(Submitted by Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities)
The Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities began its celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness month with a trip to the Ohio Statehouse on March 7. There,
members of People First of Wood County and Special Olympics Leadership Academy graduates heard from self-advocates across the state and visited with their legislators and their aides. Wood County attendees spoke with State Senator Randy Gardner about school safety and State Representative Theresa Gavarone’s legislative aide about transportation needs and more opportunities across the county.
Attendee, Mike Stanford of People First, asked Gavarone’s aide about the potential for more people like him to receive their driver’s license and for improved access to higher education opportunities. “I have my driver’s license and I think others would benefit from it, too, he said.” He also described his desire to attend college.
The Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities plans to continue bringing awareness to the county with several other events throughout the month using the theme “Celebrate CommUNITY.”
Wood Lane will host The CommUNITY Honors program on Saturday, March 17, at Nazareth Hall. The event serves to honor self-advocates, community members, families, and staff of the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities who tirelessly work to make change for the better in Wood County. The Kiwanis AKtion club is a proud sponsor of the night.
On Wednesday, March 21, Wood Lane will host CommUNITY Conversations in partnership with Best Buddies of Ohio and Not In Our Town of Bowling Green. The event will include a viewing of a short TED Talk on the topic of developmental disabilities and will follow with a panel discussion made up of experts in the field, self-advocates, and families. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union on the campus of Bowling Green State University.
Finally, on Thursday, March 22, local celebrities will lace their sneakers up to take on Wood County Special Olympics athletes for the Celebrate CommUNITY Celebrity Basketball Game. People First of Wood County will be accepting donations of canned goods as admission to the game. Items will be donated to a local foodbank. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in the Dolores Black Gymnasium at the Bowling Green Community Center.
For more information on Wood Lane or our events please visit us online at www.woodlane.us or contact us at 419-352- 5115.
