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New Report Examines Conflicts of Interest at The Arc of Ohio: Can They Truly Advocate for Ohioans with Developmental Disabilities?

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After a year of meticulous research, we’re ready to share our latest report that takes a deep dive into The Arc of Ohio’s dual role as both an advocate for people with developmental disabilities and a provider of Medicaid waiver services to those same folks. Our findings raise important questions about whether The Arc of Ohio can truly represent the interests of Ohio’s 100,000 individuals with developmental disabilities given its significant financial ties to state agencies.


Why This Matters

At its core, advocacy is about making sure that the voices of Ohioans with developmental disabilities are heard, respected, and acted upon in policy decisions. When organizations take a seat at the table in policy negotiations, they have a responsibility to truly represent the people they serve. But with The Arc of Ohio now heavily reliant on Medicaid funding, it is crucial to ask: is their advocacy still independent, or has it been compromised by financial incentives?



Key Findings from Our Report

Over the past year, we conducted in-depth research, filed public records requests, reviewed financial statements, and interviewed many individuals involved in Ohio’s disability community—including Arc employees, DODD officials, direct support professionals (DSPs), family caregivers, and advocates. Here are some of the key issues we uncovered:


  1. Financial Dependency

    The Arc of Ohio’s financial landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. Today, 94% of its funding comes from its role as a Medicaid service provider. This heavy financial dependence raises concerns about its ability to independently challenge state policies that affect individuals with disabilities. Can The Arc of Ohio truly advocate for policy changes when its funding is tied to the very system it’s supposed to hold accountable?


  2. Low Wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)

    The Arc of Ohio has publicly championed higher wages for DSPs, who we all agree are the backbone of Medicaid services. However, our findings show that The Arc of Ohio’s own hourly wages for Homemaker Personal Care (HPC) workers are significantly lower than those of other nonprofit agencies in Ohio. This discrepancy between public advocacy and internal practices raises questions about The Arc of Ohio’s commitment to fair wages for its own workers.


  3. Influence on Policy Decisions

    Perhaps most concerning is evidence from public records showing that the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) appears to have given The Arc of Ohio influence over guidance documents related to paid family caregivers. Instead of focusing on using this influence to support families, The Arc of Ohio sent email after email pushing for wording changes that could benefit its own business interests as a Medicaid provider.


Transparency and Accountability: A Simple Solution

The good news is that these conflicts of interest can be addressed with some common sense, straightforward changes. We believe that advocacy organizations like The Arc of Ohio can—and should—implement basic transparency and ethics practices to ensure they are accountable to the communities they serve.


For instance:

  • Separate Advocacy from Business Operations: The Arc of Ohio should make staffing and organizational changes to establish clear boundaries between its advocacy work and its Medicaid service business to eliminate any conflicts of interest.

  • Increase Transparency: Regularly publishing financial disclosures and clearly communicating the sources of their funding and pay rates would help restore trust in their advocacy efforts.

  • Commit to Fair Wages: Aligning DSP hourly wages for Homemaker Personal Care (HPC) with those of similar nonprofit care agencies in Ohio would demonstrate a real commitment to supporting the workforce that provides essential care to Ohioans with disabilities.


Thank You to Our Contributors

This report would not have been possible without the insights, courage, and honest conversations with so many of you. Whether you are an Arc employee, a DODD official, a DSP, a family caregiver, or a passionate advocate, your willingness to speak up and share your experiences has been invaluable. We are deeply grateful for your contributions and for standing with us in the fight for fair and independent advocacy.


Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Ohio’s disability community requires and deserves fearless and independent advocacy. Together, we can work towards ensuring that every organization with a seat at the policy table remains accountable, transparent, and truly representative of the people they claim to support.


🔗Download the full report and access all sources by clicking below.



Thank you for reading, and let’s continue to push for the fierce advocacy that Ohioans with developmental disabilities deserve.

 

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