[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] Amazing Day: House Bill 225

Thu May 15 12:51:07 UTC 2025

From 

Aaron Ockerman

//

AMAZING day.  Thank you to everyone who testified.  Below is a short summary of the hearing from the Statehouse newspaper, The Hannah Report.

HB225

EMPLOYMENT-PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (Jarrells D) To phase out the subminimum wage for individuals with physical or mental disabilities, to authorize a tax credit for purchases made from nonprofit corporations that hire such individuals, and to name this act the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act.

Second Hearing

A total of 22 witnesses signed up to present testimony – many of them in person. Christopher Sabine, Suzanne Turner, Richard Payne and Wilbert Turner represented the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and spoke from their own experiences of being blind, some of whom worked for subminimum wage.  They supported the bill’s abolishing subminimum wage for those with developmental disabilities, phasing it out over five years.

Others testifying in support of the bill included Justin Blumhorst of Capabilities which provides day and employment services administered by the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and Vocational Rehabilitation under Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). He said, “This bill is not about shutting down providers or where they serve people. Some providers will need to shift their service models, and the timelines in this bill allow them time to renegotiate contracts and adjust to paying people at least minimum wage. Given the time and support, providers can be successful.”

Dr. Jules Patalita, a disability rights advocate for The Ability Center in Toledo said that those with disabilities will not lose jobs if this passes; rather the phasing out of the subminimum wage is a work incentive, leading to more Ohioans with disabilities joining the workforce. He also noted that, “For those few individuals who are not able to find employment afterwards, existing services such as Day Habilitation Services will ensure that the social needs of these people are met while keeping valued routine in place to create as little disruption as possible.”

Rep. McNally asked if he knew of any lawsuits occurring in the states that have done this. He said he was not aware of any.

Others testifying included Katie Thomas of The Ability Center who relayed her sister’s story; Merlyase Dessert who told her own experiences living with autism; Dan Sutter, a past president of Stark County Board of DD, told of his daughter who did not thrive in segregated settings but who is now in her fourth year of community employment; Jan Dougherty; and Eric Duffy and Joe Magers.

Their testimony and those of the others who submitted written testimony can be found on the Hannah News HB225 bill page.

Get Outlook for Mac  <https://aka.ms/GetOutlookForMac> 

From: Ohio APSE <ohapse at apse.org <mailto:ohapse at apse.org> >
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
To: Jeremy Morris <jmorris at ohiosilc.org <mailto:jmorris at ohiosilc.org> >, Destiny Kemmerling <Destiny.Kemmerling at fairfieldcountyohio.gov <mailto:Destiny.Kemmerling at fairfieldcountyohio.gov> >, Alex Corwin <alex_corwin at ocali.org <mailto:alex_corwin at ocali.org> >, Kraig Walker <kraig.walker at peoplefirstohio.org <mailto:kraig.walker at peoplefirstohio.org> >, Katherine Hunt Thomas <kthomas at abilitycenter.org <mailto:kthomas at abilitycenter.org> >, Jennifer Hudak <jhudak at summitdd.org <mailto:jhudak at summitdd.org> >, Mary Ellen Daston <dastonmm at gmail.com <mailto:dastonmm at gmail.com> >, Pam Davies <pjd at wrilc.org <mailto:pjd at wrilc.org> >, Steve Oster <soster at knoxdd.com <mailto:soster at knoxdd.com> >, Michaels.Richards <michael.richards at peoplefirstohio.org <mailto:michael.richards at peoplefirstohio.org> >, Eric Duffy <Peduffy63 at gmail.com <mailto:Peduffy63 at gmail.com> >, Paul Jarvis <paul.jarvis at dodd.ohio.gov <mailto:paul.jarvis at dodd.ohio.gov> >, Matt Onesti (Onesti.matt at gmail.com <mailto:Onesti.matt at gmail.com> ) <Onesti.matt at gmail.com <mailto:Onesti.matt at gmail.com> >, Joshua Sherer <joshua.sherer at ohiohouse.gov <mailto:joshua.sherer at ohiohouse.gov> >, Maria Alvarez <pmgr1 at ilcac.org <mailto:pmgr1 at ilcac.org> >, Maggie O'Brien <mobrien at ohionetworkforinnovation.com <mailto:mobrien at ohionetworkforinnovation.com> >, Kara Ayers <kara.ayers at cchmc.org <mailto:kara.ayers at cchmc.org> >, Jane Gerhardt <jane.gerhardt at cchmc.org <mailto:jane.gerhardt at cchmc.org> >, Kerstein Sjoberg <ksjoberg at disabilityrightsohio.org <mailto:ksjoberg at disabilityrightsohio.org> >, Christina Langhorst <Christina.langhorst at viaquestinc.com <mailto:Christina.langhorst at viaquestinc.com> >, Susan Koller <susan.koller23 at gmail.com <mailto:susan.koller23 at gmail.com> >, Kim Nielsen <Kim.Nielsen2 at utoldeo.edu <mailto:Kim.Nielsen2 at utoldeo.edu> >, Crystal Lett <rep11 at ohiohouse.gove <mailto:rep11 at ohiohouse.gove> >, Beth Glas <bglas at leapinfo.org <mailto:bglas at leapinfo.org> >, Alicia Hopkins <Audacity2speak at aol.com <mailto:Audacity2speak at aol.com> >, RIchard Payne <rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:rchpay7 at gmail.com> >, Brian Hart <bhart at laddinc.org <mailto:bhart at laddinc.org> >, Amanda Hite <amanda at pegasusfarm.org <mailto:amanda at pegasusfarm.org> >, Jerilynn George <jerilyn.george at apsiohio.org <mailto:jerilyn.george at apsiohio.org> >, Suzanne Musleh <smusleh at disabilityrightsohio.org <mailto:smusleh at disabilityrightsohio.org> >, John Pekar <jrpekar at gmail.com <mailto:jrpekar at gmail.com> >, Mary Helen Richer <Mhricher at autismcincy.org <mailto:Mhricher at autismcincy.org> >, Carmen Shelton <carmenshelton64 at gmail.com <mailto:carmenshelton64 at gmail.com> >, Kyle Miller <kyle.miller at fairfielddd.com <mailto:kyle.miller at fairfielddd.com> >, Katie Watson <Watsonkatie052 at gmail.com <mailto:Watsonkatie052 at gmail.com> >, Sasi Chockalingam <sasic at dsagc.com <mailto:sasic at dsagc.com> >, Vic Gable <vicgable1 at gmail.com <mailto:vicgable1 at gmail.com> >, Gary Norman <ginorman15 at hotmail.com <mailto:ginorman15 at hotmail.com> >, Senator Tim Schaffer <sdistrict20 at ohiosenate.gov <mailto:sdistrict20 at ohiosenate.gov> >, Jenna Allen <jenna_allen at ocali.org <mailto:jenna_allen at ocali.org> >, Josh Young <jyoung at ohionetworkforinnovation.com <mailto:jyoung at ohionetworkforinnovation.com> >, Suzanne Turner <smturner.234 at gmail.com <mailto:smturner.234 at gmail.com> >, Dr. Carolyn Peters <Dr.Carolyn.Peters at gmail.com <mailto:Dr.Carolyn.Peters at gmail.com> >, Dana Charlton <OSDA2011 at gmail.com <mailto:OSDA2011 at gmail.com> >, Sahpire Murphy <saphiremurphy11 at gmail.com <mailto:saphiremurphy11 at gmail.com> >, Laura Grimes <lgrimes at laddinc.org <mailto:lgrimes at laddinc.org> >, Representative Jarrelss <Rep01 at ohiohouse.gov <mailto:Rep01 at ohiohouse.gov> >, Jordan Ballinger <jballinger at disabilityrightsohio.org <mailto:jballinger at disabilityrightsohio.org> >, Jason Harris <jharris at laddinc.org <mailto:jharris at laddinc.org> >, Carolyn Knight <carolyn.knight at dodd.ohio.gov <mailto:carolyn.knight at dodd.ohio.gov> >, Dontavious Jarrells <dontavious.jarrells at ohiohouse.gov <mailto:dontavious.jarrells at ohiohouse.gov> >, Brittanie Maddox <bmaddox at disabilityrightsohio.org <mailto:bmaddox at disabilityrightsohio.org> >, Zoe Wenk <zoe.wenk at osumc.edu <mailto:zoe.wenk at osumc.edu> >, Isaac Northrop <isaac at ockermanconsulting.com <mailto:isaac at ockermanconsulting.com> >, Amanda Hite <amanda at iesohio.com <mailto:amanda at iesohio.com> >, Todd Elzey <toddelzey at gmail.com <mailto:toddelzey at gmail.com> >, Jules Patalita <jpatalita at abilitycenter.org <mailto:jpatalita at abilitycenter.org> >, Jeremy Caffee <jeremy.caffee at acils.com <mailto:jeremy.caffee at acils.com> >, Dee Henry <dee at independencealliance.org <mailto:dee at independencealliance.org> >, David Mitchell <dmitchell at meorc.com <mailto:dmitchell at meorc.com> >, Dr. Laura Hoffman <l.c.hoffman at scuohio.edu <mailto:l.c.hoffman at scuohio.edu> >, Carrie Hayes <hayes43113 at gmail.com <mailto:hayes43113 at gmail.com> >, Aaron Ockerman <aaron at ockermanconsulting.com <mailto:aaron at ockermanconsulting.com> >, Pepper Stetler <stetlep at miamioh.edu <mailto:stetlep at miamioh.edu> >, Jen Powersalge <jen.powersalge at thearcofohio.org <mailto:jen.powersalge at thearcofohio.org> >, Melissa Engle <mengle at iamboundless.org <mailto:mengle at iamboundless.org> >, Jennifer Kucera <Jenniferkucera134 at gmail.com <mailto:Jenniferkucera134 at gmail.com> >, Justin Blumhorst <justin.blumhorst at capabilitiesinc.biz <mailto:justin.blumhorst at capabilitiesinc.biz> >, Will Bagnola <wbagnola at clarkdd.org <mailto:wbagnola at clarkdd.org> >
Subject: House Bill 225 Testimonies

Hi everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to share how today went at the statehouse. The room was full.

I know that not everyone was able to attend in person or submit testimony, especially given the short notice. Please know that your ongoing support, behind-the-scenes effort, and advocacy are very much appreciated. Today's impact was built on the foundation of the work we all continue to do together, in many different ways. For those who were able to submit testimony, I've attached their statements here. Each one added a vital voice to the conversation and helped shape the tone and strength of the day.

Thanks for everything you do, in whatever way you're able to do it.  We are moving forward because of all of you.

Jan

On a side note:

My good friend John Bryson, a national advocate for disability employment, said we needed a slogan—so he created this one: “Fair Pay or Fail Us.” What do you think?

The image below is a round button with a blue and red background. In bold white letters, it says: “Fair Pay or Fail Us.”

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