#AdvocacyMatters: The Guise of “Doing Right”

May 22, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters

When changes are being planned that will impact the care options for people with disabilities, the should have a spot at the table.

Recently, policymakers and political candidates here in Ohio have taken aim at access to home and community-based services under the guise of "combating fraud and abuse." Measures announced last week by Governor DeWine will make it even harder for people with disabilities to receive the support and care they need to remain in home and community-based settings. Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy doubled down in a news conference this week, promising to "crush" Medicaid fraud through home and community-based service programming… making allegations heavy in rhetoric but light in evidence.

This past Wednesday Disability Rights Ohio joined several other organizations and advocates in publishing a shared warning about these new measures and the real harm they'll bring to people with disabilities throughout the state.

"Ohio cannot afford policies that drive caregivers out of the workforce, discourage providers from participating, or treat vulnerable populations as potential criminals simply because they require care," Maria Matzik, a Disability Rights Advocate, said in the statement.
"Protecting program integrity should never come at the expense of human dignity, due process, privacy, or access to essential care," said Kerstin Sjoberg, Disability Rights Ohio President & CEO. "People with disabilities who depend on these services have not been given a seat at the table in this process. When lived experiences are ignored and knowledgeable voices are silenced, harm can quickly follow."

When allegations are made and measures are proposed that will disrupt life and upend care for people with disabilities, they must be included, valued, and considered. We hope that meaningful discussions about protecting care and maintaining access to receiving services in community settings will take the place of this obvious hunt for political bonus points.

#AdvocacyMatters