By Troy Hunter, Senior Policy Director, Groundwork Ohio
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In Ohio, families of children with developmental disabilities are navigating a fragmented early childhood system that presents numerous challenges. These barriers create an environment where families must constantly juggle emotional, financial, and logistical stress to secure the basic services their children need. Recent data from Groundwork Ohio’s Family Voices Project, which surveyed 755 Ohio families in April 2024, offers a snapshot of the reality for these families. Nearly 1 in 5 respondents reported having a child with a developmental disability, highlighting the widespread impact of these systemic challenges across the state.
Families Face Barriers Navigating Systems
Families of children with disabilities often experience emotional, financial, and logistical stress far beyond that of other families. Even when families succeed in navigating this system and securing child care subsidies, their journey is far from over.
62% of these families utilize child care subsidies and almost 60% reported challenges in maintaining their subsidy.
Even if families manage to hold onto their child care subsidy, they face the additional barrier of finding child care providers willing to accept it. 58% of families with children with disabilities struggle to find a provider willing to accept their child care subsidy, compared to 37% of families without disabled children.
And it’s not just about finding any provider—the real challenge is finding one that can accommodate the complex medical or developmental needs of their child. In fact, nearly two-thirds of families with children with disabilities report difficulty finding a provider equipped to meet their child’s needs.
Early Intervention Can Help
In Ohio, Early Intervention can provide developmental support for children with qualifying diagnosis and delays from birth to age three, before qualifying for special education preschool services. In 2023, 34,925 unique referrals were made to Early Intervention services, and 28,450 children were served. In the 2022–2023 school year, 39.56%, 24,044, of students in Ohio's public preschools had a disability. However, families are not guaranteed care before their children turn three, and even those who qualify for preschool services at age three, often only have access to part-time programs. This leaves parents scrambling to find care.
The current system’s challenges have both short-term and long-term impacts on families. Early childhood is a critical window for early intervention services, which can have profound effects on a child's development and future well-being. Ohio needs to continue to invest and increase funding so Early Intervention can provide the support needed to help children develop and participate in the early education and care system.
Finding Solutions that Work for Families
Ohio families need access to high-quality, affordable early care and education services, as these early years are essential for shaping developmental outcomes. There is a need for both substantial investment in the system overall and creative solutions to help fill the gaps.
Recently, House Bill 676 was introduced by Representatives Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati) and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison). This bill would address these disparities by establishing Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers for children with complex medical needs. These facilities are designed to provide specialized care for medically dependent or technologically dependent children, who require ongoing medical interventions or skilled nursing supervision due to their medical conditions These centers would be staffed with trained medical professionals and allow for services to be billed through Medicaid.
Groundwork Ohio presented testimony supporting HB 676 to the House Families and Aging Committee on November 26. You can read Groundwork's full testimony here.
Another initiative, Ohio PROMISE, was launched by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth in 2023 to support child care programs and staff in serving children with disabilities. This initiative includes the Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential, which raises awareness and competency around inclusive practices by offering three levels of credentialing (Awareness, Knowledgeable, Advanced) to equip child care providers.
Advocate for Access to Services
The challenges faced by families of children with disabilities in Ohio are complex, but with advocacy and investment, they are not hopeless. While initiatives like House Bill 676 and Ohio PROMISE are promising steps toward increased child care options for families, we need to continue pushing for greater systemic change. These programs address gaps by offering specialized care environments and expanding access to services—but there is still work to be done.
Take action today by:
Reading the full report on the child care challenges faced by families of children with disabilities in Ohio. This report outlines the scope of the disparities and provides recommendations for addressing them.
Watching Groundwork’s webinar hosted earlier this year discussing the disparities children with disabilities face in accessing early childhood education programs.
Now is the time for Ohio to continue investing in Early Intervention services, expanding community-driven solutions, and supporting organizations that provide tailored, high-quality child care. Families should not be forced to choose between their careers and their child’s well-being.
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