ElevateDD

07/28/2025

On July 29, Disability Rights Ohio will offer the first webinar in their free Education and Employment Summer Training Series! As we begin to gear up for a new school year, don't miss this timely presentation on the MDR Process and School Discipline.

You can find registration details in their post.

Tomorrow! ⏰

Join us for our first of six free Education and Employment Summer Training Series! The first session will be about the MDR Process and School Discipline, presented by our amazing Staff Attorney Emily Durell.

Register today. You don't want to miss these! Registering for one session will register you for all six, but you are free to come and go to whatever meeting interests you most, or to all of them!

Please help us share this post to help others find us!

🔗: https://bit.ly/4eS7lN2

07/26/2025

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This landmark legislation protects people with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public and private spaces open to the general public. The ADA was enacted to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Learn more about the ADA and its continued impact here: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

07/25/2025

July 26 will mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law that opened doors, challenged assumptions, and set the stage for greater access and inclusion.

ElevateDD recognizes this milestone as both a victory and a call to action. True inclusion means listening to lived experiences, breaking down remaining barriers, and building communities where people with developmental disabilities can thrive.

We’re proud to keep moving that vision forward, together.

07/24/2025

We're excited to have Lisa on the team! Welcome!!

Help us welcome one of our newest team members, Lisa Dodge!

Lisa recently joined our team as Director of Advancement at ElevateDD, where she leads fundraising, marketing, and donor engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with our organization’s mission and strategic goals.

Lisa is a mission-driven nonprofit leader and collaborative advancement professional with over 15 years of experience in development and communications, most recently at Columbus School for Girls. Her background includes relationship management, peer-to-peer outreach, prospect research, planned giving, event support, grant and script writing, and volunteer management.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University and lives in Dublin with her husband and two children. Lisa is passionate about connecting individuals and corporations with meaningful causes and demonstrating their impact through effective stewardship.

Welcome to the team, Lisa. We're excited to have you! 🎉

07/22/2025

This year's Ohio State Fair is shaping up to be more accessible than ever!

What are you looking forward to seeing, doing, or eating at the fair this year? 🎡

The Ohio State Fair is a place where everyone can have fun!

With two quiet rooms, a sensory-friendly morning on July 24, universal changing stations, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at 300+ performances, this year’s fair is more accessible than ever.

See what’s new (and returning) in the release from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities ➡️ bit.ly/3GO6gt0

07/21/2025

“'We have never had this type of attack on our programs in the 16 and a half years I’ve been doing this work,' Kerstin Sjoberg, president & CEO of Disability Rights Ohio, said."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A local nonprofit is navigating uncertainty with several programs on the chopping block. Disability Rights Ohio serves as an advocate for people with disabilities. The…

07/21/2025

There is still time to purchase balls for DSACO: Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio's Chopper Dropper event today!

Don't miss this fun opportunity to support DSACO! You don't need to be present to win, but make sure to catch the live stream of the ball drop on DSACO's page! You can find more details at the link in their post.

Purchase your balls before it's too late! ⏰

The Chopper Dropper is happening this Monday, July 21, in conjunction with DSACO's Annual Golf Classic! 🚁

Here's how it works:
➡️ 500 numbered golf balls will be sold and dropped from a helicopter hovering over a green at the Country Club at Muirfield Village on July 21.
➡️ the first golf ball in the hole, or closest to the hole, wins its owner a $2,000 cash prize!
➡️ if your golf ball is the farthest away, you win $100.00!

Purchase one (1) ball for $25.00 or five (5) for $100. For more details and to purchase balls, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/downsyndromeassociationofcentralohio/event/golfclassic/.

Don't miss your chance to take part in the fun, get yours before it's too late! You don't need to be present to win, but make sure to catch our live stream of the ball drop right here on Facebook!

07/18/2025

Making social media more accessible for all is something we can work on every day! Emojis may seem like a fun addition to a post, but The Arc of the United States explains how the overuse of emojis can make your content less accessible.

07/17/2025

Advocacy alert!

Congress is considering eliminating funding for essential programs that support Ohioans with developmental disabilities. These proposed cuts would impact:

Disability Rights Ohio – Investigates abuse and neglect, advocates for independent living, student success, and access to critical services.

The Ohio State University Nisonger Center – Provides early intervention, dental care, post-secondary education, dual diagnosis services, and social support programs like Aspirations.

UC Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UC UCEDD) – Trains professionals through the LEND program, supports families, and promotes health and quality of life.

These programs are vital to helping people with disabilities live safely, access opportunity, and thrive in their communities.

Take action today! Contact your Congressional leaders and urge them to fully fund disability programs. Share your story. Remind them that every person, and every program, matters.

Make your voice heard: https://secure.everyaction.com/3m4Mh5xAbkWFUlgvKoQK_A2

07/17/2025

The Sensory-Friendly Morning at the Ohio State Fair is just a week away! Check out these great tips from our friends at OCALI to plan a fun and accessible day at the fair!

07/16/2025

“Now it’s time to build the bench. Who are we recruiting to join us in our advocacy?”

ElevateDD was a proud sponsor of the The Center for Disability Empowerment’s celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities.

The evening featured readings from essay contest winners (the prompt was “What does the ADA help you make possible?”) that had most of the room in tears.

Despite the uncertain climate and future for the disability community, keynote speaker Rebecca Cokley left attendees inspired and motivated as advocates, sharing so poignantly that “People are policy. It matters who is at the table.”

This simple phrase is critically important in policymaking. Having diverse perspectives at the decision-making tables, ensuring that the people making these decisions reflect the needs and experiences of the communities they are meant to serve, and radically empathizing with the humanity of it all cannot be disregarded for the sake of efficiency.

The future of authentic inclusion for people with developmental disabilities depends on who shows up, speaks out, and shapes what comes next. Let’s make sure the movement reflects all of us.

07/15/2025

Contact Congress to share your story and help protect essential Ohio services!

Help protect vital services for over 40,000 Ohioans with developmental disabilities! The federal government is planning to cut funding for crucial programs, putting many at risk of losing essential services that support safe and independent living.

Programs under threat include:

- Disability Rights Ohio: This organization investigates abuse and neglect, helps people with disabilities exercise their rights, advocates for access to independent living, supports students in schools, and connects individuals to services funded through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center: This center offers early intervention, childcare services, dental clinics, post-secondary education programs, dual diagnosis clinics for people with disabilities.

- UC UCEDD:This center provides training through the LEND program, supports families via the Ohio Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and works to enhance the health and quality of life for people with disabilities.

These programs, which have existed for over 50 years, are vital to protecting rights and supporting community living. They serve individuals across every Ohio Congressional district, offering assistance with legal rights, self-advocacy, education, health, and housing. Losing these services would have a detrimental impact on individuals, families, and service providers.

Urge Congress to fully fund disability programs and prevent devastating cuts. Every person and every program matters. You can help by calling, emailing, or tagging your representative today!

🔗 Send a letter via the link below: https://secure.everyaction.com/3m4Mh5xAbkWFUlgvKoQK_A2

Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to connect to your representative's office.