 As the new State Fiscal Year quickly
approaches, the biennial budget process is in its final stages. Despite
the short time frame remaining, the budget must be signed by Governor John
Kasich by midnight on June 30th. Some difficult work remains as the
House and Senate wrestle with significant public policy issues.
The budget bill (HB 64) passed the
Senate last night, with a 23-10 vote. Conference Committee, consisting of three
legislators from each chamber, began discussions today in an attempt to settle
on the changes made by each legislative body. The bill is expected to make its
way to the Governor’s desk next week.
I will continue to
keep you informed as the process unfolds. Once the budget has passed and
is signed by the Governor, we will begin reaching out to our stakeholders and
partners to discuss budget provisions impacting the agency and those we
serve. This outreach will include stakeholder conference calls and e-mail
updates as well as events and meetings across the state.
 Executive Director Kevin Miller speaks about the new partnership with the Ohio Department of Education at the 13th Annual Austim Conference.
On Thursday,
I was honored to be a luncheon speaker at the Milestones 13th Annual
Autism Conference in Cleveland. I spoke about our partnership with
the Department of Education’s Transition Services project on the importance of
earlier discussion about education and employment for students with
disabilities and the opportunity it will present for youth and families in
Ohio. By targeting students with disabilities as early as 14 years of age we
are able to guide these students down a path of successful employment post high
school graduation.
Every
year, Milestones Autism Resources hosts an annual conference that brings family
members and leading experts in the field of autism together to share
evidence-based practical strategies and best practices. It is an
opportunity for parents, professionals and adults with autism to find out about
local resources and continue learning best practices for school, home,
community and work. I want to thank Milestones Autism Resources for
inviting me to speak at this remarkable conference.
 Back row (left to right): Executive Director Kevin Miller, Labor Relations Manager Cornell Hale, Disability Claims Manager Allison Lynch, Communications Manager/DDS Liaison Brad Reynolds, Disability Claims Manager Brian Baumgartner, Disability Claims Manager Orlando Rodriguez, Division of Disability Determination (DDD) Deputy Director Erik Williamson, and Business Relations Manager Jon Hackathorn. Front row (left to right): Assistant DDD Deputy Director Rhonda Tanner, Disability Claims Manager Beth Stephens, Disability Claims Manager Kim Price, Bureau Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) Deputy Director Mindy Duncan, Assistant DDD Deputy Director Teresa Gray, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) Susan Pugh, and BVR Northwest Area Manager Curt Morman.
This week,
I attended a
two-day Lean Yellow Belt (OOD Champion) Training that was provided to OOD
Executive Staff, Assistant Deputy Directors, and Managers. Our Division
of Performance and Innovation, through the support of LeanOhio, developed this
training which included an overview of Lean Six Sigma principles and the
structure at OOD to initiate, conduct, and effectively implement Lean Six Sigma
projects. Over the next nine months, the remaining senior leadership and all
agency supervisors will receive this two-day training. I am committed to
building the internal capacity to focus on performance and results, and Lean
Six Sigma is a core competency I am expecting of all supervisors and managers.
Also, we will be working
on developing the internal capacity to deliver Camo Belt training to OOD staff,
which is a one week training focused on providing attendees with knowledge of
Lean methods and tools, which will enable them to immediately use these skills
to effect positive change. This training
is currently available to staff with limited slots through LeanOhio. Due to
demand and interest, I am committed in utilizing our existing agency resources
to make this training available to all OOD staff.
For more information
about LeanOhio go to www.lean.ohio.gov
 Twenty-five agencies were represented at the Employment First Training in Columbus on June 16 and 17
Employment
First Partnership providers participated in the latest round of in-person
trainings in Columbus on June 16 and 17. More than 50 staff from 25 agencies
learned supported employment strategies and techniques from expert Tammara
Geary, a trainer with the Training Resource Network.
Topics
included Marketing and Employer Engagement and Job Supports and Training.
These trainings are a requirement for all staff providing services to consumers
served through the Employment First Partnership and all OOD Employment First
staff, and are intended to improve consistency and better quality of service
delivery across the state. Additional trainings for the next year are
being planned throughout the state again and will be announced soon.
 GCPD members (from left to right back row): Melinda Kale, Christine Huggins, Chuck Beatty, GCPD Chair Matthew Sauer, Stephanie Garrett, Bryan Grubb, Marshall Kimmel, Victoria Willford, Harry Prestanski
(from left to right front row): Christine Brown, Julie Roberts, and Brian Kellett
The
Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities (GCPD) met this week to conduct
their regularly scheduled business meeting.
Several new members who were recently appointed by Governor John Kasich
joined the Council. Brian Kellet of Franklin County, Julie Roberts of Lucas
County and Stephanie Garrett of Preble County were welcomed by the group while
long standing member Harry Prestanski of Warren County said his goodbyes.
After a
presentation on Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities by council
member, Chuck Beatty, the members discussed progress on upcoming events
including the annual Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) and the annual awards
meeting. Applications are now being
accepted for awards to be given at the Annual Awards meeting in October that
recognize businesses, groups and individuals who have significantly contributed
to employment opportunities and community involvement for people with
disabilities. For more information
visit the GCPD website at www.gcpd.ohio.gov
The OOD
Commissioners are seeking nominations for two awards that are presented to
honor the service of individuals who significantly contribute to assisting
individuals with disabilities.
Ben Bonanno Disability Advocate Award:
OOD has established the Ben Bonanno Disability Advocate
Award to honor outstanding advocacy accomplishments by non-employees of OOD.
Ben Bonanno was a former OOD Commissioner and an unwavering advocate. The Ben
Bonanno Disability Advocate Award recognizes a person whose advocacy efforts
have significantly improved the employment possibilities of Ohioans with
disabilities in a manner that is consistent with OOD’s mission. The deadline
date for submitting nominations is July 10, 2015.
Denise Joanne Weisenborn Service
Award:
The Denise Joanne Weisenborn Service Award honors
non-employees of OOD who provide outstanding services to Ohioans with
disabilities to make their participation in society more meaningful. This award
has been established in memory of Denise Weisenborn who served as an OOD
Commissioner from 1997 to 2006. The deadline date for submitting nominations is
July 10, 2015.
The Nomination Forms can be found on OOD’s website at http://www.ood.ohio.gov/About-Us/OOD-Commissioners/Commissioners-Awards
Forms can be e-mailed
to Shirley Marchi at shirley.marchi@ood.ohio.gov or mailed to Shirley
Marchi, Program Administrator, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, 150
E. Campus View Blvd., Columbus, OH 43235. Questions may be directed to Shirley
Marchi at 614.438.1477 or e-mail.
 I hope you
will take time this weekend to say thank you to all fathers!
|
|
