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The
Workforce Integration Task Force (WIT), co-chaired by Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Cynthia Dungey and me, was tasked with
making recommendations aimed at increasing employment and income parity for
individuals who are deaf, blind, or deafblind.
Since its final report, a multi-agency working group has been
collaborating on steps that can be taken to implement the recommendations
offered by the WIT.
One
of the specific recommendations that came out of the WIT was to make having a
driver’s license optional within the State of Ohio Jobs online application
process for jobs that do not require driving as an integral part of the
position. Currently, job applicants are
required to respond to questions regarding driver’s license information in
order to submit a job application with the State of Ohio. Failure to respond to these questions
effectively prevents applicants from submitting a completed job application. This was true despite the fact that most jobs
do not require a driver’s license as part of the minimum qualifications.
Instead, the driver’s license information was merely for identification purposes.
I
am excited to report that the Department of Administration Services (DAS) is
now ready to implement the changes needed to make this important reform a
reality.
Effective
November 16, 2015, the Office of Talent Management will implement changes to
the Driver’s License field on the NEOGOV profile for applicants applying for
positions with the State of Ohio through the Ohio Hiring Management System. The settings for these driver’s license
questions will be changed from “required” to “optional.” As a result, applicants will no longer be
required to respond to driver’s license questions in order to proceed with and/or
submit a job application.
This
change will remove a barrier to employment for a great many Ohioans. Over the years I have heard from a number of
individuals with disabilities about this barrier and its impact. Each
of them assumed that if a driver’s license was required to submit an application,
they could not apply for State of Ohio jobs if they did not, in fact, possess a
driver’s license.
Thank
you to the members of the WIT for raising this issue and to DAS for taking the
necessary steps to remove this barrier.
This will mean greater accessibility for individuals with disabilities
and a stronger workforce for the State of Ohio.
 The 2015 Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities (GCPD) Annual Awards Recipients
The
Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities (GCPD) held its annual awards
ceremony today in the Statehouse Atrium, recognizing those who have made
significant contributions to the disability community in Ohio in 2015. Award recipients include:
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Employer of the Year: Henny
Penny Corporation, Eaton, Ohio
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Advocacy Award: Diane
Knupp, Preble County, Ohio and Bowling Green Aktion Club, Wood County,
Ohio
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Accessible Medical Services Award:
Dr.
Richard Munk, M.D., Toledo, Ohio
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Maureen Fitzgerald Leadership Award:
Karen
Bowersox, Downs Designs Dreams, based in Mentor, Ohio
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Karla Lortz Scholarship: Peter
Knab, John Carroll University and Jacob Ralston, Ohio University.
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Legislator of the Year: Senator
Dave Burke and Representative Michael Stinziano
GCPD
Chair Mathew Sauer offered welcoming remarks and thanked those in attendance
for their work and support to improve the lives, employment and communities of
people with disabilities.
The
keynote speech was presented by Adam Helbling, motivational speaker, blogger
and civil engineer. Adam is a 2012
graduate of The Ohio State University and helped lead the university’s Waterski
Team to win the 2010 Division II National Championship. Adam has bipolar
disorder, which led to two manic episodes. The second led to a car accident
that left him as a C6/C7 quadriplegic.
In spite of this, Adam says he believes everything happens for a reason
and that he is happier now than ever before. He is pursuing his dream of
building more housing like “Creative Living,” where he resides, that are
designed for people with physical disabilities.
GCPD
members announced and introduced the award winners, as did Bruce Mrofka,
husband of the later Maureen Fitzgerald, for whom the leadership award is
named. Each award recipient also received a proclamation from Governor John
Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor.
Congratulations
to the award winners and to the Governor’s Council for highlighting the
outstanding contributions they are making to Ohio.
OOD has been piloting a standardized procedure for
processing case service billings in the Northwest area of the state. This pilot was aimed at a timelier and
consistent way to pay invoices, allowing OOD to track and measure timeframes associated
with the processing of invoices from providers. It also serves as a bridge
between the current payables process and preparing for the development of a Provider
Portal.
After piloting this procedure for several months, it is now
being rolled out stated-wide. Training
has occurred for staff over the last few weeks and the new procedure will go
into effect on Monday, November 16.
The efficiencies gained from this new procedure will not
only improve the quality and timeliness of the invoice process, but it will also
improve the way we do business with our vendors. Most importantly, it will ultimately allow
OOD to provide better and timelier service to individuals with disabilities
through improved relationships with our providers.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Current FY2016
Individuals in Job
Ready Status: 3,773 843
(For county level
information and map visit our website)
Individuals Employed: 2,133 765
(Working but less than
90 days)
Successful Closures: 805
(In employed status
for over 90 days)
Disability Determination
(FFY2016 as of 11/6)
Applications Received: 23,014
Determinations: 24,452
Pending: 44,314
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