Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys and public comment!

• There’s only two more weeks to submit to Issue 8 of Imagine the World as One: A Disability Lifestyle Magazine! Please send us your articles about
  “Submit articles at http://www.imaginetheworldasonemagazine.com or email them to imaginetheworldasonemagazine@gmail.com Fashion Employment Product reviews Money Accessibility Dating Relationships Advocacy Art Between 2000-3000 Words Please send us your articles about disability and…. Submit your article at imaginetheworldasonemagazine.com Due September 30, 2025

Events around Ohio to For September 15th -September 20th 2025

Monday September 15th 2025

• All-Abilities Adventure, Monday, Sep 15 · 11 AM–12 PM Dayton Metro Library – Miamisburg Branch, 545 E Linden Ave, Miamisburg, OH 45342
• Advocating for your child with Autism means being a proactive, informed, and compassionate voice in ensuring they receive the support, services, and understanding they need to thrive—especially in educational settings.
  But – You don’t know what you don’t know!
  Join ASGA for the September VOICE Session with Marjorie Cook, OCFPS-Supervisor | PEERS Program Manager at Greenleaf Family Center.
  REGISTER NOW: https://tinyurl.com/fjcucubv

Tuesday September 16th 2025

• Special Needs Social Hour, Tuesday, Sep 16 · 12–1 PM Medina County District Library, 210 S Broadway St, Medina, OH 44256
• Breaking Silences Advocacy Committee meeting will take place on Zoom from 3-4 PM. If you’d like more information, contact Maria Matzik at:
  Maria.Matzik@acils.com
• IEPs & 504s Empowered by an Advocate! 6-7pm Parents get Empowered! Looks like a great virtual webinar to learn more about IEPs and 504s. If you have an autistic child you need to be knowledgeable on basic educational rights. Thank you ASPIES for hosting! Register HERE — https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQYixoD1fof4jQZ8hhiuhPcCqrjx8b77z0e6ohT5RsmoyQSA/viewform

Wednesday September 17th 2025

• Healthy Aging Expo 10am-2pm 🌟 Get ready — the 513Relief Bus Healthy Aging Remix is making its return! 693 FRESNO RD. 45240
  link to more information.
• Sign up for the next Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Employer Training webinar. This free webinar will provide organizational leadership best practices for creating a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
  What: Employer Training: Disability-Inclusive Workplaces: Inclusive Leadership
  When: Wednesday, September 17th 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
  Where: Virtual (Microsoft Teams link will be sent upon registration)
  Registration is required to attend. Click here to sign up: https://bit.ly/43ux4WL
• OSDA at We Thrive Together 11:00-12:00pm click this link to join
• 🚔 Calling all Summit County Law Enforcement! 🚔
  Join us for the Safety on the Spectrum™ Training – essential education for first responders working with the Autism community. Two upcoming sessions available:
  📅 September 17th
  📅 November 12th
  In this training, you’ll learn:
  ✅ The Stop. Assess. Support. framework
  ✅ Common characteristics of Autism
  ✅ How to offer Autism-informed support
  ✅ Critical safety information about wandering and drowning risks
  You can learn more or register for one of the sessions at: https://bit.ly/48gOgmv
  SafetyOnTheSpectrum #LawEnforcementTraining #AutismAwareness #FirstResponders #SummitCounty
• Butler County Board DD provider Meeting, Wednesday, Sep 17 · 10 AM–12 PM, Repeats every month on the third Wednesday Join us for our regular provider meetings so you can stay up to date on the latest information. Meetings are currently all via Zoom. You can request the link by emailing Cathy Borders at cmborders@butlerdd.org
• Save the Date for the Inclusive Opporunity Fair on Wednesday, September 17th from 6–8 PM at the Westerville Community Center. 350 N. Cleveland Ave.
  This is a free event and no registration is required. Various local organizations will provide information about opportunities, products and programs for individuals with developmental, physical or invisible disabilities.
• Special Needs Family Support Event, Wednesday, Sep 17 · 6–7 PM Children’s Museum of Findlay, 1800 Tiffin Ave # 201, Findlay, OH 45840 Join Pierce’s Crew Foundation for our monthly Support Events.🥰 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO THEIR MOVE) Come meet and connect with other community families just like yours. These events will be a safe and supportive space to play, chat and learn. Support events are open to all special needs families.
• People First of Northeast Ohio, Wednesday, Sep 17 · 6:30–8 PM, Repeats every month on the third Wednesday People First is a self advocacy group for Adults with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) in NE Ohio. They care about having our voices heard, empowering one another, nothing about us without us, Education, Equality and Inclusion. They meet virtually. For more information contact amy.mordaunt@thearcofohio.org

Thursday September 18th 2025

• No known Events

Friday September 19th 2025

• Silent Sensory Lab, Friday, Sep 19 · 9:30–10:30 AM Troy-Miami County Public Library, 419 W Main St, Troy, OH 45373

Saturday September 20th 2025

• 4th Annual March for Access, Saturday, Sep 20 · 10 AM–12:30 PM Join NOCDO for our 4th annual March for Access!
  The March for Access will take place from 10 am – 12:30 pm on Saturday, September 20, (rain or shine). This is a FREE event.
  March theme and purpose:
  Accessible and inclusive transportation options. This is to honor and build on the 40th anniversary of the Cleveland Transportation Protests.
  Schedule:
  Saturday, September 20, 2025
  10:00 am: Visit resource tables and make posters
  11:00 am: Rally and March
  12:00 pm: March photo and resource tables Accessibility:
  Masking encouraged
  Captioning and ASL interpretation of rally
  Wheelchair accessible restrooms and route
  Wheelchair charging station
  Location and Transportation:
  Rally location: 127 Public Square, Cleveland
  From 9:45 – 12:45 pm: Free parking and ADA shuttle transportation provided by Youth Challenge between County Board of Developmental Disability Lakeside parking lot and Public Square.
  CCBDD parking lot address: 1275 Lakeside Avenue East, Cleveland OH 44114
• Drive Through BBQ Fundraiser 11 am 950 Webster St, Defiance, OH 43512-1682, United States DASH will be holding its 3rd annual Drive-Thru BBQ Fundraiser @St. Johns UCC on September 20th from 11am-1pm. All proceeds help those living with disabilities.
  Choice of hamburger or hotdog: with chips, macaroni salad and a dessert.
  FREE WILL DONATION check out facebook event link here.

Sunday September 21 2025

• Step Up to Prevent Suicide Community Walk, Sunday, Sep 21 · 8–9 AM Medina Public Square Historic District, Public Square, Medina, OH 44256

Helpful Information by National, State and County Agencies and Organizations for People to Read

• Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Rare Diseases
• Sheriff Smith and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office would like to introduce the Peaceful Encounter Program (PEP); a new, voluntary and confidential program designed to help law enforcement respond more effectively and compassionately to individuals with mental or behavioral health conditions.
  This program allows individuals or their caregivers to share important information ahead of time (such as communication needs, known triggers, calming techniques, or other helpful notes) so that deputies are better prepared if a crisis should arise.
  Who can enroll?
  Anyone in Athens County living with: Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety, OCD, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, or any condition where advanced knowledge could improve our response.
  All information is kept private and is only accessed by law enforcement during calls involving the registered individual.
  How to sign up:
  Visit http://www.athenssheriff.com/pep and complete the questionnaire. It’s quick and secure!
  If you have questions or concerns about the program, please contact Deputy Zayne Preston at 740-566-4356 or zpreston@athenssheriff.com
  Let’s work together to promote safety, understanding, and peaceful outcomes for everyone in our community.
• News Highlight: Bridging Aging and Disability Networks (BADN) Explains How to Better Support Aging Adults with IDD and Their Caregivers
  A new article called “Bridging Aging and Disability Networks to Support Aging Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Family Caregivers” was published in the Public Policy and Aging Report by the Gerontological Society of America.
  The article explains that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are living longer, and their needs — along with those of their aging family caregivers — are getting more complicated. Most still live at home with support from aging parents or relatives. Even though they have many of the same needs as other older adults, they are often overlooked because aging and disability services don’t always work together.
  You can read the full BADN article in the latest edition of NACDD’s Insight: https://nacdd.org/nacdd-insight-july-2025/#badn
• Resources for Improving Respite Care for Caregivers
• Ready to get out into the workforce? Our teams will support you to find the best-fitting job!
  Cuyahoga DD’s Online Resource Guide has local job opportunities for the people we serve.
  Local jobs with openings at ow.ly/NGL050WqLmA.
• Supported Decision Making Network of Ohio shares a tool kit about supported decision making through their Facebook page. Please check it out!
• Families: Check out this new resource from OCALI:
  First Concerns About Child Development and Learning (Ages 3-21):
  What Parents Need To Know
  https://ocali.org/storage/ocali-ims-sites/ocali-ims-ocali/documents/What_Parents_Need_to_Know.pdf
• Cleveland Sight Center Radio Network (CSCN) is now available on Alexa devices! This radio station is dedicated to providing information, news and entertainment to the blind and visually impaired community. To play it, say “Alexa, open Cleveland Sight Center Network skill.” Don’t forget to say skill at the end, or else a different news broadcast will open. Happy listening!

September Awareness Month

• Dystonia Awareness Month
• Self Care Awareness Month
• National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
• September 1st-6th is National Migraine Awareness Month
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
• September 6th is National Read a Book Day
• National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month
• National Library Card Sign Up Month