Families at the Center of a Connected Community
Three-Part Series

Thursdays, May 13, 20, and 27  •  6pm to 8pm

"My son is no longer the kid in the neighborhood with a disability. 
He is the kid who does cool things!"  -- Carol

Inclusion of individuals with disabilities begins with recognizing gifts, opportunities and resources; it secures occasions to learn, grow and unite with non-disabled peers.

Starfire, a non-profit organization from Cincinnati, Ohio, and a member of the Ohio Family Network, strives to build better lives for people with disabilities by connecting them with their communities.  These connections help to lessen the isolation and loneliness that individuals with disabilities often experience by uniting them with people and passions in their local areas.

On Thursday, May 13th, 20th and 27th, associates from Starfire will host a three-session training series for families and providers in ASGA’s five-county service area.  The training will demonstrate how to become the momentum in connecting neighbors to neighbors and individuals to their communities.  

Participants will:

• Recognize families as the center of inclusion.
• Understand the process that led to Starfire’s support of families.
• Discover how families can build a community around an individual with disabilities.
• Hear firsthand from families who have made successful connections in their communities.
• Gather information on raising funds for large, community projects.

About the Speakers

TIM & BRIDGET VOGT from STARFIRE

Tim Vogt lives in Bellevue, KY, and has worked at Starfire in Cincinnati, OH, for over 20 years. He oversaw the organization as it grew from a small non-profit into an organization serving over 500 people. He is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University.

Bridget Vogt lives in Bellevue, KY and has also worked at Starfire in Cincinnati, OH for over 20 years. She has held a variety of positions at the organization but always maintained a role in direct support of people with disabilities. She is a graduate of Xavier University.

From 2009 to 2016, Starfire’s Board, staff and constituents went on a change process to reinvent the organization and reorient its resources toward personalized, hyper-local, long-term investments in inclusive relationships and community building.

Starfire is currently working on how to support and partner with families in leading local efforts in their communities.

Do I need to register?

Yes, registration is required for planning purposes, but you only need to do so once.  You will receive the zoom link via email after your registration form is received.  

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About the Autism Society of Greater Akron

The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is part of a nationwide network of affiliates with the Autism Society of America, the nation’s largest and oldest grassroots autism organization. ASGA serves Summit, Stark, Wayne, Portage and Medina counties (OH) and works locally to achieve its mission --to improve the lives of all affected by autism.

ASGA is also a proud member of the Ohio Family Network (OFN), connecting people with disabilities and their families to local information and resources within their communities.  OFN provides opportunities to share ideas, find solutions to common challenges and inspire and strengthen others.