 National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a campaign held every October to celebrate the many contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and to raise awareness regarding employment of people with disabilities. This year’s theme is The Right Talent, Right Now. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is leading the state’s efforts across Ohio to promote the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the agency is hosting job fairs that are designed to connect OOD job seekers with employers as well as to recognize businesses who are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce. Last year, 319 individuals with disabilities who participated in the events obtained employment.
“Ohioans with disabilities offer value and talent to Ohio’s workforce and economy,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “I salute Ohio businesses committed to hiring individuals with a disability, alongside those who do not have disabilities, to create inclusive environments so that no one is left behind.”
“This month is about connecting The Right Talent, Right Now with the workforce needs of Ohio employers,” said Kevin Miller, OOD Director. “We continue to build partnerships with Ohio businesses to increase the hiring of dedicated and qualified people – who happen to have disabilities. Last year, we assisted more than 5,700 individuals with disabilities to successfully find employment.”
During October, OOD is hosting its annual series of job fairs for OOD job seekers and employers that are specifically looking to hire individuals with disabilities. The job fairs, held in Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Canton, and Cleveland, provide individuals with disabilities a unique opportunity to connect one-on-one with employers. This year, more than 170 employers are registered to take part in these events, and several hundred individuals with disabilities are attending the job fairs.
In addition, the annual OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards recognize and honor businesses that hire individuals with disabilities. To be considered for an Employer Partners of Inclusion Award, businesses must be an employer partner with OOD, have hired at least five OOD job seekers during the one-year evaluation period, and must meet specific criteria that demonstrates their level of diversity and inclusion practices for individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Awards are presented for Champion of Inclusion, Platinum Level, Gold Level, and Silver Level.
 OOD recognizes Giant Eagle as the 2019 Champion of Inclusion Award winner for their commitment to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace, and for being a leader of diversity and inclusion best practices in Ohio.
“Giant Eagle is deserving of this distinction for being a model employer of people with disabilities,” said Kevin Miller, OOD Director. “Their inclusion strategy highlights the benefits of hiring, retaining, and advancing individuals with disabilities.”
Giant Eagle has collaborated with OOD for several years to increase employment opportunities and job retention for people with disabilities at Giant Eagle and GetGo stores throughout Ohio. In January 2019, OOD and Giant Eagle launched a successful partnership that embeds a full-time OOD Talent Sourcing Coordinator at Giant Eagle to connect job seekers with disabilities to open positions. This OOD staff person also provides support to Giant Eagle Team Members with disabilities and their supervisors to increase retention. For more information, watch a video about the partnership.
“At Giant Eagle, inclusion and diversity is a passion. We know that employing people who are differently abled is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes great business sense. Our key to success is focusing on what people can do, rather than what they can’t,” said Jeremy Shapira, Giant Eagle Inclusion and Diversity Strategy Manager. “We wouldn’t be as successful in this endeavor if it weren’t for our strong partnership. OOD provides the candidate flow, expertise, and ongoing team member support necessary for employing as many people who are differently abled as possible.”
Congratulations, Giant Eagle!
 OOD congratulates the 2019 Employer Partners of Inclusion Award winners. The following Ohio businesses are this year’s award winners for their commitment to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities:
- Platinum Award: CVS Health, FedEx Ground, OhioHealth, and Walgreens Distribution Center
- Gold Award: Cintas, Fifth Third Bank, HCR ManorCare, Kroger, Meijer, Miami University, Renhill HR On Demand, and The Ohio State University and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Silver Award: Amazon, Aramark, Bob Evans, Cleveland Clinic, Hyatt Regency, Levy Restaurants, MaritzCX, Speedway, Synchrony Financial, Teleperformance USA, and University Hospitals
OOD offers its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all employer partners for their commitment to establishing and growing a culture of diversity and inclusion in the Ohio workplace for individuals with disabilities. For more information, watch a video and/or visit OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards.
 Zac Anderson at his job as a Plastics Operator at Crown Equipment Corporation.
Zacarias (Zac) Anderson came to OOD in 2017 after earning two associate degrees, one in Applied Business for Graphic Design and Visual Media, and another in Applied Science in Digital Game Design. Zac also brought with him previous work experience with Crown Equipment Corporation, having worked on a paint line while in college in 2015-2016.
Testing revealed that Anderson had learning disabilities in math and written expression and experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When Traci Richard, OOD vocational rehabilitation counselor, began working with Anderson, he was also diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. The new diagnosis helped to make sense about how Anderson had been responding to and interacting with others.
While helping Anderson with his plan for employment, Richard took into consideration his previous work experience at Crown Equipment Corporation and thought it made sense to request on-the-job training for Anderson. In early 2018, a 3-month arrangement for on-the job training was made, and Anderson was excited to return to the corporation. Richard felt strongly that the arrangement would help Anderson gain skills in processing information and interacting with others.
Anderson completed the training and is now a full-time Plastics Operator at Crown. He reports loving his job, which includes operating various molding machines on a rotational daily schedule, manual painting on various parts, pre and post-labor inspections, loading material into machine hoppers, and assembling parts.
Anderson was supported by a team during the OJT that included Samantha Boutaam from Crown, Dave Knous from CA Group, Traci Richard, and Stephanie Branco, OOD Business Relations Specialist. He received immediate feedback and had very supportive supervisors and trainers.
“I am so pleased with how the training worked out for Zac,” said Richard. “He had perfect attendance and worked hard. The training helped boost his confidence and self-awareness to do things independently. It has also taught him to learn from and make the best out of all situations,” Richard added.
Cody Brown, Anderson’s supervisor, said, “The on-the-job training program did a great job with Zac from the interview through all aspects of the training. The team regularly followed up with him to review his progress. The results have been positive for both Zac and Crown.”
When asked how he felt about his new job, Anderson simply replied, “I couldn’t be happier.”
If you are a business looking to hire qualified candidates with disabilities through On-the-Job Training, contact your local OOD Business Relations Specialist for more information.
 Over the last several weeks, OOD has been gearing up for job fairs by providing boot camps for job developers in Hamilton, Franklin, Lucas, Stark/Summit, and Cuyahoga Counties.
At the boot camps, job developers gained pointers on helping job seekers develop resumes, network with employers, and prepare “elevator speeches” to use when approaching different employers at a job fair. The boot camp also provided an opportunity for job developers to learn about job fair expectations for their participants, including how to dress and the importance of arriving on time.
OOD also conducts job seeker preparation sessions throughout the state in advance of each job fair. Job seekers learn tips to help them actively participate in the fairs, including the importance of prioritizing the companies they want to visit and developing a plan of action for the day. Job seekers also learn what to do on the day of the fair and steps to take after the event.
“The boot camp was a very productive event,” said Northeast Business Relations Specialist Mike Hoag. “During our debriefing, job developers really came together and shared networking tips, tools, and techniques that can lead participants to gainful employment,” Hoag added.
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced October is Manufacturing Month in Ohio. Today, October 4, is Manufacturing Day. According to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Ohio is the third largest manufacturing state, providing more than 700,000 Ohio jobs. OOD partners with more than 85 manufacturing companies throughout the state to hire individuals with disabilities and make their workplace more inclusive.
 Pictured Left to Right: Marc Manheim, OOD East-Central Area Manager; Maureen Pusch, Easterseals Chief Operating Officer; Julie Wood, OOD Worksite Accessibility Specialist; Ron Klonowski, OOD Business Relations Specialist; Cathy Vickery, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf; Ashlee Iannucci, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor; Elexis Blake, Easterseals Case Coordinator; Steve Leland, Youngstown Community Center for the Deaf Manager; and Dan Williams, OOD Job Developer.
OOD, Easterseals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties, Youngstown Community Center for the Deaf, and the Greenleaf Family Center provided an opportunity for employers to learn about working with employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. The event took place on September 24 at the Youngstown Easterseals office.
Cathy Vickery, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf, and Elexis Blake, Youngstown Community Center for the Deaf Case Coordinator, presented on a variety of considerations for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing including workplace integration strategies, communication, assistive technologies, and tips on providing a supportive work environment.
Participating employers included Meridian Healthcare, Oak Street Health, and KeyBank. Guests also included Gary Cohen, an Easterseals board member who is deaf, and staff from Easterseals and OOD.
“The training was different from what we usually provide,” said Patricia Dempsey, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor. “We mostly meet with employers individually at their workplace. With this new approach, we invited multiple employers with the hope they would want to expand the training to their entire staff as a second phase,” said Dempsey. “Our goal is to increase our outreach and awareness about working with people who are deaf or hard of hearing and how they can be an asset to any workplace,” she added.
To schedule a training in your area, please contact Katie Scheetz, OOD Rehabilitation Program Specialist, Personal Care Assistance and Community Centers for the Deaf, at 513-768-6711 or Katie.Scheetz@ood.ohio.gov.
UNO, the card game, is now accessible for players who are blind or have low vision. UNO Braille was developed in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind and is available for purchase at Target. Audible and printable braille instructions are available at www.UNOBraille.com
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