 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and his grandson Parker (left) stop by the vending area operated by Joe Hall (center) at Hocking Hills Visitor Center. They are joined by Amy Seger (second from right), Business Enterprise Specialist at OOD, and Mary Mertz (far right), Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
This week Governor Mike DeWine and his grandson, Parker, attended the opening of the new Hocking Hills Visitor Center, a 8,500-square-foot-building to learn, explore, and plan a visit to Hocking Hills State Park. There is also an additional 5,000 square feet on the upper and lower outdoor verandas. Vending services are provided through a Business Operator with the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities’ Business Enterprise (BE) Program. The Governor and Parker stopped by to check out the vending area and get a snack.
Vending services are provided through the Business Enterprise Program by a license operator who is legally blind. The program currently has 90 licensed operators managing businesses in food service and vending throughout Ohio. These opportunities include the management of cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars, and vending machines in state and federal buildings and highway rest areas, where licensed operators have priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and Ohio Revised Code. The program also operates at state universities, colleges, and in county buildings.
Joe Hall of Glouster is the BE Operator at Hocking College. Expanding his business to the Hocking Hills Visitor Center was a natural fit. Two of Joe’s brothers are also part of the BE Program in other parts of the state. According to Hall, “The BE Program is the best program for the blind and visually impaired. The staff and fellow operators are extremely supportive. I have been in the program for 26 years, and it has enabled me to provide for my family and be a business owner.”
Hall is excited to offer the center’s visitors refreshments. “We hope that when everyone comes by the visitor center, they will stop by the vending area for refreshment and a snack. We have water, energy drinks, pop, chips, trail mix, and candy to keep you fueled for your trip to Hocking Hills,” Hall said.
Planning a trip to Hocking Hills State Park to see the new visitor center? Snap a selfie and tag it #StateParkSelfie for a chance to win free state park overnight stays or tickets to the Ohio State Fair. More information is available at http://ohiodnr.gov/selfie.
 A crowd gathers at the Ohio State Fair to listen to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.
This year’s Ohio State Fair will be more accessible and inclusive for everyone!
Three new efforts will provide fairgoers with improved accessibility when the Ohio State Fair takes place July 24 - August 4: wheelchair/mobility charging stations, technology to connect people who are blind or have low vision to an agent who can help with navigation, and a dedicated sensory-friendly morning.
“I am pleased that Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities is helping to expand access to the Fair by providing wheelchair/mobility charging stations and navigation aid technology. The Fair also will offer a dedicated sensory-friendly time to visit,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “These resources will help even more people celebrate Ohio’s products, businesses, people, and history. Whatever you are looking for, you can Find It Here at the Ohio State Fair!”
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities teamed up with the State Fair to make complimentary wheelchair/mobility charging stations available this year. The stations are in marked areas in the Bricker MarketPlace Building, Kasich Hall, Lausche Youth Center, Natural Resources Park Pavilion, Taste of Ohio Café, and the WCOL Celeste Center.
“The Ohio State Fair is a great way to recharge from work and enjoy the summer,” said OOD Director Kevin Miller. “Since visitors usually spend the entire day at the Fair, it’s important that charging stations are available to keep wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices going strong.”
Also made available with support from OOD and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, fairgoers who are blind or have low vision can use Aira – which stands for Artificial Intelligence Remote Assistance – to connect, for free, to a remote agent via a cell phone or through specially fashioned glasses. Both the application and the glasses allow the agent to access visual information, which is especially helpful for navigating a large, unfamiliar area. The agent is also able to locate users through GPS and direct them to places of interest.
“Thanks to the efforts of OOD and the Ohio State Fair, people with disabilities will be able to enjoy the fair in a way that has not been available to us before,” said Eric Duffy with the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. “We hope this is only the beginning of an effort to build a more inclusive Ohio."
In collaboration with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Ohio State Fair is turning down the lights and volume in an effort to host a sensory-friendly morning event on July 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fairgoers will have an opportunity to ride the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit the Fair’s educational activities, take a break in the OCALI Quiet Room, and explore the many activities in the shade of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Park.
“We know the Fair can be a bit overwhelming for some people,” said Ohio State Fair General Manager Virgil Strickler. “By offering some quiet opportunities and soothing activities, we’re supporting an enjoyable morning for all families.”
These additions build on efforts the Ohio State Fair has already had in place:
- Buildings and most restrooms are accessible
- Motorized and non-motorized wheelchair rentals
- Sign language interpretation (by advance request)
- Free assisted listening devices for use at the WCOL Celeste Center, Main Street Stage and the UnitedHealthcare Gazebo Stage
- Accessible seats for concerts in the WCOL Celeste Center (purchase directly from Ticketmaster by toggling the switch with the wheelchair icon or selecting a seat with a wheelchair icon)
“We’re thankful for partnerships with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and OCALI to make the Fair an inclusive and welcoming space,” explained Strickler.
During the Fair, conveniently-located guest information services booths offer daily schedules, maps, and directions. For additional information, contact info@expo.ogio.gov or call 614-644-4000.
 June 23-29 is Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. We reflect on the contributions of Helen Keller, born on June 27, 1880. The trailblazer devoted her life to advance the rights of people who are blind or deaf-blind. For more information on deaf-blindness, visit the American Association of the Deaf-Blind, Hellen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults, National Center on Deaf-Blindness, World Federation of the Deafblind, and the Ohio Association of the Deaf-Blind Facebook Group.
 Governor Mike DeWine’s Executive Order (2019-03D) establishes Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities, requiring all state agencies to increase recruitment, hiring, and advancement of people with disabilities. To support this effort, OOD and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services collaborated to provide disability awareness and etiquette training to State of Ohio supervisors and managers through the Lead Ohio Foundations of Supervision Program, which began last month. The training helps participants become aware of respectful etiquette and proper language usage related to interactions with people with disabilities. It also provides guidelines for employees for in-person engagement with those with disabilities.
The Governor’s Executive Order also requires that all state employees participate in regular disability etiquette and awareness training. OOD has led an effort to develop online learning for all State of Ohio employees. The training series will roll out in the coming months.
OOD staff provide training and consultation on disability etiquette, communication in the workplace, and worksite accessibility, at no cost, to Ohio businesses. So far this year, OOD has facilitated 48 disability etiquette and awareness training events for 22 employers. One of these employers, UnitedHealthcare, launched a statewide training effort for all of its employees to boost understanding and celebrate diversity and inclusion. Training has also been provided for managers with Amazon distribution centers in Etna and Obetz.
Let OOD customize a no-cost disability awareness and etiquette 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. For more information, contact a facilitator in your area to schedule training.
 The Ohio Interagency Work Group on Autism is looking to hear from parents and families of children with autism. A short survey will help Ohio's Interagency Work Group on Autism improve services and supports. To take the survey, visit bit.ly/AutismDxSurvey.
 In celebration of the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Center for Disability Empowerment will be hosting a variety of disability-related vendors and organizations at Columbus Commons on July 18, 2019. The Vendor Fair will begin at 11:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM. Come enjoy the strolling entertainment and grab lunch at one of Columbus' food trucks!
 Visit the following links to learn about sports and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities, family members, and friends.
Adaptive Sports Ohio offers activities year-round throughout Ohio for people with physical disabilities.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes offers many sporting opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision.
 Susan Pugh, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation; Amadou Diallo, Budget Manager; Tom Melfo, Assistant Deputy Director with the Division of Disability Determination; Lori Carter, Workforce Planning & Development Manager; and Steve Tribbie, Performance and Reporting Manager.
OOD leadership spent time together this week reflecting on the agency’s mission and guiding principles. With a renewed commitment, the team continued to plan for new budget initiatives in Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed budget for OOD. Stay tuned for exciting budget news!
  
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