National
Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is an annual awareness campaign
that takes place each October with the purpose of educating the public about
the value of hiring individuals with disabilities and celebrating their many
and varied contributions. This year’s theme is Inclusion Drives Innovation and Opportunities for Ohioans with
Disabilities (OOD) is leading efforts across the state to promote the benefits
of hiring individuals with disabilities.
“Awareness
about the business benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities has
evolved,” said Executive Director Kevin L. Miller. “For decades we had a
business culture where individuals with disabilities were treated differently
and only hired for certain types of jobs. We are changing that in Ohio. Last
year, we assisted nearly 6,000 individuals with disabilities to successfully
find employment.”
During NDEAM, the agency is hosting their 5th annual series of job fairs designed to connect OOD job seekers with employers; launching a video
series to educate employers on the value of hiring individuals with
disabilities; and recognizing employers who are committed to an inclusive and
diverse workforce. Here’s more information on OOD’s NDEAM activities.
OOD
kicked off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with the first job
fair in Cincinnati last week. This event featured 215
OOD job seekers with disabilities interacting with 56 area employers looking to
fill vacant positions.
These events raise
awareness with employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with
disabilities by providing Windmills educational workshops to help Ohio
businesses recruit a diverse workforce.
Raising Canes representatives (pictured above) "were very pleased with the
experience and preparedness of the job seekers." They are opening a new store in Cincinnati and have 75 positions to fill. Diego is looking for a restaurant job and is
excited about turning in his application.
For job ready candidates, making personal connections with
employers at the job fairs has a big impact. Yeshurun (pictured above) expressed his
excitement about getting to meet with potential employers. “I brought so many
resumes and met so many people. I am going to go straight home and apply online,”
he said.
OOD’s
next job fair will be held in Columbus on October 16th. If you have a
disability and want to work, visit OODWorks.com to get started on your
path to employment.
Ohio
Valley Goodwill Industries Gives Valuable Assistance to Job Seekers
A special thank you to Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries (OVGI) for hosting
a pre-job fair skills training and for providing free shuttle service to the Cincinnati
job fair for OOD job seekers.
OOD has produced a series of five short videos that will be
utilized by the agency’s business relations team as a resource to recruit and
educate Ohio employers in the hiring and inclusion of individuals with
disabilities. The videos highlight the many benefits of partnering with OOD,
including workforce and financial resources, disability awareness training,
recruitment and retention of individuals with disabilities, and valuable
employer peer-to-peer networking opportunities through the Ohio Business
Leadership Network.
Many businesses participated and provided testimonials
including Huntington National Bank, Sauder Woodworking, CVS, Fifth Third Bank
and OhioHealth. These videos provide a
window into the many advantages for employers connected to the agency and hopefully,
will inspire other businesses to consider a partnership with OOD. The
new business relations videos are available on our website at ood.ohio.gov and YouTube channel.
OOD will be travelling across the state to recognize The Ohio State
University, Natural Essentials INC, Miami University and HCR ManorCare as this
year’s Champion of Opportunity Award recipients. Each of these businesses embody the mission of OOD, through hiring
individuals with disabilities. They are proven leaders who have gone above and
beyond in creating an inclusive and diverse workforce culture.
Other Opportunity Awards categories are Committed
to Opportunity, which recognizes companies with a proven commitment to
integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce, and Creating
Opportunity, which recognizes companies who have recently begun hiring
individuals with disabilities.
In October 2016, OOD launched OODWorks.com; a website designed to open doors for individuals with disabilities who want to work and provide a unique option to apply for vocational rehabilitation services online. Over the past year, 1,159 people have applied for services through the portal.
When visiting OODWorks.com, potential OOD participants can watch a video on agency services, take a brief self-assessment and begin the application process to find or keep a job. This portal allows applicants to begin the eligibility process from the convenience of their home. Here’s a video message from Director Miller about OODWorks.com.
OOD is pleased to report that more than 10,655
individuals in subminimum wage employment received the required career
counseling set forth by
the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Section
511. WIOA requires the agency to provide
career counseling, information and referral services to individuals with disabilities
employed in subminimum wage positions. Such workers are employed by entities that hold a
special wage certificate under Section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA).
In December 2016, seven OOD career resources staff began delivering services to workers
with disabilities in subminimum wage employment statewide. Staff was able to provide these services to all who needed
them prior to the initial deadline of July 22, 2017. This is an ongoing
requirement and staff will continue to make these services available to all
workers with disabilities who need them. A report that summarizes these
activities can be found here: Subminimum
Wage Employment.
OOD
consumer Megan Zahneis found a great internship this summer in her chosen
field, an important experience as she prepares to enter the workforce after
college. The connection began last year, when OOD Business Relations
Specialist Cynthia Crews was Chairperson of the College Student/Employer Job
Shadow Committee. This involved matching 15 plus employers and 22 students
(including Megan) from the University of Cincinnati, Miami University and
Cincinnati State.
“I
could never have guessed what would eventually result,” Megan writes recalling
this introduction. “Since I am a journalism major, organizers matched me with
Wordsworth Communications, a public relations agency in downtown Cincinnati
working with clients from local to global levels. In just a few hours, I sat in
on a pitch meeting, networked with many staff and got to know one of the firm’s
partners.”
Thanks
to Megan’s follow through, the initial meeting led to a paid internship, allowing
her to learn more about the public relations industry as she joined the team.
“I remain grateful for the opportunity to represent the disability community,
Miami University and my hometown of Cincinnati while learning from the
professionals at the city’s most awarded public relations agency,” Megan
concludes.
Representatives
from the OOD’s Division of Disability Determination (DDD), the Bureau of
Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) and the Bureau of Vocational
Rehabilitation (BVR) attended the 2017 Technology Fair at the Cleveland Sight
Center. Pictured above are OOD BSVI Program Administrator Elizabeth Sammons
(left) and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Mia Murphy. The event provided a
venue for the recruitment of ophthalmologists to perform the Social Security
Administration’s (SSA) consultative examinations, which is a priority for
Ohio’s DDD.
A
federal mandate that reduces the risk of pedestrian crashes, especially for
individuals who are blind and visually impaired, went into effect September 5th.
Read about the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 here.
The Governor’s Council
on People with Disabilities (GCPD) recognized several businesses and
individuals who have contributed to employment opportunities and community
involvement for people with disabilities at their annual awards ceremony on
September 29th.
Pictured above are Ava McCleese winner of the $1,000
Karla M. Lortz Scholarship Award with
GCPD member Bryan Grubb. For a list of all award recipients, visit
GCPD Awards. Congratulations to honorees and
thank you for your outstanding dedication and service to Ohioans with
disabilities.
OOD’s A Link in the Chain series gives employees the
opportunity to talk about who they are and how they contribute to serving
individuals with disabilities. This video features Human Resources Training
Manager Kathy Boss, who shares how she supports employees who directly work
with individuals with disabilities in Ohio. To view the video, visit YouTube.
Connect to OOD on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to
see items like this post about OOD employees appearing in our new Business
Relations videos. #ConnectToOOD #OODWorks
Please share this publication and
encourage others to subscribe to the OOD Focus E-newsletter on
our website. Also be sure to join us
on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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