Budget Invests in High School Students with Disabilities; Aira Making a Difference for People who are Blind; Assistive Technology of Ohio; Shannon Cornelius is Cleaning Up at Mid-Ohio Cleaning; April is National Social Security Month

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 04/12/2019 03:09 PM EDT

Budget Invests in High School Students with Disabilities

An image of two students communicating through sign language

Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed budget for fiscal years 2020-2021 supports our mission to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to achieve quality employment, independence, and disability determination outcomes. In an effort to support high school students with disabilities, services will be expanded to students at the Ohio State School for the Blind and the Ohio School for the Deaf through a dedicated vocational rehabilitation counselor at each school. These new counselors will provide students with vocational counseling, training, and job placement assistance to help them transition to college and/or employment after graduation.

Lou Maynus, superintendent of the Ohio School for the Deaf and interim superintendent for the Ohio State School for the Blind, said “The role of vocational rehabilitation counselor is a critical one for the students at both of our schools. The addition of these counselor positions at each school will help us ensure our students are prepared for successful, rewarding pathways after high school graduation.”

You can watch a video of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Director Kevin Miller’s budget testimony on the Ohio Channel or read it on OhioHouse.Gov.

Aira Making a Difference for People who are Blind

An image of Eric Duffy talking to OOD staff during a meeting

Eric Duffy tells OOD staff about the advantages of Aira.

Senior staff at OOD were treated to a presentation this week on Aira by Eric Duffy from the National Federation of the Blind. Aira – which stands for Artificial Intelligent Remote Access – is a worldwide program that allows individuals who are blind to connect to a remote agent via a cell phone or through specially fashioned glasses. Both the application and the glasses allow the agent to see in place of the user, augmenting the independence skills of the user. The agent also is able to locate the user via GPS and direct them to places they may need to go. “It’s like a personal assistant,” said Duffy. “I’ve been using it since 2016 and it allows me to have real access to vision – albeit someone else’s vision) – that I can adapt and add to my toolbox.”

Duffy explained how in just one day he used an Aira agent to proof a document, send the document to a print shop, arrange a ride and change his address at the post office. In the past, Aira got Duffy and a group to a restaurant (within walking distance of their hotel), step-by-step. Last year, Aira also helped him attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City by not only mapping out the entire trip, but by taking photos for him, as well. Currently, Aira is helping him earn a master’s degree by doing “Google searches” and going to the library and helping him find needed text.

For many people who are blind, Aira has been key to travel and transportation needs. The John Glenn Columbus International Airport is now an Aira partner, which means subscribers can access Aira with their smartphone or AIRA glasses for free. Duffy has used Aira to take a photo of his suitcase so someone could help him find it in baggage claim. And now, because of the detailed directions an agent can provide, Duffy feels like he can stop and get a coffee or a snack along the way, instead of going directly to his gate. “It makes travel more enjoyable, that is for sure,” said Duffy.

Other free services by Aira include assistance with online job searching and resume writing, transportation arrangement for a job interview.

Aira’s current partners in Ohio include Walgreens, Vispero and Freedom Technologies, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and soon-to-be-partner, COSI. Aira minutes are also provided to students who are blind at The Ohio State University as an accommodation, to help them navigate campus.

For more information on Aira or to obtain service, please call 1-800-835-1934, or visit the Aira website.

Assistive Technology of Ohio

Image of Bill Darling standing next to various assistive devices

Bill Darling with Assistive Technology of Ohio shares how technology can help individuals with disabilities function independently in the areas of work, home and school.

Technology can solve barriers to employment for some Ohioans with disabilities. Assistive Technology of Ohio has a clear mission: help Ohioans with disabilities learn about or acquire assistive technology. Check out a video to learn more about this federally-funded nonprofit organization that is part of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University.

Shannon Cornelius is Cleaning Up at Mid-Ohio Cleaning

Image of Shannon mopping the floor while smiling

Shannon Cornelius enjoys working at Mid-Ohio Cleaning Contractors.

While working as a babysitter for a friend was okay, Shannon Cornelius found herself bored at home and wanted to be more involved in her community. Amanda Furniss with the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities referred Cornelius to OOD. With help from OOD, she began receiving employment planning and services, eventually landing a job with Mid-Ohio Cleaning Contractors. In fact, when Cornelius got the call that she had the job, she played the voicemail message 20 times for her Job Developer, Valerie Reinhardt, just to make sure Reinhardt had heard the news!

To help Cornelius learn the routine and requirements of the job, a job coach helped her be successful at this new opportunity at Mid-Ohio Cleaning Contractors. Currently, her Supervisor Sandy Collins is helping to arrange transportation to and from work for Cornelius, a great help as she sometimes has speech difficulties and may not be understood.

Cornelius will continue to have support through the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and this assistance, in conjunction with the supportive work environment at Mid-Ohio Cleaning Contractors, will help to support her long-term employment and future success. Cornelius has received continued recognition for her hard work and dedication to her job, not only by local staff but by those at the corporate level, as well.

And having a good job has its perks! One of the first things employment allowed Cornelius to do was go out and buy herself a puppy. Purchasing “Rosie,” and bringing her home, made Cornelius extremely happy! “I love my job,” said Cornelius, “it is the best match for me.”

April is National Social Security Month

An image of a man looking at a cell phone

Need to check the status of your pending Social Security application? All you need to do is sign up for a my Social Security account! See everything you can do with a my Social Security account.

In the News

School celebrates Ohio Deaf History Month, those whose success inspired it

Columbus Dispatch, 3-22-19

Developmentally disabled share concerns with lawmakers, aides

Columbus Dispatch, 4-5-19

2nd Annual Bowlympics draws more than 100 bowlers

NBC 24 Toledo, 4-7-19

Dozens participate in Jack Attack Boccia Tournament

ABC 6 Columbus, 4-7-19

'Pieces of Hope for Autism' cookies return to Panera Bread to benefit Autism Speaks

Fox 28 Columbus, 4-8-19

Mom glows about son’s progress years after autism diagnosis, ‘The ultimate underdog’

Fox 8 Cleveland, 4-8-19

How a teacher is using coffee to change the lives of students with special needs in Olmsted Falls

WKYC Cleveland, 4-9-19

State fund helps parents provide for their disabled children after mom and dad are gone

Columbus Dispatch, 4-12-19

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Programs provided by the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities are funded, in whole or in part, with federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), OOD received 78.7% of its funding through the DOE VR grant. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018, OOD received $100,336,097 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $27,155,767. Of these federal funds, $15,050,415 is set aside for Pre-ETS. For purposes of the Supported Employment Program, the DOE VR grant funded 100% of the costs for the Supported Employment for Youth with a Disability Program. In FFY 2018, OOD received $303,725. The grant also funded 95% of the Supported Employment Program (non-Youth). In FFY 2018, OOD received $303,725 and the State appropriated funds paid the remaining 5% or $33,747 of the total costs. For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2018 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2018, OOD received $1,174,400 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10% or $130,489 of the total costs incurred under the OIB program. For purposes of the Independent Living (IL) Program, the federal grant received from HHS paid 90% of the total costs incurred in FFY 2018. In FFY 2018, OOD received funding of $632,411. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10% or $70,268 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.