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HireGround is a
quarterly newsletter published by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
(OOD) to provide updates about Ohio’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. OOD’s
mission is to provide Ohioans with disabilities quality employment,
independence and disability determinations.
After 11 years helping local businesses become more
inclusive of people with disabilities, the Ohio Business Leadership Network is
changing its name to Disability:IN Ohio to signal its commitment to creating an
economy where people with disabilities participate fully and meaningfully.
The name change is part of a larger rebranding effort by the
United States Business Leadership Network, which changed its name to
Disability:IN to give more visibility to the cause nationally. The
organization’s 40+ affiliates across the country will be joining in the effort
of creating a more unified brand to create more awareness of the importance of
including people with disabilities throughout the workforce, supply chain and
market place. Companies that hire people with disabilities are not only
demonstrating good corporate citizenship, but benefit from a more inclusive
culture. This diversity of talent has been shown to lead to improved innovation
and decision-making, as well as more accessible products and services which
open markets to a wider audience of consumers.
In March, 2018, the National Federation of the Blind
(NFB) Ohio continued its partnership with OOD’s Bureau of Services for the
Visually Impaired (BSVI) by putting an adult Braille literacy project into full
swing. To date, half of the 14 participants from around Ohio have completed
their mastery of basic Braille, months ahead of schedule. These adults can keep
the Braille writers given to them for learning. Many are already borrowing
books from the National Library Services for their reading pleasure.
The program began with weekend meetings around the state
in March and April to introduce small learning groups to the study materials and
Braille writers they would be using. Following this, each learner has
participated in two hours of weekly tutoring by phone or through internet from
qualified Braille teachers, plus weekly dialogue with other adults who know
Braille. These mentors use Braille actively in their own lives, and several
also learned Braille as adults.
On August 25, a statewide exhibit of Braille
displays is coming to Columbus at the initiative of teachers in the program.
This exhibit is open to program learners and anyone else interested in
technology to introduce visitors to practical applications of Braille use through
refreshable electronic displays, such as connection with a smart phone or
reading from one’s laptop.
For additional questions or details on the August 25
meeting, please contact Elizabeth Sammons at 614-438-1260 or elizabeth.sammons@ood.ohio.gov.
Did you know OOD’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) policies
are available on OOD’s website? In August of 2017, OOD made the VR policies
available online so that the public, including individuals with disabilities,
families, providers and partners, can view them. You can find the VR policies
at BVR/BSVI
Vocational Rehabilitation Policies.
Building on these transparency efforts of the agency, OOD
has recently rolled out a new process that will allow the public to provide
comment on any VR policies that are scheduled for revision. OOD’s VR Policy and
Training Unit will notify the public via Granicus, Facebook, Twitter and the
OOD home page when specific policies are under revision and the dates of the 30-day
window open for review and public feedback.
Based upon OOD’s policy review schedule, a subset of the
VR policies are up for review on a quarterly basis. A PDF draft of the policies
will be accessible from the OOD home page at Notice of
VR Policy Review during the review period. Though these copies are
not editable, comments and questions may be emailed to the VR Policy and
Training Unit mailbox at OOD.VRPolicy@ood.ohio.gov. OOD
will take all comments and questions under consideration during the revision
process.
A highlight of OOD’s VR services involves the assistance
provided to Ohio students with disabilities in their transition to adulthood through
high-quality work experiences. This summer, more than 3,000 students with
disabilities had the opportunity to explore career interests and gain valuable
work skills through the Summer Youth Career Exploration (SYCE) and the Summer
Youth Work Experiences (SYWE). SYCE and SYWE are part of OOD’s broader service
delivery, ensuring that students with disabilities have access to
pre-employment transition services. Such activities comprise a key component of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the legislation authorizing
the VR program.
Exploring interests and participating in authentic work
experiences can be beneficial for all youth, but especially for students with
disabilities. Research indicates that work experience for students with
disabilities during high school helps them to acquire jobs at higher wages
after they graduate. This year, OOD partnered with more than 90 community
rehabilitation programs at a wide variety of sites hosted by community
employers across the state for these experiences. Some examples of the diversity
of occupations students explored this summer include waterpark attendant,
warehouse, landscaping, dietary, clerical, childcare, catering, concessions,
automotive, maintenance, food prep, animal care, greenhouse work, retail,
customer service, stocking and hospitality. As we wrap up this summer, we look
forward to working with the students, families, schools, employers and other
community partners as they move forward to build on skills they learned.
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