Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

03/16/2026

DD Talks and host Shari Cooper are back!

In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper sits down with Jan Goings, Director, Strategy & Partnerships of Starfire and Inclusion Seekers, and the Cail family—Grace, her father Jeff, and her mother Kathleen—to discuss the inaugural Inclusion Seekers Summit held in October 2025 at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Organized by Starfire with support from the Ohio DD Council and Interact for Health, the Summit drew over 250 attendees from 17 states and 80+ organizations to address loneliness and build genuine belonging in communities across Ohio and beyond.

Grace's story is at the heart of this episode. A docent and researcher at the Museum Center, advocate, and passionate fan of Sabrina Carpenter, Grace shares what it meant to be at an event where people asked about her interests, not her disability. Her family reflects on what it truly takes to build a full, connected life.

Watch the clip below, then catch the full podcast on Buzzsprout and YouTube:
Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2067134/episodes/18784180
YouTube: https://youtu.be/WQneFYKhT0c

In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper sits down with Jan Goings, executive director of Starfire, and the Cail family—Grace, her father Jeff, an...

03/13/2026

Save the Date: TechSummit 2026

Date: September 18, 2026
Venue: The Conference Center at OCLC
Location: Dublin, OH

TechSummit is back! This annual one-day conference focuses on technology use that benefits people with developmental disabilities.

TechSummit 2026 is conveniently held in Central Ohio and is presented by:
- The Ohio State University Nisonger Center
- Assistive Technology of Ohio
- Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Event attendees can hear from people with lived experience, engage with experts, and explore technology solutions for themselves.

Don’t miss out! We encourage you to mark your calendars and share this with a friend!

For the most up-to-date information, visit this link: go.osu.edu/TechSummit

If you have questions, email them to Jordan Wagner: Jordan.Wagner@osumc.edu.

03/12/2026

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) is recognizing several members whose five-year terms are ending, including Courtney Hineman.

Courtney is a self-advocate and leader with strong connections in Ohio’s developmental disability community.

In our most recent newsletter, Courtney reflected on her advocacy path, her time on the Council, and what she’s learned along the way.

“If your county has a self-advocacy group, get involved there first. And then, if you want to continue growing your advocacy skills, apply to become a member of the Ohio DD Council. Serving on the Council helped me gain more skills and get connected. I met more advocates across Ohio and developed friendships I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”

Read Courtney’s full interview here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection

03/10/2026

ODDC wants to meet YOU!

Connect with us this coming April at the Assistive Technology Fair and Big Read Author Visit.

ODDC will have a table at the event; stop by to say hello, introduce yourself, and learn more about the Council and how you can get involved.

We'll share more information about this community event soon. We can't wait to see you there!

Event: Assistive Technology Fair & The Big Read Author Visit
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Location: 7450 Championship Drive West, Perrysburg (Owens Community College)
Hosts: Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Owens Community College

03/09/2026

Through its Five-Year State Plan, the Ohio DD Council supports initiatives that help people with developmental disabilities live better lives.

These projects focus on advancing systems change, independent living, and building inclusive communities across the state.

The goal is to create change that improves independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with DD and their families in community life.

Check out the ODDC 2024-2025 Impact Report to learn more about our mission and initiatives like these:
- Empowering Families: Navigating the special education system.
-Inclusive Sports: Creating physical activity opportunities for K-12 students.
- Blue Envelope Program: Building confidence and safety during traffic stops.
- Community Ambassadors: Centering the voices of self-advocates.

Read the full report here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/about/annual-report

03/06/2026

Three ODDC members, Unique Cheatom, Bing Crosby, Jr., and Nathan Turner, were invited to attend Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine’s annual Black History Month reception last month.

The event was held at the Ohio Governor’s Residence and brought together diverse community members and leaders. The evening honored African American leaders and heritage, while also celebrating community achievements and discussing the state’s future.

03/05/2026

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council is seeking to hire a Liaison Officer. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 6.

A Liaison Officer handles legislative and public affairs for the Council, and directs legislative activities as mandated by PL 106-402 (DD Act of 2000) and formulates policy recommendations for the DD Council Director and Council Members.

Learn more and apply here: https://dasstateoh.taleo.net/careersection/oh_int/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Know someone that would be perfect for this role? Please share this post to help us reach more people!

03/04/2026

Join Ohio Family to Family Health Information Center and the Ohio Nursing Collaborative [TAG] for a three-part series for families who have loved ones with complex medical needs or disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.

The focus is on nursing services in the Medicaid and developmental disabilities systems.

Everyone is welcome to attend for free, but registration is required. Sessions are held via Zoom.

The first in the series has already taken place, but you can still register for the remaining sessions.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Making Home Care Work: Building Your Nursing Plan

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Beyond the Care Plan: Coping with Real-Life Nursing Challenges and Appreciating Your Successes

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/mbdj2rq

Questions? Call 513-803-2419 or send an email to amy.clawson@cchmc.org.

03/03/2026

Event Alert: Volunteer Program Kickoff Meeting

The Ohio Adapts Program (funded by ODDC) is a new chapter of Makers Making Change, an organization that helps connect volunteer makers to people with disabilities who need assistive devices.

Are you ready to use your 3D printing skills to support your community? Join the Makers Making Change kickoff meeting to learn how you can get involved!

Topic: Makers Making Change Central Ohio Kickoff
Time: Mar 9, 2026 07:00 PM ET
Where: Zoom

Zoom link and login information:
https://osu.zoom.us/j/93264420958?pwd=8eqecTZ9aCss3QMqRMJhEhNqUWpLsV.1
Meeting ID: 932 6442 0958
Password: 412262

If you have questions, you can email them to 3DforSTEM@gmail.com.

The Ohio Adapts program is funded by ODDC.

03/02/2026

ODDC's Impact Report is now available!

This report highlights the impact of Council work on the lives of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families.

The Council has supported projects that helped remove barriers to:
- Education
- Employment
- Housing
- Transportation
- Safety
- Access to information

Read about these initiatives and other projects in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection/1-dd-council-connection-resource

02/28/2026

ODDC's February newsletter is now available!

These articles are featured this month:

- Message from the Council: Courtney Hineman
- New Impact Report from the Ohio DD Council Highlights Advancement in Independence, Opportunity, and Inclusion
- The Ohio DD Council: Member-Driven, Mission-Focused
- Upcoming Event: Home Care Nursing – What Families Need to Know!

Read the newsletter at this link: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection/1-dd-council-connection-resource

Want to be the first to know when our next newsletter is posted? Sign up at this link: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/ohio-dd-council-newsletter-signup

DD Council Connection is a way for the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council to introduce to you our Council members, provide updates on the work we do and the grant projects we manage, and inform you on the activities and initiatives of Ohio's community of advocates and others who work on behalf of people with disabilities and their families.