Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Pulse: What’s going on around Ohio March 24th to 29th 2025!

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Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys and public comment!

  • Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out the Regional Transportation Public Input Survey. Your feedback and input is valuable and important. This survey will help identify the transportation needs and barriers you face every day within your county and across county lines. Access to jobs, medical care and every day essentials continues to be a struggle for many people across Ohio. Your feedback will help address how we work toward filling those gaps and unmet needs.
    RCRPC is charged with developing a Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan for Region 5, an 8 county region that includes; Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland and Seneca county. The Regional Coordinated Plan will focus on increasing transportation efficiency, coordination and collaboration from county to county. If you live, work or travel in/to/from any of these counties, use public transportation or work with individuals who use public transportation, we want your feedback!
    To access this survey, please click the link below. The survey will remain open until April 1. Please share!
    https://forms.gle/gFYZRZ5Cpx8KD6ct8
  • Sign up to be part of Worlds Longest Virtual Aktion Club through We Thrive Together https://wethrivetogether.org/aktion-club/?gf_protect_submission
  • We Thrive Together a virtual social club is offering a coloring contest here is the link to learn more.
  • Northeast Ohio Medical University is looking for people with disabilities to participate research study on gynecology services and how to improve them. If interested please click link here.
  • Ohio Department of Transportation ATTN: We are now accepting public comments on the draft 2026-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Draft STIP is available for review and comment online from March 11 to April 11. Help improve Ohio and let your voice be heard today!
    https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/stip/26-29
  • Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati is always looking for new and innovative ways to fulfill their mission. They are looking for feedback
    www.dsagc.com/survey

Events around Ohio to check out week of March 17th 2025 to March 22nd 2025

Monday March 24th 2025

  • We Thrive Together Discussion on Anxiety and Depression 11:00am-12:00pm join thru this link check out their website for more events.
  • We Thrive Together Discussion on Relationships: Self Confidence 3:00pm-4:00pmto join click Link
  • Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat Meeting 4-5pm join by clicking this link to our zoom.

Tuesday March 25th 2025

  • The Budget Is a Moral Document Advocacy Day, Tuesday, Mar 25 · 8:45 AM–3 PM at Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.
  • We Thrive Together Tech Talk: Wood County DD Technology for Fall Prevention 11:00am-12:00pm click this link to join.
  • DODD Community Talks 1:00pm-4:00pm to Register click on this link the event is at Butler County ESC Butler County Educational Service Center
    400 N Erie Hwy Ste A.
    Hamilton, OH 45011
  • Medicaid on the Chopping Block: Advocacy Updates, Tuesday, Mar 25 · 3–4 PM To register for the event click this link .
  • Arc of Ohio Legislative Reception, Tuesday, Mar 25 · 4:30–6 PM at Columbus Statehouse Columbus, Ohio.

Wednesday March 26th 2025

Thursday March 27th

  • DD Awareness Proclamation Richland County check out more at this link this is from 9:30am-10:30am
  • DD Awareness Rally in Ravenna, Ohio. 10:00am-11:00am
  • We Thrive Together Tech Talk on Smart Home Security Cameras, Ring, Nest, Wyze join through this link it’s from 11:00am-12:00pm
  • Area on Aging District 7 Advisory Council Meeting 1:00-3:00pm 1 Acy Ave Jackson, OH 45640, USA. For more information:
    1.800.582.7277
    info@aaa7.org
  • Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Fest 6:00pm-8:00pm The annual Developmental Disability Awareness Fest at the Athens Community Center will be on Thursday, March 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The Athens County Community Singers will start the evening with a performance.  Join us for an evening celebrating community partners and friends!  If you would like to showcase your services,
    Flyer for reference Disability Awareness Fest 2025.pdf

Friday March 28th 2025

  • Addiction and Policy Forum in Chillicothe, Ohio check out this link for more details.
  • Disability Rights Ohio Budget Review 3:00pm please contact Brittanie Maddox at DRO for more information bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org

Saturday March 29th 2025

No Known Events

Helpful Information by National, State and County Agencies and Organizations for People to Read

  • Ohio Department of Aging Put out an Adult Day Care guide please check out this link to read it.
  • Artists with Disabilities Access Program: The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP) provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career. 
    Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Administration on Community Living has put out information on Nutrition for older adults check out the link to this information.
  • Center for Family Involvement has made a post about accessibility in social media please check it out thru the link here.
  • Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging will transition from operating within the City of Columbus’ Department of Recreation and Parks to a stand-alone Regional Council of Governments by 2026. This shift will enable COAAA to better serve its consumers — older adults and people with disabilities — within its eight-county region while expanding services and launching new programs.
    Learn more in today’s news release: https://bit.ly/3Fuz60M
  • OSU Nisonger put out a video series on Smart Homes on this YouTube link for people learn about Smart Homes and Independence.
  • This was shared by Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities Kings Island ‘s accessibility guide has changed and we want to make sure you have all the details before visiting this summer! One of the major changes is the accessibility card! Individuals will now have to get prior approval from a third-party system that requires a doctor’s note. To make sure your prepared, please take a look at the Kings Island accessibility guide: http://www.visitkingsisland.com/accessibility

This Week in Awareness

  • March is DD Awareness Month wear Orange one day to show awareness and make social media post.
  • It is Women’s History Month

For more events check out our main website OhioAdvocacyHeartbeat.com

Saturday Advocacy Wins to Share!

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Each week we want to highlight advocacy wins of the week on our page that we see happening around Ohio. An advocacy win is something good that happens in the world of advocacy or self advocacy. If you want to share something that happened in the world of advocacy in Ohio please email us we will include it in our weekly wins in Advocacy Post next week.

  • The American Heart Association Shared about how they had a successful lobbying and advocacy day at the Columbus Statehouse check out their Facebook post online.
  • Ohio Domestic Violence Network shared their advocacy successes on there Facebook post
  • HR37 to designate March as Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month was approved by Ohio House of Representatives.
  • In Hamilton County a local organization helped make adapted skate devices to help people with disabilities be able to skate with support.

The Pulse: What’s going on around Ohio March 17 to 22nd 2025!

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Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys and public comment!

  • Medicaid Waivers Posted for Public Comment
    Attention: Providers, Self-Advocates, Families 
    The SELF (Self Empowered Life Funding) waiver renewal and the Level 1 and Individual Options waiver amendments proposed for adoption on July 1, 2025, are a result of stakeholder engagement between the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), people receiving services and families, advocates, and associations. DODD is seeking your input on these amendments; summary documents, the proposed amendments, and information on how to submit your comments can be found at: 
     
    https://dodd.ohio.gov/waivers-and-services/Waiver+Amendments/Waiver+Amendments+2025 
     
    As part of the waiver amendment process, the public can comment on the proposed amendments. The public comment period is March 4, 2025, to April 3, 2025. Comments must be received by midnight on April 3, 2025.
  • Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out the Regional Transportation Public Input Survey. Your feedback and input is valuable and important. This survey will help identify the transportation needs and barriers you face every day within your county and across county lines. Access to jobs, medical care and every day essentials continues to be a struggle for many people across Ohio. Your feedback will help address how we work toward filling those gaps and unmet needs.
    RCRPC is charged with developing a Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan for Region 5, an 8 county region that includes; Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland and Seneca county. The Regional Coordinated Plan will focus on increasing transportation efficiency, coordination and collaboration from county to county. If you live, work or travel in/to/from any of these counties, use public transportation or work with individuals who use public transportation, we want your feedback!
    To access this survey, please click the link below. The survey will remain open until April 1. Please share!
    https://forms.gle/gFYZRZ5Cpx8KD6ct8
  • The Breaking Silences Advocacy Committee created a survey to understand the experiences and get personal stories of people with disabilities who have accessibility issues with online meetings. The goal is to use the stories to create a training program for businesses to help make meetings more accessible for everyone. All responses will be anonymous and no one outside of the Breaking Silences Training Materials Workgroup will see the results. Please fill out form linked here .
  • Sign up to be part of Worlds Longest Virtual Aktion Club through We Thrive Together https://wethrivetogether.org/aktion-club/?gf_protect_submission
  • We Thrive Together a virtual social club is offering a coloring contest here is the link to learn more.
  • Northeast Ohio Medical University is looking for people with disabilities to participate research study on gynecology services and how to improve them. If interested please click link here.
  • Ohio Department of Transportation ATTN: We are now accepting public comments on the draft 2026-2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Draft STIP is available for review and comment online from March 11 to April 11. Help improve Ohio and let your voice be heard today!
    https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/stip/26-29

Events around Ohio to check out week of March 17th 2025 to March 22nd 2025

Monday March 17th 2025

  • Happy St Patrick’s Day
  • Assistive Technology Resource Fair in Lancaster, Ohio hosted by Fairfield County DD. 10:00am- 2:00pm
  • Disability Rights Ohio Legal Clinic for parents of children with disabilities. The topic is- Attendance, Truancy, and Discipline: What Parents Need to Know.
    You can learn more and register to attend at lawyers4students.com/legalclinic
  • Charting the Life Course 1 page Learning Event with Self Advocates 12-1pm register through this link provided.
  • Wellness Managing Stress Workshop on We Thrive Together from 11:00am-12:00pm
  • Relationships Group: Courage on We Thrive Together from 3:00-4:00pm
  • Virtual Training: Creating and Signing into Accounts on We Thrive Together from 6:00pm to 7:00 pm

Tuesday March 18th 2025

  • What is Occupational Therapy? 10:30am in Jackson County Senior Center in Jackson, Ohio hosted by AAA7
  • Tech Talk: Wood County Board of DD Assistive Tech for Elopement on We Thrive Together from 11:00am to 12:00 pm
  • Family University Blind/Visually Impaired/DeafBlind Zoom Meeting on March 18 at 6:30 to 7:30pm
    Join us as we learn from Rachel Schulz, a member of the Center for Excellence, who will discuss
    Universal Design for Learning, (UDL), why it’s important, is your child receiving UDL, and why UDL is helpful for students. Part two of the session will include Dr. Al LaBarre sharing on chapter 7 of the book, “All About IEPs- Special Factors.” Register today: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEucO-rrDMpHNYYXswBA_nG7nOTYPPiE5NQ#/registration
  • Don’t miss out on the upcoming Fair Housing Accessibility First training! The next virtual session is on Tuesday, March 18 at 10:00 am & 2:00 pm, and will cover the Fair Housing Act Requirement 2: Accessible Public and Common-Use Areas. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/accessibility_first_training_calendar

Wednesday March 19th 2025

  • Utilizing ADA Tools Program by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities 10:00am -11:00am. In this webinar, we will discuss how the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, the ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities, and the Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards can assist you along your accessibility journey.
    To register please use this link https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/feb0fbee-de68-4868-ad11-562414aa54f8@50f8fcc4-94d8-4f07-84eb-36ed57c7c8a2
  • OSDA at We Thrive Together 11am https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/
  • DD Community Talks Cuyahoga County 1:00pm-4:00pm 4415 Northfield Rd., Warrensville Heights, OH 44128 Register through this link https://reg.planetreg.com/E102214835173214
  • DD Community Talks Region 6 1:00pm-4:00pm 4325 S Green Rd, Highland Hills, OH 44128 Event Details
    Join us for the DD Community Talks – an exciting in-person event series held across Ohio! Hosted by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. These events provide an opportunity for people with disabilities, families, and community members to network, share experiences, and explore resources to support disability services in their regions.
    Agenda
    • 30 mins: Check-in/Networking
    • 30 mins: DODD Presentation
    • 90 mins: Table Talks
    • 20 mins: Wrap up & Next Steps
    Let’s connect for the disability community!
    Registration Link https://reg.planetreg.com/E102214835173214
  • Portage County Awards Ceremony for Direct Support Professional of Month 5-6pm in Portage County, Ohio.
  • Lucas County Board of DD Inclusion Resource Fair 5:30pm to 7:30pm in Toledo, Ohio. https://facebook.com/events/s/inclusion-resource-fair/631894382844884/
  • People First of Northeast Ohio meets 6:30pm to 8:00pm People First is a self advocacy group for Adults with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) in NE Ohio. They care about having our voices heard, empowering one another, nothing about us without us, Education, Equality and Inclusion. They meet virtually. For more information contact amy.mordaunt@thearcofohio.org

Thursday March 20th

  • OSDA Regional Meeting. At the Happy Day Services Building
    2500 Brady Lake Rd, Ravenna, OH 44266, USA Information: Registration required : email events@portagedd.org or call 330-296-2839 ext. 3148
  • Montgomery County Parents and Advocates Advisory Council 5:30pm-8:00pm Online Video Meeting https://www.mcbdds.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=7420&month=3&year=2025&day=24&calType=0
    MCBDDS hosts an online Parents & Advocates Advisory Council (PAAC) meeting regularly to provide people with developmental disabilities who receive services, their family members and guardians the opportunity to discuss issues of interest with MCBDDS leadership on a regular basis.

Friday March 21st 2025

  • Ohio Women’s Veterans Forum 11:00am-12:00pm for more information https://x.com/ohiovets/status/1897008087984378099?s=46
  • Threats to Medicaid Webinar 10:30-11:30 am Description Medicaid is a critical safety net in Ohio, providing essential health coverage to millions of Ohioans—including low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities. As a joint federal-state partnership, Medicaid helps ensure that Ohioans can access primary care, prescription medications, and long-term services while stabilizing the state’s health care system by reducing uncompensated care costs. From proposed work requirements to possible funding reductions, Ohio’s Medicaid program could change drastically. Join Medicaid Policy Fellow Brandy Davis on March 21 at 10:30 to explore the threats to Medicaid.
    To Register https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rHtp8U_1RMO9C0eKScKeqw#/registration
  • World Down Syndrome Day! Wear Cool socks and post photos on social media!
  • Disability Rights Ohio Budget Review 3:00pm please contact Brittanie Maddox at DRO for more information bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org

Saturday March 22nd 2025

No Known Events

Helpful Information by National, State and County Agencies and Organizations for People to Read

  • Ohio Department of Aging Put out an Adult Day Care guide please check out this link to read it.
  • Artists with Disabilities Access Program: The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP) provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career. 
    Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Administration on Community Living has put out information on Nutrition for older adults check out the link to this information.
  • Center for Family Involvement has made a post about accessibility in social media please check it out thru the link here.
  • Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging will transition from operating within the City of Columbus’ Department of Recreation and Parks to a stand-alone Regional Council of Governments by 2026. This shift will enable COAAA to better serve its consumers — older adults and people with disabilities — within its eight-county region while expanding services and launching new programs.
    Learn more in today’s news release: https://bit.ly/3Fuz60M
  • OSU Nisonger put out a video series on Smart Homes on this YouTube link for people learn about Smart Homes and Independence.
  • Upcoming Ace! Information Session!
    Ace! is a program to help The Ohio State University students with autism or similar communication difficulties confidently navigate the college experience. This is done by coordinating services that foster self-determination, social communication, and campus connections. Ace! staff will assist students in achieving academic, social, and post-graduate goals at The Ohio State University.
    When – March 17th, 2025 at 7pm
    Where – In-person at the Nisonger Center OR virtually via Zoom (please fill out interest form)
    Questions? Email – aceprogram@osumc.edu
    Interest Form – https://bit.ly/3FnwsK7
    Visit our website here. https://bit.ly/4iFCUKJ
  • OSU Nisonger did a talk on Insomnia with Youth with Autism please check out video here of the talk.
  • This was shared by Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities Kings Island ‘s accessibility guide has changed and we want to make sure you have all the details before visiting this summer! One of the major changes is the accessibility card! Individuals will now have to get prior approval from a third-party system that requires a doctor’s note. To make sure your prepared, please take a look at the Kings Island accessibility guide: http://www.visitkingsisland.com/accessibility

This Week in Awareness

  • World Down Syndrome Day on Friday wear cool socks and post to social media
  • March is DD Awareness Month wear Orange one day to show awareness and make social media post.
  • It is Women’s History Month

For more events check out our main website OhioAdvocacyHeartbeat.com

Saturday Weekly Advocacy Wins to Share!

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Each week we want to highlight advocacy wins of the week on our page that we see happening around Ohio. An advocacy win is something good that happens in the world of advocacy or self advocacy. If you want to share something that happened in the world of advocacy in Ohio please email us we will include it in our weekly wins in Advocacy Post next week.

  • The Dayton Institute of Art and Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities partnered to add a changing table to the Dayton Institute of Art. check out the Facebook post about it.
  • A couple weeks ago, one of the cofounders of Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat Dawn asked for the state budget information in an accessible format and she received that . We want to give a shout out to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission Wendy Zhan and thank her for taking time to make sure that accommodations were available.
  • Quiet hours are expanding in 2025!
    The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to enhance our commitment to inclusion and sensory accessibility by now offering Quiet Hours the first Sunday of every month throughout the year starting March 2, 2025! For the first four hours of operation, guests will be able to enjoy a calmer, more sensory-friendly environment with reduced sounds, music, and visual stimuli.
    During Quiet Hours, the following options are also available:
    🎧 Sensory kits for rent with a refundable deposit
    🎢 Select attractions with reduced noise and visuals (seasonally available)
    In addition to Quiet Hours, the Zoo will also offer a few sensory-friendly events throughout the year, including:
    🔹Sensory-Friendly Easter Bunny Experience – April 13, 2025
    🔹Zoombezi Bay Quiet After Hours – August 22, 2025
    🔹Blind, Deaf, and DeafBlind Accessibility Day – September 7, 2025
    🔹Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll – November 18, 2025
    🔹Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience – December 7, 2025
    To plan a more sensory-friendly experience anytime of the year, visit https://www.columbuszoo.org/accessibility
  • The State of Ohio published an ADA Coordinators Directory with listings for each agencies ADA Director. https://das.ohio.gov/employee-relations/office-of-opportunity-and-accessibility/ada-coordinators-directory
  • We Thrive Together has secured a sponsor to build World’s Largest Virtual Acktion Club to check out their vision check out this link to participate.

The Pulse: What’s Going On Around Ohio March 10th to March 15th 2025

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Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys. 

  • The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) is accepting grant applications for several grant opportunities, including those within the Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP). This year, Art Possible Ohio will provide technical assistance to OAC for the ADAP grant! This funding gives artists with disabilities the resources they need to continue their artistic development 🎨 The application deadline is May 1 For more information visit: https://oac.ohio.gov/grants/10-grant-opportunities/40-artists-with-disabilities-access-program
  • Hey Dads! Check out this survey from Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities! Your input could help inform state level decisions for support for children with developmental disabilities:
    From the department about the survey
    “The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities continues to build on a collaboration among state agencies, communities, and other networks to ensure fathers of children with developmental disabilities are supported, engaged, and empowered. As work moves forward, we want to know: What are fathers’ current perspectives? What are fathers’ experiences in systems that support their child with developmental disabilities? What do fathers want? What do fathers need? How do systems and organizations best support fathers of children with developmental disabilities?
    If you are an Ohio father of a child or children of any age with a developmental disability, please take the short A Dad’s Perspective survey to share your experiences.
    The 2025 A Dad’s Perspective survey will be open until March 31.”
    https://loom.ly/b_ImpfE
  • DODD seeking feedback on Ohio ISP Plans https://dodd.ohio.gov/compliance/oisp/resources/ohioisp+feedback
  • Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out the Regional Transportation Public Input Survey. Your feedback and input is valuable and important. This survey will help identify the transportation needs and barriers you face every day within your county and across county lines. Access to jobs, medical care and every day essentials continues to be a struggle for many people across Ohio. Your feedback will help address how we work toward filling those gaps and unmet needs.
    RCRPC is charged with developing a Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan for Region 5, an 8 county region that includes; Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland and Seneca county. The Regional Coordinated Plan will focus on increasing transportation efficiency, coordination and collaboration from county to county. If you live, work or travel in/to/from any of these counties, use public transportation or work with individuals who use public transportation, we want your feedback!
    To access this survey, please click the link below. The survey will remain open until April 1. Please share! https://forms.gle/gFYZRZ5Cpx8KD6ct8https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfst5dVwiWEUf10AwJ8d1W0kfgdunAD67XBMstUy61Oku-hBg/viewform?
  • Help improve vehicle accessibility! 🚗♿️
    If you have a disability, are 18+, and drive or travel in passenger vehicles, take this 15-minute usability survey to help make vehicle interfaces more user-friendly. Send an email to UVIDSurvey@umich.edu to participate! #AccessibleDriving
  • Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat is still doing research on nutrition access for people with disabilities in Ohio. Please check out link to their survey.

Upcoming Events and Meetings March 10-15th 2025.

Monday March 10th, 2025

  • Brain Injury Awareness Day at Ohio StateHouse Columbus, Ohio.
  • Accessibility 2025 Listening Session 6-8pm at Columbus Public Library

Tuesday March 11th, 2025

  • L.E.A.P. Advocacy Meeting 10am-11am it is at Reed Memorial Library, Jenkins Room – 167 E Main Street, Ravenna contact Ericl@portagedd.org for more information.
  • Developmental Disabilities Job and Resource Event Fair, Tuesday, Mar 11 · 11 AM–1 PM 6465 Center St
    Mentor, OH 44060,
  • Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Agency Provider Think Tank, Tuesday, Mar 11 · 11 AM–12 PM at 4045 Salem Ave
    Dayton, OH 45416, USA
  • Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Developmental Disabilities Month Open House, Tuesday, Mar 11 · 1–2 PM. Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities at
    801 Drake Rd, Lebanon, OH 45036.
  • Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Open House, Tuesday, Mar 11 · 6–7 PM at Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities
    801 Drake Rd, Lebanon, OH 45036.

Wednesday March 12th, 2025

Thursday March 13th, 2025

  • OSDA Creative Changemakers 4:30-5:30pm Its a group of peers/self-advocates who meet once a month to hang out and talk about issues facing people with disabilities in Ohio This group supported by the Ohio Self-Determination Association. Change Makers was created by and is run by people with disabilities because they wanted to extend their advocacy conversations beyond the COOL meetings. Please Contact one of the emails listed clareschloemer.osda@gmail.com
    nrichards@clearwatercog.org
    osda2011@gmail.com
  • Move for Life Mobility Fair & Reelabilities Festival 6:00-8:15pm Cuyahoga DD’s Cuyahoga DD Move For Life Mobility Fair and Reel Abilities Film Festival has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025, 6-8pm at our Big Creek Center, 6149 W 130th Street, Parma OH 44130. We will follow the same format as planned. 6-7 pm Move for Life Mobility Fair 7-8pm ReelAbilities Film Festival, “Facing the Falls” and post-film discussion Refreshments (pizza, chips, cookies, and water) served. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BLYEP7iS2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Friday March 14th. 2025

Saturday March 15th, 2025

  • No Known Events

The Pulse: What’s Happening in Ohio March 3rd to March 7th, 2025.

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The Pulse March 3rd to 8th, 2025

Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys. 

Advocacy & Disability Related Events week of March 3-7th around Ohio. 

Monday March 3rd

Tuesday March 4th

Wednesday March 5th

  • Tuscarwras County DD Awareness Month Proclamation Signing 10-11 am in New Philadelphia, Ohio
  • Ohio Self Determination Association at We Thrive Together at 11 am For more information please go to https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/&nbsp
  • Ohio Olmsted Taskforce Monthly Meeting 1pm for more information check out this link .

Thursday March 6th

  • Supported Decision Making Network of Ohio Padlet Meeting 11am

Friday March 7th

  • National Council on Disability March – Washington DC
  • Jackson County Board of Developmental Disabilities is holding a DD Awareness Month event from 10-2pm in Jackson, Ohio.
  • Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities March on Court Street 10:30 am Athen, Ohio.
  • DD Walk for Awareness in Chillicothe, Ohio from 10:30am-2pm
  • Disability Rights Ohio Budget Debrief at 3pm. contact Brittanie Maddox -Community Engagement and Advocacy Specialist bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org

Saturday March 8th

  • No Known Events

March holds a lot of Awareness Month Campaigns

  • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
  • Trisomy Awareness Month
  • National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
  • Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month
  • World Down Syndrome Awareness Day

Our full calendar is on our home page OhioAdvocacyHeartbeat.com

Rare Disease Day and the Electronic Health Record by Sarah

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Today is Rare Disease Day. There are over 300 Million people living with a rare disease.

A rare disease is when a disease affects fewer than 1 in every 2,000 people. 72% of rare diseases are genetic based diseases.

Sometimes healthcare access can be more difficult for people with rare diseases and that’s why it’s important to raise awareness about the variety of conditions out there.

A Lot of people with rare diseases struggle to access the right supports and also often those with rare diseases don’t fit the direct mold of care offered by the different social services programs out there. There needs to more advocacy around person centered care so people with rare diseases can get the best care possible.

It is difficult for some people who also go undiagnosed for a long time. Access to genetic testing is more available in todays times then it was in the last century. Coverage of testing for Medicare and Medicaid is improving but still needs to be additional advocacy to assure that more tests are covered. Genetic Testing is expensive. We are always discovering new genetic conditions and also more research is being done.

There is a lot more advocacy for funding for research and opportunities for people to share their stories.

There are laws been put in place to stop discrimination with healthcare and employment around genetic information like the Genetic Information Non Discrimination Act (GINA) this law basically bans health insurance companies from discriminating against people who have pre existing genetics conditions found thru genetic testing. It also provides additional HIPAA protections for people.

This law really makes sure that people who have genetic conditions are protected against discrimination. To know 72% of rare diseases are genetic it is great that there are protections in place.

On Rare Disease Day it is also important to talk about access to healthcare. Even though there are laws like GINA in place there is also discrimination in healthcare that isn’t always obvious. Sometimes people face challenges in accessing care that don’t get discussed to often.

With the push for one central EHR System this Electronic Health Record, many people are facing discrimination through dealing with misdiagnosis while waiting to get a proper diagnosis so for some their health information is old, outdated and creates challenges to get appropriate treatment because their diagnosis list isn’t updated and old inaccurate diagnosis still exist.

It isn’t easy to ask for amendment or change to a health record. Some people as gas lighted by doctors while seeking treatment for the amount of diagnosis they have or treated like their conditions are mental health related and this leads to people not getting adequate treatment and care.

The EHR system was designed to connect the dots in care and help people see health records from every where to piece together records scattered across multiple health systems.

For some people with Rare Diseases this system is nuisance or a hinderance to get their records corrected without someone else entering in old inaccurate information. For some it helps to connect the dots and some doctors now refuse to take old records forgetting that before the EHR that there are valid health records.

There must be continued advocacy for care coordination and person centered care for people with rare diseases. We need to make it more accessible to amend health records to get inaccurate information removed and the correct information updated.

The ability to have up to date health information at our fingertips is important part of care coordination so if stops medical waste and people from going thru unnecessary procedures or treatment.

Raising awareness about rare diseases also helps doctors understand how people live with the conditions they have and how to improve outcomes for those living with a rare disease.

Events around Ohio for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March!

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March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. We wanted to create a post to share about some of the events happening around Ohio this month to raise awareness and celebrate people with Developmental Disabilities.

March 1

Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities DD Awareness Month Luncheon at the Seneca County Opportunity Center

https://senecacountyohio.gov/opportunity-center-kicks-off-dd-awareness-month/amp/

March 2

March 3

Summit County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking people to wear Orange for Inclusion Day. To find out more about what they are doing check out this link

March 4th

Driving Towards Access Ohio DD Day at the Ohio Statehouse In Columbus, Ohio.

Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities is doing an Inclusion Day called This is Me: More than DD. They are asking people to wear Orange and share stories. Check out more at this link

March 5th

DD Awareness Month Proclamation Month Signing 10-11am with Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities at Courthouse at 25 E High Ave
New Philadelphia, OH 44663, USA

March 7th

Jackson County Board of Developmental Disabilities is holding a DD Awareness Month event from 10-2pm in Jackson, Ohio.

Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities is holding a March on Court Street for Developmental Disabilities Event at 10am this is link to the flyer for more information.

Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities is holding a DD Awareness Month Walk at 10am check out this link for more information.

March 9th

Sandy Valley Baptist Church in Magnolia, Ohio is having Disability Awareness Day at their 11am Service. https://facebook.com/events/s/disabilities-awareness-sunday/655146487182478/

March 10th

Brain Injury Awareness Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse.

March 11th

Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services will be hosting an Open House for the community for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The annual Open House event aims to showcase the many achievements of people served by
WCBDD, as well as inform the community about the services and supports WCBDD provides to individuals with disabilities.
Open House will be hosted on March 11, 2025, at the Warren C.
Young Center, located at 801 Drake
Road in Lebanon.
The first session will take place at 1 p.m., and the second session will begin at 6pm for more information check out this link to find out more.

March 14th

The Celebrity Basketball game is on March 14 at 7 p.m. at Heidelberg University’s Seiberling Gymnasium. Teams of community members and Seneca Arrows Special Olympics athletes will take to the court for this annual tradition. The event is open to the public for anyone to come and cheer them on.

March 21st

Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day! Show your socks on social media.

March 27th

Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities is hosting a DD Awareness Rally in Ravenna, Ohio.

Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Festival 6-8pm in Athens, Ohio. This is a flyer about the event to read more.

In some counties they are doing a month long celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

In Butler County, their website has this cool way to share how you raise awareness.

DD Awareness Wear Orange Campaign

Taking photo entries until Monday, March 31

Developmental Disability (DD) Awareness Month is a nationwide movement that raises awareness about inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life, and the barriers that people with disabilities still face. Although DD Awareness Month doesn’t begin until March, we thought why not start celebrating now with the “Wear Orange” social media campaign! Orange is the national color for DD Awareness month because it symbolizes both energy and positivity. From now until Monday, March 31 we will be accepting photos of those in the community who are wearing orange in support of DD Awareness Month! To participate in this campaign, please send a photo or photos of you and/or individuals you support in the DD community with the name of those in the photo/s and why DD Awareness Month is important to Cassie Mattia at cqmattia@butlerdd.org .

The Pulse: What’s Happening in Ohio February 24th 2025 to March 1st, 2025?

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The Pulse February 24th to March 1st, 2025

Upcoming things to sign up to get involved with or make your voice heard thru surveys. 

Sign Up to Register for Cleveland Sight Center 2025 White Cane Walk 

Sign up to hear the Medicaid Director share about the Ohio Budget for Medicaid. The event is February 26th at 1pm. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5155801782813463647

IncludeAbility. Supports and Services Assessment Survey Link

https://wooster.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bpyHMu3AeQJyzOe

Council on Aging Southwest Ohio

2025 Survey: A Dads Perspective Supporting Fathers of Children with a Developmental Disability https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025FatherSurvey?

Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat is doing a study on Nutrition Access for People with Disabilities in Ohio to help a disability advocate with some advocacy goals around #Nutrition4All so if you can help please do this survey. https://forms.gle/KJL7savupnGCdsAT7?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1vJKQBJDx4H7Jf0_OZP9k6D4rvj4SeQQcEDWDWAj0Z2BVq329d6ZWMBj8_aem_XC-01t_K3Ivj7p8xr88NHA

Advocacy & Disability Related Events week of February 10th-15th 2025 around Ohio. 

February 24th 2025- March 2nd, 2025 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Monday February 24th 

Bus Rapid Transit Open House in Cincinnati 3-7pm 

Avondale Town Center

3529 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA

Tuesday February 25th

Montgomery County Independent Provider Meeting 4:30-5:30pm 

8114 N Main St Dayton, OH 45415, USA

Southwest Ohio Advocacy Group 

6-8pm at 4623 Wesley Ave

Cincinnati, OH 45212, USA

Wednesday February 26th

Ohio Self Determination Association at We Thrive Together at 11 am 

For more information please go to https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/&nbsp

Ohio Medicaid Budget Webinar

1-2pm 

Ohio Medicaid Director Corcoran will go over the budget. Requires advance registration and download of go to webinar app 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5155801782813463647

Medicaid Buy In and Workability Workshop 1-2pm

https://bit.ly/3EMPc5u

Thursday February 27th

Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee 

9-10am in Columbus, Ohio

Statewide Independent Living Council meets in Columbus, Ohio from 2-4pm 

For more information and the meeting agenda please check out this website. 

https://ohiosilc.diligent.community/Portal/Default.aspx

Friday February 28th

Services for Independent Living

Hosts Brad Lomax: The Disabled Black Panther Who Fought for Section 504

Date & Time Feb 28, 2025 03:00 PM  in Black History Month, come learn about Brad Lomax, a member of the disability community and the Black Panther Party, who showed that communities share similar obstacles and a need for change.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nO41kJ-PQeKAFuzVBTdCYw?#/registration

Disability Rights Ohio Budget Debrief at 3pm. contact 

Brittanie Maddox -Community Engagement and Advocacy Specialist

 bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org

Rare Disease Day – All Day

Saturday February 22nd

The Pulse: What’s Happening In Ohio February 17th 2025 to February 22nd 2025

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The Pulse February 17th to February 22nd  2025

Sign Up to Register for Cleveland Sight Center 2025 White Cane Walk 

https://raceroster.com/events/2025/100902/2025-white-cane-walk?

Sign up to hear the Medicaid Director share about the Ohio Budget for Medicaid. The event is February 26th at 1pm. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5155801782813463647

Advocacy & Disability Related Events week of February 10th-15th 2025 around Ohio. 

Monday February 17th

Presidents Day All Public Offices are Closed 

Tuesday February 18th

Wednesday February 19th 

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Web Accessibility 

This event is hosted through Microsoft Teams Webinar. Pre-registration is required to attend. To register, please visit the registration site and complete a brief form. https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/cef3bb5c-a6f7-4bce-8784-c79fc70f63ae@50f8fcc4-94d8-4f07-84eb-36ed57c7c8a2

Ohio Self Determination Association at We Thrive Together at 11 am 

For more information please go to https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/&nbsp

The Grassroots Project will be a hosting a webinar on tools and tips for commenting on 1915c Waivers. It on February 19, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST. Please Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gLe17fxkQRW92ksYQPDuNg#/registration 

People First of Ohio Meeting 6:30-8pm

People First is a self advocacy group for Adults with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) in NE Ohio. They care about having our voices heard, empowering one another, nothing about us without us, Education, Equality and Inclusion. They meet virtually. For more information contact amy.mordaunt@thearcofohio.org

Thursday February 20th 

Statewide Independent Living Council meets in Columbus, Ohio from 2-4pm 

For more information and the meeting agenda please check out this website. 

Friday February 21st 

Disability Rights Ohio Budget Debrief at 3pm. contact 

Brittanie Maddox

Community Engagement and Advocacy Specialist

 bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org

Saturday February 22nd

The 2025 Budget: One little-known Way To Survive The Storm by Dawn

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The 2025 Budget: One little-known Way To Survive The Storm


The beginning of the year is a time for many things to happen, such as goal setting, transitions, and so much more. This year is no different. Once again, it's time for budget season in Ohio, where we will be transitioning to the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This means writing and/or submitting testimony, attending many calls and meetings, and really ramping up advocacy efforts. It can also mean being volnerable, and sharing personal experiences and stories. On top of that, each budget cycle is different. Things such as self-care, and seeking support when needed are great tools to have in your advocacy toolbox. However, there is another way you can save your sanity, and, it's one of those lifehacks in advocacy that either isn't talked about, or, if it is, this particular aspect of it isn't.

That life hack is called ADA Accommodations , more specifically , getting a copy of the budget in a format that's accessible to you. Yes, you read that right. You have the right to make a request for ADA. accommodations for the budget bill... or, any piece of legislation for that matter, as well as any documents or materials such as written testimony. Don't worry, it's not as painful as you might think it will be. We'll cover the process, the response, and my experience. But, first, I'll give you a crash course on why you may need to ask for accommodations for the budget bill or any other bill, and any associated material such as documents, and written testimony.

 But, before we get into that, here's some things to keep in mind. First, the main operating budget bill has been introduced this week, which leads to the second thing. The sooner you request the accommodation(s) you need, the better, because they need time to process your request, get it into an alternative format, among other things. This way, you can be up-to-date with everything that's going on, and take action, whether that means submitting testimony, reaching out to legislators and representatives and senators, or something else. Also, everyone has different needs, abilities, and use-cases and daily set-ups, and, that's ok! That just means that we'll all need different accommodations, and, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to this. Now, let's get into the ADA Accommodations request process.

Let's start out with the reason(s) why I asked for accommodations, and why you might want to as well. For starters, the bills are posted on the My Ohio Legislature web site, which is not accessible for screenreaders users such as myself. Then, if you do manage to find the bill you want, for instance, the budget bill, guess what format it will be in? If you guessed PDF. then, you are correct. While the PDF. file extension stands for portable digital format, or picture digital format, for people with disabilities, especially screenreader users, such as myself, PDF. can and does stand for a myriad of other things. Some of which may not be appropriate to put in a blog post. For me, PDF. stands for picture digital frustration, among other things.
But, all kidding and jokes aside, PDF. files in my experience, do not play nice with screenreaders or braille devices. Or, if they were made to be accessible, typically, people didn't do it correctly, or, there were other elements in it such as images that either made it inaccessible, or the elements themselves were inaccessible, or, it wouldn't work on the device someone uses. I could tell you many horror stories about dealing with PDF. documents, and, I'm sure a lot of you have your own bad experiences. Then, there's the file size. To give you a baseline, HB. 33, the last budget bill was 9200 pages, or, 8 megabytes. The bigger the bill, the ligger the file size. Which could mean that you could have a hard time converting it into an alternative format, whether you do it yourself, or have someone else do it for you. Especially because a lot of conversion software and web sites have file size limitations. You may even have a hard time opening it on certain devices, or in certain apps, even with large storage thresholds. Or, if you have a device that has file size limits, and that's the only device you have, not to mention is part of your daily set-up, things could get dicey.
This is what happened in my case. When I tried opening the budget bill for last year, I ran up against file size limitations on my braille display that I use, and the application I normally use. Even opening it on my Ipad and Iphone which have more resources, it was still a struggle if not impossible. While I could've had it in hardcopy braille, that would take a long time, and they may have had to ship it here on a semi truck, not to mention it would take up a whole lot of space. Because braille is thicker than print.
There may be other reasons why you might want to ask for accommodations. Let's get into the request process.

Before you submit the request, think about what your needs are. While I know what I need, and do an ok job of expressing those nethes, I realize that might not be the same for everyone, especially if you've never went through this process before. Some people may know what they need but, don't know how to express it. Some people may not necisarily know what they need. I recommend writing your needs down on a piece of paper, or on your computer, tablet or phone. For instance, if you know what file formats work on your braille display, write that down. Then, go through those formats, and think about what's worked in the past, and what hasn't, then, jot that down too. Then, think about what other needs you have, such as if you need it in plain language, or, if you make notes to yourself on things you need to follow up on or watch closely, for instance. Then, think about what format(s) you prefer, and write them down in the order of preference. For me, I prefer: BRF. (braille reading/ready file/format) TXT. or, DOCX. I can read RTF. files, however, I only use this as a last resort.

Then, find who you need to contact. In this case, since we're requesting a copy of the budget bill in an accessible format, we'll go to the Ohio Legislative Services Commission web site. Then, you'll need to find a link that says "Key Contacts" and click on it. When requesting ADA. accommodations, a good general rule is to look for an ADA. cordinator, or Equal Opportunity Employment Coordinator, or something similar. The next best thing, is to find the director or head of whatever office, agency, commission, etc that are making the request to. In this case, you'd reach out to the director of the Ohio Legislative Services Commission, Wendy Zhan. Here is a link to the Key Contact page on the Ohio Legislative Services Commission's web site:


https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/about/key-contacts


Here is Director Wendy zhan's email:


Wendy.Zhan@lsc.ohio.gov


This page is accessible for screenreader users, you can navigate by heading to reach the contents of the page, by link to access the contact informan, and staff directors. For that, I want to give a lot of kudos to them, because their site is one of the very few government web sites both in the state, and nationally that are accessible.

Then, once you find the name of the person to contact, you can click on it to open your email program. You are now ready to write your request!
Here are some things to keep in mind and tips for this process.
Be kind, but firm, however, don't back down. As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do understand the frustration, irritatation, etc that can come with advocacy, not getting your needs met, and all the shananigans we have to go through both in advocacy and as people with disabilities. However, it's always best to start out with kindness, and patience, among other things, but, you can also be firm. If you're coming up against obstacles, or barriers, then it's time to get firm. Also, don't give up! Lean on other people for support, file an ADA. claim if you have to, as a last resort.

Send your request in writing. While you can call the office, it's better to send an email. With emails, there's a paper trail, and, I also suggest making use of the blind carbon copy field as well. This way, you can have a copy of the email that's off-site, which will help in many situations.

I recommend having a few options if you can. While I prefer TXT. I'll also take a DOCX. file if TXT. isn't possible. I can also use RTF. files, however, due to formatting sometimes being iffy, I only use them as a last resort. then, if someone sends me a file in RTF. format, I send it to a friend of mine, who converts it to TXT. format. This way, I can get that converted down to a TXT. format. Another reason is if and when TXT. isn't possible or feasible, DOCX. has worked ok as an alternative in the past. Again, list the formats you want in order of preference. Although as a heads-up, the Ohio LSC. doesn't have the ability to produce files in BRF. format.

Let them know they can reach out and where and how they can contact you with any other questions is also a good idea too. When I was submitting my request, and, trying to figure out the best option that would work for everyone, I offered to set up a phone or Zoom call as well. I'm open to that, because they can give you a list of what resources they have, and, you can tell them what your needs are, and you can find a solution that will work for all parties. Plus, in the case of a bill, they might be able to tell you how things will be laid out, formatted, etc, which can and at times does factor into the equation. Also, it gives them an osportunity to learn about accessibility, and alternative formats, screenreaders and braille displays, and the like.
Keep an eye on your inbox. They may send you emails asking questions about your needs, etc. Be prepared to answer them. Also, if they find another way to convert the bill into an accessible format, that's great! Also, when they respond, they may copy another staff person on the reply. If they do this, I recommend hitting the resly all button. If you do this, it will go to everyone on the to field of the email, including those in the CC. field. Keep in mind it will not get sent to people you put in the blind carbon copy field. Although I recommend blind copying everyone on the replies you send, and forwarding anything that you get.


I will say, that for me, the process is ongoing. We had to work out some stuff related to file size limitations, as I stated earlier. However, I gave a couple schggestions/options, and, even offered to set up a phone or Zoom call to have further discussion if needed. It also doesn't hurt to let them know that these are the only device(s) you have. We were able to find a solution that will hopefully work, by breaking the budget bill into sections, with file sizes being no more than 1-2 MB. in size, and putting them in a zip folder. I should hear something and know more soon, !stce the operating budget bill has been released this week on February. I would like to publicly thank director Wendy Zhan, and her colleague, Megan Cummiskey for their assistance, and going above and beyond. They have been doing an awesome job, and, I'm more than greatful for their help, and willingness to work with me on this.

I know that this might seem overwhelming, especially if you've never had to do this before or very much. With that in mind, I've put together a couple of resources that may help you. One is a template that you can use when writing your email. You can customize it however you like, including what accommodations you need. I've also put together a little worksheet that you can fill out with different questions, such as what your needs are. You can also customize this however you like, and, you can write down your answers, or, type it on your computer, phone or tablet. Both documents will be in TXT. format to make things as accessible as possible.

If you have knowledge, experience, etc regarding this, I highly encourage you to share that with others in the advocacy community. I got my knowledge about this from another fellow advocate, and, I cannot thank her enough! Now, I'm paying it forward, by writing a blog post about this, and, passing on not only what I learned, but, my experience so far. Remember, you have the right to ask for accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and, there's nothing wrong with asking questions, and, asking for help. Asking for accommodations or help doesn't make you any less of an advocate or person. In fact, it does the opposite. Asking for accommodations, help, etc, is a sign of strength, guts and courage


I want to hear from you! Have you requested ADA Accommodations, and, is if so, what was your experience? Who and/or what agency or organization did you request accommodations from, and what materials did you request accommodations for? Did you get your accommodation(s) you needed? If not, what alternatives if any, did you utilize? Did you run into any barriers, and, if so, how did you overcome them? Do you have any other tips, knowledge, suggestions, etc to share?

Ohio Pulse: What’s Happening In Ohio Week of February 10th, 2025 to February 15th, 2025

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The Pulse: What’s happening in Ohio February 10th, 2025 to February 15th 2025?

Important Sign Ups and Events to Register for…

People First of Ohio is taking sign ups for some online advocacy trainings 

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/V7Pwt9CSTy-duMKb5P4FXQ Register now for People First of Ohio’s online training! Each month, we’ll cover a wide variety of topics such as Technology, Voting Rights, Supported Decision Making, Connecting with State/National Policy Makers, Plain Language, Choosing a Provider & more.

Feb. 12, 2pm: History of Disability Rights/Key Legislation (then and now) with Gary Tonks from The Arc of Ohio and People First Advocates

Feb. 26, 2pm: Building a Strong Self Advocacy Group with Kraig Walker & Michael Richards from People First of OH.

Register once to join us for our entire series on Zoom.

Recordings will be available later on People First’s website & YouTube channel for your chapter to discuss these topics in a group setting – or to watch at home!

Sign Ups for the Charting the Life Course Showcase https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0udMmxhv8eZ1rPE?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1WDkKun9-i8aFxb5wZyOuWE0MngSmXjcYeTyEb3UEXs9cU3aO2UJ65w3o_aem_m18ye8Y2FVAOHo8SIycmHg

Sign Up to Register for Cleveland Sight Center 2025 White Cane Walk through this link https://raceroster.com/events/2025/100902/2025-white-cane-walk

Advocacy & Disability Related Events week of February 10th-15th 2025 around Ohio. 

Monday February 10th

No Known Events

Tuesday February 11th

-Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Budget Webinar

Join Director Kim Hauck on February 11th at 2:30 pm to learn more about Governor DeWine’s proposed budget for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.  Register here for the webinar: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_aPmijqH8RGWLmRe49XLHuQ?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2wTUhNxkR4b8paFn3VEsg48fFRNUVU1ct-Byk9tKM_eX9xtxIEEhOn1TQ_aem_Zcegox77xbSeGFcrE3O9DA#/registration

Wednesday February 12th 

-Ohio Self Determination Association at We Thrive Together at 11 am 

For more information please go to https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/&nbsp

-Assisted Technology Learning Lab Hands-On Assistive Technology for Employability Skills and Transition

Open House, Tuesday, Feb 11 · 11 AM–1 PM at Morrow County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 

-Supported Decision Making Network of Ohio Monthly Meeting. 12-2pm on zoom. 

This is for anyone who is interested in knowing more about supported decision making. https://www.sdmno.org

-Sharing Solutions ID/DD Educational Support Group for Families Caregivers and Professionals, Tuesday, Feb 11 · 5–7 PM at 430 Applegrove St NW North Canton, OH 44720, USA. They are hosting Gary Tonks from the Arc of Ohio as one of the speakers. 

Thursday February 13th

-OSDA Changemakers Virtual Group 4:30pm

It is a group of self advocates who discuss important disability rights issues. This is the zoom link to join.

-Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council Meeting in Columbus, Ohio.

Friday February 14th 

-Disability Rights Ohio Budget Debrief at 3pm to 4pm please contact bmaddox@disabilityrightsohio.org for information on how to join this meeting.

-Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council Meeting in Columbus, Ohio.

Saturday February 15th

No Known Events

Ohio Pulse: What’s Happening February 3rd, 2025 to February 8th, 2025?

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Ohio Week of February 3rd to February 8th, 2025 

Every week Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat puts out a weekly what’s happening in Ohio and also we share one or two National Events to look forward to.

Upcoming Events for the week of February 3rd, 2025 to February 8th, 2025. You can a calendar of events  on our main website OhioAdvocacyHeartbeat.com 

At the current moment there is a sign up for Ohio Developmental Disabilities Day at the statehouse and you can find it by clicking this link. Ohio DD Day is set for March 4th 2025 at the Ohio Statehouse Registration is required in advance for everyone including caregivers.

Monday February 3rd, 2025 

No Known Events

Tuesday February 4th, 2025 

Wednesday February 5th, 2025 

Ohio Self Determination Association at We Thrive Together at 11 am 

For more information please go to https://wethrivetogether.org/upcoming-events/ 

Ohio Olmsted Taskforce 1-3pm 

Thursday February 6th, 2025 

Supported Decision Making Network of Ohio Padlit Meeting 11am 

Friday Friday February 7th, 2025 

No known events 

Saturday February 8th, 2025

No known events 

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My Thoughts On Meta's Recent Accessibility Fixes, and Their Continued Work With The NFB.
By Dawn
My Thoughts On Meta's Recent Accessibility Fixes, and Their Continued Work With The NFB.
By Dawn


Whether we like it or not, both technology, and social media are parts of our lives, both at work and at home. Many people, especially people with disabilities, use it to communicate, connect with friends and family and get peer support.  Techildrenlogy and social media are also great tools to use for systemic and self-advocacy efforts, when used wisely. Social media has also become a way to pass the time for people as well. I think we've all been guilty of saying "I'll check Facebook for a few minutes, and then cook dinner" for instance, and then realizing that it's 7 PM. and you still haven't cooked dinner yet!

While tech and social media can be a good thing for people with disabilities, when there are access barriers, such as an app not working with screenreaders, or accessibility regressions, things can become problematic. Meta is a prime example of this.

For a while now, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has had accesssibility regressions. It all started when the MBasic Facebook web site was depricated. Originally, this web site was designed for mobile browsers with limited capabilities. However, it gave blind people a huge advantage, because it was text-based, which made it easy for blind people to use. This was important, because the main Facebook site is inaccessible for people who use screenreaders.
Due to security reasons, meta depricated the MBasic Facebook site. Sadly, this caused some unintended consequences for blind and visually impaired people. As a result, Facebook became an accessibility nightmare for screenreader users on laptops and desktops.
Now, before I go any further, it is my belief that this was unintentional, and, this was one of those scenarios where good intentions backfired. I also think that there was a lack of awareness and/or understanding or both on the effects this would have, as well as how it was being used by the blind and visually impaired community, and why.
The reason why I believe this, is because in October of 2024, the National Federation Of The Blind approached Meta about aessibility regressions with Facebook, with the web site being the most critical area of concern. Meta has been working with the NFB. to identify and fix issues, and they are open and willing to continue to work with the NFB.

Recently, Jonathan Mosen, the diraector of technology advocacy initiatives for The National Federation Of The Blind, shared an update regarding the advocacy efforts with Facebook. If you'd like to read the article, you can click the link below:


https://nfb.org/blog/making-meta-accessible-update-latest-improvements



To summarize it, NFB. and Meta have made progress toward fixing some issues, however, there are some caveats you should be aware of. Plus, there is still a lot of work to be done. 
Here is a summarized list of improvements.
1. The Facebook Site:
Facebook has created a URL. that will force the  current Facebook mobile site to work with modern desktop and lapto browsers. If you'd like to take a look at it, click the following link:


https://www.facebook.com/?force_mobile=1



While this is great news, there are caveats. First and foremost, this site is not designed for mobile browsers, and, there may be more issues that NFB. hasn't encountered yet in their testing.

2. The page scrolls continuously, which could make things confusing, because there isn't a set number of posts on a page.
3. There's also no easy way to navigate by post. NFB. offered the suggestion of making each post a heading or landmark, which would make navigating with screenreaders easier and smoother.

This is not perfect, however, Meta is committed to making the desktop browser accessible.
This link is available to use now, so, feel free to bookmark it, or save it to your desktop.

The news wasn't all bad though! The NFB. has received feedback about accessibility issues with Facebook for IOS. I will get more into how they have effected me, in a little bit, as well as other accessibility issues, and their impact on me, and my thoughts on the latest developments.

Meta has rolled out a fix for an accessibility issue where a profile picture was getting read as a separate element by VoiceOver, which meant that instead of only needing one swipe to navigate posts, you needed to use two. In my case, I use a braille display, which made navigating a lot harder. I had to press my thumb keys more to be able to get past the profile picture, to get to the post content, plus navigating the content of the post. Although I was able to tolerate it, it was annoying, and, I'm proud to say that it is fixed!

Another accessibility issue that NFB. identified, was a bug where any text you typed into the text field to write a post was not being recognized by VoiceOver. Meta has said that a fix is on the way that should resolve the issue.
I have gotten severe bites from this bug several times. Whenever I type something into a text field, I could type the first word, however when I hit the spacebar on my braille display or onscreen keyboard, it would disappear. If I typed any more, it would be turned into nothing but uninteligible jibberish. This happens no matter what I'm doing, whether it's writing a birthday wish on someone timeline, or, making a post on my personal or the Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat Facebook page. This has happened when I write something on a link that I share as well on my personal and our Facebook page. It doesn't matter what typing method I use. I've tested it with my braille display, using the onscreen keyboard, and also braille screen input, which is an onscreen braille keyboard that you can with type on using your Iphone or Ipad.
The only workarounds I've found are:
Write posts for our page using the Meta Business Suite IOS. app, and just share links from the Facebook IOS. app.
Use dictation if writing a post whether it's on my personal page, or our page. This was not ideal because that came with its own challenges, mainly that you couldn't edit or correct any mistakes dictation made. When I would try editing it, it would just get turned into jibberish.
I have also sent people messages using the Messenger app, but, have only done that to a select few people. So, I've had to avoid writing anything on people's timelines. Or, I would just share a link, and reach out to the person if possible and let them know about what I shared, and why.
I have also turned Voiceover off and had Mom whose sighted, write the posts for me.

I have heard of other blind and visually impaired people using apps such as the Notes app to write what they wanted to say, then doing any needed editing, and copying and pasting the text into post. I was and still am uncomfortable with using this method, for fear of what I wrote still being turned into jibberish. Also, to me, that is an unnecessary step that should not be needed. I had to do this a while back when there was a bug that made focus jump around randomly for users of braille displays. Because I rely heavily on email, and write and send a lot of emails, it was beyond frustrating, and beyond time-consuming, among other things. Using the onscreen keyboard was not feasible, as that would slow me down even more. Plus, braille is a huge cornerstone in my life, and, it is part of my daily set-up. Using other apps gave mixed results. Either the bug would be present there, or, the interface was not user-friendly.


Meta has committed to keep working with the NFB. on making further accessibility improvements to things such as Facebook, and the Rayban Meta Glasses.


If you are having accessibility issues with Facebook, you can send an email to Jonathan Mosen at:

jmosenanfb.org


You can also fill out the Inaccessibility Tracker Form, which was made by the National Federation Of The Blind to track accessibility issues with web sites, and other technology. You can access the form by clicking here:


https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/inaccessibility-tracker-form


NFB. has also put together a self-advocacy toolkit, which you can use to make constructive approaches to technology companies, app developers, etc, to resolve any accessibility issues you're having. The kit includes a webinar that demonstrates how to implement the toolkit, and gives demonstrations, sample letters to send to companies and service providers, their inaccessibility tracker form, and more. To access the toolkit, you can go to:

https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-accessibility/self-advocacy-toolkit-and-tracking-form


If you'd like to hear a demo on how to use the Facebook workaround, the Access On podcast hosted by Jonathan Mosen, and the National Federation Of The Blind, has recently published an eppisode talking about these issues, and giving a demonstration of the Facebook workaround for desktop and laptop users. If you wish to listen to it, you can click here:

https://accesson.pinecast.co/episode/be7f8c4c/meta-rolls-out-some-accessibility-fixes-to-facebook-audiom-provides-accessible-maps-and-learning-a-language 



I'm very pleased that progress is being and has been made. Meta is continuing their work and partnership with the NFB. and is willing to continue to work to address issues and regressions. While the workaround for the site is not perfect, it's better than nothing. I'm sure that more issues will be addressed, as more testing is done. As with any new or updated thing, there's always bugs, especially on the first version. I'd like to thank both Meta and the NFB. for working together to address these very serious issues. This is a great example of what can happen when companies and advocates and advocacy organizations and groups come together.

With that being said, I do agree that there is still more work to be done. There's other accessibility issues that me and I'm sure other screenreaders are being plagued with. One issue that I'm running into, is links not showing up on posts using Voiceover. When I find a link, all the cells on my braille display are blank, and, Voiceover doesn't announce the link, it just clicks and stays silent. This makes it hard if not impossible to find and click on a link.

At Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat, we're committed to accessibility. We believe that accessibility allows for more voices to be at the advocacy table. To mediate and work around this issue, whenever a post is made about a blog entry, we will put the link in the comments section of the post. If you are having accessibility issues, and you use VoiceOver, you can do the following:


1. Open the post with a 1-finger double-tap.
2. When the post is opened, swipe right with 1 finger until you get to the comments section.
3. From there, swipe right with 1 finger until you hear something like:
"Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat author commentted, if you are having accessibility issues, you can click here, and then the link"

4. From there, do a 1-finger double-tap, or, you can do a 2-finger double-tap, which is also known as the magic tap to bring up a list of options.
5. From there, swipe right with 1 finger until you hear something like: 
"open link attachment".

6. From there just do a 1-finger double-tap, and the link should open, and behave as normal.  

There's also issues with the Meta Business Suite app, with unlabeled buttons, and elements not showing as being clickable at times. I've also seen some things that weren't labeled correctly. The chart and insights aren't very accessible either. All I see are numbers, but have no idea what the numbers are or what they correlate with. These are just a few things that need fixed. This latest progress report does give me hope though! I will continue to monitor this situation, and give updates whenever I can. Right now, we should give Meta some patience, grace, and brownie points.


I want to hear from you. What accessibility issues are you having with Facebook, and what operating systems and platform(s) are you seeing them on? What screenreader are you using? Have you found any workarounds? If so, please give a walkthrough as detailed as possible. Have you tried the URL. yet, and have you found any issues with it?  Are you having any accessibility issues on other Meta platforms? If so, where are you seeing the issue, and if you have workarounds, please let us know. Feel free to leave a comment. All I ask is for everyone to be respectful