On Tuesday we celebrated an
important milestone in our business engagement efforts: the Ohio Business
Leadership Network (OHBLN) reaching
100 members. This peer-to-peer
business organization provides employers with information and resources about
how best to recruit, select, train and retain a workforce that includes
individuals with disabilities.
When I was appointed by Governor
John Kasich in 2011, I knew that business engagement would need to be an
important part of our success. And
growing this organization from a handful of companies to over 100 is testament
to the commitment of this agency, and our dedicated staff, to engage and
educate the business community on the benefits of hiring individuals with
disabilities.
The OHBLN plays a critical role
in this engagement for a couple of reasons.
First, businesses are much more likely to listen and learn from their
peers than they are from a government agency.
Second, we have moved beyond hiring an individual with a disability
because it is the “nice thing to do.”
Ohio companies are focused on building a workforce, delivering quality
products and services and growing their business. The OHBLN helps us communicate to these
companies that individuals with disabilities are a largely untapped workforce
that can help companies’ lower turnover, improve morale and reach a large and
loyal market segment.
Mitch Morgan, president of the
Ohio Business Leadership Network and assistant vice president, diversity and
inclusion strategy manager for Fifth Third Bank noted that Ohio is playing a
leadership role:
“We are proud to achieve this
milestone that makes Ohio one of the largest and most active affiliates of the
Business Leadership Network in the country because it means more Ohio
businesses have access to resources to help enhance hiring and retaining a
workforce that includes people with disabilities.”
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Increasingly, Ohio companies are recognizing
that building a workforce that includes individuals with disabilities is good
for business. Nationally, it is
estimated that 52 percent of the 77 million baby boomers will become
disabled. “By employing people with
disabilities, employers can effectively position themselves to develop products
and services that are more likely to appeal to a diverse customer base,
resulting in a significant increase in profits,” Morgan added.
Individuals with disabilities are
an asset not a burden. According to a
DePaul University study of 314 workplaces, employees with disabilities have the
same job performance ratings, do not require more supervisory time, are no more
likely to be absent, late or have time off work, do not have more work place
accidents and are less likely to quit the job.
In fact, many companies report lower turnover and higher morale.
An inclusive workforce is good for business and good for Ohio’s
economy. We are proud to partner with
OHBLN to increase awareness and provide the resources companies need to
successfully integrate their workforce. Lieutenant
Governor Mary Taylor offered congratulations to the OHBLN on Tuesday. You can watch the video online at www.vimeo/ood/OHBLN100.
Membership in the Ohio Business Leadership
Network is free. Businesses interested
in becoming members can find more information at: www.ohiobln.org. Ohio is an affiliate of the U.S. Business
Leadership Network which represents 51 chapters and more than 5,000 employers
across the United States. In 2014, Ohio was awarded Outstanding
Affiliate of the Year for its work to help businesses hire more workers with
disabilities.
When businesses identify the
strengths of employees with disabilities, then put them in jobs that match
their skills, those employees turn out to be faithful, low turnover,
hard-working employees.
Teresa
Tanner
Executive
Vice President,
Chief Human Resource Officer
Fifth
Third Bank
GE Aviation is proud to be part
of the first 100 businesses to join the Ohio Business Leadership Network.” GE Aviation is committed to hiring the best
talent for our company, and these candidates include individuals with
disabilities. The OHBLN is a strong
resource to help companies strengthen their workforce diversity.
Ernest
Marshall,
Vice
President of Human Resources
GE
Aviation
At Crown Equipment Corporation, our employees’ diverse capabilities are
the force behind our success in the material handling industry. We cultivate a culture of passionate people
and inspired innovation, and we are committed to promoting diversity and
inclusion throughout our organization. Crown is pleased to be among the first
100 businesses to join the Ohio Business Leadership Network (OHBLN). Our
partnerships with the OHBLN and the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
(OOD) are invaluable resources for successful recruitment, selection, training
and retention of a diverse workforce that includes individuals with
disabilities.
Samantha
Boutaam
EEO
/ Immigration Specialist
Crown
Equipment Corporation
As a leading freight railroad, we move many different products, so it
takes many different employee skillsets to best serve our customers. That’s why we’re focused fostering an
inclusive workforce where all employees can help further CSX’s mission. We’re proud to be member of the US Business
Leadership Network and one of the first 100 members in Ohio – and we invite
other businesses to join us in the pursuit of an inclusive, connected workforce
for everyone.
Rusty
Orben,
Resident
Vice President, Ohio,
CSX
Transportation
 Bryan Grubb works with a DoDots attendee
June 12th marked the start of a two-week “Braille and
independent living boot camp” for learners who are deafblind called DoDots.
Housed at the Ohio School for the Deaf, DoDots attendees are divided
into three classes where adults will be exposed to two Braille lessons a
day. Each individual is designing his or
her own plan for lessons in independent living and exploring the
environment. Evenings involve a mix of
Braille-fluent volunteers answering questions and playing Braille-based games
with learners, or exposing learners to a variety of resources including OOD’s Bureau
of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI), Helen Keller National Center,
ICanConnect, the Ohio Deaf-Blind Association, and dialogue with other adults
who have learned Braille after losing vision or hearing.
DoDots is the first of its kind boot camp in the country!
This week deafblind advocate Haben
Girma discussed accessibility and technology at WWDC16, Apple's annual
Worldwide Developers Conference. Girma
was the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. After practicing as a civil rights attorney,
she became an independent advocate on accessibility and inclusion. Girma was honored by President Barack Obama
as a White House Champion of Change in 2013 and gave introductory remarks
celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the
White House last July. In her spare
time, Girma enjoys rock climbing, kayaking and surfing.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Current
FFY2016
Individuals in Job Ready
Status: 3,314 4,794
(For county level
information
& map visit our website)
Individuals Employed:
1,963 4,632
(Employed, not yet
successfully closed)
Successful Closures: 4,711
(Employed for over 90
days,
case closed
successfully)
Disability Determination
(FFY2016 as of 06/10/2016 – Week 37)
Applications Received:
140,851
Determinations:
142,745
Productivity Per Work
Year (PPWY) 374.7
(Total number of cases
processed divided
by the number of work
years funded)
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