In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper sits down with four current members of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council for a candid conversation about what it really means to serve — and why it matters. Noriko Kantake, Jennifer Kucera, Madge George, and Morgan Deavers share their personal stories, break down how the Council works, and make the case for why more people with disabilities and their families should get involved.

Host: Shari Cooper Guests: Noriko Kantake, Jennifer Kucera, Madge George, Morgan Deavers

Key Topics

The Council's Origins: Jennifer traces the Ohio DD Council back to the Kennedy administration, when people with disabilities began demanding the right to speak for themselves. That push led to the federal DD Act, which established councils in every state and gave people with disabilities and their families real power over how DD funding is spent.

How the Council Works: Council members hear project proposals, vote on funding, and serve as an advisory body to the governor. Nearly all members are appointed by the governor, and at least 60% must be people with DD or their family members — including one member who has lived in an institution, a role Jennifer fills based on her own experience.

Projects Making a Difference: Council members highlight funded initiatives from across the state, including Athens On Demand Transit, which provides door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities — not just for medical appointments, but for everyday life. Noriko shares a memorable moment watching an elderly couple arrive at a movie theater thanks to the service.

Why Representation Matters: Morgan and Noriko both emphasize that Council members represent all 88 counties of Ohio, and that the lived experience people bring from their home regions — rural or urban — shapes the decisions the Council makes. How one county operates is not how all counties operate.

What It's Like to Join: Madge, one of the newer members, talks about how her SSAs encouraged her to apply and how the Council gave her a way to use her voice without backlash. Jennifer and Morgan, who joined around the same time in 2022, describe it as a welcoming space for people at any stage of their advocacy journey.

Advice for Prospective Members: Just do it. Whether you are brand new to advocacy or have been doing this work for years, the Council is a place to learn, connect, and make a real difference — not just for today, but for generations to come.

How to Get Involved: Council meetings are hybrid and open to the public. They take place in February, April, June, August, and October. You can attend virtually or in person in Columbus. The Ohio DD Council is currently accepting applications for board membership.

Why It Matters

The Ohio DD Council was built on the idea that the people most affected by disability policy should have a hand in shaping it. This episode is a warm, honest, and inspiring look at what that principle looks like in practice — told by four people living it.

Resources and Links

• Ohio DD Council Website — Find meeting links, agendas, and the board member application on the homepage

In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper sits down with three advocates who know firsthand how complicated — and consequential — the rules governing disability support services can be. Renee Wood, a well-known Ohio disability advocate and two-time author; Dana Charlton, Executive Director of the Ohio Self-Determination Association; and Nicholas Comstock, speaker and podcaster, join Shari for an honest conversation about how state rules get made, why the system confuses everyone it touches, and what it actually takes to fight for change.

Host: Shari Cooper

Guests: Renee Wood, Dana Charlton, Nicholas Comstock

Key Topics

How State Rules Are Made: Dana breaks down Ohio's rule-making process — from agency drafting to public hearings to review by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCAR) — and explains why showing up in numbers with a unified voice is one of the most powerful things advocates can do.

Why the System Is So Confusing: Nick points to agencies that don't talk to each other, overloaded case managers, and contradictory rules as the root of the problem. Renee argues the fix is simple: stop creating a new rule for every new problem and start simplifying the system overall.

Who Is Really the Boss: Renee and Nick dig into the tension between providers who answer to agencies and the people they are supposed to serve. Renee contrasts the confusion in Medicaid-funded care with her own experience as a private hire employer, where she signs the checks and there is no middleman.

Nick's Fight for a Patient Lift: Nick shares his months-long battle to obtain a portable electric patient lift covered by his Medicaid insurance. After repeated rejections from DME companies citing low reimbursement rates, the solution turned out to be a simple prior authorization — a lesson with real takeaway value for anyone hitting a similar wall.

Stopping a Bad Rule: Renee recalls her first year on the Ohio DD Council, when she pushed back against a proposal to convert garages into group living spaces for people with disabilities. Her pointed response helped kill the proposal on the spot.

What Would Actually Fix This: Renee calls for people with disabilities to hold positions of power in the systems that govern their lives. Nick's answer: speak up, speak out, and speak loud — and make lawmakers care enough to listen.

Advice for Advocates: Know your rule cold. Use real examples from your own life, not pity. Do your own research. Get in front of your legislators and don't let them forget your face. Be the squeaky wheel.

Why It Matters

The systems shaping the daily lives of people with disabilities were largely built without them. This episode is a frank, sometimes funny, always honest look at what it takes to navigate those systems and change them. Whether you are a person with a disability, a family member, or a provider, this conversation will make you think differently about who holds the power and what happens when people decide to take some of it back.

Resources and Links

• Ohio DD Council Website
• Ohio Self-Determination Association (OSDA)
• Nick Speaks — New podcast episodes every Tuesday on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube. Search "Nick Speaks." Contact: NickSpeaksOfficial@gmail.com

In this episode of Ohio DD Talks, host Shari Cooper takes us inside one of the most energizing events of the year for Ohio's developmental disability advocates, the annual DD Awareness and Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Shari, who served as emcee for her 12th consecutive year, sits down with three guests who help make the day happen: Shannon Strow, Manager of Government Affairs for LMK Advocacy; Hunter Robinson, a lead advocate at the Ross County Board of DD; and Krystal Albright, advocate and community volunteer from Paulding County.

Together, they reflect on how the event has evolved over more than a decade, growing from two separate days into one powerful gathering of 500 advocates. They also share what this year's theme, "Power of Support," means to them personally. From meeting with state legislators to hearing Governor DeWine speak live for the first time, this episode captures why showing up at the Statehouse matters and what it feels like to be in a room full of people fighting for the same things.

Host: Shari Cooper

Guests: Shannon Strow, Hunter Robinson, Krystal Albright

Key Topics

The History of DD Awareness and Advocacy Day: Shannon shares how the event began over 10 years ago as two separate events and how LMK Advocacy has helped shape and grow it over the last five years.

This Year's Theme: Power of Support: Hunter and Krystal reflect on what "Power of Support" means in their own lives, from job coaching and HPC support to transportation services and the networks of people who make their goals possible.

Taking It to the Legislators: Hunter shares his experience meeting with State Representative Mark Johnson to discuss sidewalk and bus stop accessibility in his community and what it feels like to advocate face to face for real, local change.

Governor DeWine at the Capitol: For many attendees, this was the first time seeing the Governor in person. Guests reflect on his message around DSP pay, universal changing stations, and making Ohio more accessible statewide.

Storytelling on the Main Stage: Shannon highlights the event's storytelling segment, where advocates Hunter, Christina, and Hope shared personal stories of support, as the most meaningful moment of the day. For Hunter, it was a dream years in the making.

An Invitation to First-Time Advocates: Shannon and Hunter encourage anyone thinking about attending to take the leap. The event includes a walkthrough of the legislative meeting process and is designed to help new advocates build confidence.

Why It Matters

This episode is a reminder that advocacy is not just something that happens in policy rooms. It happens when real people show up and share their stories. DD Awareness and Advocacy Day gives self-advocates, families, and providers a direct line to the lawmakers who shape the systems they rely on every day. Whether it is fighting for better DSP pay, more accessible sidewalks, or bringing the Special Olympics closer to home, this event shows what it looks like when the developmental disability community shows up together. If you have ever thought about adding your voice, this episode will convince you that now is the time.

Resources and Links

• Ohio DD Council Website
• LMK Advocacy
• Learn about DD Awareness and Advocacy Day