The Ability Center

May is almost here! 🌷 Join us at our events this upcoming month!! 💛 Check out what’s coming up at abilitycenter.org/events

Navigating to our services and programs? Here's a guide to show where to find each service and program. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at 419.885.5733. 💛 As a reminder: ✔ Navigators are operating out of the Community Resource Living building (5033 Skelly Rd.). Durable Medical Equipment (DME) pick up and drop off will take place there, with curbside available. One on one support is available in person or by phone at 419.885.5733. ✔ Medical Supply Closet will continue on the first Wednesday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm at a NEW location: Sylvania Senior Center (7140 W. Sylvania Ave., Sylvania). ✔ Assistance Dogs buildings remain open and fully operational at 5605 Monroe St. ✔ Scheduled meetings will continue at our main building through April 8. ✔ Beginning April 13, administrative staff, programs, and events will be hosted off site or at our temporary headquarters at Five Lakes Church Life Center (4765 N. McCord Rd., Sylvania). 🚧 Please note: The Monroe Street bridge over U.S. 23 in Sylvania is closed and expected to reopen in August 2026. Learn more: abilitycenter.org/capital-project

We’ve had a lot of exciting momentum lately at The Ability Center, and we’re just getting started. Looking for the next big thing? Here's what to expect at the Access Summit on June 17! Additionally, we’ll be celebrating community impact, recognizing our incredible partners and scholarship recipients, and looking ahead to the future we’re building together. Presented by Joseph, Judith, and Susan Conda 📍 Franciscan Center at Lourdes University 🕥 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 🎟️ Registration: $25 Breakfast and lunch provided Register today at abilitycenter.org/summit 💛

Our groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, May 11, 2026, marked more than a milestone. It marked the next chapter for The Ability Center and the community we serve. For more than 100 years, The Ability Center has grown alongside this community. From our beginnings connected to The Edward D. Libbey House to the programs and services we offer today, our mission has remained rooted in the same purpose: advancing independence, dignity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. While our work has evolved, it has always been centered on people, relationships, and creating meaningful opportunities to participate fully in community life. This expansion represents the next chapter of that mission. The renovated and reimagined campus will include an accessible event center, teaching kitchen, workshop spaces, meeting areas, and an expanded program space designed to better serve individuals and families for generations to come. It is an investment not just in infrastructure, but in access, learning, and connection. We are deeply grateful to our staff and Board of Directors, our elected officials and community partners, and the donors and supporters who continue to believe in this vision. Their partnership is what makes this kind of progress possible. Thank you to Senator Theresa Gavarone (@theresagavarone ), Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, Representative Michele Grim (@michelegrim ), Representative Haraz N. Ghanbari (@harazghanbari ), Representative Jim Hoops (@jimhoopsoh ), Representative Erika White (@rep.erikawhite ), and Mayor Mark Frye for speaking at our groundbreaking and celebrating this milestone with us. A big thank you to Miller Diversified and Stough and Stough Architects for partnering with us on this project. Your dedication and work to help move this vision forward has been incredibly impactful. We couldn’t do this without you. Most importantly, this project is about the community who will come through our doors for generations to come and the impact that will extend far beyond the walls we’re building today. Stay tuned for updates throughout construction and for our big ribbon cutting in 2027! Thank you @thedougiefresh for capturing all the memories.

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for our groundbreaking and helped celebrate this next chapter with us. 💛 It was a beautiful morning, and we’re so grateful for the incredible support. We’ll be sharing more photos and coverage soon!

Meet Michael Faulkner, Navigator and Stroke Group Coordinator at The Ability Center. Since launching our Stroke Support Group in December 2024, Michael has helped create a space for connection, encouragement, and community for stroke survivors across Northwest Ohio. What started as an idea has grown into a group of more than 10 attendees at each meeting, while also staying connected with more than 50 stroke survivors beyond the group itself. His advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through TikTok, Michael shares encouragement and resources with a growing community of more than 1,700 followers, reaching stroke survivors around the world. As we recognize National Stroke Awareness Month, we’re grateful for leaders like Michael who remind others that life after stroke is still full of purpose, connection, and joy. "I want people to get back out and experience life again. Enjoy the moments in front of you, stop comparing yourself to who you were before, and remember that the person you are today is still worthy, valuable, and capable." — Michael Faulkner Join Michael at the next Stroke Support Group meeting on May 12 from 4:30–7 PM at Franklin Park Mall. Register today by visiting abilitycenter.org/events 💛

Meet Travis Althouse, one of our keynote speakers for the 2026 Access Summit alongside Will Croushorn. Travis is a licensed speech-language pathologist, accessibility consultant, children’s book author, and lifelong stutterer. His work focuses on helping people better understand speech differences and improving how AI and voice technology respond to atypical speech patterns. Join us to hear Travis bring both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation, offering a rare, firsthand perspective on real-world impact of inclusive technology. June 17, 2026 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Franciscan Center at Lourdes University The Access Summit includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions, the ADA Seminar, School Facility Dog Workshop, Together We Move Expo, and opportunities to connect with community members and organizations across Northwest Ohio. Learn more and register at abilitycenter.org/summit 💛 Follow Travis at @travis.stuttering

A big thank you to the incredible community at Toledo-Sylvania Elks Lodge #53, for their generous support of our mission. 💛 Through this support, individuals with cerebral palsy are able to access adaptive equipment and resources that increase independence, freedom, and quality of life. From riding bikes with their families to traveling with adaptive strollers, these opportunities make a meaningful difference for the individuals and families we serve across Northwest Ohio. We are incredibly grateful for the Elks’ continued commitment to creating a more inclusive community.

Did you know you can get FREE incontinence supplies at The Ability Center? Every first Wednesday of the month from 11am to 3pm, we provide adult absorbent products at no cost to support you or your loved one. Our next pick-up date for incontinence supplies is tomorrow, May 6th, at the Sylvania Senior Center. A big thank you to the Sylvania Senior Center for partnering with us! Location: Sylvania Senior Center (140 W Sylvania Ave, Sylvania, OH 43560) Learn more at abilitycenter.org/medical-supply-closet

The force is strong with these ones... May the 4th be with you! 🐾 🌌

We launched voting for Best School Facility Dog and… WOW. We did not expect this kind of response. Because of the volume, voting will now close Tuesday, May 5. If you haven’t voted yet, you still have time: abilitycenter.org/vote The winning dog will be awarded during our School Facility Dog Workshop at the Access Summit on June 17th at Franciscan Center at Lourdes University, presented by Joseph, Judith, and Susan Conda. If you’re part of a school or work with students, we'd love to have you join us! Access Summit 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM The School Facility Dog Workshop runs 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM The morning portion (8:00–10:30 AM) includes a welcome reception, impact overview, awards, and keynote speaker. It's optional, but we'd love to have you there to celebrate with us! Register here: abilitycenter.org/summit (schools can register with a card or invoice)

Our next Employment Training Program session is May 12 and is FREE and open to the public. This month’s session discusses Reasonable Accommodations and is from 12–1pm. This session will discuss obligations to employees, the most common accommodations, and best practices for making this process simpler. Register at abilitycenter.org/employment-training (or by using the link in our bio)