Project SEARCH prepares students with disabilities for gainful employment, which was the focus of this spring’s Project SEARCH quarterly meeting hosted by Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati, OH on April 8, 2019. It was a great day packed with rich information and networking. There were 35 attendees from all across the state (pictured above) that participated in the day.
 Pictured above are three former Project SEARCH students Derrick, Ann and Sarah (now employees of Fifth Third Bank), standing with OOD Counselor, Tammy Fultz and Fifth Third VP, Manager of Inclusion and Diversity, Mitch Morgan.
The former Project SEARCH students participated in a panel discussion about their experience and success transitioning from student interns to Fifth Third employees.
Derrick began employment at Fifth Third as a File Document Specialist in the Information Technology department in 2012. He has since had three promotions and currently works as an Information Security Customer Support Analyst.
Ann has been employed at Fifth Third for nine years as a Document Imaging Prep Specialist. Mitch Morgan stated that because Ann is an efficient worker and loves to stay busy, she is often assigned to special projects.
Sarah is employed as a receptionist in the Human Resource department and has been with Fifth Third since 2005. Sarah stated that her dream job was to be a receptionist, and after trying other positions, she found her best fit where she is now. She also recently moved into her own apartment.
Also on hand at the event, Heather Morath from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital presented on the importance of making materials easier for people to read, understand and take action. She trained on how to use “Plain Language” in everyday writing and design. The group practiced making complex words and phrases more simple and clear.
 Pictured above is Walt Junewick from Easterseals, Anne Lewis from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and Lisa Martin from Ohio Valley Goodwill, who discussed job placement for Project SEARCH students.
Alex Corwin from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) presented on the Ohio Means Jobs (OMJ) Readiness Seal. The seal is an industry-recognized designation students can earn on their high school diplomas and transcripts indicating they have the personal strengths, strong work ethic and professional experience that businesses need.
The meeting wrapped up with an interactive Speed Networking event followed by general updates from Julie Hance and Roya Hood with OOD, including an emphasis on Project SEARCH sites’ utilization of steering committees, selection committees and business advisory groups to improve employment outcomes.
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.
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