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Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

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Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

Creating change to improve independence and inclusion for Ohioans with developmental disabilities. We provide this information as a public service.

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) is a planning and advocacy body committed to community inclusion for people with disabilities. ODDC is funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, Public Law 106-402. ODDC is a partner within the Ohio DD Network which includes Ohio's Protection & Advocacy System (Disability Rights Ohio) and Ohio's two University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities: The Nisonger Center of The Ohio State University and the Cincinnati Children's Medical Center of the University of Cincinnati. The Ohio DD Council uses its page to provide information about the Council. The Ohio DD Council also to share news from other organizations. Please note that the Ohio DD Council does not endorse nor guarantee the information provided from other organizations.

02/21/2026

What does the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council do?

By the direction of our members, we fund projects that aim to make a positive impact on Ohioans with developmental disabilities.

Read success stories from ODDC projects on our website here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/projects-and-grants/current-projects/spotlight-featured-project-stories

02/20/2026

The Government Resource Center (GRC) has earned the 2026 Social Responsibility Award for their Inclusive Sports poster presentation!

They were chosen by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Academy of Leadership and Innovation because their research makes such an important impact.

The GRC team will be formally honored at the ALI Fest 2026 conference this month in California. They will get to present their poster twice and share their research and ideas with many healthcare professionals from across the country.

GRC’s Inclusive Sports project is funded by the Ohio DD Council and focuses on changing how people think about youth sports.

The project trains school staff in inclusive coaching, and teaches them how to design programs that are inclusive from the very beginning. This makes sure that kids of all abilities can play, move, and stay healthy together.

Read more about GRC’s award and the Inclusive Sports project in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection

02/17/2026

⭐ Community Event Alert! ⭐

Ohio Family to Family and the Ohio Nursing Collaborative are hosting a three-part series for families who have loved ones with complex medical needs or disabilities, and the professionals who work with them.

The event is free, but registration is required. Sessions are held via Zoom.

The first session begins on February 18th, so register today at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/mbdj2rq

Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Home Care Nursing 101: Eligibility, Medicaid, and Waiver Supports

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

Questions? Contact Us: 513-803-2419 or amy.clawson@cchmc

02/17/2026

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 free community event in the coming weeks. 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

02/13/2026

When toys aren’t designed with different abilities in mind, even simple play can become a challenge.

Fun and play are for everyone – and that’s why the Ohio Adapts program was created!

The program trains teachers, students, and community members to make adjustments to toys by using 3D printers.

Learn all about this accessible play project in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection

Ohio Adapts is an Ohio DD Council funded initiative led by the The Ohio State University College of Engineering.

02/06/2026

Council Member Spotlight: Jennifer Kucera, ODDC Chair

Jennifer has been advocating for herself for decades, and now helps advocate for others too. She recently did an interview about her role as Council Chair, how the Council works, and the Council’s priorities for 2026.

“Many of us Council members use the system, and we can give insights that other people don’t necessarily have. We can make a difference in how services are delivered, and we get to be a voice for others.

It’s a very important job. The Council gives out grant funding for innovative programming, and it’s critical to have a lived-experience perspective guiding those decisions.”

Read her full interview in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection

02/04/2026

There’s Still Time to Share Your Story of Support!

Our call for speakers for DD Awareness & Advocacy Day is still open — and we would love to hear from you.

This year’s theme is The Power of Support, and we are inviting individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, caregivers, and allies to share stories about the support that has made a difference in their lives.

Selected stories will be shared on stage during DD Day as part of the program, giving you the opportunity to read your story and answer a few short questions with the support of a moderator.

If you’ve been thinking about submitting your story, there’s still time.

Submissions are open through February 6

Submit your story here: https://forms.gle/ZdA8FBWh78DNkrLx6

Your story doesn’t need to be long or perfect — just honest.

Your voice matters, and your experience helps show the true power of support.

The DD Awareness & Advocacy Day is supported by a grant from ODDC.

02/03/2026

ODDC's January newsletter is now available!

These articles are featured this month:

- Message From the Council: ODDC Chair Jennifer Kucera
- The Ohio Adapts Program Is Making Everyday Fun More Inclusive
- Inclusive Sports Poster Wins 2026 Social Responsibility Award
- Call for Stories for the Ohio DD Talks Podcast

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.

01/30/2026

ODDC Initiative Highlight: Legislative Staff Receive Hands-On Briefing from Deaf/Blind Community Organization

LMK Advocacy held a hands-on session to help legislative staff better understand challenges faced by people who are blind or deaf.

Staff participated in different activities to simulate life without sight or hearing. This helped them learn how to offer support without taking over tasks.

Participants also heard from deaf and deaf-blind individuals about:

- Important resources
- Tactile interpreting
- Community programs
- How COVID-19 affected accessibility

Legislative staff said the interactive session helped to increase their awareness and understanding.

Read more about LMK Advocacy's work and other ODDC-funded initiatives in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection/1-dd-council-connection-resource

01/29/2026

ODDC Initiative Highlight: Community Ambassador Program

The Ohio DD Council Ambassador Program is a storytelling initiative that centers on the voices of people with developmental disabilities (DD). Known as Community Ambassadors, self-advocates lead conversations and raise awareness around barriers and successes within their local communities.

Shari Cooper - Dayton
Shari was the first Community Ambassador to kick off this initiative. She chose two topics to cover: Montgomery County's success in adding universal changing tables to public restrooms, and encouraging adults with DD to enjoy fun, inclusive activities in their communities.

Alicia Hopkins - Cincinnati
Alicia shared her community's stories in three ways: recording interviews with legislators, experts, and peers; writing blog posts; and creating visual art pieces.

Raymil Norton - Ashtabula
Raymil shared information about his community and his experiences with transportation and inclusive outreach.

Find links to each ambassador's work and other ODDC-funded initiatives in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection/1-dd-council-connection-resource

01/28/2026

From ODDC Community Ambassador Alicia Hopkins:
Conversations with Professionals and Fellow Advocates

During her time as an ODDC Community Ambassador, Alicia spoke with two blind advocates, Mike and Dawn.

Together, they explored how Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices (AAC) and other communication tools affect participation across different disability communities.

They also talked about how these barriers often push people out of important conversations:
- Cost
- Inaccessible formats
- Lack of awareness

Read more about Alicia's Community Ambassadorship and listen to her conversation with Mike and Dawn here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/ou5bpq4/AliciaHopkins

01/27/2026

ODDC Initiative Highlight: Addressing Transportation and Housing Gaps in Rural Ohio

IncludeAbility studied the challenges faced by people with DD in rural Ohio, asking 190 people with disabilities, families, and professionals for input.

The biggest concerns were transportation and affordable, accessible housing.

Limited transit makes it hard to get to medical appointments, jobs, and community activities, and participants emphasized the need for homes that work for everyone.

Other important issues included:
- Jobs
- Recreation
- Healthcare
- Support for young people moving into adulthood

Learn about this project and other ODDC-funded initiatives in our most recent newsletter here: https://ddc.ohio.gov/media-and-news/dd-council-connection/1-dd-council-connection-resource

Address

1810 Sullivant Avenue
Columbus, OH
43222

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://ddc.ohio.gov/

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Our Mission

The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (Ohio DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The Ohio DD Council is one of a national network of state councils, committed to self-determination and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.

The Ohio DD Council has over 30 members. Sixty percent represent people with developmental disabilities, and parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities who are appointed by the Governor. The remaining members include representatives from state agencies, non-profit organizations and agencies providing services to people with developmental disabilities. Professional staff support the Council's members and committees and handle day-to-day operations, administration, planning, advocacy, and project monitoring.

The Ohio DD Council identifies issues experienced by people with disabilities and creates specific grant proposals to address these needs. When grants are available, the Ohio DD Council will announce it so that anyone may apply for the grant.

The Ohio DD Council operates under the authority of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities assists the Ohio DD Council as the federally mandated designated state agency.