05/19/2026

Groundbreaking resident makes impactful changes through disabled advocacy groups

Laura Bednar

What started as an initiative to advise the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities on best practices has been the foundation of Derek Topola’s success as an advocate for those with developmental disabilities.

Topola, an Independence resident, chaired the Leadership Council, a group of people with developmental disabilities that aims to improve services by sharing ideas and feedback about the county’s programs and supports, according to Cuyahoga DD’s website.

His dedication as the council’s chair led to a unanimous vote from Cuyahoga County Council to appoint him to the Cuyahoga DD Board. Topola was the first nominee to receive a second nomination from the county executive and was sworn in to the board in February.

Acceptance and inclusion of those with DD has grown in recent times. Last year, state regulations were passed allowing someone with DD to be a county board member. Previously, members only had to have a connection to the DD community through a family member. Now, at least one person on a board must have DD. Cuyahoga County is the only board that has two, Topola – who has cerebral palsy – being one of them.

“I never expected things to blossom the way they have,” he said.

The Leadership Council was formed in 2023 and completed 17 of its projects that year, followed by another 18 in 2024. Topola said one of the projects was helping disabled people practice life skills through a virtual simulation. 

For example, an individual with sensory issues would be exposed to the sounds associated with a crosswalk before experiencing it in person. Other educational sessions included what to expect at an airport and how to determine if someone encountered at a public park is friendly or ill intentioned.

Council members also advised Cuyahoga DD on its new website navigation and appearance. Before Topola transitioned to the DD board, the council was creating a resource guide for the 2030 Special Olympics, to be held in Ohio, listing ADA-accessible hotels, restaurants and other facilities for athletes and spectators. 

Since becoming a member of Cuyahoga DD, Topola said his proudest moment was meeting Gov. Mike DeWine on DD Advocacy Day in March. “He said he was proud of my progress and had been keeping an eye on me,” said Topola, adding that DeWine wrote a letter of support for Topola to become a board member.

Cuyahoga County’s Leadership Council was so successful, Topola said Ohio legislators recommended all county DD boards in Ohio form one. Topola is working on basic guidelines for the councils to follow.

Education

A 2012 Independence High School graduate, Topola continued his education at Wright State University, earning a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education degrees along with teaching licensures. Topola had his share of obstacles, like being bullied in school for having a disability or taking longer to complete a test. 

“I never let it stop me, I persevered past it,” he said. “I want to be a symbol for people with DD.”

Topola supports classrooms that integrate typical peers and those with DD to help erase stigma. He wants to teach typical students that people with DD deserve the same respect, including understanding that tasks such as tests may take them longer to complete.

Topola is qualified to teach grades four through nine in science, social studies and reading. He has been a substitute teacher in the Independence and Brecksville-Broadview Heights school districts for more than four years. “Teaching is my passion,” he said.

An obstacle he faces is educational aides trying to take over his classroom because he’s a substitute and also handicapped.

“Just because I have DD doesn’t mean I can’t do my job,” he said. If the kids get too rowdy, Topola will calmly raise the seat on his power wheelchair to lift himself above the class, garnering their attention.

He encourages students to ask questions about his disability and said students in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights district aren’t shy. 

“It means the world that they ask,” he said, adding that one of his goals is to help schools find and correct flaws in their developmental disability services.

Advocacy roles

Topola’s advocacy work also extends to A Place 2B Me, an advocacy group that offers adults with DD the chance “to hang out with one another and talk about issues,” he said. As the organization’s director of education and advocacy, he is responsible for creating educational materials and helps produce its magazine – a role that he believes gives his words “power and weight.”

Topola also collects survey data from people receiving DD services as a National Core Indicator surveyor for The Ohio State University Nisonger Center. This information, on how Cuyahoga County could modify or improve services, is sent to Cuyahoga DD for review.

He’s been nominated for two other opportunities as well and expects to find out if he was chosen in a few months. The first position collaborates with DeWine on budgeting in Cuyahoga County, including the DD board. The other is a representative for People First, a sub-group of A Place 2B Me, where he would travel to hotels, eateries and other facilities worldwide to find the flaws in DD accessibility.

“Those opportunities are now shifting toward DD advocacy work over teaching,” said Topola. 

Pushing progress

Since joining the Cuyahoga DD board, Topola has suggested a virtual option for DD events and meetings, making them more accessible for those unable to attend in-person. He’s proud of being a catalyst for “opening [the board’s] eyes to things they didn’t think of before.” 

In the everyday world, Topola said one of his biggest frustrations is when people talk down to those with DD or assume they need help. When he was on Leadership Council, he held sensitivity training for county employees.His message to those with developmental disabilities who want to succeed: “You may have to work harder than anybody else, but it’s worth it if you get to do what you want to do.”