Nominate a Community Champion Today

Nominate a Community Champion Today Ryan Braun January 20, 2026
  • January 20, 2026

Nominate a Community Champion Today

Community Champion Award
for Accessibility and Inclusion

We’re excited to launch the Community Champion Award for Accessibility and Inclusion! This program honors the achievements and ongoing initiatives of local businesses and organizations committed to improving accessibility and promoting genuine inclusion in our community for all people.

By celebrating these champions, we aim to inspire other public or private organizations to prioritize accessibility and create a more inclusive Hamilton County for everyone.

Who is eligible?

All nominees must be located in Hamilton County, Ohio, and meet the following criteria:

      • A nominee may serve the general public, including businesses, nonprofits, government offices, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and community organizations. A nominee may also be a private employer that has demonstrated organizational commitment to accessibility, including through its physical environment, innovative practices, supplier and partner diversity, intentional marketing, and/or an inclusive company culture.
      • Must not have received this award within the previous three years
      • Nominations must show demonstrated efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion that go beyond basic legal compliance requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
      • People submitting nominations must have a personal experience with the business or organization they wish to nominate
What Winners Receive

Award recipients will receive an official recognition certificate, along with a public announcement and celebration of their efforts. 

Honorees will be listed as a Community Champion on the HCDDS website and in promotional materials. Finally, all Community Champions will have an opportunity to share their accessibility story to inspire other organizations. 

Nomination and Judging

Nominations are welcomed year-round and will be reviewed quarterly. Anyone can nominate a qualifying organization, as long as you have a personal experience with it. 

In the nomination form, please include:

      • Specific examples of accessibility features or inclusive practices you’ve observed
      • Stories about positive experiences or interactions
      • Any creative solutions or exceptional efforts you’ve noticed
      • Information about multiple categories is helpful, but not required for a strong nomination

A panel of five judges, including people with disabilities, will review each nomination and evaluate it across five categories:

      • Physical Space and Environment
      • Communication and Information Access
      • Inclusive Practices and Culture
      • Community Engagement and Impact
      • Innovation and Continuous Improvement
Split image with spring flowers and accessible park path on the left, a man pushing a girl in a wheelchair near a bridge on the right, and text promoting access, inclusion organizations, and advocacy award nomination.
A diverse group of people gather in a spacious bar or restaurant with wooden floors, seated at tables and mingling, as an advocacy award nomination is presented on a projector screen.
People walk beside fountains in a city plaza, carrying a large "Disability Pride" sign during a public event—an inspiring scene worthy of an advocacy award nomination; other participants and tall buildings are visible in the background.
Nominations are open on a rolling basis. The deadline for the next round of judging is November 2, 2026.

Click the button below to nominate a Community Champion today!

Community Champion Award Nomination Form

Click the button below to nominate a Community Champion today!

Community Champion Award Nomination Form

Need an alternate version of the nomination form? Have other questions about the Community Champion Award for Accessibility and Inclusion? Contact us at CommunityRelations@HamiltonDDSOhio.gov. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Related Posts