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OOD plans to launch its new online portal, to be known as OOD Works in October.
As
we approach National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this
October, I wanted to let you know about an exciting initiative we have been
working on. This week we began a pilot project at our Whitehall office testing
an online portal for Ohioans with disabilities who may want to work but are unsure
about how to get started. A statewide kick-off for this portal, called OOD
Works, is planned for October.
Visitors
to this new website will be able to learn what vocational rehabilitation (VR)
is, how it works, and take an online assessment to determine if VR services are
the right choice for them. If so, visitors can begin the application process
without having to visit an office. Using their computer, tablet or smartphone,
individuals with disabilities can make an informed decision and save valuable
time filling out paperwork that would normally need to be completed at one of
our regional offices. They can also avoid the transportation and scheduling
issues that can sometimes come with arranging an office visit. When they do
arrange to meet with a counselor, they can use that valuable time to begin the
career planning process.
This groundbreaking new project was made possible through the support
of Governor John Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly in the last biennial
budget. It is designed to increase awareness about the vocational
rehabilitation process and to make that process more accessible and efficient
for those seeking employment and for our counselors.
We are excited about how technology is breaking down barriers to information
and services and about leveraging the internet to offer more Ohioans
opportunities for quality employment and increased independence. Stay tuned for
more information on this project as we get closer to October.
 Eric Ochmanek and Lizz Lewis, both with the Treasurer of State's office, present information about STABLE Accounts to members of the Governor's Council on People with Disabilities.
The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities
(GCPD) met on Tuesday. Eric Ochmanek, deputy
chief of staff, and Lizz Lewis, director of Legislative and Policy Affairs,
both with Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel’s office, provided a presentation on the
State Treasurer Achieving a Better Life Experience (STABLE) Account. STABLE
Accounts help give people with special needs independence and financial
stability. Those who developed disabilities before the age of 26 may be
eligible to open an account.
The program is made possible by the Achieving a Better Life Experience
(ABLE) Act that allows individuals with disabilities the ability to save and
invest up to $14,000 per year without losing government benefits such as
Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. Money can be placed in up to five different saving and investment
options. Investment earnings are
tax-free when used to pay for qualified expenses.
The earnings made on a STABLE
Account are not subject to federal or Ohio state income taxes, as long as the earnings
are spent on qualified disability-related expenses such as basic living expenses, housing,
transportation, assistive technology, employment training, education, health
and wellness, financial management and legal fees.
Visit stableaccount.com or
call 1-800-439-1653 for more information.
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 The OOD Director's Advisory Groups for both the Division of Disability Determination and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired conduct a combined meeting this week.
Since
becoming Executive Director, I have assembled individuals from each service division
of the agency to serve on the Director’s Advisory Group (DAG). This week they held a
combined meeting where they discussed the differences and similarities between the
Division of Disability Determination’s (DDD) adjudicative staff and the
counselors for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)/Bureau of Services for the
Visually Impaired (BSVI).
Lawmakers are in discussions
about revising the Ticket to Work program, making it legal for DDD and BVR to share
information and referrals once again. In a demonstration project, Ohio is able to start sharing information and referrals on transition
youth continuing disability review (CDR) cases, since this population has the most
potential. I have asked DDD and VR to begin to bridge the gap now, instead of
waiting for the new changes to take place. This exploration and collaboration
meeting between the DAGs is an opportunity to learn more about the roles of
adjudicator and counselor and to generate innovative ways to increase
communication, collaboration and improve processes.
This meeting allowed OOD staff
representing DDD, BVR and BSVI to offer suggestions, recommendations
and share concerns about a variety of issues. Staff came away from the meeting
with a better understanding of areas that we can continue to improve on to better
serve Ohioans seeking to utilize our services.
One
year ago, OOD restructured how new vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors are on
boarded into their positions. This involved the redeployment of four
VR supervisors, one in each region, to directly
supervise new counselors ensuring that they are consistently trained and
supported during the first six months of service with OOD. This is one aspect
of a larger agency emphasis on the consistency of how OOD on boards and trains
employees.
This
week, I met with these training supervisors, the area managers and other
involved VR staff, as well as HR staff that have helped support VR in this
process. We discussed the first year new counselor training achievements and
priorities for moving forward. Fifty-three people have been hired into
counseling positions during the year and by all accounts, this endeavor has
been successful. Accomplishments have included improvements in the curriculum
used for new counselors, caseload assistants and coordinators during the probationary period. Work is also
underway to update the counselor testing and hiring process that will be implemented later this fall.
Individuals with physical
disabilities that affect mobility can use a variety of assistive devices to
enhance their day-to-day activities. Many devices are available online. For
more information about the types of assistive devices available that are
searchable by categories, visit assistive devices.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Current
FFY2016
Individuals in Job Ready
Status:
3,035
5,681
(For county level
information
& map visit our
website)
Individuals Employed:
2,118
5,953
(Employed, not yet
successfully closed)
Successful Closures:
5,865
(Employed for over 90
days,
case closed
successfully)
Disability Determination
(FFY2016
as of 08/12/2016 – Week 46)
Applications Received:
174,105
Determinations:
174,889
Productivity Per Work
Year (PPWY) 368.9
(Total number of cases
processed divided
by the number of work
years funded)
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