Complete Story
04/01/2026
Hancock County woman advocates for disability funding in D.C.
Jack Krumm
FINDLAY, Ohio — Last week, a Hancock County woman took her advocacy for developmental disabilities to the nation’s capital to ensure voices like hers are heard.
Molly Dible and her mother, Mary, represented the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council to legislators at the Disability Policy Seminar, where they advocated for continued federal funding for special education and disability support grants.
“Because it's important for education not to get dropped,” said Molly.
March is Developmental Disabilities Month nationwide.
Mary says continuing to fund disability programs and agencies like the Blanchard Valley Center, which supports people living with disabilities in Hancock County, has a huge impact on people's lives all across the county and the nation.
“I know Blanchard Valley Center has been very instrumental in getting Molly involved in the community, in advocacy, and on the Ohio DD Council," said Mary. "They support over 900 people with developmental disabilities, with 600 of those being adults, so it carries through even into adulthood."
Danielle Fisher, an advocacy coordinator with Blanchard Valley Center, said the annual Disability Policy Seminar is designed for families, individuals with disabilities, and caretakers to learn more about policies and laws affecting people with disabilities.
Those issues include funding for special education in public schools.
“Molly's on the DD Council, and the council received about $2.8 million in federal funding to apply toward grants to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities. Some of those grants go toward education and learning opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” Fisher said.
“For Molly, going through the public school system, they were just a great help in helping her become the person she is today,” Mary added.
The center also noted that another major concern discussed in D.C. was federal SSI limits, which cap personal savings at just $2,000—a restriction that has not changed since 1989.