DODD Issues Sweeping Travel Restrictions for Disabled People

Ohioans with developmental disabilities will now need authorization from their county boards of developmental disabilities before they can travel, according to a new Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) training.

Last year, DODD proposed a new administrative rule restricting travel for people who need Medicaid waiver services. After substantial public backlash, DODD withdrew proposed Rule 5123-9-08 and designated it “To Be Refiled,” where it still sits today. The controversial rule never went into effect.

Now DODD is attempting to impose an even broader travel approval requirement using statewide training rather than going through the official rulemaking process.

In the new training, which is mandatory for all service and support administrators, DODD Medicaid Policy Administrator Joelyn Karlson told county board staff: “Any travel needs to be written into the ISP and all aspects of the trip should be considered.”

Karlson said the team must determine what “assessed need and outcome” the disabled person’s proposed trip would fulfill. The county board will gather information about the destination and type of lodging, everyone’s sleeping arrangements, how the family/individual will reach the destination, whether breaking up longer driving trips into shorter trips should be required, and more.

The training leaves many questions unanswered. First of all, what is the legal authority for this? Must all travel be scheduled a month in advance so that it can be added to the individual’s service plan? What happens when someone must travel unexpectedly for a funeral, family emergency, medical appointment, or other urgent reason? Who has authority to approve or deny the travel, what standards will that person apply, and will the individual have any right to appeal a denial of travel?

DODD’s new travel authorization training is available free through DODD’s MyLearning platform to anyone with an Ohio ID. Search “All Courses” for “2026 Medicaid Updates for Service and Support Administrators.” The travel restriction section is Part 7 of the training.

Karlson summarized: “Overall, travel is a team decision and one that must be planned for, authorized, and executed carefully.”

In other words, DODD is saying that disabled people’s travel must be written into the person’s service plan, must fulfill an assessed need or outcome, and must be scrutinized and authorized by the county board.

Medicaid does not possess authority to authorize or deny the person’s travel. A county board of developmental disabilities is not a parole board. Disabled people have the right to travel just like any other citizen.

A person who requires hands-on assistance, supervision, medication administration, or behavioral support cannot simply leave waiver services behind while traveling. Conditioning those essential services on government approval of the trip conditions the person’s freedom to travel on gaining permission from the government.

Ohio’s Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights guarantees people with developmental disabilities independence, equal treatment as citizens, and the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives.

DODD has not announced a proposed rule, public hearing, or formal comment period for these new travel restrictions. If DODD will not provide a real public comment process, we will create our own.

Here’s how you can participate, and it only takes one minute:

ACTION: Send Comments Opposing DODD’s Unconstitutional Travel Restrictions

1. Open a blank email.

2. In the “To” line, type: waiverpolicyta@dodd.ohio.gov

3. Copy DODD Director Lyndsay Nash at Lyndsay.Nash@dodd.ohio.gov and the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s rulemaking office at Rules@medicaid.ohio.gov.

4. Use the subject line: Opposition to DODD Travel Restrictions

5. Write your own comment or copy the suggested comment below.

6. Ask three friends, relatives, providers, or advocates to send comments too. That’s how we got them to pull the proposed rule last time!

7. Because comments sent to state employees are public records, do not include anyone’s private information or specific travel plans.

8. Don't miss updates! You can subscribe to receive our email alerts at the bottom of this page.

   
   

Suggested Comment:

To Director Nash, DODD’s Waiver Policy Team, and the Ohio Department of Medicaid:

I strongly object to the travel restrictions announced in DODD’s “2026 Medicaid Updates for Service and Support Administrators” training.

The training tells SSAs that “any travel” must be written into the ISP, must fulfill an assessed need or outcome, and is a “team decision” that must be “authorized.” These statements improperly conflate authorization of Medicaid funded services with authorization of a disabled person’s travel.

County boards of developmental disabilities do not have general authority to decide whether a person with a developmental disability may take a trip. Nor does an ISP team have authority to grant or withhold permission for a disabled person to travel.

This training is especially alarming because DODD previously proposed a formal travel rule, OAC 5123-9-08, and withdrew it following significant public opposition. DODD cannot impose even more restrictive requirements through mandatory county board training as a way to circumvent the lawful rulemaking process.

I ask DODD and ODM to:

1. Withdraw or correct the travel portion of this mandatory training immediately.

2. Notify every SSA and county board that an individual’s travel does not require government permission.

3. Prohibit county boards from reducing, denying, or threatening waiver services because an individual’s trip was not approved by a government employee.

4. Use the formal rulemaking process, including public notice and a meaningful opportunity for comment, before attempting to establish any travel restrictions.

5. Publish DODD’s response and corrected statewide guidance so that individuals, families, providers, and county boards receive accurate information.

People with developmental disabilities are equal citizens. They should not be forced to obtain government permission to visit relatives, attend a funeral, receive medical treatment, take a vacation, or otherwise travel.

Sincerely,

[Your name]