HB225 Sue and Micah Hetrick Proponent Testimony — House Commerce and Labor Committee

Summary

Proponent testimony on HB225 from Sue and Micah Hetrick to the House Commerce and Labor Committee, dated May 19th, 2025, and addressed to Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally and the other members of the committee. Sue Hetrick states that the testimony is in support of HB225 and Fair Pay for People with Disabilities, and Micah Hetrick states that he has a part time job at the Homage Retail Store and makes $13.75 an hour. The testimony states that all people can work with the right support. It names Griffin-Hammis Associates and says that Julie Taylor, a professional employed there, will provide additional testimony in support.

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                                       HB225
                                Sue and Micah Hetrick
                                 Proponent Testimony
                         House Commerce and Labor Committee
                                    May 19th, 2025

Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally, and all other members of the
House Commerce and Labor Committee:

I am Sue Hetrick, and I am testifying in support of HB225 and Fair Pay for People with
Disabilities
Today I am joined by my son, Micah.

Hello! I am Micah Hetrick. I’m 36 years old and a graduate of Dublin Scioto High
School, I love to watch sports and most of all the Ohio State Buckeyes! I love music
and movies! I love to spend time with my friends and family!

I also have a part time job at the Homage Retail Store at Easton Town Center. I have
been with Homage for five years now and make $13.75 an hour. I like my job because it
lets me interact with all kinds of people. I help Homage by greeting our customers and
making them feel welcome and appreciated! It is my special talent! Last summer I
had a medical emergency which broke both of my hips. Homage kept my job open for a
few months until I could return to work.

I am here to tell you that all people can work with the right support.

As a parent and as a professional in disability work for 35 years I couldn’t agree more with
Micah.From his earliest years we have been told that Micah couldn’t do this or that and for
the most part he has proven people wrong. In High School Micah began working with the
state Vocational Rehabilitation agency, which was then called Rehabilitation Services
Commission and is now Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. Micah tried a summer
work experience. When it concluded and it was time to reconvene to review with his VR
Counselor we were told that Micah was UNEMPLOYABLE and that his case was being
closed. I can’t tell you what a gut-punch that was! Obviously they were wrong! I can tell you
that because his summer placement was wrong and the support he received was wrong he
was not successful. And that scenario repeated many times throughout the ensuing years.
He was successful at several jobs however, when the placement AND support was right!

A non-verbal child with Cerebral Palsy whose family I supported in IEP meetings had been
identified with an extremely low IQ and placed in classrooms for the seemingly lowest
functioning students. We discovered that no one had explored or supported her ability to
communicate with technology. Once that was in place her IQ magically rose and she was
able to be part of education equal to that of her peers.
I met a man last week who is the parent of a young adult son with autism. His son is non-
verbal. He beamed with pride as he told me that he only recently learned that his son could
write!

Low expectations are the killer of dreams and self-esteem! Nationally recognized
employment specialists will tell you that anyone can be employed. Those professionals
include Dale Dileo who authored the book Raymond’s Room: Ending the Segregation of
People with Disabilities, Marc Gold and Associates, experts in customized and supported
employment and community access and Griffin-Hammis Associates (GHA), an award-
winning, internationally recognized pioneer in the field of customized employment services
for people with disabilities. In fact Griffin-Hammis has been consulting throughout Ohio for
many years!

People with disabilities should not be denied the dignity of work, work that reflects their
talents and interests that comes with the right support. And dignity that includes a fair
wage.

Julie Taylor is joining us today as a professional employed by Griffin-Hammis. She will
provide additional testimony in support of this position.


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