#AdvocacyMatters: Reflecting

September 27, 2024 / #AdvocacyMatters

We often share just how diverse and complex our work is. Despite being a rather small group of around 50 individuals, on any given day each team is busy with a broad range of advocacy… like providing short term assistance, monitoring facilities and investigating cases of abuse and neglect, supporting families through challenges with education, raising awareness around election participation, and much more. While every day and every week bring new challenges and new victories, this past week has certainly kept us busy.

On Monday, we filed a class action suit in federal court to enforce the rights of parents and students with disabilities at the Warren County Educational Service Center. Since 2022, our team has been working to force the correction of numerous violations of special education law, as well as to see the successful completion of compensatory education hours that were initially awarded to affected students. As the original remedies - like IEP reviews, additional training, and compensatory education hours - were discarded in a secretive process between the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Warren Co ESC, our team has worked diligently in several different ways to right these wrongs.

Just two days later, we hosted our 4th annual Duck Derby - presented by opoc.us - along the Muskingum River in Marietta. In this year's event, 344 yellow, blue, and pink ducks were sponsored for the race. Despite some challenging weather that caused the river to flow the wrong direction, with the help of the Marietta High School "Tiger Navy" crew team we were able to complete the race and name our winners. Congratulations to Christina C. and Kevin K.! Events like these help us raise the additional revenue necessary to expand our reach and grow our work. Thank you to all who participated in the race, our presenting sponsor OPOC.us, additional sponsors Ideal Integrations and CC13 LLC, Marietta HS Crew, and The Bauer Fund.

Our ultimate vision of a truly equitable society for people with disabilities won't come into being on our own. Only through continued advocacy and partnership can these barriers be dismantled and these needs be met. Together, we're making a difference.

#AdvocacyMatters