Weekly Focus - August 26, 2016

An update and information report for doctors who provide consultative exams for OOD’s Division of Disability Determination
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Kevin L. Miller, Executive Director

August 26, 2016

The mission of the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency is to ensure individuals with disabilities achieve quality employment, independence and disability determination outcomes.

What's Inside:

Employers Wanted for OOD Job Fairs

2015 Columbus Job Fair Employer Booth
OOD's 2015 Job Fair held in Columbus attracted hundreds of employees seeking jobs. Space is still available for employers that would like to participate in the 2016 job fairs.

 

Space is still available for employers that would like to participate in OOD’s 3rd annual DisAbility Job Fairs held October 5th through November 1st. The four job fairs will be held at various locations across the state as part of the agency’s recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

 

Last year, 850 job seekers with disabilities were connected with 170 employers through our fairs. More than 300 attendees found employment as a result of attending these events. This year, the job fairs will be held as follows:

  • October 5 – Cincinnati
  • October 13 – Cleveland
  • October 20 – Toledo
  • November 1 – Columbus

If you are an employer or know of an employer that would like to participate in the job fairs, spaces are still available.

 

Employers wanting to register for one or all of the job fairs, use this registration link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016JobFairRegistration

or contact OOD Business Relations Manager Jon Hackathorn, at Jon.Hackathorn@ood.ohio.gov or 614-438-1259.

 


Governor's Council on People with Disabilities Logo

Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities Announce Annual Award Winners

The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities (GCPD) annually recognizes businesses, groups and individuals who have significantly contributed to employment opportunities and community involvement for people with disabilities. It is anticipated that their example will inspire others in both the public and private sectors to realize ability rather than disability as the most important factor in employment and community inclusion. 

 

At the GCPD’s August meeting, members announced the 2016 winners of the following awards and scholarship:

 

Advocacy Award: This award recognizes individual(s) or group(s) who demonstrate outstanding contributions to one or more of the populations served by the GCPD.

- Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP), Cleveland

- Amanda Tipkember, Cincinnati

 

Employer of the Year Award: This award recognizes employers who have significantly contributed to employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

- Cincinnati Marriott Northeast, Mason

- Kinetic Vision, Cincinnati

 

Maureen Fitzgerald Leadership Award: This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership to transform changes to youth.

- Dawn Barnett, Dublin

- Alice Ely Chapman, Marietta

- John Lagenderfer, Cincinnati

 

Public/Non-Profit Best Practices Award: This award honors non-profits that have implemented innovative and progressive methods of improving the quality of life for Ohio residents with disabilities.

- The Blick Center, Akron

 

Karla M. Lortz Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is given to a student with a disability who will be a freshman or sophomore in college during the fall semester.

- Michael Reiner, Wellsville

 

Recipients will be invited to GCPD’s October 18th ceremony to receive their awards. Congratulations to all of the honorees and thank you for your outstanding dedication and service to Ohioans with disabilities.

 


OOD to Give S.T.A.R. Awards to Staff

STAR Award Logo

As a result of Director’s Advisory Group (DAG) projects, the Stellar Talent And Recognition (S.T.A.R.) Award was created. The award recognizes Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) employees of both the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BVSI). Employees are recognized for the following criteria: performance, customer focus, innovation/creativity and teamwork/leadership.

 

Peers can nominate each other through OOD’s intranet. Chosen recipients will be honored and recognized at each OOD area’s quarterly all staff meeting.

 

“I am excited to see the S.T.A.R. awards come to fruition,” said OOD Assistant Executive Director Bill Bishilany. “The VR DAG was challenged to devise an awards program similar to the Division of Disability Determination’s award program. Through significant efforts, patience and creativity, we now have what I believe to be a wonderful opportunity to recognize our hard working, committed VR staff members.”

 


Did You Know? National Association of the Deaf

On August 25, 1880, the first national convention of Deaf-Mutes was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. The convention was chaired by Edmund Booth, who announced the purpose: “To deliberate on the needs of the deaf as a class." At their third national convention in 1889, the organization changed its name to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). The NAD is the nation's premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States. To learn more about the organization’s history visit: https://nad.org/nad-history.

 


OOD by the Numbers

Vocational Rehabilitation

                                                               Current                     FFY2016

 

Individuals in Job Ready Status:            3,039                        5,802

(For county level information

& map visit our website)

 

Individuals Employed:                             2,179                        6,123

(Employed, not yet

successfully closed)

 

Successful Closures:                                                                5,971

(Employed for over 90 days,

case closed successfully)

 

Disability Determination

(FFY2016 as of 08/19/2016 – Week 47)

 

Applications Received:                                                           177,761

 

Determinations:                                                                       179,049

 

Productivity Per Work Year (PPWY)                                       368.2

(Total number of cases processed divided

by the number of work years funded)

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