[Ohio-Talk] Including provisions to prohibit blindness from being used to deny or limit care of a minor in the 2021 Budget

[ryan sima]

We were encouraged at our meeting last week about the parental rights bill to submit our letters via Ohio Talk. So here is mine. 

Dear Representative Sweeney,

I am a constituent in your district, and a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Ohio’s largest and oldest organization representing Ohio’s Blind citizens, proposed H.B. 188 in the 2019-20 legislative session.   I am writing to ask you to support including H.B. 188’s language in the 2021 Budget 

H.B. 188 would prohibit a person’s blindness from being used as the sole basis to deny or limit custody, parenting time, visitation, adoption, or service as a guardian or foster caregiver, of a minor child. Unfortunately, the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio continues to encounter situations where blindness has been used as the sole determining factor in making decisions regarding child custody and visitation. Consequently, The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio believes that passage of provisions prohibiting the use of blindness as a sole determining factor in these situations is essential for protecting the rights of Blind parents and caregivers, and the rights of the children impacted by these decisions.

I personally feel this is an extremely important issue because I am completely blind and would like to adopt or foster visually impaired people in the future. I also know of blind people who have been turned down custody of their children, and would not like this to happen to me because of my blindness if I have my own children. 

Last year, H.B. 188 received strong bipartisan support in the House. H.B. 188 had two primary Sponsors Representative Erica Crawley (D-26), and Representative Jon Cross (R-83). At the time H.B. 188 was approved by the House, the legislation had 48 cosponsors. In addition, the bipartisan support for H.B. 188 was so strong that the legislation passed out of Committee on a 13-0 vote and was approved by the House on a 93-0 vote. Unfortunately, there was insufficient time last year for H.B. 188 to be considered by the Senate. At the time H.B. 188 was passed by the House the Legislative Service Commission reported that the legislation would only result “minimal cost…”.

I and the National Federation of the Blind are now asking that the provisions of H.B. 188 from the 2019-20 legislative session be included in the 2021 Budget to ensure that the rights of blind parents and caregivers and the minor children they care for are protected as expeditiously as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio if you have questions regarding this proposal. You can contact our Legislative Director Eric Duffy at peduffy63 at gmail.com or at 614-377-9877.

Sincerely,

Ryan Sima 
8714, Morton Avenue, 44144 
216-470-1304 
ryansima at att.net