what's happening

Tuesday, November 11th, Everything You Need To Know About SSI, Julie Honican, Ohio Legal Aid. Discussions will include eligibility requirements for SSI, changes at age 18, working and SSI (yes! you can work and still receive SSI). There will also be time for your questions to be answered.

Thursday, December 11, Developing a Plan for the Future: How To Get Started. Discussion will be about transition plans, how is involved and how to know if you are developing a plan that is right for your son or daughter.

Thursday, January 8, 2009, Work Training Options for High School Students, various representatives from 4 specific programs. You will learn about 4 different programs that prepare students for work. They include Project Search, Project Life, Abilities First Transitions and Work Study at MHS.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, Legal, Medical and Financial Issues: What Parents Need to Know When Your Child Turns 18, Julie Honican, Ohio Legal Aid. At 18 your son or daughter becomes an adult and makes their own legal, financial or medical decisions. How do you know if your son or daughter is ready for those responsibilities and what you can do if they are not? Discussions will include guardianship, power of attorney, payees and more.

Thursday, March 5th, Agency Day Fair. Local agencies will be available to answer questions and share information about their individual programs. They include: Butler County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD), Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and other mental health and job development programs.

State Support Team 13 (formerly Special Education Regional Resource Center, SERRC) present the Parent/Family Leadership Training:

The Parent/Family Leadership Series offer interactive, hands-on learning sessions related to various special education topics. Family members may attend any or all sessions. A $20 gift card, to help defray expenses will be provided to parents and family members. The sessions will be held at CRES (formerly SERRC), 1301 Bonnell, 3rd floor, CIncinnati from 6 -8:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month December through April. To register call Terri at 513-563-0045. Additional information is available by contacting Sue at 513-674-4261. Download flyer

The School to Adult Transition Series meetings are held on various Wednesdays at Janet Clemmons Center, located at 282 N. Fair Avenue in Hamilton, 6 -7:30. These sessions provide timely information to families as they get their teenager ready for life after high school. Teenagers are encouraged to attend a separate meeting to discuss issues relating to their future plans including work. All parents are welcome but children must be eligible for MRDD services and register with Patty at 678-9195 or email pattyo39@aol.com. Next meeting date is Oct. 22 and topic will be employment supports. Download flyer

Arc Holiday Dinner Dance will be held on December 7 from 3 -8 p.m. at Meadowbrook Inn, Venice Blvd. in Ross. Dinner, dancing, prizes and lots of fun for everyone for a cost of $12 for adults and $6 for consumers. Dinner will be served at 5 pm. More information call Jean at 513-503-3593. Download flyer. The Arc of Butler County is a non-profit human rights organization of family members for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities. The Arc believes that all persons should have the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play.

Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled has a newsletter that lists different activities throughout Butler county. To receive a copy please write Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled at 2051 Timberman Rd., Hamilton, Ohio 45013 or email sstropes@fuse.net Download newsletter

Special Olympics bowling for young high school students and adults takes place every Saturday at Eastern Lanes on Coles Rd. Middletown. Bowling begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. and cost is $4.00 for two games. For more information call Susan at 392-5541.

ADHD support group has formed in the south Dayton area (Kettering). The group meets at Christ United Methodist Church, 3340 Shroyer Rd. on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Meetings also include monthly presentations by a child psychologist. Childcare is available if you call in advance. For more information, please call Terry at 937-293-3151.

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention / Hyperactivity Disorder) meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at First Baptist Church of Mason (735 Reading Rd.) from 7 -10 p.m. Speakers talk for 75 minutes followed by discussion and support. A $3.00 donation is requested for non CHADD members. For more information call 513-459-6080.

Kinship Club, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren provides support and help with resources if you are raising a child other than your own. The Middletown support group meets at Zion Lutheran Church, corner of Breiel Blvd. & Central Ave. on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:00. A second group meets at Janet Clemmons Center, 282 Fair Ave., Hamiltonon the last Thursday of each month from 6:30 -8:00. For more information or help call Mary Gressle, Butler Co. Kinship Navigator at 1-785-6891 or 1-800-341-6891.

A Peer Support Group sponsored by the Butler County National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Butler County Family and Children First Council has been formed. They meet the second Tuesday of every month from 7 - 9 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 4601 Fairfield Ave. in Fairfield. Questions call Lynda at 513-887-5519.

Epilepsy Support Group of Butler County meets the 4th Thursday of the month at Janet Clemmons Center, 282 Fair Ave. in Hamilton from 6:00 -7:30.

Parents Anonymous helps parents or caregivers deal with the stress of raising children. The meetings are co-led by parents and a professionally trained facilitator and welcome anyone involved in parenting a child. The group meets every Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 244 Dayton St., Hamilton. For more information call 863-6129.

Asperger's Syndrome, PDD and High Functioning Autism support group meets the first Monday of every month at Christ United Methodist Church, 3440 Shroyer Rd. in Kettering at 7 p.m. Free childcare is provided by the church. For more information, or to be added to the groups mailing list call Audrey at 937-433-4505.

TS (Tourette Syndrome) Plus center located at Cincinnati Children's Hospital satellite in Mason will offer the latest information on Tourette Syndrome to families. Various featured speakers will present the last Friday of each month. For more information please contact Cindy at 513-677-0075 or 1-800-543-2675 for a list of times and speakers.

Tourette Syndrome Support Group in Dayton offers education and support to parents of children with Tourette Syndrome. Group meets quarterly. For times and more information call 937-641-3497.

Cystic Fibrosis Parent Support Group meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7:00 -8:30 at Children Medical Center in Dayton. Call 937-641-3440 for more information.

Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association (MVDSA) meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Job Center, 1133 Edwin C. Moses Blvd. in Dayton. All family members are invited to attend. Family membership in the group costs only $15 a year.

Parent of BiPolar Children Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Sabin Education Center at 3333 Burnett Ave., 2nd floor, rooms D-24 and D-25. Call Pam 513-467-0423 for more information.

Dynmoc Duos User Support Group meets at Bobbi Fairfax School, 4999 Kingsley from 6 - 8 p.m. in Cincinnati. For further information call Sue at 513-241-2600.

Deaf Kids Club sponsored by Community Services for the Deaf provides recreational opportunities for deal kids and teens throughout the Dayton area. The group meets at the Dayton Deaf Club on Valley St. For more information contact Michelle at 937-640-8032.

Downs Syndrome Society of Greater Cincinnati has numerous support groups available for parents and grandparents. Call 513-761-5400 for more information and a complete listing.