#AdvocacyMatters: DRO Weekly COVID-19 Round-Up
The COVID-19 crisis presents challenges that most of us have never experienced. For Ohioans with disabilities, the outbreak, and measures implemented to slow it, are even more difficult. Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) is seeing first-hand how this crisis is further isolating our clients. Read more...
April 3, 2020Read More
DRO Update on COVID-19 "Stay at Home" Order
While Disability Rights Ohio has moved our operations remotely, we continue to monitor the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the care and wellbeing of people with disabilities in Ohio. We are also pleased to see that the Governor's "Stay at Home" Order recognizes other social and health services that our... Read more...
March 23, 2020Read More
Update on DRO's Public Intake Process
DRO has closed our physical office to the public but we are continuing to provide information and advocate for our clients through remote operations. Read more...
March 20, 2020Read More
DRO Files Brief on March 17th's Primary
Late yesterday, DRO filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Ohio’s Supreme Court advocating to protect the safety and rights of people with disabilities during the election process. Read more...
March 18, 2020Read More
Polls are Currently Closed but DRO's Voter Hotline is Open Tomorrow
DRO's Voter Hotline will STILL BE OPEN from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 3/17 please call 800-282-9181 Read more...
March 16, 2020Read More
A Message to Disability Rights Ohio’s Supporters Regarding COVID-19
While we work to address the systemic issues, DRO will continue to advocate for its clients to ensure no one is left behind and all rights are upheld. DRO’s intake operations will continue during the coronavirus outbreak, especially as changes to public services, voting, and schools develop. Read more...
March 13, 2020Read More
They Said He Couldn’t Return Home; We Fought for His Right to Live in his Community. #AdvocacyMatters
Last winter, Francis contacted Disability Rights Ohio for help leaving a nursing facility. Francis has physical disabilities and had been stuck unnecessarily in a nursing facility for years. This restrictive setting was stifling for him; he lost his independence and autonomy and became depressed. Francis desperately wanted to return... Read more...
March 10, 2020Read More
Doe v. State of Ohio Lawsuit Granted Final Approval
A federal judge has granted final approval to the comprehensive settlement agreement in the class action Doe v. State of Ohio lawsuit. The settlement reached will improve integration and academic achievement of Ohio students with disabilities. Read more...
March 2, 2020Read More
Nearing the End: An Update on DRO's Special Education Class Action
A fairness hearing for Doe v. Ohio took place on February 11, 2020, and the following day the Magistrate Judge issued her strong recommendation for approval of the settlement agreement. With partners from the Bazelon Center and the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson, DRO negotiated this comprehensive settlement on... Read more...
February 14, 2020Read More
Amy Price, Advocate and Abuse and Neglect Team Leader
After serving over 30 years in nonprofit management, leadership and advocacy, Amy Price joined Disability Rights Ohio as an advocate on the Abuse and Neglect team in April 2019. In September of 2019, Amy accepted a position as the Team Lead for DRO’s Abuse and Neglect team, exemplifying her commitment... Read more...
January 23, 2020Read More
Disability Rights Ohio Names New Executive Director
Columbus, Ohio-January 16, 2020-Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) has named Kerstin Sjoberg its new Executive Director. Sjoberg replaces Michael Kirkman who is retiring after almost 40 years of advocacy for people with disabilities. Sjoberg will assume the Executive Director role March 1, 2020. She has served as DRO's Director of Advocacy... Read more...
January 16, 2020Read More
Important Update Regarding the Proposed Settlement in DRO's Community Integration Class Action Lawsuit
At a hearing in December 2019 to discuss the recent settlement agreement, the Judge asked DRO and the State to include language that addresses concerns of guardians who, while not part of the class itself, are concerned about their family members potentially losing institutional care in Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs).... Read more...
January 10, 2020Read More
Disability Rights Ohio Attorney Alison McKay Appointed to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Council
COLUMBUS, OHIO (December XX, 2019)" Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has recently appointed Disability Rights Ohio’s (DRO) Alison McKay"attorney and Team Leader of the Client Assistance Program"to the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Council (the Council). The Council consists of 15 members who provide feedback to the state agency Opportunities for... Read more...
December 20, 2019Read More
Sandra's new home and health services were threatened. We gave her the tools she needed to get them back. #AdvocacyMatters
Sandra, an older adult, had recently experienced homelessness but was able to find a home and get necessary health services from an Ohio PASSPORT waiver. However, once she had the resources, the state told Sandra that she no longer qualified for these services. Read more...
December 13, 2019Read More
DODD Waiver Waiting Lists
Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities need and want services through Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs. These programs"the Individual Options, SELF, and Level One waivers"provide funding so that people can get the services and support they need in their own homes and communities instead of in institutions or... Read more...
November 27, 2019Read More
Update in Special Education Class Action Lawsuit
On November 15th, Judge Michael H. Watson granted preliminary approval for a settlement agreement in the Doe v. State of Ohio special education class action lawsuit. DRO and it's co-counsel worked with the Ohio Department of Education to reach a settlement that will improve the State’s support for special education... Read more...
November 15, 2019Read More
National Celebration of Pro Bono Week: Spotlight Interview with Erwin Dugasz
DRO is continuing to celebrate the work of our pro bono volunteers. These voluntary legal services are an integral part of the judicial system, and those who volunteer are using the law to protect the most vulnerable people from being exploited or forgotten. To learn more about pro bono work... Read more...
October 25, 2019Read More
National Celebration of Pro Bono Week: Spotlight Interview with Maria Carr
This week, DRO is celebrating all the hard work that our legal pro bono volunteers complete each year. Pro bono work, at its core, is voluntary legal work done “for good” as its Latin translation suggests. To learn more and better applaud these attorneys, paralegals and law students, we sat... Read more...
October 23, 2019Read More
Settlement in Community Integration Class Action Lawsuit Receives Preliminary Approval
DRO is pleased to announce that the judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has granted preliminary approval of a settlement in our community integration class action lawsuit, Ball v. DeWine. The public will have the opportunity to submit comments on the Settlement Agreement... Read more...
October 18, 2019Read More
Take our survey about Ohio's new waiver waiting list system
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities last year unveiled a new rule governing waiting lists for Medicaid waiver programs for people with developmental disabilities. People are now being assessed by their County Board to determine their level of need for waiver services. We want a better idea of how this... Read more...
September 13, 2019Read More
DRO applauds charges brought against man accused in death of man with disabilities
On February 15, 2018, Jerrold Duskey and another resident were physically assaulted at ResCare/Redbluff, a 12-bed Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) in West Carrollton, Ohio, where they lived. Mr. Duskey later died, and the facility has since been closed. Read more...
September 6, 2019Read More
She was banned from a local pool because of her disability. We helped her get the access she deserved. #AdvocacyMatters
Traci had been using a local recreational center's pool for prescribed physical therapy sessions to treat her spina bifida. After just three weeks, though, the rec center revoked her access to the pool because of her colostomy bag. Read more...
August 30, 2019Read More
Disability Rights Ohio welcomes new special education fellow
Disability Rights Ohio is pleased to announce the arrival our new special education fellow, Aileen Brock, recent graduate of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She joins DRO thanks to generous funding from The Columbus Foundation's Henry E. Coyle Targeted Fund and the Ingram-White Castle Foundation that allows... Read more...
August 23, 2019Read More
New Facebook Live Event: Negotiation Skills for Parents
In our next Facebook Live event, two of our special education attorneys will provide an overview of our popular Negotiation Skills for Parents booklet, which is available on our website at https://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/negotiation-skills-for-parents in English, American Sign Language, Spanish and Somali. Read more...
August 21, 2019Read More
Tyra hadn't received the education she needed. Our advocacy got her into the right program. #AdvocacyMatters
When her family resettled in Ohio as refugees from Zimbabwe two years ago, Tyra looked forward to receiving the quality of education she was unable to access for years in exile because she was deaf. She and her family began working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to find... Read more...
August 16, 2019Read More
Now Streaming: DRO 101 - Advocacy for Kids with Disabilities
On August 1, we hosted the first in our series of Facebook Live events to help families of children with disabilities better understand how Disability Rights Ohio helps students access special education and transition services in Ohio. Read more...
August 9, 2019Read More
Her guardian wasn't listening. We raised her voice. #AdvocacyMatters
Megan lived independently with her boyfriend of six years and received regular visits from her private agency guardian. One day, the guardian thought she saw a "crack pipe" in the couple's apartment and ordered Megan to take a drug test. Read more...
August 2, 2019Read More
Disability Rights Ohio, Buckeye Ranch reach agreement on access to children at the facility
Disability Rights Ohio and The Buckeye Ranch are pleased to announce a settlement agreement that will allow for a strong working relationship between the organizations as they seek to ensure the safety and care of children with disabilities. The settlement outlines DRO's access authority and the means by which its... Read more...
August 1, 2019Read More
Help us set our priorities for 2020
Disability Rights Ohio strives to provide support to as many people as possible. In order to maximize our impact with the resources available, we seek community input every year to focus our priorities on issues where we can have the most effective impact. Read more...
July 26, 2019Read More
Help us provide feedback about Medicaid Managed Care in Ohio
A managed care plan is a health insurance company the Ohio Department of Medicaid pays to provide health care services to some people. In Ohio, most people who have Medicaid must join a managed care plan to receive their health care. Ohio is in the process of changing the way... Read more...
July 19, 2019Read More
DRO's victims of crime advocacy leads to the conviction and sentencing of abusive Cambridge Developmental Center employee
Yesterday, Dianna Stein, a former employee of the Cambridge Developmental Center, was sentenced to 59 months in prison for the abuse of Bradon Conway, a man who lived under her care in the facility. This extraordinary outcome was made possible thanks to the diligent work of DRO staff through its... Read more...
July 11, 2019Read More
Columbus Police Department revises policies for transporting arrestees with mobility impairments
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) is pleased to announce its dialogue with the Columbus Police Department (CPD) has led to revisions in policies for transporting arrestees who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to detention facilities. Read more...
July 9, 2019Read More
He wanted to live with his family. We made sure he kept the funding to do so. #AdvocacyMatters
Nicholas was excited when he received an Individual Options (IO) waiver so he could live in his community with his brother and sister-in-law. But then he and his family had difficulties finding service providers that could give him the 24/7 care he needed. When his county's Board of Developmental Disabilities... Read more...
June 28, 2019Read More
He needed surgery to keep his job. We helped him get assistance to pay for it. #AdvocacyMatters
Daniel was happy to start his new job on an assembly line. One month later, his cataracts caused him to miss the holes for the nails he was inserting. He was written up and told unofficially that if he couldn't see, he would be let go. Read more...
June 21, 2019Read More
Happy Anniversary, Olmstead!
Twenty years ago, on June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision that has undoubtedly positively altered the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Read more...
June 18, 2019Read More
Submit Your Comments on Community Employment and Equal Pay
The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy is seeking comments from the disability community about Section 14(c) of the Fair labor Standards Act, which allows for subminimum wages for people with disabilities and the use of sheltered workshops. Read more...
June 14, 2019Read More
She was told to graduate before she was ready. We helped her stay in the programs she needed. #AdvocacyMatters
Morgan was heading into her fourth year of high school. She was excited to attend a "social graduation," where she would walk across the stage with her class but would then remain in school to obtain needed services as part of her IEP transition plan. Under IDEA, students with disabilities... Read more...
May 31, 2019Read More
Memorial Day Sale! Get BOGO tickets to our June 8 arts fundraiser
Planning to go to the Columbus Arts Festival? Spend some time with us, too! Your ticket to our fundraiser includes delicious appetizers, two drink tickets and access to view and purchase artwork created by local artists with disabilities. Plus, take advantage of free parking in our garage, just steps away... Read more...
May 24, 2019Read More
TAKE ACTION: Protect Disability Rights Ohio's Independence
Ohio's budget is meant to make funding decisions, but instead, legislators decided to include a provision that retaliates against and intimidates DRO for its effective pursuit of the rights of people with disabilities. We work to protect those rights, including the right to live free of abuse and neglect, but... Read more...
May 21, 2019Read More
Her baby was taken from her because of her disability. We filed a brief in support of her right to parent. #AdvocacyMatters
Jenna, an independent woman with an intellectual disability, was excited about being a new mother following the birth of her baby daughter. However, while still in the hospital recovering from the delivery, child protective services removed the baby from Jenna's custody and placed her with a foster family. Read more...
May 3, 2019Read More
He wasn't receiving the accommodations he needed to succeed. We got him back on track to graduate. #AdvocacyMatters
Michael is a long-time nurse who is currently enrolled in a program to become a nurse practitioner. As a person who is hard of hearing, Michael requires speech-to-text technology and captioned videos to access class lectures and materials. When these accommodations were not provided, however, Michael began to struggle in... Read more...
April 26, 2019Read More
Her service dog was denied entry at a JFS office. We opened the doors. #AdvocacyMatters
Lynn's service dog is trained to help her manage the symptoms of her PTSD. When making trips to her local Job and Family Services (JFS) office, security staff asked Lynn twice to provide proof of her dog's status as a service animal. Both times, they ultimately refused to allow her... Read more...
April 19, 2019Read More
Gabe went from struggling to all As and Bs, with help from DRO. #AdvocacyMatters
When Gabe started second grade, he was really struggling in school. He was getting speech therapy, but his mother knew he was not progressing academically like he should. She asked the school to provide additional services, but they refused. She then requested a re-evaluation for Gabe, which was also refused.... Read more...
April 12, 2019Read More
DRO expands Medicaid Pro Bono Program thanks to partnership with McDonald Hopkins
Disability Rights Ohio is pleased to announce a new partnership with law firm McDonald Hopkins LLC to expand its existing Medicaid Pro Bono Program, which provides legal services to Ohio families and children with disabilities. The program, which started when DRO teamed up with Nationwide Insurance in 2017, will now... Read more...
April 5, 2019Read More
DRO's new annual report highlights the importance of the P&A system
Our new Annual Report shows what we did, but it also paints a portrait of what life for Ohioans with disabilities would be if there were no P&A and CAP. Hundreds of people would be denied services without recourse. They wouldn't receive information about how to challenge those decisions. Read more...
March 29, 2019Read More
P&A access authority upheld in Disability Rights Ohio lawsuit against The Buckeye Ranch
Today, Disability Rights Ohio celebrates the decision by Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, to uphold the broad access authority that is foundational to its Protection & Advocacy (P&A) work. DRO will now be able to interview children at The... Read more...
March 26, 2019Read More
He wasn't getting enough time out of his cell. His complaint to DRO led to systemic policy change. #AdvocacyMatters
David has a diagnosed mental illness and has been placed in solitary confinement in a state correctional facility. He felt his mental health was deteriorating and believed that he was not getting enough out-of-cell time in line with state prison policy. He attempted to advocate for himself, but he wasn't... Read more...
March 22, 2019Read More
He needed additional services to keep him safe. One email from DRO changed the outcome. #AdvocacyMatters
Ben had a Level 1 Medicaid waiver, which provided some services, but not enough to keep him from wandering away from his home at night sometimes, which put him at risk. His father had applied to get him placed on a SELF waiver three times, but the county board of... Read more...
March 15, 2019Read More
To get action, they put their bodies on the line
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced in 1998, but by early 1990, it had stalled in the House of Representatives. So on March 12, 1990, disability rights activists organized a rally to demand its passage. At the close of the rally, more than 60 activists abandoned their wheelchairs... Read more...
March 12, 2019Read More
DRO seeks to better help clients through trauma at OVWA training #AdvocacyMatters
On February 21 and 22, DRO's Victims of Crime attorney Sarah Hill and advocate Basil Stolar attended a training hosted by the Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA) to learn about working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Read more...
March 1, 2019Read More
A veteran was at risk of losing her support dog. We stepped in to help. #AdvocacyMatters
Claire, a veteran diagnosed with PTSD, has three support dogs that help her manage the symptoms of her disability. However, her Homeowners Association (HOA) accused her of violating their two pet policy. Read more...
February 22, 2019Read More
He was facing expulsion. We kept him in school. #AdvocacyMatters
When Caleb started having behaviors at school, he was removed from his school's general education program and placed in a behavioral program. Another conflict got the seventh-grader suspended due to aggressive behavior, and the school moved to expel him. Read more...
February 15, 2019Read More
Disability Rights Ohio releases disability rights resources in Spanish and Somali
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) is pleased to announce the release of 23 self-advocacy resources newly translated into Spanish and Somali. These documents, found on DRO's website, will provide important information and resources to Spanish- and Somali-speaking individuals with disabilities and their families. Read more...
February 8, 2019Read More
Things at her workplace were changing. We stepped in to help her maintain her routine. #AdvocacyMatters
Jenny had worked two-hour shifts at a café for 16 years and with her own transportation arranged. However, when the café started operating independent of the county board of developmental disabilities, Jenny was told that she would have to work five-hour shifts and use the company’s transportation instead. Read more...
February 1, 2019Read More
He was worried about the conditions of his facility. Our advocacy ensured a more sanitary environment. #AdvocacyMatters
Will lives in a state correctional facility in a unit that treats residents with mental illness. He grew concerned about the conditions of his unit when he saw mice, insects and what he thought to be black mold in the facility. Worried about his health and the health of his... Read more...
January 25, 2019Read More
His needs weren't being met in the classroom. We helped get him support to succeed. #AdvocacyMatters
When he was in kindergarten, Jonathan went to a school for students with autism, but his mom felt that he would do well in general education classrooms with the right support. However, when he entered first grade at his new school, his mom noticed significant changes in his behavior and... Read more...
January 18, 2019Read More
Her services were cut and her home was in jeopardy. We helped her stay put. #AdvocacyMatters
Beverly was pretty happy with the in-home and rental assistance services she was receiving in her accessible apartment. However, her apartment building was slowly being transitioned to an assisted living facility. In October, she was notified that she would have to switch from an Ohio Home Care waiver to an... Read more...
January 11, 2019Read More
She needed a closer parking space. Our advocacy paved the way. #AdvocacyMatters
Mary's apartment complex had five accessible parking spaces, but they were frequently taken by other residents and their guests. She often found herself having to walk long distances to get to her apartment, which was very difficult because of her disability. She tried for several weeks to ask the property... Read more...
January 4, 2019Read More
DRO has been busy this year
At Disability Rights Ohio, we focus on what people with disabilities want for their lives, and we fight every day to make Ohio more inclusive, more integrated and more fair. As we wrap up 2018, we're reflecting on all the work we've done this year, thanks to our tremendous staff,... Read more...
December 21, 2018Read More
Three workers with disabilities previously paid subminimum wage sue Roppe Industries for employment discrimination
Three long-time employees of Seneca Re-Ad, a workshop in Fostoria that acts as the Sampling Division for the manufacturer Roppe Corporation, are hoping to gain an equal chance to do their jobs and access the same advancement, pay and benefit opportunities as other Roppe workers. Read more...
December 18, 2018Read More
We saw a need for education about housing rights, so we partnered to get funding. #AdvocacyMatters
Some of the most common questions we get at Disability Rights Ohio are about housing rights, particularly around discrimination, reasonable accommodations and support or assistance animals. In a continued effort to educate people around those specific issues, DRO has partnered with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) and the U.S. Department... Read more...
December 14, 2018Read More
DRO works to address nursing concerns for people with developmental disabilities
Disability Rights Ohio has received many calls from people with disabilities and their families because the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) was proposing to have their nursing care provided by aides instead of licensed nurses. This is often called “delegated nursing.” Read more...
December 7, 2018Read More
She needed our help to stay in school. Our advocacy made the difference. #AdvocacyMatters
Yvonne was being bullied at school, and one day, she reached her breaking point. She went into the school bathroom and wrote a curse word - not a threat - in pencil on the wall. Administrators pulled her out of class and called the police, who arrested the sixth-grader and... Read more...
November 30, 2018Read More
She was in the hospital and wanted to vote. Let her tell you how DRO helped. #AdvocacyMatters
Last Monday I was admitted to the hospital, unexpectedly. I was told I would be there for at least two days. That meant I wouldn't be able to vote. As upset as I was about being in the hospital, I was even more upset that I wouldn't be able to... Read more...
November 16, 2018Read More
Disability Rights Ohio and Partners Reach Ground-Breaking Settlement Agreement with State of Ohio in Special Education Class-Action Lawsuit
A settlement agreement reached in the longstanding Doe v. State of Ohio special education class action lawsuit will improve the academic achievement of students with disabilities, in part by supporting their inclusion in regular classrooms. The settlement is expected over the next five years to improve the state's support for... Read more...
November 8, 2018Read More
Call DRO's Voter Hotline at 800-282-9181 on Election Day
It's Election Day, and the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.! DRO's Voter Hotline will be open the same hours at 800-282-9181. DRO staff will be available to answer your questions, and we may be able to help if you think your voting rights are being... Read more...
November 6, 2018Read More
She was being denied an education. We got her back in the classroom. #AdvocacyMatters
Poppy had been bullied at school. She told a teacher, but her safety was not taken seriously. Eventually, Poppy could no longer bear it, and she brought a knife to school in her backpack for protection. When the knife was discovered, she was expelled, even though she had no history... Read more...
October 26, 2018Read More
She wanted to get back into the community. Our advocacy got her there. #AdvocacyMatters
Germaine Martin has a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in mathematics, and she wants to put her sharp mind to work and lead an active, social life. She'd had that community-based life at one time, with all of the supports she needed as a person with quadriplegia,... Read more...
October 19, 2018Read More
Get ready to vote! Register before tomorrow's deadline
We're down to the wire to register to vote in the November 6 General Election. Tomorrow, October 9, is the last day to submit your new registration or update your current registration if you have moved. Read more...
October 8, 2018Read More
The absentee voting process was inaccessible. Our lawsuit gave voters with disabilities new options. #AdvocacyMatters
For many years, Ohio's absentee voting system was entirely paper-based. If you couldn't read text on a piece of paper or use a pen to write, you had no choice but to ask someone to help you fill out your absentee ballot - and trust that person to mark your... Read more...
October 5, 2018Read More
Disability Rights Ohio Releases Illustrated Children's Book for Kids in Ohio's Residential Treatment Facilities
Disability Rights Ohio is excited to release Be an Advocate: How to Use Your Rights to Tell Your Story, a new resource created specifically for children living in residential treatment facilities (RTFs) licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) throughout the state. Read more...
September 28, 2018Read More
Her health was at risk in the heat. Our call to her property manager helped her cool off. #AdvocacyMatters
Last year, Margie's condo association put a fresh coat of paint on the outside of all the units in her complex. In the process, they inadvertently painted her windows shut. This wasn't a problem until this summer, when Margie's air conditioning system stopped working and she couldn't open her windows... Read more...
September 21, 2018Read More
Special ed families need help. Our new fellow is ready to jump in.
Disability Rights Ohio is pleased to announce new funding from The Columbus Foundation's Henry E. Coyle Targeted Fund and the Ingram-White Castle Foundation to continue our fellowship for special education. The fellowship funds will allow DRO to help parents and students with disabilities in Central Ohio as they develop their... Read more...
September 14, 2018Read More
Help us set our priorities for 2019 at our Toledo Listening Session
Every Fall, Disability Rights Ohio sets new priorities for the work we will do in the coming year. These priorities help us to focus our limited resources on the issues that are most critical to people with disabilities. This session is an opportunity to tell us your ideas in person. Read more...
September 7, 2018Read More
Your advocacy matters! Help us set our priorities for the coming year
Every Fall, Disability Rights Ohio sets new priorities for the work we will do in the coming year. These priorities help us to focus our limited resources on the issues that are most critical to people with disabilities. Read more...
September 7, 2018Read More
Come work with us!
Disability Rights Ohio currently has a number of available positions: Clerical Assistant (Full-Time), Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC), Representative Payee Reviewer, Victims of Crime Advocacy (VOCA) Attorney Read more...
September 6, 2018Read More
She needed someone to fight for her education. We stepped up. #AdvocacyMatters
A'loni Wagner was doing great in a school for kids with behavior disabilities, but her school district no longer wanted to pay for her attendance there. Instead, they sent her to her local middle school, where she struggled with teachers who often resorted to immediately restraining her instead of helping... Read more...
August 31, 2018Read More
They were violating her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We called the county commissioner. #AdvocacyMatters
Like many people with disabilities, Genevieve depends on her county department of job and family services (JFS) and Medicaid to provide taxi transportation to her medical appointments. Genevieve kept encountering one company that always refused to put her wheelchair in the trunk of their cabs - a clear violation of... Read more...
August 24, 2018Read More
Without a handrail, she felt trapped in her apartment. We helped her out. #AdvocacyMatters
Meryl's apartment had three steps at the front door but no handrail. Because she is legally blind and was still recovering from two strokes, she didn't feel safe navigating them on her own. She had resorted to paying someone to bring in her mail and was struggling to pay her... Read more...
August 17, 2018Read More
Disability Rights Ohio files federal lawsuit against child residential treatment facility Buckeye Ranch for denying access to facility, children
Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against Buckeye Ranch, a 106-bed child residential treatment facility in Franklin County. The suit was filed in response to Buckeye Ranch denying DRO access to video surveillance footage of documented incidents... Read more...
August 16, 2018Read More
He wanted to be able to communicate. We helped him get the device he needed. #AdvocacyMatters
Vaughn wanted a new speech-generating device. Although he can write, he has limited use of his hands, so forming words with pen and paper is very difficult. His current device was nearly 20 years old, so it was big, clunky and had started to make loud clicking noises when it... Read more...
August 10, 2018Read More
DRO's Voter Hotline will be open for August 7 Special Election
Tomorrow -- Tuesday, August 7 -- is a special election day for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, which covers all or part of Delaware, Morrow, Licking, Franklin, Marion, Muskingum and Richland counties.There are also some local levies on the ballot in other parts of Ohio: Oak Hills Local School District in... Read more...
August 6, 2018Read More
After an accident, they impounded her wheelchair. We helped her get it back. #AdvocacyMatters
Sadie wanted to be home before dark. To get there, she had to drive her power wheelchair down streets with no sidewalk. Before long, she tumbled down an embankment and was thrown from her chair. Read more...
August 3, 2018Read More
Kids were at risk in a locked room. We opened the doors. #AdvocacyMatters
A DRO advocate got a tip that children with disabilities were being locked inside a recreation room at a learning center, so she traveled to the facility unannounced and asked for a tour. The program’s administrator was happy to show the advocate around. When they arrived at the room they... Read more...
July 25, 2018Read More
New DRO report uncovers pervasive problems at child residential facility Hannah Neil
Disability Rights Ohio conducted a nine-month investigation into complaints received about the physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other rights violations of the children at The Heritage of Hannah Neil (Hannah Neil), a 40-bed child residential facility located in Columbus, Ohio. DRO’s investigation found pervasive and troubling problems evident of a harmful... Read more...
July 19, 2018Read More
Without reliable transportation, her health was suffering. We fought alongside her to get her what she needed. #AdvocacyMatters
Alicia's health was suffering. Like many people with disabilities, she needs safe, reliable transportation to get to medical appointments, but her Medicaid managed care company kept providing transportation that put her at risk. She was told she could only get transportation if she used a manual chair instead of her... Read more...
July 13, 2018Read More
She needed a reasonable accommodation to get to work. Our advice kept her on the job. #AdvocacyMatters
Rebecca liked her job at a nearby nursing home, but her transportation arrangement was very stressful. Although she lived just three miles from her work place, her service provider required her to be picked up 90 minutes in advance and even transfer to a different bus along the way. This... Read more...
July 6, 2018Read More
Marcus hadn't been in school all year. We got him back on track. #AdvocacyMatters
Marcus and his family had moved to a new school district over the summer, and his mother, Marie, went to his new school to register him. Marcus, who has ADHD, Spina Bifida, epilepsy and autism and uses a wheelchair, needs a lot of supports, and Marie felt the school wasn't... Read more...
June 29, 2018Read More
With support from DRO, Kayla Stacy turns her broken trust into an opportunity for advocacy #AdvocacyMatters
"I was lucky to find out about DRO, and they made all the difference. They made me feel like a human, not a piece of evidence to be pulled out of a box. I don't know how I'd have gotten through this process without them." Read more...
June 21, 2018Read More
He needed a home. We gave him the encouragement he needed to find the perfect place. #AdvocacyMatters
Peter needed a place to live. Although he was eligible for services from his county board of developmental disabilities, he'd been homeless and sleeping on couches with friends for about a year. His mother called DRO, hoping we could get to the bottom of why Peter still didn't have proper... Read more...
June 15, 2018Read More
Her apartment manager had the wrong information about support animals. We cleared up the confusion. #AdvocacyMatters
Margie's emotional support dog is an important part of her life. When she moved into her new apartment, the apartment complex manager told her she would have to pay an extra $200 deposit. She knew that wasn't right, but her attempts at self-advocacy were unsuccessful, so Margie called DRO for... Read more...
June 8, 2018Read More
DRO submits additional testimony on bill to train school resource officers
Disability Rights Ohio has submitted additional testimony on Ohio House Bill 318, which would create training requirements for school resources officers (SRO) and set aside $10 million in funding to help schools pay for the training. DRO is concerned that the training portion of the legislation is vague and does... Read more...
June 6, 2018Read More
DRO testimony expresses concern about IP surety bond requirement
Disability Rights Ohio has submitted testimony on Senate Bill 218, which would require independent providers (IPs) to purchase a $10,000 surety bond if they wish to provide services. IPs are a critical part of life for many people with developmental disabilities. Without them, many people would not be able to... Read more...
June 5, 2018Read More
She called because they wanted to vote. We helped her clear the way. #AdvocacyMatters
The call came in to DRO's voter hotline at about 2:15 p.m. on Primary Election Day, May 8. A staff person at a psychiatric hospital had four patients who wanted to vote but couldn't go to their polling location because they were hospitalized. DRO had done voting rights trainings at... Read more...
June 1, 2018Read More
A proposed rule change could have put people at risk of abuse. Our call to action helped put a stop to it. #AdvocacyMatters
The news was concerning: with little explanation, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities was proposing to change a rule about its abuser registry and announced a public hearing to accept input. Read more...
May 25, 2018Read More
An incorrectly reported incident left him without job coaching services. We helped him get back to work with the supports he needs. #AdvocacyMatters
Jacob was looking for a new job in the community through the Job Club at his county board of developmental disabilities. Though his autism can make it difficult for him to understand social situations, at 20 years old, he is familiar with what it takes to hold long-term jobs in... Read more...
May 18, 2018Read More
New DRO report outlines significant, ongoing problems at the Ohio Hospital for Psychiatry
Disability Rights Ohio has investigated and documented flagrant and ongoing systemic issues at the Ohio Hospital for Psychiatry (OHP), a 130-bed, private inpatient psychiatric hospital located in Franklin County. A new report outlines our investigation. Read more...
May 9, 2018Read More
Disability Rights Ohio's Voter Hotline will be open on Primary Election Day - Tuesday, May 8!
Primary Election Day in Ohio is Tuesday, May 8, and the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. DRO's Voter Hotline will be open the same hours. DRO staff will be available to answer your questions and may be able to provide assistance if you think your... Read more...
May 3, 2018Read More
DRO comments on DODD's proposal to reassess waiting lists
Disability Rights Ohio has submitted comments on a proposal from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities that would reassess waiting lists for home and community-based waiver programs -- an effort called "Fix the List." This has been a very important concern to our clients and their families for years. DRO... Read more...
May 2, 2018Read More
She needed a fence to keep her safe outside. We got her the green light to build it. #AdvocacyMatters
Ava and her family live in a nice neighborhood in Central Ohio. Ava has autism and Dup15q Syndrome, and in the past she has run away from her home, which caused her mom, Laura, to worry that she could get hurt. Her Medicaid waiver offered to pay to have a... Read more...
April 30, 2018Read More