Update-HLC is Closed 

HLC is on Plan B Tuesday January 22, 2019. 

UCBDD announces the retirement of Bruce Davis and appointment of Scott Anspach to the board.

Our Winter Edition of the Kaleidoscope Newsletter is now available. In this issue, dive deeper into who Harold Lewis was, how technology can help create independence, and more. 

📅 Save the Date - January 16, 2019 📅

The Parent Mentors of Dublin City Schools and the Special Education Advancement Council (SEAC) will host its 11th Annual Summer Program Fair for parents of children with special needs. Regional agencies and camps will share information on the activities that they offer during the summer for children with disabilities aged preschool through high school graduation.

🌟 Looking to start a career that is both rewarding and allows for a flexible schedule? 🌟

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an Independent Direct Service Provider for people with developmental disabilities.

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for inclusion, friendship and leadership to individuals with Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Best Buddies Ambassador Program is a leadership initiative designed to encourage people with IDD to advocate for themselves and their peers through a variety of platforms. Ambassadors work one-on-one with a
community volunteer to craft speeches, improve public speaking skills, and understand the basics of advocacy.

Best Buddies welcomes any adult with IDD to participate in this Ambassador Training. Participants do not have to be a member of the Best Buddies program to attend and no experience is necessary. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Union County is hosting a mental health first aid course specifically for youth on January 18, 2019. Space is limited to 30 participants and registration is required. 

Due to fog in the area, the Harold Lewis Center will be closed Friday, November 30.

Have a safe day!

The Harold Lewis Center is on Plan B due to weather for Friday, November 30.

AM Classes - 10am-12:00pm

PM Classes - 1:30pm-3:30pm

All Day Class - 10am-2:30pm

AM Buses will run 1hr and 45 minutes later than normal

PM buses will run 1hr later than normal

Due to the Harold Lewis Center being closed today, November 15, tonight's event with In Step Dance Center is cancelled.

HLC is now Closed 11/15/18 due to icy roads in the county. 

the Harold Lewis Center is on Plan B due to icy roads.

AM Class 10:00-12:00

All Day Class 10:00-2:30

PM Class 1:30-3:30

Free Parenting Workshop hosted by Nationwide Children's Hospital. Thursday, November 15 - 6-8pm @ North Union Elementary School in Richwood.

Dealing with Disobedience: Get tips for parents, grandparents and other caregivers on how to get kids between the ages of 0-8 to listen and follow directions - and what to do when they don't. 

With so many new technologies now available and the array of choices constantly growing, how do you determine which tool is the best match for your child’s unique needs? This session will provide an overview of a best-practice process that can be used to systematically and collaboratively guide an IEP team through Assistive Technology decision-making and implementation. Click "read more" for additional information and the link to register. 

UCBDD is looking for community members willing to help with transportation and computer assistance needs. Click "Read More" for more information. 

Due to the threat of inclement weather the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) rescheduled the Ice Cream Social for Tuesday September 11th 2018 from 6-7pm.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Please see attached flyer.

Due to an unforeseen transportation issue, there will be no school on Friday, August 24, 2018. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause to our families. School will resume as scheduled on Tuesday morning.

Are you ready for a new school year to start?  The staff at the Harold Lewis Center are getting ready
for the 2018-19 school year.  You can now access the 2018-19 Preschool Handbook and Calendar on our website or you can click below.

2018-19 HLC Preschool Handbook

2018-19 HLC Preschool Calendar

The Marysville Public Library and Marysville Schools will again be offering free meals to youth (0-18 years old).  No income requirement is needed to participate.

Where:  Memorial Health Pavilion (corner of 6th & Main St., next to the library)

When:  June 4 -August 10, 12 noon - 12:30pm, except Wed., July 4th

Co-sponsored by the Ohio Department of Education and the USDA

 

With only a few weeks of preschool left, we are also preparing for the 2018-19 Preschool year.  If you have a child who will be attending the Harold Lewis Center Preschool we need your help to make sure we are ready for your student to attend.  All enrollment and emergency medical forms need to be filled out and turned in to the Harold Lewis Center by June 15 so we can set up the bus routes and classrooms.

To make this as easy as possible, you can fill out and submit these forms to us on our website, you can print them out from our website, fill them out, and/or drop off or mail them to us or you can fill out the forms which will be in the packet you will be receiving.  Please click here for the forms.

If you have any questions about these forms, please contact us at 937-645-6714.

We look forward to this new school year and helping your child be successful!  

The Guardianship Seminar scheduled for Wednesday, April 18 has been cancelled due to unforeseen events.

Please join us Tuesday April 24th at 6pm at the Harold Lewis Center for a visit front the Turtle Lady.  Get hands on with her turtles and other reptiles.

The Harold Lewis Center is on Plan B Wednesday April 4 due to road conditions in the southwest part of the county. 

AM Class 10:00-12:00 
PM Class 1:30-3:30
All Day Class 10:00-2:30

The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities is responsible for the transportation of preschoolers attending the Harold Lewis Center.  For the past ten years, the Board has contracted with First Student to provide busing for the Harold Lewis Center.  The current contract ends on June 30, 2018.  At the March Board meeting, the Board approved the recommendation of the Transportation Committee to award V.A.T. the contract to provide busing service from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023.  Two bids were submitted that were virtually identical, meeting or exceeding all Board requirements with V.A.T.'s bid being significantly lower.  V.A.T. will officially start on July 1, 2018.  Parents and students can meet bus staff and tour the school bus on Meet the Teacher Day.  

The Harold Lewis Center, a program of the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, was recently awarded a Five-Star Step Up To Quality Award from the State of Ohio.  This is the highest award given in recognition of a commitment to quality and an ongoing dedication to the learning and development of children.

Step Up To Quality is Ohio’s rating system for learning and development programs. Participating programs can earn a one to five star rating. 

We are Hiring for the following positions:

Service Consultant

Preschool Instructor

Preschool Instructor Aide

Speech Therapist EI

Preschool Operations Coordinator

Check out the Employment tab for more Details

Please join us on March 13th 2018 at 6pm at the Harold Lewis Center to enjoy "Mister Pickles" as he performs his "Jarful of Fun" variety show.

People with developmental disabilities and their families have repeatedly told us Ohio's waiting list for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers is overly complex and in need of simplification.  The current waiting list confuses people with developmental disabilities and their families, misleads advocates, and hinders efforts by policymakers to direct resources to where they are needed most.

To better serve Ohioans with developmental disabilities, the organizations listed below have been collaborating for more than 15 months to modernize Ohio’s failed Medicaid Waiver waiting list. We believe replacing the current system will greatly improve the way Ohio’s waiting list for HCBS waivers operates.

Harold Lewis Center Closed 

HLC Preschool is going to the zoo!

Throughout 2017, we worked to complete our federally-mandated transition out of providing direct services through our community employment division called WorkNet.  We have invited new employment service providers to Union County so individuals have many service provider choices in order to choose a provider that best meets their needs.  We have helped dozens of individuals meet new service providers that they trust and we have passed the torch of being a leader in Ohio for employing individuals in the community to our service provider partners.  Together, with our provider partners, we will collaborate and strive to support individuals in Union County with a developmental disability and will continue to be a leader, supporting individuals to work in their community.

The WorkNet staff will continue to support each individual’s employment journey by working with providers to coordinate jobs with people seeking employment and being an employment resource.  However, WorkNet will no longer exist as a separate program.  In the near future, information typically found through WorkNet, including employment resources and staff contact information, will be available through the Support Services division.

Contact community employment staff through the Support Services Staff Directory or by clicking the link below

Community employment staff

Everyone:

March 3 - April 15, 2018, providers of day program and employment supports across Ohio -- including 20 in the Southwest Ohio region -- will be opening their doors, both in real time and online, in order to talk about how they are transforming the way they support people from a facility-based focus toward a community-based one.   

Transformation-at-a-Glance is a great opportunity for providers, county board staff, families, individuals, and other stakeholders, to network, ask questions, and discover great ideas on how to improve both services and lives.

Each presenting provider will talk about how they are making change happen around 5 key areas that matter:  Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Service Innovation.  They will be offering up real-world ideas and solutions.  

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED. 

Here's the link to profiles, dates and times, as well as a link to RSVP, for all the Transformation-at-a-Glances happening across the state:

Update: Harold Lewis Center will be CLOSED Tuesday January 16, 2018 due to snow and ice. Be safe. 

Playgroup at Integrity Gymnastics cancelled Tuesday 1/16/18 due to weather. 

Harold Lewis Center is on Plan B due to snow covered road in the county. 

AM Class 10-12 (bus pick up is 1 hour and 45 minutes later, drop off is1 hour later than usual)

PM Class 1:30-3:30 (bus pick up is 1 hour later, drop off is 15 minutes later than usual)

All Day Class 10-2:30 (bus pick up is 1 hour 45 minutes later, drop off is regular time)

WEST LIBERTY — The family drove up the icy, winding road to get to the top of the hill, where, for them and so many others, magic awaits.

On this sprawling and picture-perfect 42 acres in rural Logan County, Rocky Grimes is expanding his nonprofit organization that develops, modifies and specially outfits bicycles, go-karts and the like to help people of varying abilities overcome their challenges and meet both physical and quality-of-life goals.

Grimes has never had a permanent space where he could build, repair and store the go-karts and equipment for his clients — until now.

Closings and Delays at the Harold Lewis Center

UCBDD will be hosting a Special Olympics Sports Banquet for all of its 2017 Athletes and Volunteers. 

The Union County Special Olympics Cougars basketball team beat Westerville this week 42-17.  

Come cheer on the team, check out the game schedule below.

2017-18 Union County Cougars Basketball Game Schedule

Our Harold Lewis Center families enjoyed an evening of catching pancakes and visiting with Santa Claus

Click on the link below for the 2017-18 Cougar Basketball Game Schedule

Basketball Game Schedule

HLC is on Plan B 12/14/2017 due to icy roads in the county.

AM Class is 10:00-12:00

PM Class is 1:30-3:30

All Day Class is 10:00-2:30 

The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities recently hired Logan Plumb to fill the open position of Special Olympics & Community Integration Coordinator.

Nick Bowsher, Employment Specialist at the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, offers a new way to use mainstream technology to help someone be more independent in their job.

Click on read more to watch the YouTube.

The Harold Lewis Center would like to invite their families to enjoy a night of pancakes and visit with Santa

Families of the Harold Lewis Center enjoyed an evening of magic with Erica Carlson

The Harold Lewis Center is excited to have Erica Carlson perform her "Find the Joy" Magic Show on Tuesday November 14th at 6pm.  We hope to see you there.

Check out the video below of our own Nick Bowsher talking about our Union County Community Employers

https://youtu.be/nbf7WLI9uCY 

https://youtu.be/19UNItK7PAw

Union County Special Olympics Basketball Team Season Is Here!

Practice Schedule

Mondays at the Harold Lewis Center Gym, 1280 Charles Lane, Marysville
4:00pm - 6:00pm

Wednesday at the Church of the Nazarene, 1126 North Maple St., Marysville
4:30pm - 6:30pm

Main Contact:  David Curry at 937-209-8770

Our families of the Harold Lewis Center gathered with their creativity to build their family scarecrow.  We had a great turnout, lots of fun, and saw some very festive scarecrows.

The Harold Lewis Center Parent Council (PAC) would like to invite you to create a scarecrow on Tuesday October 24th from 6-7pm

The Special Olympics and Fitness Coordinator has resigned from his position at the County Board

The County Board is working on hiring someone to replace him and hope to have someone in place as soon as possible.

The County Board is committed to the Special Olympics program in Union County.

Join October’s Ohio Family Town Hall on Technology!

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council are excited to host the Ohio Family Town Hall on Technology this month to offer a forum for people with developmental disabilities and their families to discuss their personal experiences using technology to promote independence, while connecting people with information about assistive technology and remote support services.

The town hall is Friday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 4:30 PM at the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 7991 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, 43035.

Wrightslaw is a great resource for anyone who needs a great resource for all things that fall under the category of Special Education.  Below is a paraphrased excerpt from an electronic article titled "Parent Advocacy:  What You Should Do . . .and Not Do" by Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq.

What Parents Should Do

1. Prepare for Meetings

2. Prioritize Your Child's Needs

3. Build Good Relationships

4. Document Issues & Concerns

Dublin City Schools Parent Mentors/SEAC and 

The International Dyslexia Association of Central Ohio

PRESENT

What is Dyslexia?  

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

6:30 – 8:00 pm 

Dublin Community Rec Center

5600 Post Road 

Dublin, OH 43017

Please RSVP to:  dublin_seac@yahoo.com

Join the Harold Lewis Center for their Annual Ice Cream Social

Click here for more information

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., will be held in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, October 20, 2017.  This training is top notch when it comes to focusing on:

*Special education law, rights and responsibilities

*Tests and measurements to measure progress & regression

*SMART IEPs

*Introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education.

For more information & to register click here

Gohio Commute is a program of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's (MORPC) that equips individuals and companies with transportation resources for commuting options that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly.  For more information on how this might benefit you or someone you know, click here for the Gohio Brochure.

Our Tots in Tow playgroup starts in September

click here for more information

HLC is on Plan B Friday September 15, 2017 due to fog and poor visibility in the county.

AM Class 10:00-12:00

PM Class 1:30-3:30

All Day Class 10:00-2:30

To better serve Ohioans with developmental disabilities, we have started the process of simplifying the waiting list for home and community-based waiver services as well as improving access to resources and services for individuals and families throughout Ohio.  Together, The Arc of Ohio and stakeholders representing individuals and their family members, guardians, providers, county boards of developmental disabilities and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities are working on changes that will improve Ohio's Waiver Waiting List process.

Dental - Physicals - Screenings - Vaccinations-

Developmental screenings for birth to 6 - and more!

For flyer, click here

We Are Hiring!!!!

Preschool Coordinator

For more information please see:

EMPLOYMENT Tab  on the

UCBDD website at  www.ucbdd.org/

Or the Union County Board of DD Facebook page.

Save the date...

The Harold Lewis Center is now offering online fillable forms for the convenience of its parents.  Enjoy the convenience of filling out forms from anywhere you have access to the internet.  Below are the forms currently available in fillable format. If you are interested in our Peer Model Program, please use form below to be added to our wait list.  If you are concerned about your child's development, please click here for the Referral for Evaluation form.

Harold Lewis Center 2017-18 Preschool Enrollment Form - Complete after child has been admitted to program

Harold Lewis Center Peer Model Intake Form 2017-18 - Complete if interested in Peer Model Program

Harold Lewis Center 2017-18 Emergency Medical Form  - Complete after child has been admitted to program

Early Intervention 2017-18 Enrollment Form - Children birth - 3 only

The Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities opposes fiver major changes that would prohibit the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities from:

1.  Enrolling ANY new Medicaid waivers in fiscal year 2018 and 2019;

2.  Raising Medicaid rate to fund a wage increase to direct support professionals;

3.  Raising Medicaid rates to permit the streamlining of the Shared Living service model;

4.  Raising Medicaid rates to allow for a complex care add-on; and

5.  Using funds appropriated in the Intermediate Care Facilities Bed Tax Line  Item to fulfill critical services needs.

Ohio Association of County Boards' letter to lawmakers

To contact your representative, click here

To contact your senator, click here

Harold Lewis Center has approved the Preschool Calendar for the 2017-18 School Year.  

2017-18 HLC Preschool Calendar, click here

Are you looking for activities to help you enjoy the good weather?  Check out the link below

2017 Marysville Parks & Recreation Activities Guide

PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE TO THE UCBDD SPECIAL MEETING TONIGHT

UCBDD’s mission is to ensure supports are available to people with disabilities.  Our ability to fulfill this mission is at risk at the Harold Lewis Center.  As our community grows, so does the number of pre-school students we support.  We have grown by 25% in the last two years. We began preparing for this space need over a year ago.

The Harold Lewis Center is occupied by the UCBDD pre-school and by a private business, World of Wonders Childcare (WOW).  In June 2016, UCBDD notified WOW of UCBDD’s intent to utilize all of the space at the Harold Lewis Center.  Per the agreement between the two entities, UCBDD was required to give 30 days’ notice.  UCBDD gave over one year’s notice.

Join us at the Harold Lewis Center for some comedy with Ronald McDonald on Thursday April 20, 2017 at 6:00pm.

For Children with Autism and Down Syndrome at

The Ohio State University

In January 2014, the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance that outlined settings in which waiver services may be provided.  Ohio's State Transition Plan was the third nationwide to receive CMS approval in June 2016.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

CMS also reminded states that an entity may NOT provide BOTH case management and waiver service delivery to a person.  Efforts of the department include supporting county boards of developmental disabilities in transitioning away from providing waiver services.

To see where Union County is in this transition compare to the rest of the counties in Ohio, click here.

As of December 31, 2016, Union County had the highest percentage (65%) of total adults served in Integrated Employment Services in the state of Ohio.  WorkNet's staff has done an awesome job at helping people become a part of their community by supporting people to work in their community.  With that kind of track record, they will be a great asset to our new community employment providers in Union County.

For more information on the State Scorecard, click here

Join us at the Harold Lewis Center Tuesday March 14, 2017 at 6pm for our FREE Kernels For Life Training

Healthchek is Ohio's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. It is a service package for babies, kids, and young adults younger than age 21 who are enrolled on Ohio Medicaid. 

HLC WINTER CARNIVAL IS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25 FROM 10:00 to 1:00!

The staff at the Harold Lewis Center participated in a Door Decorating Contest.

AM Class is 10:00-12:00

PM Class is 1:30-3:30

All Day Class is 10:00-2:30

Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Delaware County Library to host “Meet the Author” with Paul Daugherty

DELAWARE, OH – Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DCBDD) will partner with the Delaware County District Library (DCDL) on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 to welcome Paul Daugherty for a book signing and meet the author event. The event will last from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Delaware County Library – Orange Branch at 7171 Gooding Blvd. Delaware, OH 43015.

As our country transitions from one presidency to another, it is a great time to educate yourself on who holds each office and their views and goals for their area of responsibility.  If you would like to express your opinions, you can contact your Ohio representatives for the US Senate and US House of Representatives and share your concern(s) with their staff. Messages can be short and should outline your thoughts or concerns, how potential changes may impact yourself, your family, or your situation.

Links to Ohio's representatives in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is the state department that oversees developmental disabilities services and supports in Ohio.  The department unveiled "This Week @DODD", designed to keep you informed with the latest news from the agency.

The page features links to department initiatives and an events and training calendar. 

Harold Lewis Center Picture Day

Harold Lewis Center families should please sign up for E-Communications.

Parents-please see information below about our closing and delay system.

When HLC is on Plan B the AM class is from 10:00-12:00. The PM Class is from 1:30-3:30 and the All Day class is from 10:00-2:30.

5:30 p.m. Registration
6-8 p.m. Workshop
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017

Cost
No cost

Contact
If you have questions regarding content,
please call Joe Farry at 614.753.4680 or
e-mail Joseph.Farry@escco.org

Our HLC families enjoyed an evening of flipping pancakes and visiting with Santa.

Thursday December 8, 2016 from 6-7 join us for pancakes and visit with Santa

The Harold Lewis Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) would like to invite our families to enjoy a Family Night with the Ohio Wildlife Center.

Save the date...

The Harold Lewis Center will perform their Annual Holiday Program on Wednesday December 7th at 6:00 pm. This event is held at the Marysville High School Auditorium to allow enough space for our families to attend. It is always a fun night. We hope to see you there.

Look for more information about this event coming home soon.

Reminder...Harold Lewis will be closed Friday November 11th in observance of Veteran's Day.

There is no preschool on 11/11/16.

The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities' WorkNet Program has begun a transition which will move supported employment services from the county board to many supported employment providers who are excited to be able to work with people with developmental disabilities in Union County.  Below is the presentation given by Superintendent Kara Brown and Nick Bowsher, WorkNet Program Manager to individuals, families, providers, and county board staff at two informational meetings on November 1, 2016.

For more information, please contact Kara Brown at 936-645-6780 or kbrown@ucbdd.org or Nick Bowsher at 937-645-6771 or nbowsher@ucbdd.org.

WorkNet Transition Presentation 11/1/16

State Senator Joe Uecker (R-Miami Township) recently introduced legislation that would create a Down syndrome awareness license plate with proceeds supporting advocacy efforts for individuals living with Down syndrome and their families.

Down syndrome occurs in one out of every 792 births. More than 250,000 people nationwide are living with Down syndrome. Advances in research and rehabilitative services allow many individuals living with Down syndrome to lead successful and fulfilling lives, contributing much to their families and communities. However, continued support and understanding is crucial in combating misconceptions about the condition.

We had lots of creative families join us for Scarecrow Making Night

PAC would like to invite our HLC families to Scarecrow Making Night Thursday October 27 from 6-7pm.

The 2017-19 Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities Strategic Plan is a three year plan that commits time and resources to intentional strategic efforts.  These are areas that may need improved upon, expanded on, new endeavors that the Board has identified as important.  One very important piece of our strategic planning is 

Harold Lewis Picture Day will be November 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  Please see below to when your student will be having pictures.

November 1st: Ms Kendra's  Ducks

                         Ms Martha's Frogs

                         Ms Amy's Penguins

November 2nd: Ms Angela's Butterflies

                          Ms Lori's Turtles

                           Ms Nikki's Giraffies

November 3rd: Ms Heidi's Monkeyes

                          Ms Joanna's Fish

                           Ms Lisa's Owls

After pictures are taken students will receive a proof sheet where parents can order pictures on line.

The HLC Parent Advisory Council (PAC) hosted an evening with Erica Carlson.

by System Account at 2:07PM in County Board Notices, Pipeline, Provider Notices, Reports & Publications, MUI

Columbus--Ohio is making it easier for individuals who are experiencing a stressful situation to find immediate help, 24/7 with the launch of a free, confidential, statewide Crisis Text Line.

The Harold Lewis Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) would like to invite our families to enjoy Erica's Magic Show on Thursday October 6, 2016 at 6pm. 

HLC Book Fair will be held September 19-23rd from 8:00-4:00pm.

/userfiles/12/my files/book fair announcement and wish list 2016.pdf?id=1663

The 10^th annual Leeds Farm Autism Harvest Festival will be held Saturday, September 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 am.

This is a free event for children and adults with autism and their immediate family, including grandparents and aides. We also have a wonderful group of autism service providers that will have display tables in the North Barn.

Additional details are on the attached flyer and at www.LeedsFarm.com. Click here for the flyer

If you are interested in learning more about navigating the world of special education, advocacy, and what the law says about these topics, the Special Ed Advocate newsletter and the Wrightslaw website might be just what you are looking for.

The Ohio Department of Health, Family Voices of Ohio, Nationwide Children's Hospital/Autism Treatment Network, University of Cincinnati/UCEDD and St. Vincent Mercy Hospital (Toledo) worked together to create an online care notebook to assist families of children with special health care needs to organize and maintain accurate medical records.  

The Harold Lewis Center field trip to the Pumpkin Patch has been rescheduled.  We will be going to the farm on Thursday October 6, 2016. We are sorry for this inconvenience.  Please call the school if you have any questions.

/userfiles/12/my files/the maize permisson form 2016.pdf?id=1600

We had a great turn out for our annual Ice Cream Social

Now enrolling for our after-school program.

It's that special time of the year again. . . BACK TO SCHOOL!  Do you know where your student will go after the day is done?  Well, look no further.

The Harold Lewis Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) would like to invite the families of the Harold Lewis Center to our Annual Ice Cream Social

All Parents and Young Children are invited!

We are having fun this summer playing with our friends.

The Arc of Ohio needs your help!  People with Disabilities have repeatedly said that access to transportation is a very large problem for them. The Arc of Ohio wants to know more. Is access a problem because there is not enough information, too few options, or is there some other reason?  

June 9, 2016 will be our Preschool Graduation.  This is for children going on to Kindergarten next school year.  It will be at Vets Memorial, 233 W. 6st starting at 6:30.

Marysville Schools and the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be offering free dinner and a learning session on how they support students throughout their school experience, both collaboratively and separately.  You will also learn about the major transitions a student with developmental disabilities will experience.

Are you a sibling of an individual with a developmental disability?  If so, this may be for you!

If you are interested in keeping in the loop what the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is focusing on, the Pipeline Weekly is for you.

Check it out here

Our PAC sponsored a night out for our familes and students with Ronald McDonald last Thursday night.

If you haven't checked out our Website Calendar, you are missing out!  Many different types of events are posted here for you to take advantage of.  We are posting UCBDD events, Special Olympics practices, games & meets, trainings, and workshops are just a few.  

You can find the calendar under the Quick Links as you scroll down on the left side of the UCBDD Home Page.

The Ac of Ohio is working with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and other stakeholders regarding Self Directed Services.  Our goal is to create even more options for individuals on our various Waivers.  Please complete the surveys below and help others you know who have waives complete the surveys.

We want to hear from you!

We would like your feedback to help us improve and expand self-directed services within our system.  Please select only one survey to complete based on the waiver you are enrolled in today.   Please answer the questions in the short survey by April 18, 2016. 

Come Join us for our 16th Annual Winter Carnival February 27th from 10am-1pm at the Harold Lewis Center.

/userfiles/12/my files/winter carnival notice-2016.pdf?id=1022

Here's a chance to use your artistic and creative talents! 

The Keystone Group is hosting a Logo Design Contest to create their new logo.  

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

UCBDD SPECIAL OLYMPICS BASKETBALL GAME

UCBDD GUARDIANSHIP TRAINING

HAROLD LEWIS CENTER MOVIE NIGHT - RESCHEDULED FOR TUES, JAN. 26TH AT 6PM

The Harold Lewis Center will be having the Annual Holiday Program Wednesday, December 9th at 6:00pm at the Marysville High School Auditorium. Children should arrive at 5:45pm. Please enter building at Entrance E-Alumni Hall. Come out at watch our students sing in the Holidays!

Chris Cakes of Ohio will be at the Harold Lewis Center December 1, 2015 from 6-7 pm.

/userfiles/12/my files/chris cakes.pdf?id=837

This years Halloween Parade was a great success and the children had a lot of fun!

Erica Carlson will be at  the Harold Lewis Center November 12, 2015 at 6:00pm.

/userfiles/12/my files/erica flyer.pdf?id=826

October 27th was our annual PAC Scare Crow making night.  We had a great turn out and a lot of fun!

Fall Picture Day for HLC will be November 3rd and 4th. Please see below to see what day your child will be getting their pictures taken.

November 3rd: Lori's Class, Sherry's Class, Martha's Class, Tuono's Class

November 4th: Nikki's Class, Angela's Class, Amy's Class, Kendra's Class

The Harold Lewis Center had a great trip the pumpkin patch at The Maize this past week. Thank you for all the families that came out and participated!

Remember...the Harold Lewis Center Preschool is currently closed for Fall Break. The break is from October 5 to October 16.

The Harold Lewis Center celebrated Granparents Day with arts and a craft project and live music from Mike McHenry.  It was a great turn out with many grandparents coming out to participate!

Leeds Farm invites you to the 9th annual Leeds Farm Autism Harvest Festival. Please click below for more information:

Autism Harvest Festival 

Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon. The dates are September 21 – September 25th, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. We will also be open until 7:00 on Tuesday September 22nd.

Please join us for a Parent Night to learn about a new program we are using in our Preschool...

Save the Date...Come spend the day with your grandchild.

The families at the Harold Lewis Center enjoyed a wonderful evening at the annual Ice Cream Social hosted by the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) this August.  PAC offers monthly activities for our families to enjoy and socialize with one another.  Check back soon for our September event.

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio is thrilled to be able to offer a day at Recreation Unlimited for teens, adults, and their families.  Take this opportunity to check out all the wonderful activities and facilities Recreation Unlimited has to offer. 

The Common Threads Network, which works together for and with families of people with disabilities, continues to provide families with "up to the minute" information.  

HLC is on Plan B Friday September 14 due to fog in the area.

The Ohio Adult Sibling Conference is presented by Ohio SIBS Special Initiatives By Brothers & Sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities. 

STABLE Account offers tax-advantaged accounts and investment options to people with disabilities and their families – without losing certain benefits

For more information, click here

Are you a parent or a caregiver?  Think you are alone?  There is a workshop that will offer coping skills and strategies to help you.

If you are looking for a great time this summer, go to a Miracle League baseball game. A few of our Union County residents are honing their athletic ability while making a few more friends and enjoying themselves playing baseball for The Miracle League.  Check out our Photo Gallery Quick Link for more pictures.

Transitions DD and SELFWaiver Renewal Applications for

1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services Waivers

- Public Notice -

The purpose of this communication is to provide notification of changes made within the 1915(c) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Waiver applications and to notify the public of the opportunity to provide input prior to these changes being submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for consideration.

Join Bridge 2 Equality on September 27th at the Statehouse. Visit https://bridge2equality.com/ for more information. 

The first day of preschool for the Harold Lewis Center is Thursday, August 4th.  With many children riding the school bus and thinking of bus safety in general, here are a few coloring and activity pages for you and your child to enjoy.

Safety Dog visits the Harold Lewis Center

Safety Dog and his friends hit the road to demonstrate why school buses are the safest way to get children to and from school.  Students were invited to get a picture with Safety Dog.

The Safety Dog Bus Tour, presented by First Student and the National Safety Council, shines a spotlight on school bus safety.

Below are two employment positions.  Please click on the positions below for more information

Outreach Associate/Cultural Broker

Family Specialist/Outreach Associate

Due to inclement weather, the HLC Movie Night originally schedule for Januaray 12, 2016 in the gymnasium will be RESCHEDULED for January 26 at 6:00pm.

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MARYSVILLE - ABC 6 On Your Side (Maria Durant) -- For most high school seniors, being on homecoming court is a special time. But for one student, it means he's just a part of the gang.

July 30th, 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST

Webinar

Sex Offenders with Intellectural and Developmental Disabiltiies:  Problems and Solutions from Around the Nation

 The Arc is a national non-profit that provides cradle to grave services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Read More

Columbus Children's Theatre offers a wide variety of classes during the summer that focus on acting, voice and/or dance.

It has come to our attention that erroneous information concerning the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been circulating Union County.  The following information is in response to this wrong information.

Do you have questions about Guardianship?  Join us for a local guardianship workshop facilitated by the Executive Director of the Union County Volunteer Guadianship Program.  For more information, click here

We had a great time with Chris Cakes and Santa and PAC evening event.

Please join us for the 7th Annual Scarecrow making night and our 2nd Trick or Treat !

Tuesday October 27, 2015 from 6:00 to 7:00 in the HLC gymnasium.

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The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is currently looking for children 7 - 10 years old, diagnosed with ADHD to participate in a study of a non-medication treatment of ADHD.  You can check it out on Facebook under The Ohio State University Nisonger Center or by calling Rachel Bergman at 614-688-3375.

The 2018-19 Preschool Calendar for the Harold Lewis Center is now available.

Click Here to Download

Harold Lewis Center Picture Day will be March 1st, March 2nd and 3rd here at the HLC. Please see the schedule below as to when your student has pictures.

March 1st

Kendra(Ducks)

Martha(Frogs)

Amy(Penguins)

March 2, 2016

Angela(Butterflies)

Lori(Turtles)

Nikki(Giraffes)

March 3, 2016

Sherry(Monkeys)

Joanna(Fish)

UCBDD will be on the March 15 ballot with two levies, a 2.4 and a 3.8 mil RENEWAL levy

Passage of BOTH levies means NO NEW TAXES

UCBDD provides LIFETIME SUPPORT to individuals with developmental disabilities in Union County

For more facts and information, click here

Meet Kolby . . .

Kids Cures & Miracles

Sunday, October 18th, 2015

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Columbus Marathon

Barry Jamieson, Associate Planner with CMP Financial Planning, will present information on the new STABLE Accounts (funded by the federal ABLE Act) to give families a closer look at what these accounts are, what they can do for your family, and how they can fit into your estate planning.

Come join us at the HLC, April 14th, 2016 at 6:00pm to visit Ronald McDonald.

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Do you want to receive texts and emails to let you know about important information (such as closings and delays) from the Harold Lewis Center? Go to the quick link for E-Communications and sign up. This will only take a few minutes and you will get notifications as soon as the alert is posted. 

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) has issued the following guidance to Independent Providers regarding overtime.

PUMPKIN PATCH FIELD TRIP

Friday October 2, 2015

HLC will be going to The Maize on October 2nd. The buses will pick the students up at their houses bring them to school first than drive them to the farm. At the farm we will see the barn animals, play in the play barn, take a hayride to the pumpkin field and pick out a pumpkin. We will spend an hour and 15 minutes at the farm and then we will return to the school for the rest of our class time. All students can ride the bus from the farm back to HLC.

AM Session and ALL DAY ROOM departs from HLC at 8:30 and Returns to HLC at 10:45.

PM Session departs from HLC at 12:45 and Returns to HLC at 3:00.

We will then dismiss at the usual time from HLC.

The Governor's Council on People with Disabilities serves as an advisory council for the Governor and General Assembly on statewide disability issues.  Each year there are several awards for which you can nominate a person or business that has made a significiant impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

See Policy Letter below for what U.S. Dept of Education, Office of Special Education Programs says about Response to Intervention and Preschool Special Education Services.

Memorandum from the Unted States Department of Education

When the weather is bad in the morning Harold Lewis will sometimes go on a delay. We call this Plan B.

Plan B means that the AM Class is 10:00-12:00, the All Day Class is 10:00-2:30, and the PM Class is 1:30-3:30. 

During Plan B the buses run about 1 hour and 45 minutes later for pick up and the afternoon buses run about an hour later.

The Employment FIrst Initiative has released The Job Seekers Guide.

The Job Seekers Guide released on July 1, 2015. This is a web based resource that can be accessed on the Employment First website. It allows for individuals with disabilities and their families to learn about a variety of topics related to community employment including: how to find a job, how to be a self-advocate, information about discovery, and explanations of different employment services and supports. Please click HERE to learn more.

We had a great time watching Erica Carlson's Magic Show at the HLC.

Are you interested in starting a Next Chapter Book Club in your community?  

Frustrated with Ohio’s lack of a consumer-rating system for home-care providers, a Hilliard parent is urging families to take to Angie’s List with reviews of their experiences.

We are busy getting ready for next school year. Please go to the forms link to see the 2016-17 Preschool Calendar and enrollment forms for next year too. Physical, Dental and Vision forms will be added soon.

A new online training and certification program will provide more consistent, broad-based community support for parents and families, and increase the number of service providers trained to support individuals with autism.

Union County Guardianship Services is sponsoring a great opportunity for guardians of adults to receive training locally. 

HLC MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

2:00 to 6:00

You and your child are invited to come in and see your new classroom and meet their new teacher. You may stop in anytime from 2:00 to 6:00.

First day of school is Thursday July 30^th

^{If you have questions, please call the school office at 937-645-6714.}

Superintendent Kara Brown is setting aside time to meet with people in small group settings.  These small group meetings are intended to be an informal opportunity to speak with the Superintendent and ask questions about whatever is on your mind regarding the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

If you would like to participate in a small group setting, you can Facebook message us at www.facebook.com/Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, email us at aporter@ucbdd.org, or call us at 937-645-6709.

JOT IT DOWN is a writing club for adolescents and adults with intellectural and developmental disabilities.  Want to know how it works?

All Ohio guardians of adults are required to participate in a one-time six hour fundamental course and a three-hour continuing education course for each following year.

Come to the Marysville Library for a free, healthy lunch for anyone under 18 years old! No sign ups, fees, or registration required. Don’t forget to stick around for a fun activity!

For more information, click below on the Marysville Library Free Lunch Flyer!

Marysville Library Free Lunch Flyer

The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) now has new requirements for individuals who use a developmental disabilities waiver such as the Individual Options Waiver, the Level 1 Waiver, the SELF Waiver, and the Transitions Waiver.  A transition plan for these requirements will affect everyone on these waivers.