4 Paws for Ability, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that trains and places service animals with individuals with disabilities to provide them with companionship and promote independent living. The agency accepts anyone who has a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They specialize in finding creative solutions for people who have severe disabilities.

Founded in 1958, Abilities First is a non-profit organization, located in Middletown, Ohio, that serves children with a wide range of developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, language and cognitive impairments. 

With a continuum of programming from birth through many phases of life, Abilities First is Southwest Ohio's only direct service agency for individuals with disabilities that provides a diverse range of services:

• Autism Learning Center 
• Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy
• Inclusive Early Childhood Learning Center
• Family Advocate

Transforming the lives of children with disabilities impact families, communities and businesses in Butler, Warren, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Greene and Clark counties in Ohio

The Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) is a non-residential center for independent living whose board and staff are comprised almost entirely of people with disabilities.

Their mission is to ensure that people with disabilities have complete access to the communities in which they wish to live.

They  do so through offering advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, peer support, their recycled durable medical equipment program and through assisting individuals transition from institutional settings to community living. Visit their webisite to learn more.

Access

Access is a shared-ride public transportation service, providing curb-to-curb transportation for people whose disabilities prevent them from riding Metro buses. To use Access, you must first register and be approved for service, a process which can take up to three weeks.

About Access

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was passed to remove the physical barriers that have kept persons with disabilities from fully participating in Metro society.

The ADA states that Metro`s regular bus service should be the primary means of public transportation for everyone, including people with disabilities. Under the ADA, Access serves as a "safety-net" for only those persons who do not have the functional capability to ride Metro buses. Disability alone does not qualify a person to ride Access under the ADA.

Customers made eligible for Access after January 1, 2004 are eligible for Access` ADA services only.

Access` service area and hours of operation are based on regular Metro service. Access service is limited to Hamilton County and within 3/4 of a mile of regular (non-express) Metro service and within the hours of regular (non-express) Metro service. For questions regarding Access policies call the Access information line at (513) 632-7590.

Rules of Riding

Access drivers are responsible for:

• Assisting customers on and off the vehicles lift or steps
• Securing your wheelchair or scooter
• Fastening every customer`s seat belt
• Contacting 911 in case of any medical emergency on the vehicle
• Collecting fares

Access drivers are NOT responsible for:

• Assisting customers in and out of buildings
• Carrying groceries and packages
• Installing child safety seats

Fare Deal

Metro`s Fare Deal program allows eligible riders to obtain a Fare Deal identification card valid for half-price fares on any Metro trip.

Eligible participants include:

• Adults 65 and older
• Medicare card holders
• Riders with disabilities
• Access card holders

Older adults are automatically eligible at age 65, proof of age is required. Medicare card holders of any age are also automatically eligible.

Riders with disabilities who don`t have Medicare and are not 65 must submit an application and be certified to qualify for the program. For Fare Deal information or an application call (513) 632-7540 (TDD Ohio Relay Service (800) 750-0750) Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fare Deal monthly stickers are available for $38.50. The sticker allows for unlimited rides each month. Stickers can be purchased at Metro`s sales office between the 15th of the preceding month until the 10th of the valid month.

Now Metro is more accessible than ever

With the addition of our new low-floor buses, the Metro fleet is nearly 100% accessible to people with disabilities. These new buses allow for easier wheelchair access and feature ramps allowing for faster and easier wheelchair boarding.

Metro standard bus fleet is also equipped with features to make riding easier for people with disabilities. Newer buses feature an automatic voice system to announce key stops, transfer points and other important information. Also, more than 90 percent of our buses are equipped with a wheelchair lift and two securement areas for wheelchairs.

Accessible format materials are available on request.

Accessible Vans of America (AVA) is dedicated to providing quality rental vans with handicap accessible features. The organization is comprised of a group of independent wheelchair van dealers who are all committed to improving the accessible transportation options for people requiring adaptive equipment for mobility. All wheelchair rental vans are regularly inspected to ensure that you receive an accessible vehicle rental that is reliable and comfortable.

Each location has a fleet of rental vehicles with wheelchair ramps. Some locations have full sized vans and adaptive driving controls in the vehicles for rent. Vehicle availability fluctuates with the normal seasonal and holiday demand. Please reserve a wheelchair van rental in advance to guarantee that a vehicle meeting your needs is available.

Accessible Vans of America (AVA) has a wide variety of locations providing rentals of wheelchair accessible vans around the U.S. Each location has its own inventory of handicap accessible vans for rent with lowered floors, power ramps, and wheelchair lifts. Also available are hand controls, steering knobs, and other types of accessories to help you with any mobility needs.  Whether you need a wheelchair van rental for the day, the weekend, or weeks at a time the
location nearest to you will be happy to provide you with the right mobility van for you.

ActiveStyle is a contracted provider of the PASSPORT Program offering the following services:

• Home Medical Equipment

ActivStyle provides disposable medical supplies (incontinence, urological, ostomy, wound care, pediatric and youth and other medical supplies) to people with Medicare, Medicaid and various other insurance plans.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change -- politically, economically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

AAPD was launched on July 25, 1995, and has received its 501(c)(3) designation. Key subcommittees of AAPD were developed to focus on three targeted agendas: Membership and Benefits, Policy and Operations.

The Web site includes a comprehensive list of resources for people with all manners of disabilities.

The Arc of Ohio works to create a world where children and adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities. They recognize the fundamental roles of families in making choices and decisions for their children. They also hold that individuals, who are adults, have the right to make their own choices concerning where and with whom they will live, and how they will spend their time, regardless of ability.

The Arc of Ohio is a statewide membership association made up of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, friends, interested citizens and professionals in the disability field. Together with their individual members and local chapters, they represent more than 330,000 Ohioans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. To learn more about Arc of Ohio visit their website here.
 

About Benefits CheckUp

Many older people need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other basic needs. Ironically, millions of older Americans especially those with limited incomes are eligible for but not receiving benefits from existing federal, state and local programs. Ranging from heating and energy assistance to prescription savings programs to income supplements, there are many public programs available to seniors in need if they only knew about them and how to apply for them.

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation`s most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources.

BenefitsCheckUp includes more than 2,000 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, such as:

• Prescription drugs
• Nutrition (including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP)/Food Stamps)
• Energy assistance
• Financial
• Legal
• Health care
• Social Security
• Housing
• In-home services
• Tax relief
• Transportation
• Educational assistance
• Employment
• Volunteer services

Since 2001, millions of people have used BenefitsCheckUp to find benefits programs that help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, rent, utilities, and other needs.

The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation is the program that provides individuals with disabilities the services and support necessary to help them attain and maintain employment. Disabilities may include either physical, intellectual, mental health, or sensory disabilities. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services are customized for each individual through assessments and one-on-one meetings with professional VR counselors.

The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities is founded on the belief that all people have inherent worth and the right to be treated with dignity.  For over 40 years, the Board has provided information, support and service to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Camelot Community Care provides behavioral health and child welfare services in Florida, Texas and Ohio. All of Camelot's services are community based focusing on helping the child in their home, school and the community.

Services include:

• Becoming a Foster Parent
• Child Welfare Services
• Behavioral Health Services

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides support and services to children and adults who have mental or developmental disabilities.

The Clinton County Board of Developmental Disabilities offers case management services, residential services and  transportation services. At their Town and Country School they offer children's programs. They also offer the Orion Rehabilitation Center. To find out more about their programs cilick here.

Finding Developmental Disablity Services for your Loved One: Help in Navigating Ohio's Maze is a resource guide that helps people who themselves or their loved ones have been diagnosed with a developmental disability. It tells people how to get started, defines terms and services, lists a variety of resources and helps you understand what to expect at different stages in development. To access this resource handbook click here.

Disability Resources website helps promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information that can help people with disabilities live, learn, love, work and play independently.

Disability.gov is the federal government website for comprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links to more than 14,000 resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations. You can find answers to questions about everything from Social Security to employment to affordable and accessible housing.

WrightChoice, Inc. is a non-profit organization designed to "develop career-ready talent" focusing on our next generation of young leaders. The organization prepares college students with disabilities as well as other minorities for the workforce through four core components including career exploration, personal and professional development, career coaching and internship placement. 

 The intended outcome is for our students to understand "diversabilities", demonstrate independence and exercise employability skills, while reprogramming societal stereotypes for people with disabilities in the workforce. Persons with disabilities in Ohio, ages 18-64, with four-year degrees fail to achieve the same rate of employment as their non-disabled peers.

The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati is to empower individuals, educate families, enhance communities and together, celebrate the extraordinary lives of people with Down syndrome. To learn more about their programs visit their website here.

At Easter Seals TriState youth and adults with disabilities and disadvantages find the path to live more independent lives through social enterprise, youth, vocational, social and recreational services, autism services, medical rehabilitation, military and veteren services, employment and training. To learn more about their programs visit their website here.

Friends of Man

Friends of Man is the charitable arm of the institute for the New Man.  The program provides resources to help people who find themselves in a situation where they have nowhere else to turn.  It may be an elderly person on a fixed income, a working family whose child is struck by severe illness, an accident victim, a disabled person, or a schoolchild whose family can't afford basic needs.

Friends of Man helps people of all ages with a large variety of needs:

• Mobility Equipment: (prostheses, wheelchairs, van lifts, and modifications, ramps, home modifications)
• Medical Equipment and Procedures
• Hearing Aids, Dentures,Glasses
• Basic Needs: Clothing for Children, Food
• Short-term Daycare, Prescriptions, Cobra/Health Insurance
• And More!!

At Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, they empower people with disabilities and other needs to achieve independence and enhance their lives on a daily basis.

Their vision is to make it possible for all people to live, learn, work and play in their communities.
To learn more about their behavioral health services, employment services, senior services, children and youth services and developmental disabilities visit their website here.

At Graceworks Lutheran Services, everything they do is based on the principles of servant leadership, and building community.  They believe individuals thrive when they live interdependently with others in communities dedicated to upholding personal dignity and fostering wholeness.

They serve people of all faiths through a variety of programs such as assisted living for seniors and persons with disabilities, senior residential communities, companionship services, and community outreach.

The Greene County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides service and support for clients with differing abilities in the Greene Country Community. Providing services from early childhood, through adulthood and elderly life stages, the Board is committed to assisting eligible individuals in making choices and achieving a life of increasing capabilities so that they may live, work, and play in our community.

Products specifically designed to assist those with special needs while promoting a healthy, active and independent lifestyle.

We specialize in product solutions for the Blind, Visually Impaired, those with Low Vision, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Disabled, Seniors (Elderly), Children, and the Special Needs of those with Medical Conditions. Our goal is to bring you the best products available, including the latest innovations to help you live every day to the fullest! From handheld, stand and electronic magnifiers for those with low vision to talking watches for the blind… from amplified telephones for the hard of hearing to vibrating alarms for the deaf… from blood glucose monitors for diabetics to wheelchairs and walkers for those with mobility challenges… whatever you need, MaxiAids has you covered.

The mission of the Montgomery Board of DDS is to serve children and adults with mental retardation and other significant developmental disabilities, most of whom require comprehensive life-long services. The Board provides supports for individuals to live, learn, work and participate in their community.

The Board also provides supports for families on their efforts to care for their family member with a disability.

The mission of the Montgomery Job and Family Services Department is: Protecting children and the elderly, strengthening families and individuals, and providing opportunities through coordinated services for the residents of Montgomery County.

Founded by a group of people with OCD in 1986, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is an international not-for-profit organization made up of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals and others.  The mission and goals of the IOCDF are to: 

• Educate the public and professionals about OCD in order to raise awareness and improve the quality of treatment provided;
• Support research into the cause of, and effective treatments for, OCD and related disorders;
• Improve access to resources for those with OCD and their families;
• Advocate and lobby for the OCD community.

The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) is a statewide nonprofit organization that serves families of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities in Ohio, and agencies who provide services to them. OCECD works through the coalition efforts of over 40 parent and professional disability organizations which comprise the Coalition. OCECD has also been funded since 1984 to serve as the Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) for the state of Ohio from the federal government, U.S. Dept of Education, Office for Special Education Programs. To learn more about the resources they offer click here.

The  Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) is responsible for overseeing a statewide system of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) is a planning and advocacy body committed to community inclusion for people with developmental disability 

Provides vocational rehabilitation services to people of working age who are physically, mentally, psychologically, or socially disabled and vocationally handicapped.

Medical equipment rental (deposit) may be available.

Open Door Ministries is located in the basement of The Church of the Advent. Some of the services they offer are a food pantry and health services. To learn more about their services visit their website here.

The mission of Opportunities for Ohians with Disabilities is to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to achieve quality employment, independence, and disability determination outcomes. They do this through the many programs they offer.

The vast majority of working-age Ohioans with a disability would like to work. Moreover, Ohioans with a disability bring many key success factors to the workplace.

 If you want to work but are having trouble because of your disability, you may qualify for services from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities through its Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI).

 BSVI provides direct, personalized services to help individuals with disabilities obtain or retain employment. The BSVI counselor works with you one-on-one to plan an individualized program leading to gainful employment.

With dignity, respect and compassion, PLACES cares for adults diagnosed with mental health disorders, including the homeless, by providing housing and the supportive services they need to live happier, healthier, more independent lives. Click here to learn more about their programs.

REM Ohio serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those with employment barriers. Their  programs and supports are built around the unique needs of each individual they serve and designed to promote independence, skill development, personal choice and growth.  They are committed to delivering quality services in community-based environments, empowering the people they serve to live, work and thrive in their community. For more information about their programs click here.

In addition to developmental disabilities services, Safe Haven Agency has also expanded into the home healthcare sector with skilled nurses on staff. They provide services through supported living waivers, individual options waivers, and the level one waivers.

Safe Haven Agency assures families that their loved ones are well cared for and continue to live healthy and happy lives. They monitor their caregivers through one-on-one contact with their clients, telephone check-in, and home visits. They acknowledge the fact that each client is different, and they cater specifically to the diverse needs of every client. One of Safe Haven Agency’s goals is to make sure their clients feel comfortable and happy so they can live longer in the comfort of their own homes while still enjoying the services they provide. For more information about their services visit their website here.

The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center ministries in the United States provide an in-residence rehabilitation program with a focus on basic necessities. Each beneficiary (program participant) is provided with a clean and healthy living environment, good food, work therapy, leisure time activities, group and individual counseling, spiritual direction, and resources to assist each person to develop life skills.

The Salvation Army Family Service Bureau provides services to families and individuals regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religious affiliation or age.  Clients may be self-referred or referred by agencies, friends, relatives or other interested parties. 

The Family Service Bureau provides a professional and experienced social work staff, licensed in Ohio and Kentucky.  All appointments are held in a confidential setting. The Family Service Bureau has a confidentiality policy, and adheres to the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics.

Provides services with:

• Emergency assistance
• Heat Share Energy Fund
• Counseling Services

Disability Services provides assistance to all qualified students with disabilities, whether they are physical, psychiatric or educational. You are required to register with the office and identify your needs in order to be eligible for academic adjustments. All services are based on individual needs.

Disability under Social Security is based on your inability to work. You will be considered disabled if you cannot do work you did before and Social Security decides that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s). Your disability also must last, or be expected to last, for at least a year or to result eventually in death. This is a strict definition of disability.

The program assumes that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers` compensation, insurance, savings and investments. You should apply at any Social Security office as soon as you become disabled.

You may file by phone, mail or by visiting the nearest office. Note that, while you may receive benefits dating back to the date you became disabled, they are limited to one year before the date you filed for benefits.

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/index.htm) pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
2. Supplemental Security Income (http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/) pays benefits based on financial need.

When you apply for either program, SSA will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet Social Security's definition of disability (http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm).

Use the Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool (http://www.ssa.gov/best) to find out which programs may be able to pay you benefits.

If your application has recently been denied, the Internet Appeal (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/appeal) is a starting point to request a review of our decision about your eligibility for disability benefits.

This site will help you find social and welfare services in your area by entering your zip code.

The Talking Book Program provides free recorded books, magazines and playback equipment to eligible blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped and reading disabled  Ohio residents. For more information on Talking Books click here.

Brain Injury Association of Ohio maintains a database of over 50 independent support groups around the state.

BIAOH has been working for the people of Ohio for over 30 years to provide assistance and support in the cause of brain injury prevention, treatment, research, education and advocacy.

CILO is the oldest center for independent living in Ohio serving individuals with disabilities in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. Founded by individuals with disabilities and chartered in 1977, as a 501(c) 3 non-profit, the center is governed, managed, and staffed by a majority of professionals with disabilities. They serve individuals of all ages who have physical, sensory, cognitive, and/or psychological disabilities. They are agents of social change and the practical application of the disability civil rights and independent living movement. They help people become self reliant and live independently to ensure their full inclusion in our community. To learn more about CILO visit their website here.

Many of us are forced to make tough decisions every day about paying bills, buying food, accessing medical care, and stretching our household budgets. The Ohio Benefit Bank is designed to make it simpler for Ohioans to connect with programs and resources that can make those decisions a little bit easier. From any computer with Internet access, you can use the online service to complete applications for programs like food assistance, child care assistance, health coverage, and much more.

Survivor Benefits

If the deceased was receiving monthly payments you will need to notify the VA of the death.

If the deceased was a veteran who received a discharge other than dishonorable, survivors may receive $300 toward funeral expenses and $150 for burial costs. Burial in a national cemetery is free to a veteran, spouse, and dependent children. Veterans are also eligible for a headstone or grave marker.

The surviving spouse and dependent children of disabled veterans may also be entitled to a lump sum death benefit; monthly payments, such as educational assistance; and medical care.

Check with the regional VA office about your eligibility for the different types of veteran`s benefits and the documents you will need to apply for benefits.

Health Care Facilities, Benefits and Prescription coverage

To receive health care benefits, enroll with the VA. You can enroll for benefits at any time.

Ohio veterans of all eras have earned a number of federal and state benefits. Veterans may qualify for a number of other benefits ranging from health care, compensation for injuries and illness, home loans and education to direct financial assistance, special license plates and the Ohio Veterans Homes. Please visit your county veteran`s service office and find out what you`re eligible for. For more information, call 1-877-OHIO VET (1-877-644-6838), or visit www.dvs.ohio.gov.

CHAMPVA: The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The program is administered by Health Administration Center, located in Denver, Colorado.

Prescription coverage is available for veterans with an honorable discharge. Must enroll with VA and be seen by VA doctor. Free prescriptions for low-income veterans.

VA Hospitals and Clinics:  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operates a network of health care facilities across the country.  Click here to search for a facility by state.

Click here to find your regional VA Benefits Administration office. 

Veterans Funerals

If the deceased was a veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides small burial allowances. All veterans can receive a burial flag and burial in national cemeteries. Burial at no charge may be possible in an area where a national Veterans Cemetery is located. Call 800-555-1212 for the toll-free number of your Regional Veterans Affairs office or visit the web site.

Click here to locate a Veterans Cemetery. 

The mission of United Rehabilitation Services is enhancing the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities or other special needs.

United Rehabilitation Services provides specialized programs that enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities or other special needs. Their services will promote independence, community inclusion, and support for families.

Their dedicated and skilled team of professionals, in partnership with family members and caregivers, provide individualized services to improve the quality of life for each client. Their programs offer high quality services that are nationally and locally accredited and as a member of the Better Business Bureau, adhere to the most rigorous “Charitable Giving Standards”.

Working with Ohio Home Care Waiver consumer's as an independent provider of vehicle modification services at a substantially reduced cost as a savings value for waiver funding. 

Sales of wheelchair accessible vehicle conversions for people with mobility challenges.

At Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities they focus on providing those with disabilities full accessibility to the community  in all key areas: transportation, housing, employment, education, leisure and business/financial opportunities.

Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities offers a wide variety of options, including early intervention, service coordination, family support, day services for adults, community employment, transportation, residential services and much more.

At Wright State University they  believe that a student's college education is an opportunity to develop academically, vocationally, and personally. Students with disabilities are encouraged to develop independence to the fullest extent possible and to assume responsibility for their chosen lifestyles.

They strive to teach students skills that will assist them as they transition into the professional world. Their  focus on independence is the reason they are ranked as a national leader in accommodating students with disabilities. Over 500 students with physical, learning, and/or psychological disabilities participate in their programs each year.

The goal of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is to ensure that every person with combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern telecommunication tools and the training necessary to use them, granting every individual the opportunity to interact with the world as an involved, contributing member of society.

The program — promoted by iCanConnect — provides outreach, assessments, telecommunications technology and training free of charge to those who meet federal eligibility guidelines. For more information about the NDBEDP, including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) consumer guide and eligibility rules, visit, etc.