Ohio House Bill 96 Gets Boost from OptimALL Services’ Lynn Esmail in Passionate Testimony

On May 14, 2025, Lynn Esmail, Executive Director of OptimALL Services, took the floor at the Ohio Statehouse to rally support for House Bill 96, a proposal that could transform the lives of students with disabilities. In heartfelt testimony, Lynn laid out a clear case for why increased funding for specialized interventions is a game-changer for Ohio’s kids. Her words painted a vivid picture of what’s at stake.

Lynn kicked things off by explaining the scope of her organization’s work, and the impact of the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship.  

“We serve students with almost every type of disability," Lynn told legislators.

She added that OptimALL Services is on the front lines, helping kids navigate their education. But the stakes are high, and Lynn didn’t shy away from the tough numbers.

 “In fact, in 2019, 85% of students who dropped out of school had a learning disability,” she said. 

That’s a jaw-dropping stat that shows just how much these students need support to stay in school. She pinpointed the core issues driving these dropouts. 

Lynn Esmail in Columbus on May 14, 2025

“Three major challenges that contributed to students dropping out of school were poor performance, inability to keep up with course work, and lack of individualized support,” she said. 

Her solution? 

“We can help resolve all these challenges with specialized interventions.” she said. 

Lynn was candid about the hurdles her organization faces. Finding the right people to deliver these interventions isn’t easy. 

“These students need specialized services from quality staff. There are great costs associated with having these educators on site to serve students with learning disabilities. Like the public schools, it is difficult for us to find qualified intervention staff,” she said. 

Lynn further explained this staffing crunch is hitting private groups like OptimALL and public schools hard. She says it’s why the funding boost in House Bill 96 matters. Tying her argument to broader state goals, Lynn connected the bill to Ohio’s push to tackle dropout rates. 

“Your scholarship increase will directly address the Board of Education’s task force to combat the school dropout rate,” she said. 

It’s a practical step that could make a real dent in keeping kids in school.

Lynn wrapped up with a call to action that hit home. “Let’s make a relatively small investment in the lives of students today and give them a head start, and a bright, productive future,” she said.

It’s hard to argue with that logic. Spend a little now to save a lot of potential down the road. House Bill 96 could be a turning point for students with disabilities in Ohio, and Lynn’s testimony put the spotlight on why it’s needed.