We've added more new Cincinnati-area disability services and activities providers to our Cincinnati Adaptive Events newsletter! These include:

• The Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library--Cincinnati's library system--provides a number of services, activities, and events that "bring the library to you, serving customers who have special needs or have difficulty using the Library through traditional means"
• Special Olympics Hamilton County aims "to provide year-round sports, training and competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience the joy of achievement, be included in the community, build skills and make friends."
• IRON CORE Adapted Strength & Conditioning specializes in "working with youth and adults living with physical challenges." They "coach sport-specific training and refining purposeful mobility which may include balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, agility, and reaction time."
• The Cincinnati Ballet's CBMoves Program is "Cincinnati Ballet’s adaptive dance program, designed to foster a love of dance and creative expression for individuals with specific needs"

See all 36 organizations that currently provide event information for our newsletter

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We've added more new Cincinnati-area disability services and activities providers to our Cincinnati Adaptive Events newsletter! These include:

• Just In Time Adaptive Wellness aims to "simplify life for families by providing personalized coaching and referral services to businesses that adapt their health and wellness offerings to our community’s needs"
• The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities each provide a wide range of services, activities, training, resources, and assistance for county residents with disabilities and their care providers.
• Keys for Success Music Therapy exists to "provide energetic, thoughtful, and dignified music therapy services, advocate for the individuals we serve, build relationships, and facilitate community engagement"

See all 32 organizations that currently provide event information for our newsletter

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One day while waving at the corner, a kind gentleman stopped by in his red Harley--Jason's favorite--to chat. Like many folks we've met through Honks for Jason, he mentioned that he'd seen us many times and wanted to know more. This was our first encounter with Lee Bond, or "Mr. Lee", as Jason affectionately calls him. Lee and his delightful wife Jeanne live in a lovely house tucked away in downtown Sharonville, right across the street from one of our waving spots. Over the years, we came to know Mr. Lee and Jeannie quite well, as he would always hear the honks and come out to enthusiastically encourage the passing trucks to honk for Jason.

Over time, Mr. Lee joined us for a number of Honks events and became a big part of Jason's life. His kind and gentle approach to Jason reflected experiences in his own life, where he found ways to turn some challenging events into positive life lessons. Lee and Jeanne have helped to advocate for downtown Sharonville's recent revitalization, and they are the type of neighbors who are known and loved by everyone in the community.

Best of all, Mr. Lee is a motorcycle and car enthusiast, just like Jason! That has led to a few sweet rides, such as this one in Lee's vintage Mercedes-Benz SL-Class R129.

So thank you Mr. Lee (and Miss Jeannie, and Lee's motorcycle buddy Jeff below) for being some of Our Favorite Neighbors!

We've added several new Cincinnati-area disability services and activities providers to our Cincinnati Adaptive Events newsletter! These include:

• The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League provides "accessible and inclusive baseball fields and recreational opportunities with a big-league-level gameday environment for athletes with special abilities of all ages, giving them the opportunity to experience the joy and excitement of sport in a safe and impeccably maintained facility."
• Cincinnati TOPSoccer "allows all children and adults with special needs in Cincinnati the opportunity to participate, contribute, and excel in the game of soccer"
• Anderson Challenger Baseball offers an "adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and developmental challenges, allowing players to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities"
• Snapdragons Cincinnati "is a social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of Special Needs children and adults through participation in adapted sports programs.  We run programs in Baseball, Basketball, and Cheer."

See all of the organizations that currently provide event information for our newsletter

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The Our Favorite Neighbors series highlights special people and organizations we've come to know and love over the years. These folks go out of their way to share their enthusiasm, compassion, empathy, and support for their community in the spirit of Howdy, Neighbors.

We first learned of the Mason Symphony Orchestra at a community partner event hosted by the City of Mason, where we were representing Jason's Mason Challenger Baseball league. We'd never heard of the orchestra, but the representative was very kind and taught a delighted Jason to play a song on the violin she had brought with her.

We then learned that this "representative" was actually Dr. Lucy Ginther, the founder and conductor of the orchestra! Jason had always been mesmerized by music concerts, going all the way back to his high school days when his brother played the cello at Sycamore Junior High.

It was clear from our first encounter that that Dr. Ginther not only wanted to share the joy of music to her neighborhood, but also had a gentle and welcoming approach to everyone in the community. We started attending their concerts and have become big fans. Dr. Ginther arranges creative varieties of performances--everything from a steel drum jam to playing the musical score during the screening of a Disney movie. Jason gets so excited at the performances that he blurts out yahoos and bravos at every possible moment, which the orchestra no doubt occasionally hears while they are playing.

What is most wonderful is that Dr. Ginther and the orchestra have embraced Jason and many others with disabilities who are attracted to their music performances. After every concert, she scans the crowd to look for Jason and makes sure to come over to talk with him. This despite the fact that she has many friends, benefactors, community VIPs, and a whole audience that want her attention at that moment. That is what the community spirit is all about.

So thank you Dr. Ginther and the Mason Symphony Orchestra for being one of Our Favorite Neighbors!

Over the past few years, Howdy, Neighbors has been able to help support the missions of several disability-related organizations. That's because we have so many beautiful neighbors supporting us! Today we are unveiling our Contributor Page that specially calls out the more than 200 friends who have provided financial support along the way. Among other things, these funds have helped provide your special neighbors a new transport van, adaptive baseball fields, and new day program activities.

All of us here at Howdy, Neighbors are incredibly appreciative of the support we've received, from long-time friends and family, neighbors, organizations and businesses, and many, many kind strangers who are now cherished members of the Howdy Neighborhood. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!

The Muffin Men (L to R): Casey, Matt, Jamie, Jason

One of our gigs at Howdy, Neighbors is Muffin Men Coffee. Every Tuesday morning at Saint Joe's Day Program, Jason and his friends Casey, Matt, and Jamie hang out at our muffin and coffee activity, an all-volunteer effort that raises proceeds for their program. They've been greeting and talking, laughing and fist-bumping with other patrons for 2 1/2 years, while we've raised nearly $3,500. We even named our venture after them--they are the Muffin Men!

As our reputation has grown, we thought it important to thank and specially recognize our top supporters. So we started a Loyalty Program to reward them with free stuff. The Muffin Man Loyalty Card gives the holder a FREE bakery item for every seven purchases.

But that's not all! If you are determined enough to complete a loyalty card, you're inducted into the highly exclusive Muffineers Guild, as Muffineer Apprentice. With each card completed, you rise through the Guild ranks, with more prestige and honor at every level. Rumor has it that one very dedicated soul has recently been anointed as a Muffin Scout. 

The Hall of the Rising Muffineer

How high can you go? How high can anyone go? Mysteries abound at Muffin Men Coffee...

And those Muffin Men pictured above? They visit every single week! For their dedication, they have risen to legendary status: the Exalted Muffineer Council

The game is afoot...come and visit us!

Junior Muffineer Jim

We've added several new Cincinnati-area disability services and activities providers to our Cincinnati Adaptive Events newsletter! These include:

University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities provides interdiscliplinary and collaborative training, workshops, and seminars for persons with disabilities, as well as their families, caregivers, and interested community stakeholders. 

Cincinnati Art Museum offers special sensory-friendly adaptations for enjoying the museum and provides art education activities for those with disabilities and their families.

Hearts in the Park conducts community-building activities and events designed specifically for those with disabilities.

Newport Aquarium hosts Family Inclusive Sensory Hours (F.I.S.H.) and related adaptive programming to maximize  enjoyment for persons with disabilities.

Boltz to Nutz Farm offers adaptive cooking and gardening classes on the site of a working organic and biodiverse farm

Learn about all of the organizations that currently provide event information for our newsletter

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Howdy, Neighbors arose from a child's consistent and determined hand movement. A simple wave, gifted to passing cars and people. Often the wave has been accompanied by gestures of joy--a smile, a laugh, a display of excitement. Increasingly, it has been joined by others--old friends, as well as new ones attracted to this joy.

We've come to learn that when Jason waves at someone, what he is really doing is extending a bond of trust. His wave exclaims, "Here I am! I feel happy, and I want to share my joy with you! Won't you join in too?" When he sees someone new coming, he often says "Who's that? A neighbor".

It's heartwarming to watch this wave of trust play out. When Jason is outside waving at cars, at first a driver is usually looking straight ahead, or looking at their phone (this is very common!). Perhaps they glance over, and typically Jason gets a look of bewilderment. The next time they pass by, they may give a shy half-wave. Pretty soon, they are waving consistently and looking for us. Eventually, many people honk, especially if they hear another car honking--sort of a permission slip for them to do the same.

All of these responses,--the smiles, the waves, the honks, the shouted replies--these are bonds being formed. Bonds of trust, started by Jason, completed by neighbors who have felt that joy and feel the desire to give it back.

That whole process is captured beautifully in this 16 second video: 

Here, Jason is greeting customers at one of his favorite hangouts, Starbucks Blue Ash. He sees a new "neighbor" come in and greets him enthusiastically. The customer seems a bit surprised but returns the greeting, accepting Jason's trust and completing the first bond. Then, feeling good, the customer demonstrates his own trust by asking Jason how he's doing. Now it's Jason's turn to strengthen the bond.

But what is most remarkable is when the customer goes into line to order a drink. He turns around to look at Jason, with a smile on his face. If you watch to the end of the video, he actually does this twice. The bonds have taken root, Jason has transformed a complete stranger to a new friend, and an endearing memory has been created in the process.

All in 16 seconds.

We've seen this scene play out hundreds of times at dozens of locations in Cincinnati and around the country. At shops and restaurants, on baseball diamonds and bowling alleys, on street corners and walking paths, at concerts and sporting events, at airports and on airplanes.

These bonds of trust build community. One might even think of community as being constructed entirely by these bonds. Trust is what binds us together. It allows us to feel safe. To feel valued..wanted..loved.

And they lead to something bigger. We see examples of this almost every time we are out waving. Invariably, someone stops to talk to us. It's usually someone who has been touched by Jason's friendliness. Most of the time, people want to know why we are out here. Or they excitedly tell us that they always look for Jason, or have been waving for years. Everyone is happy and clearly touched by the experience.

Best of all, almost everyone has a story to share. How they have a cousin with a disability. Or a daughter who works at Saint Joe's, where Jason gets many of his services. Or "I work at (wherever), would Jason be interested in...?". Suddenly, we are having conversations we would never normally have in a neighborhood. And we find ourselves engaged, listening with interest to what they are saying. Instead of what our phones are trying to sell us.

Maybe this makes Jason a superhero. His superpower is a simple hand movement that magically creates happiness. We invite you to be a superhero too.

Won't you join our neighborhood?

Here in Cincinnati, we are so fortunate to have so many adaptive activities available for Jason and his friends. One of our favorites is rock climbing, made possible by the tremendous volunteers at The Bridge Adaptive Sports and Recreation, in partnership with RockQuest Climbing Center. Danny Meyer, founder of The Bridge, has used his skill and insight as a Cincinnati Children's physical therapist to find and adapt a wide range of sports, from fencing to water skiing for people of all abilities. Together with great partners like RockQuest and an army of enthusiastic volunteers, The Bridge makes almost anything possible to anyone.

Jason has tried rock climbing four times, and each time he has become more comfortable, transitioning from nervous smiles to enthusiastic whoops. In this video you can see where he masters the "Wellman Harness" and graduates to the big wall, where he quickly gains confidence. What's next--climbing Yosemite's El Capitan? Don't laugh--it's already been done by someone with cerebral palsy, as shown in the astounding documentary Wampler's Ascent. So yes, anything is possible!