Individuals with Disabilities and Advocates: Tell Your Stories!

May 5, 2015 / developmental disabilities

Tell your state lawmakers that you want people with disabilities to have the services and supports they need to live in the community.

Right now Ohio lawmakers are choosing how much money to spend on supporting people with disabilities to live and work in their own communities. The current proposal will not allow all of the people with disabilities who want to live in the community the services and supports that they need.

Over the next two weeks, the Ohio Senate will be choosing if they want to change the budget to allow for funding and support for people with disabilities to live in the community. The Ohio Senate needs to understand how important these programs and services are to people with disabilities.

Here is how you can help.

Call or write to your Senator —

Use this link to find your Ohio State Senator (bottom left corner of the screen). In your call or letter:

• Tell them they should provide funding and services and supports for people to live in the community. Tell your story about how important living in the community is to you.
• Tell them what you need to live in the community. Tell your story about living in the community and what services you need, including how important good quality, caring, well-trained providers are to you and your family.
• Tell them not to make changes to the Bill of Rights for Ohioans with Developmental Disabilities. “Nothing about us without us!”

If you want to speak before the Senate Medicaid Committee, please contact Ashley.Timberlake@ohiosenate.gov to arrange the submission of your testimony. If you can’t or don’t want to speak in person, you can write and tell your story to this committee during the next two weeks. It’s important that lawmakers hear directly from people with disabilities about their interest in living and working in the community.

Speak out. Your voices are powerful.