Celebrate DD Awareness Month
NOTICE: DUE TO PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN SURROUNDING Coronavirus (COVID-19), the following events and programs have been cancelled or postponed:
March 12 - Inclusion Basketball Game vs. Staff
March 17 - Medication Administration Certification Training
March 18 - Portage DD Board Meeting (Moved to Live Stream)
March 19 - Ohio Self Determination Association Region Conference
March 20 - DSPaths Advocacy Proficiency Training
March 24 - ‘Don’t Dis My Ability’ Photo Shoot
March 25 - Portage County Self Advocates Meeting
March 25 - Frontline Supervisor Training
March 26 - ‘Don’t Dis My Ability’ Photo Shoot
March 26 - Heartsaver First Aid / CPR / AED Training
March 26 - Inclusion Movie Night
March 31 - Annual Provider Training
March 31 - Akron Zoo Inclusion Outing & Field Trip
For more information about the steps Portage DD is taking to keep our staff, providers, individuals served, and families safe, visit our COVID-19 Resources & Information Page.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! We've got an incredible lineup of educational and interactive events this month, and we're excited to share them with you!
We're also proud to announce our annual theme: 'Don't Dis My Ability'
Keep an eye out for our amazing new theme'd shirts and signage, and be sure to check out all of our amazing events below:
Kent State Men’s Basketball Game
March 3, 2020 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Kent State MACC
1025 Risman Drive · Kent, OH · 44242
Join Portage DD and our Special Olympics athletes to cheer on the #GoldenFlashes Men's Basketball team against Bowling Green! Tickets (Upper GA Section) are discounted online for $7.00 (Code: PortageDD). Athletes will be recognized during the game. Athletes who plan on attending should email Colleen Brown at colleenb@portagedd.org, or call 330-297-4187.
DD Awareness Rally
March 4 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Ravenna Public Square
203 W Main Street · Ravenna, OH · 44266
Walk, Roll or Stroll for DD Awareness! Join Portage DD for a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Rally featuring Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman!
Portage DD: Quarterly Provider Meeting
March 4, 2020 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Administration Building
2606 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
Transition Booster: Achieving Quality Employment
March 4, 2020 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Reed Memorial Library
167 E Main Street · Ravenna, OH · 44266
Join us for our free Transition Booster Sessions in the Portage County Area. These sessions are for parents, caregivers, or professionals working with youth and young adults who have developmental disabilities and/or special health care needs. Speakers include:
Employment & Community Life - Britta Hough - Regional Community Life Engagement Project Manager for NE Ohio Region of Employment First. Employment First ensures that individuals eligible for DD services in Ohio have as many opportunities as possible to work and thrive in their communities.
Community Employment - Roya Hood - Rehabilitation Program Specialist for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities in the Supported Employment and Transition Unit, providing technical support and assistance to projects and partnerships related to Supported Employment and students with disabilities.
ARC Night at the Cavs
March 7, 2020 | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Rocket Mortgage Field House
1 Center Court · Cleveland, OH · 44115
Celebrate DD Awareness Month with the Cleveland Cavaliers & The Arc of Ohio! Each ticket includes a Cavs 50th Season drawstring bag, and a portion of every ticket purchase will also be donated to the ARC of Ohio.
Portage DD: Heartsaver First Aid / CPR / AED Training
March 10, 2020 | 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM | Community & Provider Relations
2500 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED is a video-based, instructor-led course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage an emergency until emergency medical services arrives. Skills covered in this course include first aid; choking relief in adults, children, and infants; and what to do for sudden cardiac arrest in adults, children, and infants.
Note: For the 6 hour CPR/First Aid/AED class, there will be no lunch break, however the instructor will permit eating during the class time.
$40/Individual
Information Contact: Karen Hill, Nursing Support Manager, (330)296-8714 or karenh@portagedd.org.
Scheduling Contact: Kim Holbert, Account Clerk II, (330)296-2839 ext. 3148 or kimh@portagedd.org.
Portage DD: Self Advocates Social Volunteer Night (RSVP REQUIRED)
March 10, 2020 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Kent Healthcare & Rehabilitation
1290 Fairchild Avenue · Kent, OH · 44240
Portage DD: UI/MUI Training Course
March 11, 2020 | 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Administration Building
2606 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
This course satisfies the requirements for the Initial/Annual required training on the MUI Rule, OAC 5123-17-02. Course content includes a review of types of Unusual and Major Unusual Incidents (UI and MUI), UI logs, UI investigations, MUI reporting requirements, immediate actions, defining Primary Person Involved (PPI) and mandatory reporters. The course also includes Clients Rights, ORC Section 5123.62 and prior year Health and Welfare Alerts. A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion.
Free to attend.
MUI Training Contact: Tim Torch, Human Resources Specialist, (330) 297-2083 or timt@portagedd.org.
Portage DD: Board Meeting
March 18, 2020 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Administration Building
2606 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
DSPaths Advocacy Proficiency: Interpersonal Communications March 20, 2020 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Community & Provider Relations 2500 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
This class discusses the basics of effective communication with a focus on the goal of achieving of mutual understanding in communicative efforts. This class will assist participants in identifying barriers to effective listening and the traits of a great listener.
Participants will work together in role play activities to investigate four approaches to communication with an emphasis on the skills and behaviors of an effective assertive communicator. This class also allows participants to practice special assertive communicative techniques for use in difficult situations.
The training is 3 hours. No cost.
Scheduling Contact: Kim Holbert, Account Clerk II, (330)296-2839 ext. 3148 or kimh@portagedd.org.
Portage DD: Frontline Supervisor Training
March 25, 2020 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Community & Provider Relations
2500 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
Assisting DSPs and Other Support Staff with the Understanding and Implementation of the Person Centered Planning Process
This class examines the practice and techniques used in the person centered planning process. The class participant will practice and demonstrate proficiency in using specific tools of person centered planning. This class explores methods of facilitating and teaching self-determination skills to supported individuals as well as supporting DSPs to be involved in the person centered planning process.
The training is 3 hours. No cost.
Scheduling Contact: Kim Holbert, Account Clerk II, (330)296-2839 ext. 3148 or kimh@portagedd.org.
Portage DD: Heartsaver First Aid / CPR / AED Training
March 26, 2020 | 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM | Community & Provider Relations
2500 Brady Lake Road · Ravenna, OH · 44266-1657
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED is a video-based, instructor-led course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage an emergency until emergency medical services arrives. Skills covered in this course include first aid; choking relief in adults, children, and infants; and what to do for sudden cardiac arrest in adults, children, and infants.
Note: For the 6 hour CPR/First Aid/AED class, there will be no lunch break, however the instructor will permit eating during the class time.
$40/Individual
Information Contact: Karen Hill, Nursing Support Manager, (330)296-8714 or karenh@portagedd.org.
Scheduling Contact: Kim Holbert, Account Clerk II, (330)296-2839 ext. 3148 or kimh@portagedd.org.
Special Olympics Chipotle Fundraiser
March 30, 2020 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Chipotle - Kent
429 E Main Street · Kent, OH · 44240
Join us for a fundraiser to support Portage DD Special Olympics. Just come in to the Chipotle at 429 E. Main Street in Kent on Monday, March 30th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
Bring in this flyer, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 33% of the proceeds will be donated to Portage DD Special Olympics.