• Home Small Groups can operate following proper precautions

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered the closure of Adult Day Services for people with developmental disabilities as a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state.

“We are issuing an order that closes all adult day services across Ohio with the exception of settings of 10 people or less,” said Governor Mike DeWine.

Speaking during the daily briefing on COVID-19, Governor DeWine said, “the individuals are people who receive cares every single day. Our concern for them is that to congregate in large number is not good and it is a danger to them.”

He assured that, “each one of them will be able to get the services that they needed. We can say they will get the services and that there is a provision for each one of them.”

“Across Ohio, over 26,000 of our fellow citizens, people with developmental disabilities leave their homes to receive group base services during the day.

These are called adult day services. Adult day service locations are places where people with developmental disabilities go to get work training, social and recreational opportunities and skill building.

Group sizes vary from as small as four people to as many as a hundred and more. There are a large number of people with developmental disabilities in adult day services who are aging and who have health conditions that make them particularly at risk.”

He said, “small groups and services in a person’s home can continue by following proper precautions.

Further, we are encouraging providers and direct support professionals to work creatively to continue to support these individuals. We’ve been working with providers that there is a place for each person to go and for them to be able to continue to get the services which they need.”