People First of Ohio

08/20/2026

Ohio Disability Policy Candidates Forum today! Remember, your VOICE and your VOTE counts!!!

07/23/2026

Looking forward to seeing you at Synergy!

What is Synergy?
Synergy is Ohio’s premier conference focused on inclusion, innovation, and collaboration within the developmental disability community. What makes Synergy unique is that people with disabilities, family members, providers, advocates, educators, employers, researchers, and policymakers come together as equal partners in the conversation.

More than a conference, Synergy is a catalyst for new ideas, meaningful relationships, personal change, and collective action that helps create better lives and stronger communities.

Who Attends Synergy?
Synergy welcomes a diverse community of participants, including:

Self-Advocates
County Board Staff
Educators
Policy Leaders
Families
Employers
Researchers
Statewide Leadership
Providers
Technology Partners
Community Organizations

REGISTER TODAY: www.synergyohio.org

07/22/2026

Make plans to attend the Ohio Disability Policy Candidates Forum, either in-person OR virtually on Aug. 20! Details within the link below.
*If you are hosting a "Watch Party", please let us know!* We would love to showcase how many of our groups participate in watch parties!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ohio-disability-policy-candidates-forum-2026-tickets-1991560382716?fbclid=IwY2xjawTNvG5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzaFFyTDJNVXRQd2NYcURkc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpcYzypQnkDWcXCE5IYID3i2kI4vO9-ER-IDylsDzQFM7C9Y5DKlM8HhFzNp_aem_Z80gi6bO0jZJzNW5ULqc7Q

Meet some of the candidates hoping to win your vote this fall. Learn about their understanding and intentions for the disability community.

07/13/2026

07/07/2026

Updated - the date for the meeting will be July 28, 2026. We will also be offering a Google Meet option for those unable to attend in-person (link will be updated soon).

06/30/2026

Please feel free to share this video of the Disability 24/7 podcast with Christine Brown and Kyle Pigman with producer Lindsey Evans on the recent what happenings with the DOJ, Ohio, and other things:

This is a podcast by people with disabilities, for people with disa...

06/24/2026

People First of Ohio held our Annual Meeting on 6/24/26! The following advocates were elected to serve on the board from now until the annual meeting in 2028 -
President: LaTasha Fralin
Vice President: Justin Reagan
Secretary: Adam Angles
Treasurer: James Gephart
Region 1 Reps: Allison Bolen, Courtney England, Jeromy Bellamy
Region 2: open
Region 3: Dawn Meigs
Region 4: Tommie Lindell
Congratulations to all & we look forward to great things in the new advocacy year!

06/22/2026

The Arc of Ohio Summer Conference
Friday, July 17, 2026
Columbus Hollywood Casino Event Center
200 Georgesville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43228
REGISTER NOW
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-arc-of-ohio-summer-conference-tickets-1989311626626?aff=oddtdtcreator

APPROVED FOR 4 HOURS OF DODD CONTINUTING EDUCATION

(The casino now has an attached hotel. Persons under 21 must enter the Event Center through the hotel entrance. Others may enter either through the casino or the hotel.)

9:00 – 10:00 am Registration

10:00am Welcome & Opening Remarks
Medicaid Fraud, Waste & Abuse in Ohio: The Ramifications of SB 315, Governor DeWine's Executive Order & Their Effect on Ohioans with Disabilities, Families & Providers, specifically Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
A panel of expert will provide an update of how SB 315 came to be, Governor DeWine’s Executive Order and what it means to our community.
11:00 am The Other Waiver
Paul Howe, COO – CareStar & Staff
Children and Adults up to the age of 59 too often wait in the wrong line or have no idea Ohio has a Waiver to support individuals with a Nursing Level of Care. CareStar has a contract to provide case management for the Ohio Home Care Waiver. The session will discuss eligibility requirements, level of care and how to access the Home Care Waiver.

Noon Lunch (Included in Registration)
Use this opportunity to network with other attendees and learn from their experiences.

1:00 – 3:00 pm The InterRAI
Ohio Department of DD Leadership & InterRAI Fellows
Ohio has begun the implementation of a new standardized assessment process using a tool called InterRAI. The InterRAI will replace the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Profile and the Acuity Assessment Instrument. The tool will be used to assess everyone on the IO, Level 1 and SELF Waivers over the next two years.
Ohio has proposed to use the new assessment:
To help inform new support levels for people on the waiver.
To help service and support administrators (SSAs) with person-centered planning.
To help set payment rates for providers based on a person’s needs for the IO, Level One, and SELF waivers.
This is an interactive, facilitated opportunity for individuals enrolled on DD Waivers, family members, advocates, providers and county board staff to directly interact and learn.

Join The Arc of Ohio for a discussion of issues affecting Ohioans withDD and their families, with an emphasis on the InterRAI Assessment.

06/18/2026

Great opportunity for youth 16-22!

06/11/2026