Disability Rights Ohio

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

She needed a different vehicle to take her to medical appointments. We got her rolling. #AdvocacyMatters

Betty was getting transportation services for medical appointments through her Area Agency on Aging. The transportation company was sending a minivan to pick her up, but she found that it was too hard for her to climb in and out of such a high vehicle. She requested either a car... Read more...

April 20, 2018Read More

She wanted to cast her absentee ballot privately and independently. Our lawsuit made it a reality. #AdvocacyMatters

Shelbi Hindel has voted in every election since she turned 18. Because she is blind, she needed help to read the ballot for many years, relying on someone to read it aloud to her and trusting them to vote the way she wanted to. Accessible voting machines with screen reading... Read more...

April 13, 2018Read More

DRO submits testimony on bill to require and fund training for school resource officers

Disability Rights Ohio has submitted interested party testimony on Ohio House Bill 318, which would create training requirements for school resources officers and set aside $10 million in funding to help schools pay for the training. DRO hopes the legislature will also consider increasing funding to provide other related and... Read more...

April 10, 2018Read More

She needed more time. We made sure the landlord was listening. #AdvocacyMatters

Amy's father had just died. She was still trying to deal with the loss when she received bad news from his landlord: due to some unpaid rent, the landlord had gone to court to get an eviction notice. He would be putting all of her father's belongings out on the... Read more...

April 4, 2018Read More

DRO releases voting rights report | Register to vote by Monday

The Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is continuing its study of voting rights in Ohio. At the Committee's first meeting, DRO Director of Advocacy Kerstin Sjoberg-Witt spoke about the most pressing concerns impacting Ohio voters with disabilities. Her presentation has now been outlined in a... Read more...

April 3, 2018Read More

Federal court grants class certification in lawsuit challenging segregation of Ohioans with developmental disabilities

Today, Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, granted class certification in Ball v. Kasich. With this ruling, the five named plaintiffs in the case now represent the interests of thousands of similarly-situated people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in... Read more...

March 30, 2018Read More

Voter Alert: Ohio's Primary Election is May 8 - Are You Ready?

Register to Vote! The deadline to register is Monday, April 9. You can now register to vote online with an Ohio driver's license or state ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you prefer to fill out a paper form, many public offices, including your local... Read more...

March 30, 2018Read More

Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for the Blind

Blind voters in Ohio must be able to cast absentee ballots privately and independently, according to a recent directive from Secretary of State John Husted. The directive comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of the... Read more...

March 26, 2018Read More

Disability Rights Ohio to oversee new federal program to protect beneficiaries of Social Security Disability benefits

Legislation passed today by the U.S. Senate will increase oversight and protection for some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, including 314,949 Ohioans. The bill, called the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 4547), will increase independent oversight of the Social Security Administration’s Representative Payee Program. Read more...

March 23, 2018Read More

He needed an in-person ASL interpreter. We reminded his medical providers of their responsibility. #AdvocacyMatters

Jack was trying to schedule an appointment with a new family doctor. He needed an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and knew that his doctor was required to provide one, but when he called the doctor's office, he hit some roadblocks. Read more...

March 23, 2018Read More

They were in danger of losing nursing services. Our pro bono partnership with Nationwide saved the day. #AdvocacyMatters

Two Ohio families had gotten bad news: the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities wanted to reduce or end the nursing services their daughters were receiving in their homes. Instead, the Department wanted an aide to perform the same care, which the families feared would put Leah and Michelle at risk... Read more...

March 16, 2018Read More

He needed a wheelchair to get around after surgery. We helped him find one. #AdvocacyMatters

At just 9 years old, Guillermo had undergone major surgery to his foot and, although he was doing well, doctors said he wouldn't be able to walk for three months while he healed. The third-grader was anxious to get back to school, but without a wheelchair to keep his foot... Read more...

March 9, 2018Read More

Statement of Disability Rights Ohio Before the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee

DRO is submitting this statement in order to clarify and expand on information that the Committee has received about its activities and, specifically, litigation that it has filed on behalf of individual plaintiffs and seeks to have certified as a class action, Ball v. Kasich. As detailed below, the goal... Read more...

March 6, 2018Read More

DRO Commends Creation of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Council

Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) applauds Gov. Kasich's signing of Ohio Senate Bill 144, establishing the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Council. For the past three years, DRO and a coalition of disability advocates and organizations have worked with Kevin Miller, Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and Senator... Read more...

March 2, 2018Read More

Ohioans invited to share voting stories during U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Committee meetings

The Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is currently conducting a study of voting rights in Ohio and asked Disability Rights Ohio to share our voting concerns impacting people with disabilities. Read more...

February 27, 2018Read More

They had a right to effective communication. Our advocacy got them the help they needed. #AdvocacyMatters

Freda and her husband purchased a home security system. Because they are Deaf, the company's installation technician tried to explain how to work the system by passing notes back and forth, but this caused a lot of confusion, since American Sign Language (ASL) is their primary language, not English. Read more...

February 23, 2018Read More

DODD seeking comments on proposed rule changes for waiver waiting lists

The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has proposed new rule changes to the waiver waiting list system for people who want and need Medicaid home and community-based waiver services in Ohio. Under the proposed rule, county boards will have to assess people currently on waiting lists, as well as others... Read more...

February 21, 2018Read More

She wanted her freedom back. We helped her get it. #AdvocacyMatters

Monica had been under guardianship since she was 19, and after six years she knew it was time for a change. She had been taking care of herself for years in many ways, and her current guardian was controlling and critical, preventing Monica from practicing her religion and threatening to... Read more...

February 16, 2018Read More

With DRO’s help, Zach Ricker finds his way #AdvocacyMatters

Zach Ricker is happy now. At age 18, he’s got a job at Bob Evans in Bellefontaine washing dishes and bussing tables, and he’s making friends with his co-workers. It’s a life his parents, Lorie and Tim, have fought for, but it could easily have turned out differently. Read more...

February 9, 2018Read More

She needed a simple accommodation. One phone call from DRO made the difference. #AdvocacyMatters

Rebecca frequently meets with her case manager at a local agency. Because she's blind, she needs someone to offer an arm to guide her from the lobby to her case manager's office once she gets inside the building, but she was told that front office staff wouldn't provide that service... Read more...

February 2, 2018Read More

A facility was in poor condition. We partnered with the provider to get it fixed up. #AdvocacyMatters

In August 2017, Disability Rights Ohio received an anonymous tip that an Adult Care Facility in the Youngstown area was in bad shape, putting its residents - people with mental illness - at risk. DRO's abuse and neglect team visited and found a host of problems: stained and buckling ceiling... Read more...

January 26, 2018Read More

They wanted feedback about new voting machines. We weighed in. #AdvocacyMatters

The Franklin County Board of Elections is considering a purchase of new voting machines, and they want to make sure the machines they select continue to be accessible to people with disabilities. So they invited Disability Rights Ohio, the Center for Disability Empowerment, the American Council of the Blind of... Read more...

January 19, 2018Read More

Parents have options as ECOT closes

Recent news coverage has reported the potential closing of the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) due to the loss of a sponsor. ECOT is the largest online school in Ohio and its closure would affect roughly 12,000 students. If your child has a disability and an Individualized Education Program (IEP)... Read more...

January 18, 2018Read More

We wanted to help the disability community track important legislation. So we created a new resource center. #AdvocacyMatters

Disability Rights Ohio monitors dozens of pieces of legislation at any given time and maintains relationships with lawmakers to educate and inform them about how their proposals will affect people with disabilities. We know that many partners and self-advocates rely on us to help them stay informed on these issues. Read more...

January 12, 2018Read More

DRO expresses concerns about new statewide Medicaid EVV system

DRO first contacted the Ohio Department of Medicaid to express concerns about the state's plans to implement Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) in September. However, Medicaid moved forward with the GPS-based EVV system and the delivery of the devices directly to consumers. As the launch date approached, DRO’s concerns continued to... Read more...

January 9, 2018Read More

She needed OOD to cover tuition costs. We were there to help. #AdvocacyMatters

Monisha wants to be a computer hardware engineer, and she's been working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to achieve that goal. Because she's Deaf, American Sign Language is Monisha's first language, and understanding written English can be a challenge for her. Read more...

January 5, 2018Read More

She needed a closer parking space. We paved the way. #AdvocacyMatters

Leandra could never find a parking space close to her apartment. She'd have to park a block away and walk up a hill to her building, which was quite difficult because of her mobility disability. She asked her landlord to give her an assigned, reserved parking space close to her... Read more...

December 29, 2017Read More

Remember DRO for your year-end giving

As 2017 closes, Disability Rights Ohio asks for your support as we continue to advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of all people with disabilities. And if you donate by December 31, your gift will be tax-deductible. Read more...

December 27, 2017Read More

The clients were living in appalling, unsafe conditions. We got the facility shut down. #AdvocacyMatters

As the Protection & Advocacy system for people with disabilities in Ohio, Disability Rights Ohio constantly monitors facilities where people with disabilities live to make sure they are clean and safe and the residents are well cared for. In June 2016, DRO made a monitoring visit to Simmons Adult Care,... Read more...

December 21, 2017Read More

Donzel Shepherd's call to DRO leads to more transparency for all Ohioans with disabilities seeking job services #AdvocacyMatters

Donzel Shepherd wants to help people get back to work, and he wants to do that in the underserved neighborhoods in his hometown of Cleveland. "I want to go into the community centers, where people don't have access to these services," he explains. "No one else goes there. " Read more...

December 15, 2017Read More

Bipartisan bill would create new program to protect people with disabilities from financial exploitation #AdvocacyMatters

Recently there have been reports in the news and through the Office of the Inspector General and Government Accountability Office about problems with the representative payee oversight program. In response, Congressional Republican Sam Johnson of Texas and Democrat John B. Larson of Connecticut have introduced House Resolution 4547, the Strengthening... Read more...

December 8, 2017Read More

New DRO FAQ explains options for people receiving notice that their waiver services haven't been used

On Oct. 30, 2017, DODD mailed letters to all people with developmental disabilities, and their guardians, who are enrolled on an Individual Options (IO), Level 1 or SELF waiver but who have not used any of their waiver services for more than a year. Disability Rights Ohio has created a... Read more...

December 7, 2017Read More

DRO submits comments on Ohio Senate bill that could negatively affect students with disabilities

isability Rights Ohio Executive Director Michael Kirkman recently sent a letter to state legislators working on Senate Bill 216, which intends to “deregulate” Ohio’s education system but could negatively impact students with disabilities. Read more...

December 6, 2017Read More

Tuscarawas County Judge upholds ruling in discrimination and retaliation case against daycare worker represented by DRO

A Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas Judge has upheld a finding by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) that a daycare facility discriminated against an employee by firing her after one day on the job. In July 2014, daycare Through the Years dismissed Theresa Petrullo, who has been diagnosed... Read more...

December 6, 2017Read More

He wanted to vote. We made it happen. #AdvocacyMatters

It was Election Day and James was excited to exercise his right to vote. He called DRO's voter hotline from the facility where he lives to get the address of his polling location. DRO found the information, and James asked the DRO representative to tell a staff member at the... Read more...

December 1, 2017Read More

With your gift, we can help more people like Nancy

There isn't always a big win. Sometimes, it's incremental success. In today's world, it's progress when we keep things from moving backward. We know our work is far from over, and you know it, too. We write today to ask for a gift of $100, $50, $20 or even $10... Read more...

November 27, 2017Read More

Thanks to DRO's pro bono partnership with Nationwide, Gabriel can get the services he needs in the community. #AdvocacyMatters

Gabriel's parents, Stanley and Jean, had given him the best care they could in his youth. However, at 20 years old, conflicts escalated with Gabriel's increasingly aggressive behavior and Stanley's own health challenges. Gabriel was on the waiting list for a Medicaid waiver so that he could live his dream... Read more...

November 22, 2017Read More

His landlords threatened him over his emotional support animal request. We clarified the law so he could bring home his new best friend. #AdvocacyMatters

Stephen had collected everything he thought he needed to request a reasonable accommodation from his landlords to get an emotional support animal. But even after going above and beyond what is legally required by getting a letter from his doctor, they still denied his request, citing a "no pets" policy.... Read more...

November 17, 2017Read More

The Arc of Ohio, The Arc of the United States and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Support Community Integration Class Action Suit

Today, The Arc of Ohio, The Arc of the United States and The Judge David L Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law submitted an amicus brief to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in support of Ball v. Kasich, the class action lawsuit that asserts... Read more...

November 9, 2017Read More

DRO cares about your right to vote. Call our Voter Hotline for help. #AdvocacyMatters

People with disabilities have the right to vote, and Disability Rights Ohio fights to ensure that those votes can be cast. Every Election Day, DRO runs a Voter Hotline, which allows people who are having problems voting to talk directly to a DRO staff member, who can answer their questions.... Read more...

November 2, 2017Read More

Sheila's confusing government letter was made clear, thanks to a little help from DRO. #AdvocacyMatters

Sheila was concerned. She'd gotten a letter in the mail that seemed to say her Medicare benefits would stop at the end of the year, and she wasn't sure why. She called DRO's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, since she'd worked with our benefits counselors before and thought... Read more...

October 27, 2017Read More

Without his scooter, he couldn't safely visit his son in prison. We helped him keep rolling. #AdvocacyMatters

Melvin's son is serving a prison sentence, and Melvin and his wife, Reba, like to visit him once a month. When checking in at security, though, the prison staff required Melvin to turn in his motorized scooter and use a chair on four small wheels instead. However, the visitation area... Read more...

October 20, 2017Read More

They needed an accessible parking space. We educated their landlord about the Fair Housing Act. #AdvocacyMatters

Miriam and her husband Dave have lived in her apartment for 20 years. Because Miriam uses a walker and Dave was recently diagnosed with cancer, they needed an accessible parking space near their townhouse door. However, their new landlords had taken down the accessible parking signs and the emblem painted... Read more...

October 13, 2017Read More

Today is The Big Give!

#AdvocacyMatters. You acted with your voice. You made calls and sent letters to your legislators. Starting TODAY at 10 a.m., you can strengthen your voice with a donation to DRO through The Columbus Foundation's BIG GIVE event. During THE BIG GIVE, your gift of $25, $50, or $100 or more... Read more...

October 10, 2017Read More

Her nursing services were threatened by a change to her waiver. We helped her maintain the care she needs. #AdvocacyMatters

Thanks to a Medicaid waiver, Mimi had been receiving nursing services to help with her feeding tube, medications and walking assistance for years. She is also nonverbal. When the state decided to eliminate the waiver she'd been on and transition her to a different one, they also notified her that... Read more...

October 5, 2017Read More

He was ready to get off his benefits. We advised him on the path forward. #AdvocacyMatters

At 25 years old, Martin had been through three back surgeries. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) had supported him during that time, but he was eager to return to work. He utilized the Trial Work Period offered through the Social Security Ticket to Work program, which allowed him to work... Read more...

September 28, 2017Read More

We're moving!

On Friday, September 29, Disability Rights Ohio will be moving to a new location: 200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 300 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Our phone numbers will be staying the same. However, on Friday our phones will be disconnected, and callers will not be able to leave voicemail until Monday, October 2 at... Read more...

September 27, 2017Read More

Hearing Wednesday for bill to create OOD council

Important state policy events are also happening this week! This Wednesday, an Ohio Senate Committee is likely to vote on legislation that will create a new Council to provide more oversight of job-related services provided by the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities state agency. DRO will serve as a member... Read more...

September 25, 2017Read More

He needed help getting back to the doctor. We helped smooth his way. #AdvocacyMatters

Matt's back hurt, and he was having trouble with his sight, so he scheduled an appointment with the only doctor who accepted Medicaid in his small town. At the appointment, he asked the doctor to refer him to specialists, but the doctor insisted that he make a second appointment to... Read more...

September 22, 2017Read More

Action Alert: Senate to Vote on Health Care Bill Next Week

Ohio's U.S. Senator Rob Portman is undecided on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill. Call NOW to tell him to vote NO. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the recently introduced Graham-Cassidy health care bill next week. Read more...

September 21, 2017Read More

DRO submits comments on bill to create OOD Council

Disability Rights Ohio recently submitted interested party testimony on Ohio Senate Bill 144 (SB144), which would replace the current Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Commission with an Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Council (Council). OOD is the state agency that administers vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to Ohioans with disabilities,... Read more...

September 21, 2017Read More

DRO provides comments on Ohio's proposed Electronic Visit Verification system

Disability Rights Ohio recently provided public comments on the proposed Ohio Home Care Waiver amendment that would implement an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system. Read more...

September 18, 2017Read More

DRO submits comments on DODD proposed rule changes for independent providers

Today Disability Rights Ohio submitted comments about the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities proposed rule changes for independent service providers. Read the rule language and our comments. Read more...

September 15, 2017Read More

She wanted a bigger place for her cat, but her landlord said no. We helped them move forward. #AdvocacyMatters

Stephanie lived in an efficiency apartment with her cat, Cleo--an emotional support animal--but she felt like she needed more space. She asked her landlord if she could move into a one-bedroom apartment in the building. Despite Stephanie providing medical documentation, her landlord denied her request and said the cat wouldn't... Read more...

September 15, 2017Read More

She didn't feel safe on the school bus. We helped her get the support she needed. #AdvocacyMatters

At the end of last school year, Kayla was inappropriately touched and repeatedly sexually harassed on the school bus by an older boy. However, the school refused to take action and even suggested that Kayla may have encouraged his behavior, despite knowing that she had disabilities related to fetal alcohol... Read more...

September 8, 2017Read More

D'Marcell felt out of place and desperate for help. Our advocacy brought systemic changes. #AdvocacyMatters

D'Marcell is a transgender woman living in a men's prison. This caused her to feel extreme anxiety and depression and to act out by injuring herself. The prison, however, denied her any hormone therapy, choosing instead to treat her only for anxiety and depression, which didn't solve the underlying problem.... Read more...

September 1, 2017Read More

Help us set our priorities for 2018

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. Please take our Fiscal Year 2018 Priorities Survey and give us your... Read more...

August 18, 2017Read More

She needed an accommodation to get her license back. We helped her succeed. #AdvocacyMatters

Vanessa's massage therapy license had lapsed. She wanted to get it restored so she could financially support herself. That required her to take a computer-based licensing test, but her disability made it difficult to travel to the distant location where the test was administered. She asked the state Massage Therapy... Read more...

August 18, 2017Read More

She wanted to see our nation's history. We helped her get there. #AdvocacyMatters

Tasia's eighth-grade class was planning a trip to Washington, D.C., and although her developmental disabilities made it difficult for her to focus on tasks and move efficiently from place to place, she was excited to go. Her grandmother, Jeanne, provided all of the required information and paid for the trip,... Read more...

August 11, 2017Read More

Have you been denied a Medicaid service?

Disability Rights Ohio and Nationwide have a new partnership designed to provide free legal representation in certain Medicaid appeal cases. We will refer cases where the individual has been denied or experienced a reduction in services, such as: Read more...

August 7, 2017Read More

We saw a need, and a grant from OSBF helped us fill it. #AdvocacyMatters

Although Disability Rights Ohio has dozens of helpful documents in its online Resource Center, they were not accessible for many of the 100,000 American Sign Language speakers in Ohio, so we applied for, and received, a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation to change that. Because ASL and English... Read more...

August 4, 2017Read More

Disability Rights Ohio, Deaf Services Center release disability rights resources in American Sign Language

Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) and Deaf Services Center (DSC) are pleased to announce the release of 18 new videos, interpreting many of DRO's most requested resources into American Sign Language (ASL). The two organizations worked together on the project, thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation. Read more...

August 1, 2017Read More

We did it! Together, we saved Medicaid

In a surprising and dramatic early morning session, the U.S. Senate voted no on the proposed "skinny repeal" health care bill that would have undermined the Affordable Care Act. Your calls, your stories and your protests made that happen. Together, we saved Medicaid and the other critical health insurance programs... Read more...

July 28, 2017Read More

Action Alert: Senate Votes to Proceed with Unknown Health Care Bill

Today the U.S. Senate voted to proceed with debate on a health care bill. However, no one knows what version of the health care bill they're planning to vote on in the coming days. Read more...

July 25, 2017Read More

Busting #MedicaidMyths: Long-term job coaching

Myth: My best friend's son has Down Syndrome and works in an office with a job coach. That service is paid for by employment programs at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, though, not Medicaid. Medicaid is only for medical needs. Read more...

July 14, 2017Read More

Support us with your purchases through Amazon Smile

It's Amazon Prime Day! If you shop at smile.amazon.com and choose the Ohio Disability Rights Law and Policy Center Inc. as your charity, a percentage of your purchase goes to help us do our critical advocacy work for people with disabilities in Ohio. Shop for great deals at smile.amazon.com/ch/45-4122935 Read more...

July 11, 2017Read More

New DRO publication collects our #MedicaidMyths

DRO has collected several of our #MedicaidMyths into a full-color booklet for easy sharing. The resource includes important statistics about Medicaid in Ohio, as well as facts like this one: Myth: "We moved my mom into a nursing home a few months ago. I've heard that Congress isn't planning to touch... Read more...

July 7, 2017Read More

Action Alert: Continue the Fight to Save Medicaid Expansion in Ohio

The Ohio General Assembly this week passed Governor John Kasich's final two-year budget. This budget includes a provision that would freeze new enrollments in Medicaid expansion starting on July 1, 2018. Though Governor Kasich has vetoed the measure, House and Senate leadership have threatened to override his veto after the... Read more...

June 30, 2017Read More

Busting #MedicaidMyths: Medical equipment and home modifications

Myth: My niece has cerebral palsy and uses a power wheelchair. Her parents have great health insurance through their employers, though, so she doesn't need Medicaid. Read more...

June 23, 2017Read More

Action Alert: Senate to vote on health care next week, Portman undecided

Ohio's U.S. Senator Rob Portman is undecided on the American Health Care Act. Call NOW to tell him to vote NO. Calling only takes a minute. A staff member will answer or you can leave a message on voicemail. If you need some talking points, here are some things you... Read more...

June 22, 2017Read More

They were being mistreated in prison. We advocated for their rights. #AdvocacyMatters

"Treatment team meetings are just discussions about how to kick us out of the mental health unit as soon as possible," they said. Several people in prison units designed to provide treatment for those with serious mental illness had contacted Disability Rights Ohio to express this concern. DRO took their complaints... Read more...

June 16, 2017Read More

He lost his sight during a mental health crisis. We helped him regain his dignity. #AdvocacyMatters

Gerald is lucky to be alive. In 2015, he was shot by police 10 times during a mental health crisis. The altercation left him missing one eye and with limited sight in the remaining eye. After he healed from his gunshot wounds, he was placed in a psychiatric hospital, where... Read more...

June 9, 2017Read More

He wanted to move on from some mistakes in his youth. We helped him get a new chance. #AdvocacyMatters

Marcus was ready to find a job in the community, but he was having difficulty finding work because of some criminal charges from 14 years ago. Since then, he had stayed out of trouble, gone to therapy and become an active member of his church community, making him an excellent... Read more...

June 2, 2017Read More

Her high school teachers thought she couldn't learn. We stepped in. Now she's thriving in college. #AdvocacyMatters

Jordyn Zimmerman was always told that because she was not able to communicate verbally, college was not on the horizon. Even a modified high school diploma was hardly expected. Her educators believed her autism meant that she couldn't understand them. DRO found that was not the case. Read more...

May 26, 2017Read More

After many years of school, she wanted to give work a trial run. We gave her some good news. #AdvocacyMatters

Marcy was a recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and she had just finished school to become a physician's assistant. She worried about being physically able to work full-time, which would eliminate her SSDI benefits. Read more...

May 19, 2017Read More

DRO submits testimony on proposed mental health crisis stabilization facilities

Disability Rights Ohio Executive Director Michael Kirkman submitted testimony Thursday on the provision of Substitute House Bill 49 allocating $12 million ($6 million per fiscal year) for mental health crisis stabilization facilities. Read more...

May 12, 2017Read More

Her school had failed her. We helped her learn to succeed. #AdvocacyMatters

Sometimes the only thing standing between people with disabilities and success is the systems that are meant to serve them. In 2012, Alexis had a behavioral incident at school. The school removed her, even though the incident was related to her disability. DRO stepped in and represented Alexis in a... Read more...

May 12, 2017Read More

She wanted help after a sexual assault. We connected her with resources. #AdvocacyMatters

“Brenna” was a patient at a psychiatric hospital who was sexually assaulted by a staff member. The nurse on duty refused to do a rape kit. She also refused to allow the victim to go to the medical hospital, where she would be connected with counseling services. Brenna called DRO... Read more...

May 5, 2017Read More

Action Alert: The House votes on health care TODAY. Call NOW.

The U.S. House is expected to vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) today. Though they are rushing it through before the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) can score it, we know that it's more extreme than the previous version, which the CBO said would have left 24 million Americans... Read more...

May 4, 2017Read More

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