LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Tag: ohio state fair

  • Ohio State Fair 2024 Enhances Accessibility Through OOD Mobile Unit and Auditory Descriptions

    Ohio State Fair 2024 Enhances Accessibility Through OOD Mobile Unit and Auditory Descriptions

    Columbus, Ohio – The countdown is on for the highly anticipated 2024 Ohio State Fair, running from July 24 through August 4, 2024. As excitement builds, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and the Ohio State Fair are proud to announce their continued commitment to accessibility.

    Visitors can look forward to a wealth of resources designed to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the fair. Guest information services booths are strategically placed throughout the fairgrounds, offering daily schedules, maps, accessibility guides, and directions. For those seeking additional support, the OOD mobile unit is stationed near the Lausche Youth Exploration Space, providing comprehensive accessibility information.

    OOD staff and the new mobile unit
    OOD staff and the new mobile unit.

    Fairgoers can enjoy free wheelchair/mobility device charging stations, technology to connect people who are blind or have low vision with an agent who can help with navigation, American Sign Language interpretation, audio descriptions, a dedicated sensory-friendly morning, and two universal changing tables.

    “Ohio is the heart of it all, and we want people of all abilities to be able to enjoy everything our great State Fair has to offer,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “The Ohio State Fair provides a wealth of supports for individuals with disabilities, and this year our goal is to make it the most enjoyable yet for every person who comes through the gates.”

    OOD partnered with the Fair to make complimentary wheelchair/mobility device charging stations available throughout the grounds. The stations are in marked areas in the Bricker MarketPlace Building, Kasich Hall, the Lausche Youth Exploration Space, Natural Resources Park pavilion, Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center, and WCOL Celeste Center.

    “The Ohio State Fair offers a rejuvenating break from work and our daily routine,” said OOD Director Kevin L. Miller. “Since fairgoers usually spend the entire day on the grounds, it’s important that charging stations are available to sustain wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices.”

    Also made available with support from OOD and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, fairgoers who are blind or have low vision can use Aira – which stands for Access to Information Remote Assistance – to connect, for free, to a remote agent via a cell phone or through specially-fashioned glasses. Both the application and the glasses allow the agent to access visual information, which is especially helpful for navigating a large, unfamiliar area. The agent can also locate users through GPS and direct them to places of interest.

    For fairgoers whose preferred method of communication is American Sign Language (ASL), interpretation will be offered at these events, with no reservations required: the Fair’s opening ceremony on July 24, the Sale of Champions Livestock Auction on August 4, daily at the Natural Resources Park Great Lakes Timber (lumberjack) shows and the Marvelous Mutts shows at The Dog House, and for all ticketed concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center. The Fair’s daily schedule will feature additional events available in ASL. For Ohioans who are Deaf or hard of hearing and use ASL, please watch a video about the Ohio State Fair ASL interpretation.

    In collaboration with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Autism Society of Central Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, the Ohio State Fair is turning down the lights and volume to host a sensory-friendly morning on Thursday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to ride the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit the Fair’s educational activities, and explore many activities in the shade of the Natural Resources Park. “On sensory-friendly morning, the sights, sounds, and stimuli are reduced to allow individuals to experience our incredible State Fair in a way that helps them feel more comfortable and engaged,” said Shawn Henry, OCALI Executive Director. Find more information and resources on OCALI’s sensory-friendly morning webpage.

    This year’s Fair will offer two universal adjustable height changing stations. While one station returns to its previous location in the Ag Pro Taft Coliseum family restroom, a new station has been added to the newly renovated First Aid Center, north of Kasich Hall. These spacious and private facilities cater to fairgoers’ accessibility needs, strategically placed at opposite ends of the grounds to ensure convenience for all attendees.

    “At the Ohio State Fair, we believe that accessibility is not just a checkbox; it’s a continuous journey of improvement and inclusivity,” said Adam Heffron, Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director. “We’re dedicated to building upon our existing accessibility efforts, working diligently to create an environment that is welcoming and accessible to all.”

    Additional accessibility efforts at the Ohio State Fair include the following:

    • Ample accessible parking spaces
    • Buildings and many restrooms are accessible
    • Motorized scooter and non-motorized wheelchair rentals
    • A Quiet Room situated just east of Central Park, equipped to provide sensory relief
    • Communication boards for fairgoers who are nonverbal, available at all guest information services booths and on the Ohio State Fair accessibility webpage, featuring Fair-specific symbols to facilitate navigation and encourage exploration of Fair offerings
    • Accessible seats for concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center can be purchased at the same cost directly from Ticketmaster (to view accessible seats, click the “filters” button, then toggle on the “accessibility” button to see)
    • Free assisted listening devices for use at the WCOL Celeste Center, Main Street Stage presented by Ohio Lottery, and Wellcare Gazebo Stage
    • Audio descriptions for select exhibits and attractions, available within the Ohio State Fair app
    • Art Possible Ohio exhibit in Kasich Hall C, featuring artwork by Ohio artists with disabilities
    • Service animal relief areas with pick-up bags and waste receptacles at the Rhodes Center Lawn, Central Park, and Natural Resources Park
    • Designated accessible seating at additional stages
    • Accessible play area at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Park
    • Accessible picnic tables throughout the Fair

    Discover more at the Ohio State Fair’s accessibility webpage. For questions, reach out to info@expo.ohio.gov or call 614-644-3247.

    OOD is the state agency responsible for empowering Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence.

  • Talented artist, cook, and advocate leads by example!

    Talented artist, cook, and advocate leads by example!

    by Cassie Mattia and the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    Everyone experiences challenges in their lives whether it’s having a not-so-great work week, overcoming an illness, or getting into an argument with someone you care about. In the grand scheme of things, those challenges are often ones you can quickly overcome and grow from! Some obstacles in life can be so challenging that when one overcomes them it is not only inspirational to see but also serves as a beautiful example for those experiencing the same obstacles. Meet Kathryn (Kat) Feldmann, a 21-year-old who has not only never backed down from a challenge but has also been a source of motivation for others in the developmental disability community to pursue their dreams.

    Kat, who lives with her mom, Kristen, her dad, Kurt, and her brother, Konrad in Liberty Township has overcome a lot of medical challenges in her life. As a baby, Kat was diagnosed with an Atrial Septal Defect that was eventually corrected through surgery. Kat was also diagnosed with autism, Pierre Robin Sequence, anxiety, Craniofacial Anomalies, and a speech delay. Though Kat deals with challenges daily due to her disabilities, she has successfully managed to not only exceed her goals, but also receive many awards/honors along the way for her outstanding achievements.

    Kat, as a very young girl, loved being involved in the community and supporting organizations that she truly believed in.

    “Throughout her school age years, she participated in Butler County 4H doing mostly food and nutrition projects and even competed at the state fair twice,” Kat’s mother Kristen said. “Kat was also involved in Girl Scouts since first grade and earned the Girl Scout Gold award.  For this, she earned a multiyear grant from Katie’s Krops and grew a garden from which she donated her entire harvest to a local food pantry. She also identified and printed recipes to donate alongside the produce so that the recipients would have a better idea of how to cook it.”

    A collage of photos of a woman winning different awards
    Kat and her many accomplishments, awards, and honors!

    Kat’s determination and dedication to the environment, her community, and cooking delicious, healthy, fresh food earned her multiple 4H awards and a trip to Washington DC where she served as the “Citizens Focus” Club’s Treasurer. Little did Kat realize she was becoming one of the biggest local advocates for those with developmental disabilities!

    As time went on, Kat began to really enjoy researching things that interested her, often watching YouTube videos to learn as much as she could about topics that she was passionate about. This led to Kat diving into many hobbies such as collecting American Girl Dolls, reading books, cooking, music, dancing, spending time with her Siamese cats, and art.

    A collage of photos of a woman with her family, her cat, her SSA, and on a family trip
    Kat, her brother Konrad, and her mother Kristen (Photo top left), Kat and 1 of her 3 Siamese cats (Photo top right), Kat and her SSA, Teresa Rouff (Photo bottom left), Kat in Pittsburgh (Photo bottom right).

    Kat successfully graduated from Lakota East and shortly after became a part of Butler Tech’s Project Life, a comprehensive, multi-year transition program where students develop, practice, and strengthen skills that increase adult independence and successful integrated employment in the community, and Butler Tech’s Project Search, a school-to-work program for students with disabilities who are serious about working hard and getting a job.

    “Kat completed both Project Life and Project Search in May of 2022. For Project Search she completed rotations in the emergency department and the lab at West Chester Hospital,” Kristen explained. “She is now working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to secure employment in the future.”

    Once Kat finished Project Search she realized she had an interest in Hospitality which led her to enrolling in the Tartan TOPS program at Sinclair College, an educational/career pathway program for part-time students who have an intellectual disability.

    Kat in front of Sinclair College, where she currently takes classes in the Tartan TOPS program.

    BCBDD Service and Support Administrator (SSA), Teresa Rouff, began working with Kat in April and couldn’t be more impressed with Kat’s progress!

    “On top of all the amazing things Kat is doing, she recently began a vocational habilitation program at InsideOut Studio where she creates various art pieces,” Teresa said. “She loves art and is VERY talented. She has a few pieces for sale on the InsideOut Studio website that show how gifted she is at art!”

    Kat enjoys all aspects of art and is currently working with fiber and crocheting knits at InsideOut Studio. Kat said she hopes to sell some of her creations through the online store.

    “Kat is also involved in SpeakUp and was recently matched with a buddy through Best Buddies and looks forward to fun times ahead with her new friend,” Kristen said. SpeakUp is a BCBDD self-advocacy group and Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that offers one-on-one friendship and leadership development programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    a collage of photos that show an art canvas, a glass pumpkin, and 2 photos of a group of people inside standing together.
    Kat’s “Happiness” acrylic on canvas that she created at InsideOut Studio (Photo top left), Kat’s white pumpkin garden stone that she created at InsideOut Studio (Photo top right), Kat with advocate Jodi Mann, Director Kimberly Hauck from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), advocate Cassie Sullivan, and Steve Beha, the Chief Policy Officer for the DODD, Kat was on an advocate panel when DODD’s Director Hauck visited the BCBDD (Bottom right photo).

    Kat says her main hope and dream is to become as independent as possible and to live with roommates and friends for socialization. She says she would like to get a job that allows her to make a difference in the world and continue doing what she’s passionate about!

    Watch the on-camera interview with Kat Feldmann, BCBDD SSA Teresa Rouff, and Kat’s mother Kristen Feldmann below!