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Episode 22 - Brenda C. Directions Credit Union

Brenda Covrett, VP of Marketing and Community with Directions Credit Union joins us to talk about some the strong values they believe in that tie them deeply to the community they serve and also, Storm! Who is from the Ability Center and changing lives in schools for students and teachers!

Episode 21 - Elise Ansberg

When Ottawa Hills senior Elise was two years old, her family discovered why she always needed the radio be LOUDER! She suffered from bilateral hearing loss. 
Thanks to hearing aids and more innovative technology, Elise's disability is now essentially an invisible one. 
She recently received the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award from the NWO Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Her small Go Fund Me effort to help young refugees in Asia turned out to be a bit more successful than she'd initially planned.

Episode 20 - CommUNITY Film Fest

Lori Balogh, Manager Community Inclusion and Employment with the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities visits to share all things about 9th Annual CommUNITY Film Fest. This is a return to LIVE, coming up on August 20th at the Maumee Indoor. 
The submission window is NOW open, and you can find important dates and helpful hints to being a part of the event, right here.

Episode 19 - WTOL’s Ryan Wichman

Ryan is our really tall, really talented, bow tie bestowed meteorologist on WTOL 11. You've been watching him for years and thanking him from afar for the sunshine, and grumbling about the messy snow driven two hour delays.
Ryan's off-work project is Wood County Plays. Just a group of volunteers who've already erected two inclusive playgrounds, and with another, and perhaps many more to come! 
Grant was the inspiration for that project. Who is Grant, and what has he taught Ryan for him to carry out across Northwest Ohio.

Episode 18 - Direct Care Crisis

The Ability Center's own Brittanie Maddox, who is ACT's Disability Rights Advocate, Health Care and Public Access lead, joins this episode to talk about the direct care crisis that's been an issue long before COVID struck. 
Brittanie shares resources to help advocate so that we can all be a part of the solution to ensure those with disabilities, and beyond, receive professional and competent in-home care, while those responsible for that care are compensated appropriately.
Ability Center Direct Care Crisis page

Episode 17 - STABLE Accounts

We're all under stressful financial times. That's especially so if you're counting on government assistance, yet you still want to work, while not losing those benefits.
This is where STABLE accounts come in!
Katie Hunt Thomas Attorney, and Director of Advocacy with ACT, is guest cohosting this episode, as we are joined by Ohio Treasurer of State Robert Sprague and Kenyatta Chandler from Mr. Sprague's office to help detail all that goes into accessing and maintaining STABLE accounts and eligibility. 

Episode 16 - TARTA’s Andy Cole

It's fair to ask if any local or regional entity or business has done more listening the last few years than TARTA! With all that feedback - good and bad - through the stewardship of their CEO Laura Koprowski, they have presented us with TARTA Next! One of the integral parts of that plan to meet the needs of modern riders, is an overhaul the Call A Ride program, which as of late January is now TARTA Flex. 
Learn all that program's enhancements, and all the other exciting changes and growth happening with TARTA with a visit with Andy Cole, Communications and Marketing Manager (and movie and Tigers fan)!

Episode 15 - AW Schools Counselor Jennifer Minni

That's Jennifer Minni AND Astro. 
Jennifer visits to talk about what it's like to be a handler of a dog that comes from the Ability Center and how that animal can be an immense benefit - especially in the mental health realm - to everyone in the school. From stressed students to overwhelmed teachers, everyone at Fallen Timbers Middle School leaves an encounter with Astro in a better mood.