ALERT: DRO Files Due Process Complaint Against Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
The complaint outlines how ODEW, working with Warren County ESC, and the involved school districts violated state complaint procedures, the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), and Ohio’s established operating standards for children with disabilities. Read more...
February 14, 2024Read 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
DOE nominee DeVos set for vote Tuesday, Jan. 31
President Trump has nominated Betsy DeVos to lead the U.S. Department of Education. In her hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on January 17, she testified that enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law, “is a matter best left to... Read more...
January 30, 2017Read More
Disability Rights Ohio and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality team up to protect rights of students and their families to access educational programs and activities
Due to legal action by DRO and ABLE, ODE must develop a language assistance plan so that all parents and students receive information about available educational programs Read more...
November 15, 2016Read More
DRO to hold education rights training June 23 for Youngstown parents of students with disabilities
Disability Rights Ohio, in collaboration with the NAACP Youngstown Branch, will hold a training session for parents of students with disabilities in the Youngstown City Schools from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016, at the NAACP Youngstown Branch office, 1350, Fifth Ave., Suite 202, Rose Room. Read more...
June 14, 2016Read More
DRO to provide education rights training, advocacy support for Youngstown parents of students with disabilities
Disability Rights Ohio, in collaboration with the NAACP Youngstown Branch, will hold a training session for parents of students with disabilities who attend East High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the Main Library, 305 Wick Ave, Youngstown, OH 44503. Read more...
April 6, 2016Read More
Special Education: Release of Student Records in Doe v. State of Ohio in Toledo, Cincinnati and Cleveland School Districts
Doe v. State of Ohio is a class action lawsuit that was filed in federal court in 1993 as part of another lawsuit about funding and providing education in the State of Ohio. Read more...
May 22, 2015Read More
Cincinnati, Toledo and Cleveland public school teachers: DRO needs your help
Disability Rights Ohio is looking for volunteers to participate in an interview as part of Doe v. State of Ohio, a class action lawsuit brought by Disability Rights Ohio on behalf of all preschool and school-age students with disabilities in the state. Read more...
April 21, 2015Read More
Cleveland-area parents invited to share their special education experiences April 29
The Arc of Greater Cleveland and Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) invite you to a family forum to discuss your child’s experiences with special education services. Read more...
April 2, 2015Read More
Toledo-area parents invited to share their special education experiences Feb. 13
Family Voices of Ohio, The Arc of Northwest Ohio and Disability Rights Ohio will host two open forums on Friday, February 13, at Toledo Children's Hospital, in the Croxton Auditorium of the Legacy Building. Parents of students with disabilities are invited to discuss their child's experiences with special education services,... Read more...
January 28, 2015Read More
DRO, ABLE file complaint with Department of Justice on behalf of Spanish-speaking parents, students
Today, Disability Rights Ohio and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality filed an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of Spanish-speaking students with and without disabilities and their families. Read more...
January 27, 2015Read More
Cincinnati-area parents invited to discuss special education experiences Friday, Dec. 5
Disability Rights Ohio and the University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UC UCEDD) will host two open forums on Friday, December 5, at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Medical Office Building, 3430 Burnet Ave., in rooms 602 and 601 on the fifth floor. Read more...
December 1, 2014Read More
Doe v. State of Ohio seeks funding, good outcomes for special ed students
In 1993, Ohio Legal Rights Service, now Disability Rights Ohio, joined Doe v. State of Ohio, alleging that funding for special education in Ohio was denying children their federally mandated right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Read more...
October 29, 2014Read More
Frequently Asked Questions about ODE's release of student data to DRO
Disability Rights Ohio, on behalf of students with disabilities, filed a class action lawsuit (Doe v. State of Ohio) that claims the State of Ohio does not provide enough resources to school districts to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities, as required by federal... Read more...
September 3, 2014Read More
Get your education questions answered by attorneys, advocates at Dayton-area Brief Advice Clinic
Disability Rights Ohio is partnering with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality and Legal Aid of Western Ohio to provide information and advice to parents of students with disabilities on education issues, including punishment, suspension and expulsion; delay in evaluation for special education eligibility; and lack of needed services. Read more...
August 28, 2014Read More
State of Ohio notifies parents, guardians of its planned release of student data to DRO
Disability Rights Ohio is representing students with disabilities in a class action against the state of Ohio challenging the adequacy of special education funding. As part of this work, DRO needs data that the state keeps about all students. Read more...
August 19, 2014Read More
Law firm Steptoe & Johnson, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law join Doe v. State of Ohio case as co-counsel
Disability Rights Ohio announces that law firm Steptoe & Johnson and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, both based in Washington, D.C., have joined its Doe v. State of Ohio lawsuit as co-counsel. Their addition will help Disability Rights Ohio bring this 20-year-old case to a successful resolution for... Read more...
December 16, 2013Read More
Board member Ruth Colker to speak Tuesday at Columbus Urban League
Disability Rights Ohio Board member Ruth Colker, professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, at the Columbus Urban League, 788 Mount Vernon Ave., Columbus, OH 43203. Read more...
August 12, 2013Read More
Disability Rights Ohio continues to monitor state school funding proposal, its impact on Doe case
Yesterday, Gov. John Kasich's administration described a new “student-focused” system of school funding. The administration claims that no school district will see a funding decrease over the next two years and that state spending on K-12 programs will increase by 6.7% and 4.1% in respective years of the upcoming biennium... Read more...
February 1, 2013Read More