ABLE

10/13/2026

Join us for the 2026 Access to Justice Awards Celebration!

Hosted by ABLE, LAWO, and the GDVLP, this annual event recognizes individuals and organizations whose extraordinary public service and community advocacy help expand access to justice for underserved people throughout the Miami Valley area. Proceeds will be used to provide free legal assistance to economically disadvantaged clients who are unable to afford an attorney.

Reserve your spot for a time of camaraderie, music, and celebration of esteemed honorees. Reservations and sponsorships may be made via phone at (937) 535-4420 or online at: ablelaw.org/a2j-day
RSVP Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026
Cocktails 5:30 p.m.
Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Program 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE PONITZ CENTER
444 W THIRD ST. DAYTON, OH 45402

Interested in sponsoring the event or purchasing a table? Register online or contact Jennifer Snedigar at 937-535-4420 or Diana Anderson at 419-930-2515 for more information.

10/12/2026

ABLE offices will be closed on Monday, October 12 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. We will reopen with regular office hours on Tuesday, October 13.

10/11/2026

Living in a nursing home or assisted living community doesn't change your right to vote. Using a wheelchair, needing help with daily care, or having a diagnosis like dementia doesn't take it away either. In Ohio, only a court can remove that right.

No excuse is needed to vote absentee in Ohio. Many county boards of elections send bipartisan teams into facilities to help residents vote. Ask your activities director when they're coming. Staff and family can help, but no one may tell you how to vote or mark your ballot for you without your direction.

If your right to vote is being ignored or interfered with, call the Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-282-1206. Every voice matters.

10/07/2026

Join ABLE Advocates Lacie Fischley and Elizabeth Hudson next Thursday, October 15 at the Imagining Community Symposium at the University of Dayton!

Elizabeth Hudson will be presenting Linking Education Rights and Literacy alongside Myla Cardona-Jones, Executive Director of the Brunner Literacy Center. This interactive session will explore how understanding and enforcing education rights can improve literacy outcomes for students, families, and communities. Presenters will discuss protections for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, students experiencing housing instability, and those facing barriers to educational access, while examining how education advocacy can help address intergenerational literacy challenges and strengthen community well-being.

Lacie Fischley will present Moving Beyond Charity: Immigrant and Refugee-Led Community Development Initiatives. This panel presentation will discuss how we move from a charity mindset to mutual flourishing, centering immigrants in enriching their own communities and providing appropriate support rather than leadership to enhance the entire community.

This event is free to attend, but registration is required!

Visit ablelaw.org/imagining-community for registration and more info.

10/06/2026

LIMA — When it comes to ensuring equal opportunities for all residents, local legal and community advocates are seeking to set records straight.

09/27/2026

Interested in volunteering with the Long-Term Care Ombudsmen?

Here's what the role involves: you're assigned to a nursing home or assisted living facility near you. You visit regularly, get to know the residents, and become a familiar, trusted face. When a resident has a concern about their care, their rights, or their daily life, you help them raise it and work toward a resolution they want. You're an advocate, not an inspector, and you work alongside staff to get problems fixed.

What we ask: a few hours a week, a willingness to listen, and completion of our free certification training.

What you get: thorough training, support from experienced staff ombudsmen, continuing education, and a role with real authority under Ohio law to protect the people who live in long-term care.

What our volunteers say they get: purpose, connection, and the knowledge that someone's week was better because they showed up.

Reach out today: 419-259-2891 · https://ombudsman.ablelaw.org/

09/23/2026

Love our community partners from ABLE. Visiting our Edgemont Campus and meeting with patients and neighbors who need legal assistance.

09/23/2026

🗣️ TOLEDO! Are you ready for Power Tour 2026!? Join us on September 25th & 26th for two amazing days celebrating the creative power and expression of our youth. Come out to Handmade Toledo and support both days! Scan the QR code or click the links below to register.

Day 1 Registration: The Evolution of Leadership: Visual Arts Exhibition ➡️ https://forms.gle/H6wx1YsYL4k97T9W7

Day 2 Registration: The Evolution of Leadership: Expression Performing Arts Showcase ➡️ https://forms.gle/APN4kzcMm6sG4RZk7

09/21/2026

ABLE celebrates the release and return of Pastor Joubert Adrien following weeks in ICE detention. Pastor Adrien was reunited with his wife and two children at their home in Springfield on September 16, 2026.

Pastor Adrien was taken into custody during a routine traffic stop on August 20, abruptly separating him from his family and congregation. ABLE legal counsel intervened on his behalf and filed a formal bond request with the Cleveland Immigration Court. On September 14, an Immigration Judge granted the request and ordered his release on bond.

A resident of the United States since 2021, Pastor Adrien has served as a respected spiritual and civic leader in the Springfield Haitian and broader faith communities. He serves as a Haitian Ministry Pastor in Springfield, where his ministry includes regular pastoral care, hospital visits for the sick, and organizing resource and food distribution events for local families in need.

Pastor Adrien’s presence is vital to his family and to the community he serves every day. His safe return home reinforces the importance of fair legal representation and preserving family unity, not only for immigrants but for everyone who calls this country home. Dozens of Haitians and other immigrants from the Miami Valley region remain separated from their families in immigration detention today.

ABLE will continue to fight for the release of our clients who remain detained. ABLE remains dedicated to protecting the rights and dignity of immigrant community members across Ohio through direct legal advocacy and community partnerships.

09/21/2026