Ohio Valley Goodwill Visits DC for Legislative Advocacy Visit with ACCSES!

Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to be part of the 2018 ACCSES Annual Conference held July 22nd-25th in Washington DC. ACCSES represents 1200 providers of services for people with disabilities nationally and promotes legislative and regulatory actions in support of employment choice. This year’s speakers included representatives from the Office of Disability Employment, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, US Department of Labor, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, National Council of SourceAmerica Employers, US Department of Health and Human Services, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to name a few. Current legislation including HR 5658 was discussed as well as the Self-Advocacy efforts of citizens with disabilities from Seneca County.

The final two days of the ACCSES conference event provided the opportunity for participants to meet with their elected representatives. As the representative for Ohio Valley Goodwill and the Southwest Ohio region, Sharon Hannon, Marketing Director and Legislative Liaison met with Congressman Brad  Wenstrup, Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Portman’s legislative aides. Among the many issues discussed, Hannon provided an overview of Goodwill’s more than 100 year mission of service in the Greater Cincinnati community; number of individuals with disabilities served in partnership with County Boards and through the AbilityOne program; impact of proposed legislation and regulatory guidance on individuals served as well as the significance of Employment Choice. Reference materials were left for each elected Representative and all indicated a willingness to do more research and follow up on the issues presented.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is delighted to have had the opportunity to  join with ACCSES and disability advocates across the country in legislative advocacy efforts on the national level in support of Employment Choice.