LADD is celebrating Direct Support Professionals Appreciation Week (Sept. 8-14), an annual national celebration honoring frontline staff. LADD staff are job coaches, mentors, advocates, independence builders and more. Thank you to our staff. #dspappreciationweek

In honor of #NationalNursesWeek, we want to recognize Melissa Phillips, LADD's registered nurse, whose support of those she serves exemplifies the heart of LADD's mission. Melissa, everyone at LADD appreciates the commitment and care you show while serving others. Thank you!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today, we celebrate several heroes at LADD—our administrative professionals. Thank you for everything you do, Gina, Janine, April, Jeannine, Chris, Syndey, Tim and Matt.

April is #AutismAcceptanceMonth, and Tuesday, April 2, is #WorldAutismAwarenessDay. LADD asks everyone to take this time to educate themselves and affirm the full realization of all rights and fundamental freedoms for autistic people on an equal basis with others.

Shake off those winter blues! Spring has arrived, and it's time for new beginnings. LADD's Community Connections Program has exciting ways to explore, connect, and grow outdoors. Discover the possibilities: https://t.co/ZG5fZUQZlF #SpringEquinox #FirstDayOfSpring

Today we are recommending the article "The Ones We Sent Away." It is a beautiful testament to all that is possible for people with developmental disabilities when given the support and a remembrance of how far we've come as a community. Read more here:

"Neurodivergent means way more than Autism and ADHD. If you feel like you diverge from neuronormativity, you’re neurodivergent." - Sonny Jane Wise Original source: https://t.co/vNII5RhnMC

People with disabilities are among the greatest beneficiaries of the strong post-pandemic rebound in the labor market. As a percentage, the employment-to-population ratio for disabled individuals also now stands at a record high of 22.4%. Read more:

The Over-The-Rhine International Film Festival was spectacular! Thank you for continuing to support us as we build this platform for untold stories from underrepresented voices. From left to right: Matt Chaffin, Mike Weber, Jenny Crowe, Kathleen Schiel

Understanding the Disability Pride Flag: Unveiled in October 2021 by its creator Ann Magill, the flag shows a straight diagonal banner of five colors on a dark background. The flag is an update of the original disability pride flag. Courtesy of the Washington Council of Lawyers.

July is Disability Pride Month. a time to promote awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of the experiences and challenges faced by people with disabilities, both visible and invisible. LADD is proud to work toward expanding the recognition of the disability community.

Thank you PNC Bank for helping us keep the grounds looking great! PNC volunteers spent hours repainting our fence last week.

Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, organized by LADD, officially kicks off on July 6 with a star-studded Opening Night Gala at Cincinnati Music Hall. Read more: https://t.co/gMjoeaksvF Tickets for the opening night gala can be purchased here:

There is a great deal of intersectionality between being LGBTQIA+ and disabled, with experiences like hiding an important part of your identity for your safety, discrimination, and social isolation often shared across these identities. Read more:

“For a long time, publishers didn’t treat neurodivergent readers as customers. It might not be talked about in the corporate world or their office spaces, it’s talked about a lot in schools, which is where they’re targeting their products.” Read more: https://t.co/bYtBqBN9Nj

Meet Marc "Marcus" Steven Fried, AKA Cinemarcus. He’s a movie buff, a filmmaker, & the proud creator of Cinemarcus (formerly ReMARCable), a film blog based off of his own name that reviews films, restaurants, events in Cincinnati, & more. Read his story in our Newsletter.

We are proud to have recently welcomed three new members to the LADD Board of Directors. Robert S. Bullock, Wendell E. Anderson Jr. and Peter Niehoff.

Advocates and clinicians say it’s crucial for health care providers to communicate as much as possible with patients who have disabilities. Read more:

It's been one month since the first group of residents officially moved into the brand new, state-of-the-art SmartHome for aging members of our community. Thank you for your continuing support!

June, Pride Month, is not simply a celebration but an opportunity for us to build a more inclusive, empathetic, and accessible society. LADD is guided by the belief that all people have ability and value. To live that mission means being committed to social change.