OHIO SPEECH AND HEARING GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COALITION
♦ WHO WE ARE:
Founded in 1982, OSHGAC is a coalition of speech and hearing professionals. Our member organizations include: the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSHLA), with 900+ members; the Ohio School Speech Pathology and Educational Audiology Coalition (OSSPEAC) with 600+ members; the Ohio Academy of Audiology (OAA), with 200+ members; and the Ohio Council of Speech and Hearing Administrators (OCSHA), with 4 members.
♦ CRITICAL ISSUES IN 2023:
House Bill 198, known as Madeline’s Law, would require health insurers to cover the cost of hearing aids for Ohioans ages 21 and under. By an overwhelming majority, the bill passed the House and moved to the Senate for reconciliation. When lawmakers return in August, OSHGAC will be monitoring and potentially recommending organizations to act.
Music and Art Therapy: The recently passed state omnibus bill contains language for art and music therapy. The language states that Art therapy will be licensed under the Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, and music therapists will be licensed under the State Medical Board.
HB 33, the state's omnibus budget bill, removes most of the authority of the State Board of Education, giving it to a new state education department under the governor, the renamed and reformed Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). The State Board of Education will largely function as a licensing board and the Governor will appoint a director for the newly created DEW.
Senate Bill 50 would make changes to the law governing 9-1-1 service and would repeal program requirements for emergency-service-telecommunicator training. The possibility of using text to access 9-1-1 would be invaluable for individuals who have hearing loss and/or a severe expressive communication disorder, like stuttering. On June 6 it was reported out of the Senate Financial Institutions and Technology committee after its eighth hearing.
In the works: OSSPEAC is working on a free professional development opportunity to address government affairs as it relates to our field. Be on the lookout for more details in the future!
Find Your Ohio Representative
- Go to www.legislature.ohio.gov
- On the right side of the home page, look for the “Who Represents Me” box
- Enter your address with your zip code +4 It is essential that you enter the +4 digits since it will narrow the search down to your exact legislators. If you don’t know your extra 4 digits, go to https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?byaddress and enter your address; it will give you the +4 digits. Once you’ve found your zip +4 on the USPS website, return to the Ohio Legislature website and enter that full address.
- You will then see the name of your Representative on the left side of the screen on the House District Map (You do not need to contact your Senator at this time).
- Click on the Representative’s name. This will bring up his/her legislative website.
- On the left side of the Representative’s individual information page, look for the Representative’s contact information. You will see the Representative’s telephone number for their Columbus office. You will also see a link that says, “Email Representative X.” Click that link and it will take you to the email contact form.
- Be sure to include your address on the form; this is how the Senator knows that you are a constituent.
CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSPERSON!
ASHA has made the process of contacting your senator or congressman/woman very easy. By the way, this section of the ASHA website works for both members and nonmembers. Follow the steps below to contact your representative today:
- Log onto www.asha.org.
- Click on “Members & Professionals” Menu (across the top of the screen).
- Select “Legislation & Advocacy” from the drop down menu.
- A new page will open. On the left menu bar select “Take Action.”
- A new page will open with links for public/non-ASHA members and also for ASHA members to write letters.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
You can do it! Send a letter today!
Lastest News About Legislation
OSSPEAC continues advocacy for passage of HB 152 Madeline’s Law
OSSPEAC leaders are meeting directly with our legislators in the Ohio Senate as part of a day of advocacy planned by the Ohio Speech and Hearing Governmental Affairs…
Read MoreImportant Update for Children Eligible Under Developmental Delay in Preschool Special Education
The Ohio General Assembly recently passed HB 554 which resulted in the expanded definition of “child with a disability” as it pertains to the developmental delay…
Read MoreLegislative Updates:
July 2023 OSHGAC Legislative Report
March 2021 GAC Legislative Report
February 2021 GAC Legislative Report
January 2021 GAC Legislative Report
December 2020 GAC Legislative Report
October 2020 GAC Legislative Report
September 2020 Legislative Report
February 2020 State Legislative Update
GREAT TIPS FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE!
Invite your legislator out to tour and visit your workplace or school. Invite them to see the irreplaceable and crucial services you provide to the development of our young people. Let them view, first hand, how we are preparing them to be fully functioning, beneficial, active and independent, members of the workplace and society!
Check out the handy instructions for hosting your legislator!