[CapChapOhio] [Ohio-Talk] Columbus Speech and Hearing & Jury Service

[Andra Stover]

Hello Todd, that is great that you are going to be able to take part in potential jury duty. And I also want to say that I am sorry about what is happening with the Columbus speech and hearing.
Andra

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From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of President Capital chapter via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2026 3:32:15 PM
To: capchapohio at nfbnet.org <capchapohio at nfbnet.org>
Cc: President Capital chapter <president.capital.nfboh at gmail.com>; ohio-talk at nfbnet.org <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>; Todd Elzey <toddelzey at gmail.com>; CapChapOhio at nfbnet.org <CapChapOhio at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Ohio-Talk] [CapChapOhio] Columbus Speech and Hearing & Jury Service

Hi Todd,

Great advocacy about the jury duty. Very glad you were able to get that worked out. That is something I have never had the privilege of doing, but I would actually like to. I 100% agree with you, it is an obligation as a citizen of this great country.

As for the SSP, I know that is still being worked out. OOD is involved and it may end up being through them that the program continues, but no decision has been reached yet. It is definitely something to stay on. We cannot let these people go without the services that they are entitled to.

Annette
Annette Lutz
President
Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
614-288-4323
President.capital.nfboh at gmail.com

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people because we know that low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want, blindness is not what holds you back.

On Feb 27, 2026, at 3:15 PM, Todd Elzey via CapChapOhio <capchapohio at nfbnet.org> wrote:


Good morning!  As many of you know, I was among the clients impacted by the closure of Columbus Speech and Hearing. The dispatch published a piece today about the details of the closure and its impact on many clients. The article can be found at:https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/healthcare/2026/02/27/clients-speak-out-about-columbus-speech-and-hearings-sudden-shutdown/88860058007/?tbref=hp  Many clients have been impacted by the sudden closure, and some even have hearing aids on order that they now don't know if they will ever receive them. This article just scratches the surface on this issue, as it still hasn't addressed what happened to the Support Services Program and/or the money the legislature authorized for that program. I understand that the Dispatch reporter is still researching that subject, and I am hopeful that there will be a follow-up piece about that issue soon. So we still need to keep up the pressure to keep that issue before the public so that somehow the program and funding so vital to Deaf-Blind Ohioans is restored.

On another note, earlier this week, I received a Summons for Jury Duty. That Summons mentioned no information about reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. When I initially reached out tot he Jury Commission office asking about accommodations for my Blindness and hearing loss, I was initially told that they didn't provide accommodations other than sign-language interpretation and that if sign language interpretation would resolve my issue, I should have my doctor fill out a form to certify that I was physically unable to serve on a jury.  Apparently, that was the standard response to people summoned for jury duty who happened to have disabilities. Of course, under the ADA this is a completely unacceptable policy. So I went digging to find out who the Common Please Court ADA Coordinator was.  I eventually determined that there was a bit of a disconnect because the ADA Coordinator is the Court's personnel director.  I met with the Court's ADA Coordinator, the Court's Information Technology Director, and one of the Jury Commission Managers on Wednesday.  I am pleased to report that I will be reporting for July service on Monday with appropriate Reasonable Accommodations in place to ensure that I will be able to participate in the jury process if I am actually seated on a jury.  I also received assurances that the Jury Commission has informed their staff that no person with a disability should ever be told that the Court can't provide accommodations beyond sign language interpreters for Jury Service.  Rather, the Court is putting in place a Reasonable Accommodation process for all jurors with Disabilities and will be adding this information to Jury Summons that are mailed out to prospective jurors.  I know jury service can be an inconvenience and even a pain point for many, but we, as people with disabilities, should have the same obligations to serve as our fellow citizens who don't have disabilities.  So I hope that if you receive a jury summons, you will ask for the accommodations you need to actively participate in the process.

Thanks!

Todd Elzey
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