"Ohio Valley Goodwill Hosts 2013 Transition Boot Camp to a Sold-Out Crowd!"

Ohio Valley Goodwill was very pleased to be the host location for the 2013 Transition Boot Camp event which took place on Saturday, February 9th at its corporate headquarters. The organization welcomed more than 150 families, professionals, individuals and vendors to the afternoon-long forum which was designed to provide vital transition planning information for individuals preparing for life following graduation from high school. This year’s event was sponsored in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, the Spina Bifida Assocation, Stepping Stones Center and United Cerebral Palsy. The Transition Boot Camp offered an overview of service options provided by keynote speaker, Marcie Mendelsohn, CCHMC, followed by funding and eligibility presentations by Judy Bertsch, Transition Director, HCDDS, and Mary Beth Maly and Carol Carter from the Rehabilitation Services Commission (newly renamed “Opporitunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.”) Immediately following the presentations was a Provider Fair featuring more than 20 vendors representing a host of programs and services for young people moving into the adult world. The 2013 Transition Boot Camp agenda finished the day with a comprehensive question and answer session which addressed all of the attendees’ concerns about planning for their child’s future as well as goodie bags filled with information and fun give-ways. “I really felt that this was an extremely informative and helpful event for me,” said one parent at the end of the Boot Camp. Ohio Valley Goodwill is proud to have been the host location for this year’s event and is grateful to its partners for their sponsorship, coordination and support.