 John Canaday is just like any other business owner. The only difference is that he happens to be blind. Watch a video about John and learn more about how rest stop purchases in Ohio support the Business Enterprise Program.
 Pictured above are the 2019 Business Enterprise’s “Years of Service” award recipients who were recognized on May 3 at the Sheraton Capital Square in Columbus. Front row from left to right: Derek Neufarth, Melissa Straight, Lisa Litzinger, Steven McMillin, John Diakogeorgiou, Scott Allen and Paul Brothers. Back row from left to right: Cynthia Lee (with OOD), Jeff Tolle, Chris Johnson, Roger Hall, Doug Mills and Christy Hauck (with OOD). Not pictured: Stawn Essman, Laura Kolb, James Cyrus, Steve Vincke, Binh To and Craig Smith.
A total of 54 business owners, known as operators, assembled for the May 3, 2019 Business Enterprise Program’s annual statewide training conference. Employees, loved ones and others also attended.
The Business Enterprise Program recruits, trains and licenses Ohioans who are legally blind to have entrepreneurial careers in food service management. These opportunities include the management of cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars and vending in state and federal buildings, as well as, interstate highway rest areas, where licensed operators have priority to bid on vacant vending facilities, under the Randolph Sheppard Act and Ohio Revised Code. Operators also run businesses at state universities, colleges and county buildings. Business Enterprise Consultants also provide ongoing support, technical assistance and training to operators.
“It’s significant that we added eight operators over the last year,” said Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Director Kevin Miller. “Governor Mike DeWine’s budget will provide even more opportunities for all individuals with disabilities.”
State Representative Scott Lipps (62nd District) was on hand to address the operators. “We will prioritize and fight for new victories every day,” he said.
 Derek Neufarth has been an operator since 1994.
Derek Neufarth, Chair of the Ohio Vendors Representative Committee and operator in Dayton, explained, “The committee’s priority and BE’s priority are the same: put blind people to work!” He commended efforts over the last two years, which have resulted in nine individuals being trained and licensed, four of which immediately started businesses through the program.
 Shelbi Hindel has been an operator since 2017.
After staying home to raise her children, Shelbi Hindel, decided to get involved in the program and has been an operator in Columbus since 2017. “I have great support all around,” she said. “I’m happy to have something to go to. I like moving and being out and about.”
 José Galindo has been an operator since 1997.
Operator José Galindo of Cleveland has been at it since 1997. “Because of my business, I was able to put my three kids through college,” Galindo said. He explained that as an operator he has the same responsibilities as every other business owner. Galindo said that he has enjoyed the responsibilities but admitted he looks forward to retirement and spending time at the beach.
Derek Neufarth, who has been blind all of his life, hopes that younger individuals who are blind will consider the Business Enterprise Program. A turning point in his own life came at age 11 when Richard Mindling, who owned Poor Richard’s ice cream shop in Dayton, emphasized to him to never let anyone tell him that he could not do what he wanted. This carried weight because Richard had low vision. Coincidentally, Mindling later became an operator in the program while Neufarth was also involved.
“There are opportunities for young people to make their own way in the world,” Neufarth said. “Our program affords them this opportunity.”
 New 2018 Licensees, from left to right: Deq Ahmed, Nicole Perrin, Mark Meassick, Sabrina Hawkins, Christopher Tolle (with his service dog Nash), Joshua French and Isaac McAlister. Not pictured: Mark Pappas.
 James Clinkscale and Kelly Jordan with OOD train UnitedHealthcare staff in Dublin.
On May 3, Business Relations Specialist Kelly Jordan and Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, James Clinkscale provided disability awareness training for UnitedHealthcare staff in Dublin, Ohio. This was the beginning of a statewide training effort to boost understanding and inclusion at UnitedHealthcare. Additional trainings will take place in Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Youngtown.
“UnitedHealthcare is excited to partner with OOD to help our business be at the forefront of this important issue,” said Amy Swanson, Vice President of Marketing, Advocacy and Member Experience for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio. “With more than 1.6 million Ohioans living with a disability and more than 800,000 of them eligible to work, we want to build our capacity to engage with people of all abilities. Hiring a person with a disability is the best way to level the playing field, and walk in the shoes of those we serve,” added Swanson.
“This was nothing that I expected,” said one employee. “It made me challenge everything I thought I knew and made me realize that everyone has been touched by someone with a disability.”
“Our participants were able to share on a personal level their understanding of unique abilities, and the training challenged them to think on a whole new level,” said Pete Setzer, Director of Consumer Services, UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement. “By expanding disability inclusion training to all of our statewide employees, we reinforce UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to be an inclusive and diverse employer of choice.”
Let OOD customize a no-cost training program for your business! Business Relations Specialists can provide a variety of disability awareness educational training sessions that will help support your company’s desire to create a culture of diversity and inclusion. Contact a facilitator in your area for more information.
 Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Director Kevin Miller testified before the Ohio Senate on May 8, 2019. The Director explained how Governor DeWine’s proposed budget for fiscal years 2020-2021 supports the agency’s mission to provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to achieve quality employment, independence and disability determination outcomes. Demonstrating a strong commitment to investing in Ohioans with disabilities to ensure that they are not left behind, the proposed budget represents a state investment of $17.4 million in General Revenue Funds in the first year and $18.9 million in the second (an eight percent increase each year) of the biennium.
For each dollar of state investment, OOD draws down an additional $3.69 in federal vocational rehabilitation grant funds to support our efforts in Ohio. The budget will strengthen our current programs by developing new patterns of service to ensure the agency is meeting the employment needs of all Ohioans with disabilities.
The Director's full testimony is available at OhioSenate.gov.
 Lauren Ball landed a job shadow at the Ironton In-Demand Employer Panel and Networking Event.
Lauren Ball has bachelor’s degree in psychology and wants a career in a helping profession. While at the In-Demand Employer Panel and Networking Event in Ironton, she was encouraged by pointers from the panel members. “I’m shy, and it is helpful to know what the employers are looking for,” she said. Later, Ball landed a job shadow with one of the employers at the event!
Stay tuned for more highlights from In-Demand Jobs Week.
Match Making
Wright State University Newsroom, 5-9-19
Event looks to help disabled workers
Ironton Tribune, 5-8-19
Ohio’s success tied to filling in-demand jobs (opinion)
LimaOhio.com, 5-8-19
Autism in the workplace: A spectrum of hiring choices
Reuters, 5-7-19
Dayton teacher wins national award for STEM work in special education
Dayton Daily News, 5-6-19
Why the new ‘Peppa Pig’ character gives me hope
The Washington Post, 5-7-19
Disability Didn’t End Their Athletic Dreams. It Started Them.
The New York Times, 5-5-19
Zero Threshold design competition aims to bring beauty to barrier-free living
Cleveland.com, 5-5-19
|
