OOD’s Division of Disability Determination (DDD) hosted a quad regional engagement session demonstrating the new Disability Case Processing System (DCPS) in June. In anticipation of the system rolling out in their states and regions, representatives from the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Determinations’ Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle Regions came to Columbus to learn how Ohio prepared for and implemented DCPS. Panelists answered questions and discussed various aspects of processing disability claims and working in DCPS. Users shared their experiences in Ohio, including challenges they encountered during the rollout. Visitors were seated with staff for a hands-on session watching claims adjudicators use the system. Ohio was the first state in the nation to close a disability case in DCPS and continues to be called upon to share knowledge of the disability program and the new electronic system.
The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)
Council was established by Senate Bill 144 and signed into law by Governor John
Kasich on March 1, 2018. The law streamlines the Opportunities for Ohioans with
Disabilities Commissioners, the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities,
and the Consumer Advisory Committee into a single, more inclusive council. The makeup
of the Council follows criteria established by the federal government,
including that a majority of the members have a disability.
The Council consists of 15 members who are appointed by the
Governor. Currently, the following individuals have been appointed:
Marcie Beers (Mount Gilead); Mark Davis (Columbus); Shauna
L. Dowdy (Portsmouth); Jane E. Gerhardt (Cincinnati); Margie Hegg (Upper
Arlington); Jack Licate, Ph.D. (Shaker Heights); Charles “Carlo” LoParo
(Dublin); Kimberly S. Monachino, Ed.D (Twinsburg); John L. Moore (Dublin); Jeremy
Morris (Reynoldsburg); Carolyn Peters, Ph.D. (Dayton); Matthew J. Sauer, Ph.D.
(Cincinnati); JW Smith, Ph.D. (Athens); and Karis L. Spence (Delaware).
The OOD Council will meet quarterly to advise
OOD regarding specific aspects of the vocational rehabilitation program as
outlined in the federal regulations. The Council is responsible for reviewing
state goals and priorities related to the vocational rehabilitation services
portion of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State
Plan. Congratulations to the new members. For additional information, visit OOD Council.
The month of July marks the
28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On
July 28, 1990, President H.W. Bush signed the ADA into legislation. The ADA
gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to
those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national
origin, age and religion. The ADA also assures equal opportunity for
individuals with disabilities for access to businesses, employment,
transportation, state and local government programs and services, and
telecommunications.
“I look at it as planting a
flag on new territory that says people with disabilities matter,” said OOD
Director Kevin Miller. “Prior to the ADA, people with disabilities were not on
level footing with their rights in this country. They were viewed by what they
can’t do; now we look at what they can do.”
OOD assists employers with
incorporating the ADA into the workplace through no-cost disability awareness
and disability etiquette trainings, including Windmills, an interactive
training that helps employers break down barriers and apprehensions about
hiring individuals with disabilities.
“Windmills makes people stop
and think, and that’s the most important thing,” said Director Miller.
The
ADA has benefited many people with disabilities, even those with disabilities
that are not obvious. For more information, visit ADA. For information about how OOD Business Relations
staff can customize a training session to meet your business’s needs, visit OOD Employers - Windmills.
On July 2, OOD’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) policy and training
unit launched a new process for stakeholders to provide input on VR policies that are scheduled to undergo review. Notice
of VR Policy Review will house VR policies that are under review, including
information about the opening and closing dates (always
a 30-day review period). OOD will communicate a list of policies and review
dates via social media (website, Facebook, Twitter and Granicus). If you
currently receive the OOD Focus e-newsletter through Granicus, you will
automatically receive separate announcements for each VR policy review.
Feedback on VR policies will be limited to each specific VR policy under review
for that specific 30-day review period. To sign up for the OOD Focus
e-newsletter, visit OOD.Ohio.gov.
Eight years ago, Josh Logan was involved in a motorcycle
accident which resulted in various disabilities including a traumatic brain
injury. Prior to the accident, Josh had been employed as a commercial
carpenter, but was unable to return to his occupation.
Josh then decided to pursue a degree in accounting at
Firelands Bowling Green State University and
applied for OOD services. He later discovered he preferred hands-on work and left school.
OOD was able to help Josh find
employment at North Coast Marine Specialties in Port Clinton, where he was hired as a canvas sewer, and later was promoted to project manager. As project
manager, he enjoys more customer involvement as he obtains estimates and orders
materials and supplies for business operations.
Russ Griffin, one of the owners of North Coast Marine
Specialties said, “Josh puts everything into what he’s doing and doesn’t let
what’s happened to him in the past stop him from moving forward.”
Josh loves his job and looks forward to going to work
because he gets to work both inside and outside, and every day is different. If you have a disability and want to work,
visit OODWorks.com.
OOD
is hosting participant focus groups around the state for those who want to
provide input about OOD services or to learn more about vocational
rehabilitation. For focus group events, visit OOD's
Facebook page.
According to Affordable Colleges Online, though the price of obtaining a postsecondary
education can be steep, both traditional and online degrees should be
accessible to everyone. To offset costs, many seek alternative sources of
funding, including grants, loans and scholarships. Students with disabilities
who are entering college will find that there are selective scholarship opportunities
for which they may apply that can help pay for school. To discover scholarships
and additional resources for obtaining funding, visit Affordable Colleges Online.
OOD can help students with disabilities successfully
transition from school to work. If you know a student with a disability, visit OOD Transition Students to
get additional information.
Connect to OOD on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to see more items like this
interview with OOD Director Miller about the Technology First initiative.
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.
The services
described are funded, in part, with Federal funds awarded by the U.S. DOE under
the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Supported Employment Services, and the
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) programs.
For purposes of the VR program, the Federal VR grant paid 78.7 percent of the
total costs of the program. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018, the VR agency
received $100,336,097 in Federal VR funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid
21.3 percent of the total costs $27,155,767 under the VR program.
The
pre-employment transition services provided under the VR program, described,
are funded 100 percent through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
For FFY 2018, the total amount of grant funds used for these services is $15,050,415.
For purposes of
the Supported Employment program (Youth with a Disability Program), Federal
funds paid 100 percent of the total costs. In FFY 2018, the VR agency received
$303,725 in Federal Supported Employment funds (Youth with a Disability Program).
For purposes of
the Supported Employment program, Federal funds paid 95 percent of the total
costs. In FFY 2018, the VR agency received $303,725 in Federal Supported
Employment funds. State appropriated funds paid 5 percent $33,747 of the total
costs under the Supported Employment program.
For purposes of
the OIB program, Federal funds paid 90 percent of the total costs incurred
under the program. In FFY 2018, the agency received $1,174,400 in Federal grant
funds for this program. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10 percent $130,489
of the total costs incurred under the OIB program.
The services
described are funded, in part, with Federal funds awarded by Health and Human
Services (HHS) under the Independent Living (IL) program. For purposes of the Federal IL program the
federal grant paid 90 percent of the total costs of the program. In FFY 2018, OOD
received $632,411 in Federal IL funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10
percent of the total costs $70,268 under the IL program.
Back to Top
|
