives back!
 
Matt Chaffin is proud to help people get around his city

Matt Chaffin: Expert Traveler, Caring Mentor
 
Matt Chaffin knows the streets of Cincinnati better most Cincinnatians. After six years of working with Cincinnati's official bus system, Metro, he's basically a human GPS!
 
Matt became involved with Metro six years ago when he took part in Project Search, a program that helps high school graduates transition to jobs in the city. One of the integral parts of Project Search is "travel training", which helps program participants become familiar with Cincinnati's various forms of public transportation, which mostly involves using the bus system. Matt, who works full-time at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, became an expert on using the Metro bus system during his year at Project Search. At the end of the program, the teacher of the class asked Matt to come on as a volunteer. He now "travel trains" for Project Search, specializing in the Metro bus system.

Matt loves being involved as a volunteer for Project Search and Metro. He has memorized the entire bus route for both Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Matt is a mentor to those involved in Project Search and has helped countless participants learn how to use the bus system and how to expedite their often slow bus travels. 
 
Matt says the best part of being a Travel Trainer is meeting new friends and helping people in the community.

"I'm a mentor. I love to help people get around the city. I love meeting new friends and seeing new faces." Matt said. 

Matt said while working as a Travel Trainer, he has witnessed people taking one hour bus trips, when they could be much shorter. He knows the system so well that he helped one of his friends and the people he was mentoring get her trip down from an hour to 15 minutes.
 
"I know this city really well." Matt said, "It was difficult learning all of the streets and it is visually challenging at night, but it has been rewarding to help all of Project Search's student interns." 
 
Matt is an expert traveler in the city of Cincinnati. His expertise on the bus has helped lots of people and gets him around the city in record time. 
 

TEAM BFF Walks for the Cure! Photo courtesy of DJ Gatwood

LADD Staff Give Back in a Big Way

In October, LADD staff DJ Gatwood and Diane Crooker participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Tampa, Florida. The event is a 60 mile walk that spans over three days. DJ and Diane dubbed their team "Team BFF," and they participated in the walk for one of their closest friends, who is a breast cancer survivor. Their friend's strength inspired them to take on the task of walking 60 miles to raise awareness. They traveled to Florida in order to support her. They also nominated her to be a flag bearer at the event. Their friend flew the "Optimism Flag." LADD service recipient Gena Wade also participated in the race, walking seven miles with "Team BFF." 

DJ said the walk lasted longer than three days for her and her team. They started training in spring 2012, walking all around Cincinnati and its suburbs in order to prepare for the 20 mile a day process. The experience was more than a walk to DJ, Diane and their team. It was a chance to get in shape, raise awareness for an important cause, and experience something incredibly positive that had a major impact on their lives. 
 
"It was a super positive environment. You're surrounded by love, immersed in positivity and community for three days." DJ reflected. "It was emotional experience."
 


Do You Know Someone Worth Celebrating? 
Taking Flight Nominations Deadline Approaching
 
Nominations are now open for LADD's 2013 Taking Flight Awards! The ceremony is May 2, 2013, at Great American Ballpark from 6 to 9 p.m.

Nominations are due by January 4, 2013 and are to be submitted to: kbarnes@laddinc.org with the subject: Taking Flight Nominations.




LADD to host 2013 ReelAbilities Film Festival!

Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival is coming to Cincinnati March 9th-16th, 2013! LADD is thrilled to be hosting this extraordinary event with Visionaries+Voices. 
 
ReelAbilities is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. 

 

Click above to view three one minute trailers from the 2010-2012 ReelAbilities film festivals.


Click above to view an interview with Attorney Richard Bernstein about the Cincinnati ReelAbilities film festival. 
 

LADD 
Board of Trustees
 
Board Chair

Christopher A. Carlson

President

Anthony G. Esposito

Vice President

Carol J. Ney

Vice President

John Lanier

Treasurer

Gary J. Gruber

Secretary

David G. Krall

Karen Deller

Vallie C. Geier
Shelley Goering
Karri Haffner
Ellis Hummel
Robert F. Jung, CFA
Danielle Lydon
Robert Shuemak
Tom Straus

Vance V. VanDrake III

 

 

Development 
and 
Public Relations
Committee
 
Vallie Geier
Carol Ney
Shelley Goering
Karri Haffner
Ellis Hummel
Robert F. Jung, CFA
John Lanier
Danielle Lydon
Robert Shuemak
Alison Zimmerman
Anthony G. Esposito
Susan Brownknight
David Robinson