Advocacy

Aktion Club is a service group comprised of adults with disabilities and is associated with Kiwanis.  The group meets monthly to discuss opportunities to serve the needs of children through service projects within Hancock County.

The club is often looking for service projects.  If you or your agency has a need, see the attached application.  Complete the form and either email to dcollins@blanchardvalley.org or deliver to Blanchard Valley Center 1700 E. Sandusky St. Findlay, Oh 45840.

Service Project Application

Speaks Out is an organization that assists individuals with understanding their strengths, needs, personal goals, rights, and responsibilities. The club empowers self-advocates to speak out for themselves by making informed choices about their own lives. Hancock County Speaks Out members must be 18-years old.

Project STIR – Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility – is a training program for self-advocates designed to provide individuals with the tools to advocate for themselves, mobilize others in advocacy, and gain leadership experience.

Blanchard Valley Center’s podcast on all things related to living with a disability in Hancock County.

April 2019 :Episode 1 – Hello

April 24 2019: Episode 2 – What is a disability

May 7th 2019: Episode 3 – Get to know us

June 5th 2019: Episode 4: Community Inclusion

July 15 2019: Episode 5 – Employment

October 15, 2019: Episode 6 – Advocacy & Community Recreation

November 1, 2019: Episode 7 – Education & School System

December 2, 2019: Episode 8 – Accessibility

January 31, 2020: Episode 9 – Video Games

February 25, 2020: Episode 10 – March is DD Awareness Month

June 4, 2020: Episode 11 – BVC Updates

July 1, 2020: Episode 12 – Meet Adam Sielschott

August 3, 2020: Episode 13 – A Visit to Kan Du Studios

The Ohio Self Determination Association is a non-profit organization that empowers people with disabilities. The organization’s goal is to expand awareness of self-determination principles, provide valuable training resources, and promote advocacy efforts.

Job Readiness and Communication is a presentation that provides information about preparing for employment starting with where to look for employment opportunities, creating a resume, filling out an applications, appropriate appearance for interviewing, interviewing techniques, communication skills, body language, and maintaining employment. It is presented in a fun way to be sure to engage the audience attention.

Healthy Lifestyles is a holistic, wellness workshop for people with disabilities.  Using a self-determination model, the goal of the program is to give participants the tools they need to evaluate their life situations, identify areas in their lives they would like to improve, and make positive changes in those areas.  The workshops are held over an eight-week period.

Live & Learn’s are fun learning opportunities to increase independent living.  Each Live & Learn has a theme.  In the past, themes have included Healthy Habits, Hygiene 101 and House Cleaning and Maintenance.

Each Live & Learn is one hour long with 5 or 6 stations.  Each station is visited for 10 minutes for a quick learning opportunity that often includes activities and take-aways.