On April 11, 2023,  Ohio's Joint Commission to Examine the State Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program recommended to the Governor that the state "redesignate" its P&A, having found Disability Rights Ohio for "intentionally not protecting and advocating for all individfuals with disabilities."

The report came in response to hearings on Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, 2023 in which families testified about their dissatifaction with the DRO's actions and biases against people in ICFs and sheltered workshops.

Download the report here

On February 16, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee held its first hearing on the health care workforce crisis. The meeting focused on the shortage of doctors and nurses, especially the imprnding retirement of most of the nursing force in the years ahead and the current/recent lack of enrollees in nursing schools. Only one brief mention was made of the crisis in the workforce of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) that has been shutting down care services systems for people with I/DD and autism.

On March 20, 2023, VOR submitted comments to the Senate HELP Committee, asking them to expand the scope of their investigations to include this essential workforce and take action to this critical shortage of caregivers.

Please download (and share) VOR's comments here

VOR's Dawn Kovakovich submitted testimony to Minnesota' House Human Services Finance Committee in opposition to provisions in HF2847. Please read her testimony here and download her daughter Laura's letter to the committee here.

VOR has submitted comments to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on its proposal supporting family caregivers.

The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities is holding the first public meeting of its new term on July 28, 2022.

VOR has submitted public testimony to the committee, which may be downloaded here.

August is a great time to reach out to your Members of Congress in while they are visiting their districts and traveling around the state. Use this opportunity to schedule an appointment with your representative, attend a meet-and-greet with your senator, or bring your issues to their campaign at a fundraiser.

If you wish, you may click here to download and print VOR's Legislative Considerations - Summer 2022.