As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. C. R. No. 44

2025-2026

Representatives Rader, Odioso

Cosponsors: Representatives Piccolantonio, Somani, Miller, J., Upchurch, Bryant Bailey, Sims, Lett, Synenberg, Brennan, Russo, Cockley

A c o n c u r r e n t R E S O L U T I O N

To encourage all county boards of developmental disabilities in Ohio to adopt an advisory board composed of self-advocates with developmental disabilities.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE SENATE CONCURRING):

WHEREAS, According to the Arc of the United States and the Institute on Community Integration, self-advocacy is a civil and human rights movement led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to exercise their rights as citizens by communicating for and representing themselves, with supports in doing so, as necessary; and

WHEREAS, Many supporters of the self-advocate movement endorse a "nothing about us without us" message to affirm that people with disabilities should be included in all spaces where decisions about people with disabilities are made, including in the public policy decisions that affect them; and

WHEREAS, In November 2023, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities created an advisory group called the Leadership Council; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council's mission is to modify and improve ease of access to services, facilities, and programs being provided by the county; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council has adopted the motto of "If it's for us, bring it before us"; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council is comprised of five to seven members, all of whom have a developmental disability and are served by the County Board; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council promotes self-advocacy and includes elected leadership positions for people with developmental disabilities, including the ability to serve as the Chair, Vice Chair, or Secretary of the Council; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council establishes its own bylaws regarding how it governs itself and engages with the County Board; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council has worked on disability inclusion curriculum and provided feedback on services, technologies, and advocacy events administered by the county to improve their quality; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council also provides feedback to external community organizations, such as the local board of elections, regarding the disability perspective on the organizations' services and processes; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council has worked directly with Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities staff, including a designated Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, to further improve accessibility to its properties and programs; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council provides an important perspective that the County Board may otherwise have not considered; and

WHEREAS, The accessibility of County Board projects has improved since the creation of the Leadership Council; and

WHEREAS, The Leadership Council has been a positive addition to the community and provided people with developmental disabilities an opportunity to directly engage with policies that impact them; and

WHEREAS, Ability should not be a barrier to participation in a self-advocacy board and boards should include participants who use an advocate or caretaker; and

WHEREAS, Communities across Ohio can look to the Leadership Council at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities for guidance on how to include people with developmental disabilities in leadership and promote self-advocacy; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, encourage all county boards of developmental disabilities to adopt an advisory board composed of self-advocates with developmental disabilities to provide feedback on county board projects and initiatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the leadership of each county board of developmental disabilities and the news media of Ohio.