YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A suspended driver's license can disrupt almost every aspect of everyday life, according to Judge Renee DiSalvo of the Youngstown Municipal Court. 

“Those are such a barrier to just living your life, getting a job, getting to the hospital, getting to the school, getting your children to school,” DiSalvo said.

It's why she started hosting “Steering Clear” workshops several years ago, with the latest taking place Saturday morning in downtown Youngstown. DiSalvo said there are multiple events each year during the warm weather months, always located near a bus line. The next is scheduled for September 27 at the McGuffey Center.

At each event, people with suspended licenses can get a copy of their driving record from representatives of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Then, they sit down with a volunteer attorney, who helps them figure out how to get their license reinstated.

“We actually give them a road map,” DiSalvo said. “This court you owe this, you owe child support this, you have to get on a payment plan, you need to do this with the BMV.”

“Sometimes it's as simple as just filing a form with the BMV, but people don't know that,” she added. 

Other agencies and organizations at the workshop Saturday included OhioMeansJobs, the Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency, Flying HIGH Inc., and Community Legal Aid.

Lola Simmons, the executive director of Home for Good, said her organization received a $58,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, which allows them to cover court costs and fines, reinstatement fees and more. Removing the financial barrier can help lower-income individuals regain access to their license faster, improving their employment prospects.

The group also focuses on supporting incarcerated people as they reenter society. 

“We want people to know you're not stuck in where you are, and you can be somebody — you are somebody, but you can be more of that somebody, and help yourself, your families and your communities,” Simmons said. 

Judge DiSalvo told 21 News the municipal courts do not track the outcomes of the Steering Clear program to measure its impact, but stressed that she has seen success stories, including one driver who hadn't held a valid license for 20 years.

“She was working two or three jobs because she had to walk or take a bus to these employers because she couldn't drive,” DiSalvo said. “Once she got valid through our program … it opened up an entire world for her.”