Ohio's System of Support for People with Disabilities and Their Families

Many families will find services in their local communities, whether it's through early intervention, their local school or county board of developmental disabilities. These are the state agencies that oversee the local programs. Many of them have information specific to families on their websites. This information can help you find your local contact, learn about the specific system or service, figure out who to ask if you need help, or even how to file a complaint. There are many other state agencies that may be able to provide help depending on what you need, but these are the main ones that support people with disabilities.

Ohio Early Intervention

Learn about Ohio's Early Intervention System. Early Intervention is for infants and toddlers age 0 to 2.

Ohio Department of Health (ODH)

Get information on Ohio's Home Visiting program for pregnant moms and new parents. There are also lots of other parenting and health resources on their site.

Ohio Family and Children First Council (FCFC)

Find your local FCFC here. If your family member is involved with many systems (school, county board, children's services), FCFC may be able to help coordinate all those services so you don't have to.

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM)

See how Ohio decides if you or your family member would be eligible for Medicaid and how to apply. Medicaid is insurance coverage that helps some families pay for some services.

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD)

Discover how Ohio's County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (CBDD) support families. Each county has a CBDD. They offer information, referral, and services based on eligibility.

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW)

Learn about education in Ohio. Their parent page will give you information and resources about schools, scholarships, special education and more.

State Support Teams (SST)

Locate your SST. Every area of the state has an SST, and every SST has a Family Engagement Coordinator. They offer training and information for families.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)

Find out how OOD helps people with disabilities get and keep jobs. They also decide if you are eligible for Social Security disability.