Public Notice of Intent to Redesignate; Notice of Public Hearing

July 17, 2012

The Governor has issued a public notice to redesignate the Ohio Protection and Advocacy System (P&A) and the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for people with disabilities. This is a legal announcement about changes the Governor would like to make to Ohio Legal Rights Service. The information below will help you understand what the Public Notice means. See also: Frequently Asked Questions about Disability Rights Ohio and the Re-designation Process and the Disability Rights Ohio website.

Each state and territory has a P&A program and a CAP. Ohio Legal Rights Service is the P&A and CAP for Ohio. Right now Ohio Legal Rights Service is an independent state government agency. The Governor would like to change Ohio Legal Rights Service to a non-profit corporation. This change will happen on October 1, 2012.

The agency's new name will be Disability Rights Ohio and will continue to provide client-directed advocacy to people with disabilities. Also, Disability Rights Ohio will be able to:

  • Work more closely with people with disabilities to decide the kind of work Disability Rights Ohio should do;
  • Be more involved in individual and systemic advocacy issues; and
  • Better meet federal requirements required by the P&A and CAP.

Click here to read the Notice of Intent to Redesignate

Public Comments

If you have questions or comments about this Notice, you can send them to Ohio Legal Rights Service between now and Friday, August 31, 2012 to:

Public Comments
Ohio Legal Rights Service
50 W. Broad Street, Suite 1400
Columbus, OH 43215

Public Hearing

You can also offer your comments at a public hearing. The public hearing will be on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at:

Rhodes State Office Tower
First Floor Hearing Room
30 E. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Click here to read the Notice of Public Hearing

Media Coverage