MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Cindy Carpenter has long been recognized as an advocate for Ohio’s medically fragile children.

She was appointed for two terms by the Senate President to serve as an Ohio Legal Rights Services Commissioner. A Commissioner is a governing board member for the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for Ohio’s disabled population. During her term, the Commission called for a full performance audit of the agency. In coordination with then State Auditor Jim Petro’s administration, the agency underwent major reforms including returning to their original mission, streamlining the case initiation process, evaluating employee performance, and filing class action suits, which had previously been ignored.

Cindy has served as a consultant for Governor Taft’s office with regard to Ohio’s Medicaid programs. She has testified on ODJFS administrative policy rules before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review and before subcommittees of both the Ohio House and Senate on Medicaid skilled nursing services and Ohio’s home and community based programs.

Her work in this arena has made a difference:

•  The Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps changed their policies to permit cochlear implants for deaf children.

•  The Ohio Department of MR/DD extended services to include preschool aged children.

•  Ohio established home and community based Medicaid Waivers, opening the door for hundreds of people to leave institutions, reside in communities, and make independent choices.