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Services for children and adults with disabilities who live in Ohio are provided through programs of several state agencies. This section provides information about many of these programs. For people to receive services, certain eligibility requirements must be met. If you find a service that you think can help you, check with the agency that manages the program to see if you qualify for the program or service.
The information provided in this section does not include all services available in Ohio. Check with each state agency for a complete list of its programs and services.
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The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) oversees Ohio's addiction, prevention, treatment and recovery services system of care.
Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS)
280 North High Street, 12th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-2550
Phone: 614-466-3445 or 614-644-9140 (TDD/TTY)
Web site: www.odadas.state.oh.us
The following programs are offered through the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).
The Office for Exceptional Children oversees school districts and other educational programs to help improve results for students with disabilities (special education for children of school age) and students identified as gifted.
Ohio Department of Education
Office of Exceptional Children
25 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183
Phone: 877-644-6338
Web site: www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?Page=2&TopicID=485&TopicRelationID=967
The Office of Early Learning and School Readiness oversees services for children in the early intervention and pre-school settings. This includes children who are at risk of developmental delays or have been identified as having a disability.
Ohio Department of Education
Office of Early Learning and School Readiness
25 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183
Phone: 877-644-6338
Web sites: www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=39&Content=11743
Food and Nutrition services provides financial support, resources, and training for the preparation of nutritious meals in schools.
Ohio Department of Education
Food and Nutrition Services
25 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183
Phone: 877-644-6338
Web site: www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?Page=2&TopicRelationID=485
The following programs are offered through the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).
The BCMH program helps to determine the early identification of children with disabling conditions and the treatment of those children by appropriate health care providers through the program's diagnostic, treatment, and service coordination services.
Ohio Department of Health - BCMH
246 N. High Street, P.O. Box 1603
Columbus, Ohio 43216-0118
Phone: 614-466-1700
Email: BCMH@odh.ohio.gov
Web site: www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/cmh/cwmh/bcmh1.aspx
Agency publication: A Handbook for Families of Children
with Special Health Care Needs in Ohio: Programs and Services (PDF file)
This is an early childhood initiative (birth through two years of age) made up of three programs: Welcome Home provides home visits to new parents, Ohio Early Start provides services to children who are at risk for further developmental difficulties, abuse, or neglect, and Early Intervention provides services for early identification and family-centered services for children with developmental delay or disabilities.
Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Early Intervention Services
246 N. High Street, P.O. Box 118
Columbus, Ohio 43216-0118
Phone: 614-644-8389
Email: BEIS@odh.ohio.gov
Web site: www.ohiohelpmegrow.org
Medical speciality clinics provide pediatric specialists for children in medically under-served areas of Ohio.
Ohio Department of Health - Medical Specialty Clinics for Children
246 N. High Street, P.O. Box 118
Columbus, Ohio 43216-0118
Phone: 614-466-2627
Email: BCFHS@odh.ohio.gov
Web site: www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/cfhs/medspec/medspec1.aspx
The following programs are offered through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). In addition to the services listed below, see ODJFS' list of services for families.
This program provides free and low-cost health coverage for families, children (up to age 19) and pregnant women with limited income.
For more information, contact your local Department of Job and Family Services. You can locate your county department at http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/.
Phone: 614-644-0140
Web site: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/bcps/hshf/index.stm
The Ohio Home Care program is Medicaid's integrated program of home care services for persons with disabilities that is administered by ODJFS. The program consists of four benefit packages: (1) The Core Benefit Package, (2) the Core Plus Benefit Package, (3) the Waiver Benefit Package, and (4) the Transitions Waiver.
For more information, contact your local Department of Job and Family Services. You can locate your county department at http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/.
Phone: 1-800-324-8680 or TDD 1-800-292-3572
E-mail: BHCS@ODJFS.state.oh.us
Web site: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/ohc/
For more information about Medicaid, refer to our Medicaid section.
The Children's Buy-In (CBI) program offers health insurance benefits to children under the age of 19 in families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level, who have not had any insurance for at least six months, and are not eligible for Medicaid. The child must also meet one of the following: (1) unable to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition; (2) lost coverage due to a lifetime benefit limit; (3) only available insurance is at least double the state premium; or (4) is enrolled in a state program for the medically handicapped (Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps). Families pay an insurance premium to receive CBI services. The amount of the premium depends on the family's household size and household annual income.
For more information, contact your local Department of Job and Family Services. You can locate your county department at http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/.
Web site: www.jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/cbi/
The Kinship Permanency Incentive offers financial support for qualified kinship caregivers. The program, funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, provides an initial payment of $1000 per child and a possible $500 every six months up to a maximum of $3,500. Caregivers must have incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and the child must qualify as a special needs child. The program applies only to caregivers who took custody of a child after July 1, 2005. The program was created to encourage grandparents and other relatives to accept custody of an abused or neglected child in their family.
For more information, contact your local Department of Job and Family Services. You can locate your county department at http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health provides services for children and adults with mental health disorders.
Ohio Department of Mental Health
30 East Broad Street, 8th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0414
Phone: 614-466-2596
Web site: www.mh.state.oh.us
The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMRDD) provides services and supports for persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities through the local county board of MRDD and contracted private service providers. The following programs are offered through the ODMRDD.
Available services differ within each county board. Services may or may not include: family support services (respite care, adaptive equipment, home modifications, special diets), case management, family support, early intervention, pre-school, and school age education. More information from the ODMRDD Web site: Family Support Services
MRDD coordinates two Home and Community Based Services programs: the Individual Options (IO) Waiver and the Level 1 Waiver. Both provide services for eligible individuals of any age with mental retardation or other developmental disability. For more information about these waivers, refer to the Overview of All Waiver Services Available in Ohio section of the ODMRDD Web site.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services oversees the rehabilitation system and programs for youth offenders.
Ohio Department of Youth Services
51 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-4314
Web site: www.dys.ohio.gov
The Ohio Rehabilitative Services Commission (RSC) provides vocational rehabilitation services to help people with disabilities become employed and independent. The following programs are offered through the RSC.
BVR provides services leading to and supporting employment for people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
400 E. Campus View Blvd., SW3A
Columbus, Ohio 43235-4604
Phone: 800-282-4536, ext. 1438 (in Ohio only), 614-438-1438, 614-785-5048 (TTY)
Web site: www.rsc.state.oh.us/bvrbvsi/default.aspx
BSVI provides services leading to and supporting employment for people who have low vision and blindness.
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired
400 E. Campus View Blvd, SW3A
Columbus, Ohio 43235-4604
Phone: 800-282-4536, ext. 1438 (in Ohio only), 614-438-1438, 614-785-5048 (TTY)
Web site: www.rsc.state.oh.us/bvrbvsi/default.aspx
BDD is responsible for determining medical eligibility for Ohioans in relation to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. BDD federally regulated by the Social Security Administration.
Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
Bureau of Disability Determination
P.O. Box 359001
Columbus, Ohio 43235-9001
Phone: 800-282-4536, ext. 1438 (in Ohio only), 614-438-1438, 614-785-5048 (TTY)
Web site: www.rsc.state.oh.us/bdd/default.aspx