Imagine sitting down for dinner with your family when—without warning—a government worker shows up at your door, demands to come inside, and starts taking notes on everything happening in your home.
That’s exactly what’s happening to Ohio families who have a loved one with developmental disabilities.
A group of Ohio families has filed a legal challenge against the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), the Stark County Board of DD, the Wood County Board of DD, and the Wayne County Board of DD for conducting mandatory unannounced home inspections—a practice the families say is illegal, invasive, and was never properly authorized by law.
Why Are Families Fighting Back?
Right now, DODD allows county boards to show up at any time, without notice, and demand entry into the homes of people who receive Medicaid HCBS waiver services. The person with the disability doesn’t even need to be receiving any services at the time the government worker shows up! These inspections don’t just affect the person with a developmental disability—they also frighten and disrupt parents, siblings, roommates, and even houseguests.
Families were never told that allowing their loved one to receive Medicaid waiver services meant that government workers would now have open access to inspect their homes at any time. Now, these families are asking the Supreme Court of Ohio to put an end to the surprise inspections.
One Family’s Story
One of the families leading the lawsuit is from Stark County. Here’s what happened to this family:
“My family was sitting down for dinner with friends when a county board employee showed up unannounced, demanded to come inside, and started taking notes on everything we were doing. The intrusion was uncomfortable and invasive—especially because my daughter wasn’t even receiving services at the time. People with disabilities already participate in scheduled visits and check-ins, but these surprise inspections are different. They cause anxiety and disrupt our daily lives without warning.”
This experience is not unique. Other families have reported similar incidents, including county board employees trying to enter homes while parents were away, interrogating minors, and even peeking through windows when no one answered the door.
What the Lawsuit Seeks to Change
The families argue that Ohio law does not allow these mandatory unannounced home inspections. They are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to stop this practice and force DODD to retract its unlawful policy.
Attorney Michela Huth, who represents the families, explained:
“The law is clear: there is no statutory basis for these surprise inspections. Families should be given proper notice about what is required of them. These inspections not only disrupt the lives of people with developmental disabilities but also allow the government to look into the private lives of everyone living in the home.”
Protecting the Rights of Ohio Families
The families leading this case aren’t just fighting for themselves—they’re standing up for every household in Ohio where a person with disabilities lives and receives services. They hope this lawsuit will stop these harmful intrusions once and for all.
If successful, this case will help ensure that people with disabilities and their families can receive the support they need without harmful and utterly unnecessary intrusion from government bureaucrats.
Want to Learn More?
For updates on this case, contact:
End Ohio’s Parent Penalty: ohioparentpenalty@gmail.com
This lawsuit could change the way Ohio’s disability families are treated forever. No one should have to choose between getting help for their loved one and feeling safe in their own home.
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