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Parents and caregivers at Cuyahoga County meeting urge changes to DODD waiver processes
Summary
Two public commenters told county council they and other families face delays and denials from the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities and asked county leaders to audit local SSA compliance and improve access to self-directed waivers.
Two parents and caregivers used the public comment period at the July 22 Cuyahoga County Council meeting to describe delays and denials from the state developmental disabilities system and to ask the council for action.
"I had to make the hardest decision in my life and send my child away," said Sierra Hobbs, who identified herself as a Cuyahoga County resident and mother of a child with multiple disabilities. Hobbs said she has sought help from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) for more than a year with no response and described the personal and logistical burdens she faces after placing her son in a facility when in‑home caregivers were unavailable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another speaker, Ebony Spano of Highland Heights, said her son was denied a “self waiver” because she requested to be his paid caregiver. "As of 2 hours ago, my son was denied the self waiver," Spano said at the podium. She told council members she has contacted Ohio Medicaid and called for a county-led compliance audit of the county’s Service and Support Administrators (SSAs) and requested demographic data on recipients of Level 1 and self-directed waivers by ZIP code. Spano said only four African American families countywide were receiving the self waiver and that county levies fund roughly 40% of the Board of DD's salaries; she described a high appeal rate at the state Board of DD.
Both commenters asked council members to investigate disparities and to create opportunities for affected families and caregivers to meet with officials; Spano said she has 42 other caregivers willing to testify. No formal resolution or motion on DODD oversight was made during the meeting; the comments were part of the public comment period.
Ending Speakers framed the concerns as requests for county oversight and data about waiver distribution and SSA compliance. Council members did not make a formal response or take an immediate action during the meeting; matters raised may inform future committee inquiries or constituent follow-up.
