Got a family member with a disability? Ohio’s new law could help keep them safer

New law covers all 88 counties

Ohio just made it easier for first responders to know about a person’s disability before they show up.

A law called “Keith’s Law” took effect on Jan. 19, 2026, expanding a voluntary statewide database that shares disability information with police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.

When a 911 call comes in or an officer runs a license plate, the system flags that someone involved may have a disability. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill on Oct. 20, 2025.

Old database only covered communication needs

Ohio already had a Communication Disability Database, created back in 2018. But that system only covered people with communication disabilities, like being deaf or nonverbal.

Keith’s Law opens the registry to a much wider range of conditions.

That now includes intellectual impairments, mental health conditions, vision and hearing issues, autism, traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities, and more.

The broader definition comes from Section 3304.23 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Dispatchers and officers get alerts automatically

The database plugs into Ohio’s Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) and countywide 911 networks. When someone calls 911, dispatchers can check whether anyone at that address has a registered disability.

During a traffic stop, officers who run a plate can see an alert that the driver or a passenger may need extra care. The system doesn’t share a specific diagnosis.

It just lets responders know to adjust their approach before making contact.

Enrollment is free and confidential

Anyone with a diagnosed disability can sign up, and parents or guardians can enroll a child. A doctor, psychologist, or other qualified professional has to sign a verification form confirming the diagnosis.

The form asks for a name, driver’s license or state ID number, and plate numbers for vehicles the person regularly uses. Everything in the database stays confidential and isn’t part of the public record under Ohio law.

There’s no cost to enroll.

Local registries now connect statewide

Before Keith’s Law, some Ohio counties had built their own local disability registries. The problem was those systems stopped at the county line.

Keith’s Law ties all 88 counties together through their 911 systems, so a person who travels across the state stays covered.

Counties that already had local registries can keep them running alongside the statewide system. That means nobody loses what they already had.

Keith Jesse pitched the idea himself

The law is named after Keith Jesse, an advocate from northwest Ohio who has spent more than a decade teaching safety classes for people with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions.

Jesse also works as a K-9 search specialist, helping first responders find missing people with special needs. He brought the idea to State Rep. Gary Click at a meeting in Bellevue, Ohio.

Jesse told lawmakers the database gives families a way to share critical information before a crisis happens.

Both parties backed the bill

State Rep. Gary Click and State Rep. Brian Lorenz, both Republicans, sponsored the bill. Lorenz has said the issue is personal for him because his son is on the autism spectrum.

The bill passed both the Ohio House and Senate with support from both parties.

State Sen. Theresa Gavarone co-sponsored it in the Senate, and Ohio’s county boards of developmental disabilities backed the effort too. That broad support helped push it through quickly.

The law helps prevent dangerous misunderstandings

A person with a developmental disability may not respond to commands or might react in unexpected ways during a stressful moment.

Without knowing that ahead of time, a first responder could misread those behaviors as threatening. Keith’s Law gives responders context so they can adjust instead of escalate.

Something as simple as turning off sirens can help if a person is frightened by loud sounds. The goal is fewer situations where a lack of information leads to the wrong response.

It works differently than the Blue Envelope

Ohio already has the Blue Envelope Program, which helps people with autism during traffic stops. That program uses a physical packet kept in the car with documents explaining the person’s condition.

Keith’s Law is digital and automatic, working through LEADS and 911 databases without the person needing to hand anything over.

It also covers all types of disabilities, not just autism, and works during emergency responses and 911 calls. The two programs can run side by side.

Signing up takes just a few steps

To enroll, download the disability verification form from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities website or the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities site.

Take it to a doctor or qualified professional for a signature.

Then submit the completed form by mail, email, or in person at any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles location. There’s no fee.

You’ll get a confirmation receipt at the email address on the form. Local county boards of developmental disabilities can help with the process too.

Other states look to Ohio as a model

Databases like Ohio’s also support emergency planning and disaster preparedness, according to the National Emergency Number Association.

They can flag addresses of people with disabilities so responders bring the right equipment for safe evacuations. Some other states have looked into similar laws, but few have built a statewide system this broad.

Advocacy groups see Keith’s Law as a potential model for improving emergency response for people with disabilities across the country.

Officials encourage eligible Ohioans to enroll

The law reflects growing awareness that emergency situations can go wrong when responders don’t know about a person’s disability.

Registration is voluntary, and officials encourage anyone who could benefit to consider signing up. Local county boards of developmental disabilities can walk families through the enrollment process.

Keith Jesse has said the goal is “fewer misunderstandings, safer outcomes, and stronger trust between first responders and the communities they serve.”

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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