The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
(OOD) Council held its first meeting on August 15. Dr. Carolyn Peters was
elected chair of the Council and Dr. JW Smith was elected vice-chair. Program Deputy Directors gave an
overview of OOD’s vocational rehabilitation and business relations efforts, and provided information about OOD's Progress Report Card.
The new Council consists of 16 members
appointed by Governor John Kasich and replaces three separate entities. It follows
criteria established by the federal government, including that a majority of
the members have a disability. The purpose of the Council is to provide feedback
to OOD on its Bureau
of Vocational Rehabilitation and Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired programs.
The
next OOD Council meeting is scheduled for November 14. For a list of Council
members, visit OOD Council.
Kenny Music is excited to be working at his local Taco
Bell. He contacted OOD last year to see about getting a job specifically at
that restaurant.
OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Stefanie Motter had
previously helped Kenny find employment at that Taco Bell and was happy to work
with him again when he moved back to Lima.
“Kenny has always been easy to work with. He’s very
enthusiastic about working,” said Motter.
OOD provided Kenny with job development services, job
coaching, job retention, and transportation for the first two weeks of his
employment. He was also provided with a safety vest for when he cleans up the
parking lot and a visual flip book of the tasks he completes during work.
“Thank you for everything you have done for me,” Kenny said
to Motter.
Kenny continues to enjoy going to work and being with his
coworkers.
For more information about how OOD can assist you on your employment path, visit OODWorks.com.
OOD’s Division of Disability Determination (DDD) recently hosted
an open house recruiting event, following the posting for multiple Disability
Claims Adjudicator (DCA) positions. Approximately 60 guests attended the event,
which included information sharing and an office tour. Human Resources
professionals were on hand to review resumes, screen in applicants, explain benefits,
and assist with the online application process.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) authorized new hiring
based on DDD’s positive performance. DCAs process medical claims for Social
Security disability and require high levels of organization, analytical skills
and computer proficiency. Last year, DDD served more than 181,000 Ohioans who
filed for disability. SSA’s goal for 2018 is to process 164,345 disability
cases.
Celebrated in October,
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is held to raise awareness on disability employment issues and celebrate the many contributions of
America’s workers with disabilities. In recognition of NDEAM, OOD will spread
the word across the state about the benefits of hiring individuals with
disabilities.
OOD will host five job fairs
for agency job-seekers and employers that are specifically looking to hire
individuals with disabilities. The job fairs will be held in Cincinnati (Oct.
3), Toledo (Oct. 10), Columbus (Oct. 17), Canton (Oct. 24) and Cleveland (Oct.
30).
In addition, select employers will be recognized with the OOD
Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards that will honor companies who demonstrate
diversity and inclusion best practices in the workplace. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates on these events and awards.
Robert Hooper and service dog Bailey
September
is recognized as National Service Dog
Appreciation Month. Dogs prove their value to the disability community from
alerting someone who is deaf to a knock on the door, to guiding an individual who
is blind around a tricky sidewalk, to warning an individual who has seizures of
an oncoming episode or picking up something an individual who is in a wheelchair
has dropped.
Service
dog Bailey helps former OOD Youth Leadership Forum delegate Robert Hooper
navigate around The Ohio State University campus as Robert pursues his law
degree.
If you would like to support programs that train dogs for individuals with disabilities, click on the links below:
·
Canine Companions for
Independence
in Delaware
·
Circle
Tail
in Butlerville
·
Freedom
Paws Assistance Dogs in Marysville
·
Pilot
Dogs
in Columbus
·
4
Paws for Ability in Xenia
On September 21, the Ohio
Department of Aging will celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Day by holding
its annual 10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls fitness walk. This effort will
raise awareness about falls and how to help older residents reduce their risk. The
number of participants and miles walked during this event will be counted
toward the state’s goal of 10 million steps statewide. OOD staff proudly
participate in this effort every year.
Falls are an epidemic among
older citizens. In fact, one in three Ohioans over age 60 will fall this year,
and someone is injured in a fall every five minutes. Age-related eye diseases
can increase the chances of experiencing a fall. OOD’s Bureau of Services for
the Visually Impaired offers services through its Independent
Living Older Blind program to promote
the independence and self-sufficiency for qualifying Ohio citizens.
To find out more about
participating in the 10 Million Steps to Prevent
Falls or the Ohio Department of
Aging’s STEADY U Ohio falls prevention initiative, visit Steady U.
OOD is proud to present its 2017-2018 annual report. Read about OOD's accomplishments since Governor Kasich took office, find out how the agency is helping individuals with disabilities find employment, how the Business Relations Team is partnering with employers around the state to hire those individuals, and how the agency continues to lead the nation in the number of cases processed in the new Social Security Administration Disability Claims Processing System. Check out the OOD annual report.
Connect to OOD on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to see more items like how Google may be able to help children with autism learn social cues.
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. Department
of Education (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% 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% 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%
through a grant from the U.S. DOE. 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% 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% of the total costs. In
FFY 2018, the VR agency received $303,725 in federal Supported Employment
funds. State appropriated funds paid 5% $33,747 of the total costs under the Supported
Employment program.
For purposes of
the OIB program, federal funds paid 90% 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% $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% 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% of the total costs $70,268 under the IL program.
Back to Top
|
