WEBVTT 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:14.000 >> RECORDING IN PROGRESS. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.000 JEREMY MORRIS >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.000 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT PRESS 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.000 CONFERENCE. ON APRIL 3RD, 20 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.000 23, A NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.000 THAT MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR OHIO DECISION-MAKER 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.000 S TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PARENTS WITH 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:38.000 A DISABILITY IN CUSTODY DECISIONS AND THIS 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.000 FOLLOWS THE LEAD OF 17 OTHER STATES. THIS LAW IS ESSENTIAL 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:46.000 IN ASSURING THAT THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EQUAL 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.000 TO THOSE WITHOUT DISABILITIES. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.000 DISABILITY DOES NOT DETERMINE THE FITNESS TO 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.000 PARENT AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE CHILDREN DESERVE TO 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.000 BE WITH THEIR PARENTS. TODAY WE ARE 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.000 HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS NEW LAW AND WHAT IT MEANS 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:04.000 TO OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES. WE ARE JOINED 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.000 BY TWO OF THESE INDIVIDUALS TODAY 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:11.000 AND ADVOCATES THAT ARE LEADING THE WAY AS 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.000 PARENTS TO CELEBRATE THIS VICTORY. SO WITH THAT, I AM 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.000 GOING TO HONOR -- TO WELCOME 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:20.000 DR. CARA AYERS. WE ARE HONORED TO 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.000 HAVE HER HERE AS I WAS GETTING MYSELF TONGUE-TIE 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:34.000 ED. (applause) 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:38.000 . >> THANK YOU, JEREMY. I'M 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:43.000 KARA AYERS. TODAY I'M GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED BY 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000 MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND ADAM, OUR OLDEST SON ELI, OUR MIDDLE 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.000 DAUGHTER HANNAH AND OUR YOUNGEST, RILEY 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:55.000 . WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS BILL AND WHAT IT 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.000 MEANS FOR FAMILIES LIKE OURS 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:01.000 . THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.000 ANY TIME THEY CAN MISS SCHOOL AND EAT PIZZA. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.000 IN ADDITION TO BEING AN OHIO MOM WITH A DISABILITY, I'M 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:10.000 ALSO A RESEARCHER WHO STUDIES PARENTING WITH A DISABILITY. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.000 THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT A LACK OF 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.000 UNDERSTANDING OF DISABILITY HAS LED TO FAMILIES LIKE MINE BEING 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.000 SEPARATED. WHAT MANY PEOPLE FAIL TO SEE 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:23.000 ARE THE UNIQUE STRENGTHS OF FAMILIES LED BY PEOPLE 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:26.000 WITH DISABILITIES. MY RESEARCH AS WELL AS OTHER 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:29.000 S HAS SPOTLIGHTED OUR ABILITY TO PROBLEM SOLVE, GREATER CAPACITY 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:32.000 CAPACITIES FOR EMPATHY AMONG OUR CHILDREN AND 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.000 ADAPTABILITY WHICH ALWAYS COMES IN HANDY WITH 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.000 PARENTING. I'M PROUD OF OUR STATE FOR TAKING 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:43.000 THIS IMPORTANT STEP. ONE THAT I 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.000 HOPE KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER. NO ONE DESERVES TO LOSE 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.000 WHAT THEY CHERISH MOST BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. THANKS 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:52.000 TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED WITH THIS, SENATORS 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:56.000 SENATORS NICKIE ANTONIO AND BOB 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:00.000 HACKETT, REPRESENTATIVES 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.000 CROSS AND LANGUAGE. ALSO I'M THANKFUL TO GOVERN 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.000 OR DEWINE FOR HIS HISTORIC SIGNING OF THIS BILL AND I LOOK 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:10.000 FORWARD TO CONTINUED COLLABORATION SO WE CAN 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.000 ALL ENSURE ITS IMPACT IS FELT 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.000 BY OHIOANS. I'M GOING TO PASS 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:27.000 IT NOW TO RICHARD. (applause) 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.000 . RICHARD PAYNE >> GOOD MORNING. I WILL ASSUME 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.000 IT IS STILL MORNING SINCE I DIDN'T HEAR MY PHONE GO 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.000 OFF. (LAUGHTER.) 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.000 RICHARD PAYNE >> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:41.000 FIRST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:44.000 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS AN ORGANIZATION OF 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.000 ADVOCATES, 51% OF OUR 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.000 ORGANIZATION MUST BE BLIND. OUR PRESIDENT AND 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.000 VICE-PRESIDENT MUST BE BLIND. AND THE MAJORITY 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.000 OF OUR ORGANIZATION, IF I DIDN'T SAY IT, MUST BE BLIND. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.000 THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT TO US BECAUSE WE WANT 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.000 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS KEEP THE EMPHASIS ON THE 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.000 MISSION TO PROMOTE BLINDNESS 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 . WE BELIEVE IN THE FULL CAPACITY OF BLIND PEOPLE 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.000 BECAUSE WE ARE BLIND PEOPLE. AND 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.000 THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS ONE OF OUR -- 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.000 STARTED FROM ONE OF OUR MODEL BILLS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR -- 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:27.000 AS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. AND 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:31.000 OUR PARENTAL RIGHT BILL SPEAKS TO THE ABILITY FOR PARENTS WHO ARE 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:34.000 BLIND TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND HAVE THE 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.000 SAME RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:44.000 ANY OTHER PARENT. WE DON'T WANT 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:49.000 SITUATIONS THAT HAS ARISEN IN OHIO AND ACROSS OTHER STATES WHERE 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 SOCIAL WORKERS OR ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO QUESTION 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:54.000 A PERSON SIMPLY BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:58.000 A DISABILITY, IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.000 A BLIND PERSON. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.000 PROMOTING THIS LEGISLATION, MANY 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.000 QUESTIONS CAME UP, GOOD QUESTIONS, ABOUT 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.000 HOW WOULD A PARENT THAT CAN'T SEE THEIR CHILD 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:14.000 BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.000 MEDICINE AND MANY OTHER THINGS, WHICH ARE GOOD 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:20.000 QUESTIONS. BECAUSE WE WANT PARENTS TO HAVE THE 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.000 RIGHTS BUT WE ALSO WANT PARENTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE, BE ABLE 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:26.000 TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN A POSITIVE AND 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:29.000 HEALTHY WAY. SO WE UNDERSTAND THOSE ISSUES AND WE 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.000 UNDERSTAND THAT SOCIETY STILL NEEDS TO BE EDUCAT 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:37.000 ED AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.000 AS AN ORGANIZATION IS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:44.000 WANT TO BE 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:49.000 ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME ABILITY TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:52.000 WITHOUT QUESTION BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A DISABILITY. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:57.000 I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ECHO AND SAY 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:00.000 THAT THE GOVERNOR, DEWINE, HE 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.000 CAME IN IMMEDIATELY SIGNING LEGISLATION 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:08.000 , CALLING OHIO A 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:11.000 INCLUSION STATE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A WONDERFUL 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.000 THING BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO HIS COMMITMENT 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.000 AND THE SIGNING OF THIS BILL ALSO HELP 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.000 S TO -- US TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S COMMITTED 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:26.000 TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.000 OPPORTUNITIES AND PROTECTIONS. AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.000 THAT 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:37.000 SENATORS HACKET 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:40.000 T AND ANTONIO 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.000 PROMOTED THE BILL, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT AND ANYTHING WE CAN 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:46.000 DO AS AN ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:50.000 , WE WILL DO. SO I THANK YOU AND I BELIEVE 00:06:50.000 --> 00:07:10.000 STUART IS AFTER ME. (applause) 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.000 . STUART JAMES >> MY NAME IS STUART JAMES, I'M 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.000 THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ABILITY CENTER. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.000 THOSE TWO GUYS RUNNING AROUND ARE MY KIDS, 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:23.000 SOPHIA AND CLAIRE, THEY'RE TWINS, AND THEY'RE 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.000 FIVE. AS A FATHER OF TWIN FIVE-YEAR-OLDS 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:30.000 , I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.000 PARENTING. IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.000 AND EVERY PARENT DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:38.000 THEIR CHILDREN IN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:41.000 . I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.000 TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I'VE DONE THINGS 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 LIKE PRODUCE CONCERTS FOR BIG ROCK BANDS AND A 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.000 LOT OF BIG SPORTING EVENTS BUT 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.000 QUITE FRANKLY BEING THE DAD TO THOSE TWO IS THE GREAT 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.000 EST JOB I'VE EVER HAD AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.000 AT SOME POINT THAT MY DISABILITY WOULD PREVENT ME 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.000 FROM BEING A PARENT. I DID LEARN ABOUT IT ACTUALLY LONG 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.000 BEFORE I CAME TO OHIO BECAUSE KA 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.000 RA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO WARN ME. (LAUGHTER 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.000 .) STUART JAMES >> BUT I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:17.000 WE'VE WORKED SO HARD ON GETTING THIS 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:21.000 LEGISLATION PASSED. I'M THE ONE THAT 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:24.000 GETS TO GET UP HERE AND DO THE SPEAKING, BUT 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.000 BRITTANY 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.000 AND THEIR TEAM PUT TOGETHER YEARS OF WORK TO GET THIS DONE 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:35.000 . ALSO WE WERE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:38.000 WITH OTHERS, 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:42.000 INCLUDING THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.000 BLIND OF OHIO AND DISABILITY RIGHTS OHIO, TO 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:48.000 GET THIS IMPORTANT PROTECTION PASSED 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 . A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.000 SENATORS NICKIE ANTONIO AND SENATOR BOB HA 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.000 CKETT AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES CROSS AND 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.000 REPRESENTATIVE LANG IN MAKING 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:04.000 THIS HAPPEN. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK GOVERN 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.000 OR DEWINE FOR SIGNING THIS INTO LAW. THANK YOU. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:15.000 (applause) 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.000 . JEREMY MORRIS >> SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.000 COMING OUT AND BEING WITH US TODAY. IF THERE ARE 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.000 ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HERE HAS OR IF ANYONE 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.000 HAS ANY QUESTIONS THAT ARE ON ZOOM 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:40.000 WITH US, WE WILL TAKE THOSE NOW. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.000 >> I DON'T HAVE ANY HERE. DO YOU WANT TO WRAP UP? 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:54.000 JEREMY MORRIS >> WE'RE GOOD HERE. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.000 KARA AYERS >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.000 THIS EVENT AND CELEBRATING THIS IMPORTANT DAY. THANK