Learn about OCALI

At OCALI, inspiring change and promoting access for people with disabilities is at the heart of everything we do.

We believe that all people with disabilities deserve to have the opportunity to live their best lives for their whole lives - at school, home, work, and in the community. In our work every day, we are connectors - connecting individuals, families, service providers, resources, tools, agency partners, and more.

While we were created under Ohio statute and operate through the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, our reach extends far beyond central Ohio and state borders. We take pride in being a global leader in creating and connecting resources and relationships. From being a trusted source of reliable information and data, to creating evidence-based resources and delivering high quality professional development or technical assistance, OCALI is positively impacting the lives of people with disabilities across the globe.

Fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship allows us to think big and outside of the box. When it comes to inspiring change and promoting access for people with disabilities, we want to break down traditional barriers and explore things that others may not have yet seen as possible. We strive to create a culture that celebrates creativity and innovative thinking, and we put these attributes to work for the people we serve.

Together, with our partners, we are using data, research, and evidence-based strategies to shape policy and practice designed to inspire change and promote access for people with disabilities. When we promote access and independence, people are able to grow, learn, and live their best lives.

Our work at OCALI is grounded in:

PARTNERSHIPS: Better together - it is not just a phrase, but a belief that we are better when we collaborate with our staff and partners. When we work together, we bring innovative ideas and diverse perspectives that benefit our thinking, practices, and work. Collaboration and strategic partnerships in the education, health, social service, and policy sectors have been the foundation of our growth and impact.

POLICY: As a non-partisan, trusted resource for decision makers, we are recognized for our knowledge and expertise around disabilities. Our perspectives are based on what we know, what research shows, and what the experts say, not politics. Our goal is to inform decision makers using data, research, and best practices to ensure that people with disabilities and those who work with, love, educate, or support them are represented.

PRACTICE: People with disabilities and those who support them need access to the right materials, technology, and training to ensure they can live their best lives for their whole lives. To build their capacity, OCALI provides online training, coaching, professional development, and technical assistance to school districts, human service agencies, families, and others. Using evidence-based strategies with real-life examples, we help to increase people's knowledge and enhance their practices to better serve and support individuals, families, and professionals.

In everything we do, we are building a community of people who are impacted, inspired, and supported by OCALI - our OCALI community. From educators, service providers, parents/families, people with disabilities, community leaders, policy makers, and more, we strive to connect and engage with people to create accessible and inclusive opportunities for all. This passion for helping others is why we love what we do. Learn more about our stories here at the #MyWhy video gallery.