upcoming events

---

Indivisible National Protest.  Indivisible and other organizations have scheduled protests actoss the United States on Saturday, April 5.  In Cleveland, the protest and march will start at the West Side Market, West 25th Street, from 2:00 to 4:00. There will also be a protest and march in Chagrin Falls starting in Triangle Park from 1:00 to 3:00.

Indivisible says:

President Trump and Elon Musk seem think to they own our country. But we don't have kings in this country!

They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our personal data, our jobs, our services, and our rights. They are alienating our long-time allies. They are daring the world, the courts, and us to stop them. The time to act is now!

🚨 On Saturday, April 5th, we're assembling in Chagrin Falls' Triangle Park and marching two blocks to Riverside Park where we will rally to send a clear message: Hands off! If you don't like the way things are going, please join us.🚨

Disability Rights Ohio has this news on the negotiations over the state budget:

· House Bill 96, Ohio’s Operating Budget Bill, is in House Finance Committee 

· Public testimony Wednesday and Thursday of this week 

· Any amendments are due by Noon tomorrow! 

· April 8th, the Finance Committee will vote the bill out of Committee 

· April 9th, the budget bill will be voted by all House members. 

· The weeks of April 14th and April 21st, the legislators are on break 

· The budget bill will go to the Senate 

· The Senate will hear testimony in six of its committees during the weeks of April 28th, May 5th, and May 12th 

· The week of May 26th, there will be public testimony in the Senate Finance Committee 

· There is a tentative date of June 12th, to have the full Senate vote on its final version of the budget bill. 

· The budget will then go to what’s called a Conference Committee, to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. There are no testimony opportunities during this process. 

· The Governor will then get the finalized version, potentially veto line items, and then sign the document into law by June 30th. 

Each week DRO holds a budget debrief Zoom webinar. To get added to the list, fill out the survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B7G5RPR 

This is your chance to make an impact!

 The Disability Policy Seminar is the premier opportunity to cultivate support on Capitol Hill and amplify the concerns of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) before Congress. We bring together passionate advocates, including people with disabilities, experts, and professionals in the field, to learn about key issues and advance the grassroots movement for people with IDD.  

The seminar will be held at the Westin Hotel Downtown on April 7-9. You can register here!

From the National Down Syndrome Society:

 Join us for the annual Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference April 28 - April 30, 2025! This transformative three-day event brings together advocates, families, professionals, and individuals with Down syndrome to learn, connect, and inspire change on Capitol Hill. Immerse yourself in learning sessions, our community's legislative priorities, and gain valuable resources to empower the Down syndrome community. 

Visit this website to register for the conference! 

DD Awareness Day will be held on the morning of March 4, from 9:00 to 11:00 at the Columbus Statehouse. Register for the event at the website of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.  

On February 20 Representative Shontel Brown held a town hall meeting at the Arnold Pinkney East Professional Center in Cleveland. A YouTube video of the meeting is available here.