Demand Respect and Dignity for Ohio Disability Families

At the May 2024 conference of the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB), an alarming and deeply offensive training session took place. Facilitators encouraged attendees to describe “those families” of people with disabilities using derogatory terms such as “lazy,” “greedy,” “mental,” “ick,” and “entitled.” They cackled in laughter and egged on the crowd as these hurtful labels were submitted via smartphone app. Shockingly, one facilitator even performed a mock “demon voice” impression of family members, while another praised the hurtful descriptions, saying, “That’s a good one, greedy and entitled, that’s a good one.”

This behavior is not only unprofessional but profoundly disrespectful to the families whose loved ones rely on developmental disability services. The OACB attempted to justify this session as part of an “empathy” training exercise, yet recordings reveal that genuine discussion of empathy lasted a mere 14 seconds.

Despite outrage from individuals with disabilities and their families, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Director Kimberly Hauck remained silent on this incident. Hauck left DODD and was replaced by Acting Director Lyndsay Nash in June of 2025.

We need your support to demand immediate action and accountability. Please sign this petition to call for the following:

Resignation of the Facilitators: We demand the immediate resignation of the facilitators involved, including Pickaway County Superintendent Marie Wilbanks, Wood County Director of Fiscal Services Stacy Cox, Allen County Director of Community Support Melissa Ricker, Miami County Service and Support Administrator Karen Armentrout, and OACB Service and Support Advisor Lisa Comes.

Public Denouncement: We urge Governor DeWine and Acting Director Nash to publicly denounce the use of derogatory terms when referring to families of people with disabilities and to affirm their commitment to respect and dignity for all.

Comprehensive Sensitivity Training: We call for the OACB to hire a qualified professional to deliver evidence-based sensitivity training to all conference attendees and county board employees across Ohio, ensuring that respect and empathy are at the core of their interactions with the families they serve.

Together, we can ensure that case workers for individuals with disabilities do their job with the utmost respect and professionalism. Your signature can make a difference. Stand with us in demanding change and respect for some of Ohio’s most vulnerable families.