More than 150 job applicants and 25 employers attended OOD’s
“Expect, Employ, Empower” Job Fair held in North Canton on Wednesday. The tenor of the event was upbeat and
positive with many having made key
contacts, that could lead to future job opportunities.
Job seekers came with a wide variety of work experiences and
were able to speak with recruiters, many seeking to fill current job
openings. For some job seekers, the
event was an opportunity for a screening interview that may result in a
call-back interview. Others were able to
present resumes for review or feedback to learn first-hand, how the online
selection process occurs for each company.
Some of the companies participating in the fair included:
American Electric Power, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Fifth-Third Bank, CVS, Speedway,
Dollar Bank, The Social Security Administration, Fastenal, Land O’Lakes,
Nickels Bakery, SA Comunale, Data Solutions, Verizon, Game Stop, Home Depot,
Cardinal Health, Huntington Bank, and Kent State University.
Several recruiters commented about how many people they were
able to meet at this job fair – estimating 10 times more than they meet at
other job fairs.
“The job candidates have been very enthusiastic at this job
fair. It has gone very well from a recruiting
standpoint. In fact, I met someone today
that I am excited to call tomorrow to explore future employment possibilities
with Fifth-Third,” said LaToya Smith, Human Resource Representative,
Fifth-Third Bank
Feedback from employers was also particularly positive about
lessons learned from the Windmills training (an interactive training program designed to enhance awareness of cultural diversity, examine personal attitudes and biases toward people with disabilities) that kicked off the event. Described as
“eye-opening” and helpful, recruiters indicated that they were able to
immediately apply what they had learned to the job fair that followed.
Michele Thompson and Michelle Skoletsky, Human Resources Representatives from Land O’ Lakes, Inc., had a great experience in Canton:
“We have met more than 50 job seekers at today’s event. The
candidates have been really well-prepared and this has been an overall excellent
experience for our company. We may have had a match for one of our open
positions and we look forward to recruiting at a similar event in the future.”
A big thanks to all the employers who attended and to the OOD staff who worked to make the event a success.
Representative Steve Chabot with witnesses from Thursday's hearing
The House Small Business Committee, chaired by
Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), held a hearing yesterday titled, “Help
Wanted: Small Business Providing Opportunities for All.” The hearing was an opportunity for
entrepreneurs to share their experience in providing employment opportunities
for adults with autism, Down syndrome and other intellectual or developmental
disorders, syndromes, or disabilities.
“For adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities
or disorders, finding sustaining employment can be a real challenge,” said
Chairman Chabot. “These individuals can
be overlooked when employment opportunities arise, and too often they are shut
out from the workplace all together. Yet
across the country, we are seeing examples of how small businesses, with their
ability to adapt and accommodate, are able to provide employment opportunities
to those who might not otherwise get a chance.”
Terri Hogan, owner of Contemporary Cabinetry East in
Cincinnati, OH, shared her experience as a small business owner with the
committee.
“We need to educate others so they begin to take the “dis”
out of disabilities and replace it with ‘abilities,’ said Hogan. “We also need to make small businesses aware
of the huge untapped resource that is people with diverse abilities. Hiring people who are physically, genetically
or cognitively diverse is not just the right thing to do; it is the smart thing
to do.”
She was accompanied by Mike Ames, an employee who has Down
syndrome.
“Mike has raised morale, brought community awareness, caused
others to have broader perspectives and has developed many friends at CCE. For the business, Mike has helped to develop
a healthier ‘bottom line’; everyone works harder because of the example he sets. Mike has raised everyone’s standards at
Contemporary Cabinetry East and hiring Mike was the best business decision I
have ever made,” Hogan testified.
For more information visit the Small Business Committee
website at http://smallbusiness.house.gov/. You can also watch the hearing on YouTube
here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfSv4nUqwI0.
OOD welcomed a new class of Counselors/Contract Coordinators
and Caseload Assistants during its VR Training Program this month. The class is comprised of 11 individuals who include
7 counselors, 1 caseload assistant, and 3 coordinators. The intense training has been revamped from
years past to include a variety of teaching methods as well as updated
information.
In addition to the traditional classroom style education,
training now includes shadowing experiences, group discussions, and
GoToTrainings. Participants
will have 3 weeks of intensive VR training which include two days each week in
Central Office and at least one day in the field shadowing and another portion
of the day participating in GoToTrainings and other discussions/meetings.
After
the initial 3 weeks, training continues via additional GoToTrainings, and
additional meetings and assignments that are monitored in the field. By using different
training modalities, participants are able to better retain information which
in turn makes them better prepared for their respective positions. The ability to update and
enhance past trainings are due in large part to the vocational rehabilitation
training supervisors, the many OOD staff members who are willing to take the
time to train our new staff, and additional support from the VR Policy and
Training Unit.
VR Training for new
Counselors, Contract Coordinators and Caseload Assistants will continue to
evolve as new information and updated technology is available.
To reflect the important role disability plays in workforce
diversity, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment
Policy (ODEP) announced this week, that the theme of 2016’s official National
Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is “#InclusionWorks.”
Observed in October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign
celebrating the skills and talents of workers with disabilities. Led nationally by ODEP, NDEAM’s true spirit
lies in the many grassroots observances held nationwide every year. Each spring, the theme for each year’s
celebration is announced to help organizations and groups plan their events.
Look for information on OOD’s celebration of NDEAM in the
coming months.
The Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) places added emphasis for the Vocational
Rehabilitation program on services to students and youth with
disabilities. OOD’s Ohio Transition Support Partnership (OTSP) with the
Ohio Department of Education supports this priority. More than 2,500 students are being served through the partnership and
caseloads are growing!
Earlier engagement in
the VR process has been a critical element of OOD’s strategic vision for the
past several years. Specifically, our goal has been to begin VR services
at age 14, the earliest age allowed under WIOA. While this has been an
area of emphasis, our number of applicants at 14 and 15 has remained low.
Since the inception of the OTSP program in September, however, we have seen much better
progress in this area. While we have seen a 40.63% increase in
applicants aged 14 to 18 since October 1, the greatest percentage increases
have been at age 14 (118% increase) and 15 (103% increase).
Vocational Rehabilitation
Current
FFY2016
Individuals in Job Ready
Status: 3,360 4,376
(For county level
information
& map visit our website)
Individuals Employed: 1,948 4,144
(Employed, not yet
successfully closed)
Successful Closures: 4,250
(Employed for over 90 days,
case closed successfully)
Disability Determination
(FFY2016 as of 04/29/2016 – Week 31)
Applications
Received:
126,191
Determinations:
128,061
Productivity
Per Work Year (PPWY) 376.6
(Total number of cases
processed divided
by the number of work
years funded)
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