NEWS RELEASE: Making Memories for Everyone—Accessibility at the 2025 Ohio State Fair

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 07/14/2025 09:08 AM EDT

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For Immediate Release

July 14, 2025

Media Contact

Kim Jump: 614-623-2209

NEWS RELEASE: Making Memories for Everyone Accessibility at the 2025 Ohio State Fair

Smiling family of four, including adult man, adult woman, and two young girls, posing for the camera by the Fair amusement rides.

The Rogers and Graves family at the 2024 Ohio State Fair.

(COLUMBUS, OH)—The countdown has begun for the eagerly awaited 2025 Ohio State Fair, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 3, 2025. As anticipation grows, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and the Ohio State Fair are excited to reaffirm their dedication to accessibility for all.

Visitors can look forward to a variety of resources designed to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the Fair. Visit the Ohio State Fair’s accessibility webpage or app ahead of time for essential information. Upon arrival, guest information services booths offer daily schedules, maps, and directions. For those seeking additional support, the OOD mobile unit is stationed near the Lausche Youth Exploration Space, providing comprehensive accessibility information.

Governor DeWine and OOD Staff with Mobile Services Unit at the Ohio State Fair.

From left to right: OOD Director Kevin L. Miller, Greg Dormer, Kelsey Saltzman, Sarah Gillespie, Karen Penny Murphy, Kylie Berning-Tolliver, Mallory Eichler, Ashley Bartosiak, Governor Mike DeWine, and Marlena Schmitz.

A brand-new quiet room in the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center has been designed to enable individuals to manage their sensory needs. In addition, a second quiet room will be available at the Celeste Center during concert events, offering a close and more convenient option for concertgoers.

Also new this year, compliments of OOD’s Accessible Ohio program, a $10 off coupon is available to use toward an electric scooter rental for individuals who have a physical or mental condition that affects their ability to navigate the fairgrounds. Access the digital coupon online, or pick up a paper coupon at the OOD mobile unit. The digital coupon can be printed or opened using a smartphone for easy access. Coupons may be redeemed at either of the two HomeTown Mobility locations at the Fair, located inside the Cardinal Gate and the Ohio Gate.

“Ohio is truly the heart of it all, and we are committed to ensuring that people of all abilities can experience everything our State Fair has to offer,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “This year, we're again expanding the number of accessibility initiatives at the Ohio State Fair, aiming to make it the most enjoyable experience yet for everyone who visits.”

"The Ohio State Fair offers a refreshing getaway from our everyday routines," said OOD Director Kevin L. Miller. "We’re pleased to provide a discount for electric scooter rentals, making it easier for everyone to enjoy their day.”

OOD partnered with the Fair to provide complimentary power mobility device charging stations throughout the grounds. The stations are in marked areas in the Bricker MarketPlace Building, Kasich Hall, the Lausche Youth Exploration Space, the Natural Resources Park pavilion, the Voinovich Livestock and Trade Center, and the WCOL Celeste Center.

Also made available with support from OOD and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, fairgoers who are blind or have low vision can use Aira to connect, for free, to a remote agent via a smart device. The agent can locate users through GPS, help access visual information (which is especially helpful for navigating a large, unfamiliar area), and direct them to places of interest.

For fairgoers whose preferred method of communication is American Sign Language (ASL), interpreting will be offered at these events, with no reservations required: the Fair’s opening ceremony on July 23, the Sale of Champions Livestock Auction on August 3, daily at the Natural Resources Park Great Lakes Timber (lumberjack) shows and Cincinnati Circus, and for all ticketed concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center. For a complete schedule of interpreted events, visit the 2025 ASL Interpretation webpage or check out the Fair’s daily schedule.

In collaboration with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and OOD’s Accessible Ohio program, the Ohio State Fair is turning down the lights and volume to host a sensory-friendly morning on Thursday, July 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to ride the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit the Fair’s educational activities, and explore many activities in the shade of the Natural Resources Park. “On sensory-friendly morning, the sights, sounds, and stimuli are reduced to enable individuals to experience our incredible State Fair in a way that increases access and belonging,” said Shawn Henry, OCALI Executive Director. Find more information and resources on OCALI’s sensory-friendly morning webpage.

The Fair offers two adjustable-height universal changing tables. One table is located in the Ag Pro Taft Coliseum family restroom, while a second table is available in the First Aid Center, north of Kasich Hall. These facilities are designed to support fairgoers' personal care needs and are strategically placed at opposite ends of the grounds for convenience.

"The Ohio State Fair is truly a celebration of Ohio, and we want all Ohioans and out-of-state guests to have the opportunity to experience the fun, excitement, and tradition of this great state fair,” said Adam Heffron, Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Executive Director. “We’re dedicated to continually improving upon our existing accessibility efforts, working diligently to create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for all fairgoers."

Additional accessibility efforts at the Ohio State Fair include the following:  

Ample accessible parking spaces
Accessible buildings and restrooms
Communication boards for fairgoers who have complex communication needs, including those who do not use speech, available at all guest information services booths and on the Ohio State Fair accessibility webpage, featuring Fair-specific symbols to facilitate navigation and encourage exploration of Fair offerings
Accessible seats for concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center can be purchased at the same cost directly from Ticketmaster (to view accessible seats, click the “filters” button, then toggle on the “accessibility” button to see)
Free assistive listening devices featuring updated technology are available for use at the WCOL Celeste Center, Main Street Stage, Ohio Lottery Gazebo Stage, Kasich Hall B (Creative Arts Stage), Brown Arena, Cooper Arena, Taft Coliseum, O'Neill Arena, and Voinovich Arena. These can be picked up at WCOL Celeste Center, Main Street Stage, and Ohio Lottery Gazebo Stage
Audio descriptions for select exhibits and attractions are available within the Ohio State Fair app
Service animal relief areas with pick-up bags and waste receptacles at the Rhodes Center Lawn, Central Park, and Natural Resources Park
Designated accessible seating at additional stages
Accessible water bottle filling stations at Kasich Hall, Lausche Youth Exploration Space, Bricker MarketPlace, Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center, Ag Pro Coliseum, and WCOL Celeste Center (open only during concerts)
Accessible play area at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Park
Accessible picnic tables throughout the Fair

Mascot butter cow standing in front of a brick wall holding a communication board.

Butters with the Ohio State Fair Communication Board, developed by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Discover more at the Ohio State Fair’s accessibility webpage or within the Fair’s app. For questions, reach out to info@expo.ohio.gov or call 614-644-3247.

Note to editor: Working members of the media must enter the Fair through the Media Center located on 11th Avenue, just west of the OHIO Gate. Parking and admission credentials are available at the Media Center upon arrival. Please review the on-site guidelines, and if your station/publication has not already done so, please register staff members who will be working the Fair by completing the form on the Media Registration page at ohiostatefair.com/media-registration, or by sending a list of staff members to the Public Relations office at j.west@expo.ohio.gov.

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Programs provided by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) are funded, in whole or in part, with federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), OOD received 78.7% of its funding through the DOE VR grant. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2024, OOD received $166,384,030 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $45,031,510. Of these federal funds, $24,957,605 is set aside for Pre-ETS.

For purposes of the Works 4 Me program, OOD received 100% of its funding through the DOE Disability Innovation Fund grant. In FFY 2024, OOD received $716,175 for this program.

For purposes of the Supported Employment (SE) Program, the DOE SE grant funded 90% of the costs for the Supported Employment for Youth with a Disability Program up to the grant amount and 100% of the costs of regular Supported Employment program costs up to the grant amount. In FFY 2024, OOD received $593,853 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $65,984 of the total costs. In FFY 2024, OOD received $593,853 in regular SE grant funds.

For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2024 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2024, OOD received $1,166,389 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $129,599 of the total costs incurred under the OIB program. For purposes of the Independent Living (IL) Program, the federal grant received from HHS paid 90% of the total costs incurred in FFY 2024. In FFY 2024, OOD received $646,297 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $71,811 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.