 Job seekers and employers connect at the Cincinnati Job Fair.
In recognition of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is hosting job fairs across the state to connect OOD job seekers with employers as well as to recognize businesses who are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.
The first job fair took place at the Sharonville Convention Center near Cincinnati on October 2. The event included 55 employers and 256 job seekers. OOD staff were joined by 60 job developers from 20 agencies to support job seekers.
“The job fair is the Super Bowl of all our events,” said Kevin Miller, OOD Director. “It is where counselors, job developers, employers, and job seekers with disabilities come together in one location at the same time for one purpose: successful employment.”
The Business Relations team at OOD presented an interactive workshop for employers called “Game Changers: An Assistive Technology Playbook for the Win.” Pictured below is Cynthia Crews, OOD Southwest Business Relations Specialist, engaging the employer participants.
The interactive training featured four hands-on learning stations with assistive technology for supporting employees who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, have a mental health disability, or have a physical disability. Julie Wood, OOD’s Worksite Accessibility Specialist, was one of the workshop presenters.
“The use of assistive technology in the workplace helps us see the possibility of overcoming barriers we never thought we could overcome,” said Wood. Special thanks to Assistive Technology of Ohio and the OCALI Lending Library for loaning equipment.
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The OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards recognized and honored businesses that hire individuals with disabilities. Businesses recognized are employer partners of OOD, who 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. Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards were presented to Cintas, Fifth Third Bank, Kroger, Miami University, Hyatt Regency, and Synchrony Financial.
  OOD Director Kevin Miller (left) presents award to Cintas staff pictured left to right: Kathryn Fusco, Senior Human Resources Manager; Amy Johnson, Human Resources Manager; and Alyssa Muffet, former Corporate Human Resources Manager.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller (right) presents award to Todd Reese, Vice President and Bancorp Collateral Operations Manager, Fifth Third Bank.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller (right) presents award to Shawn Walker, Senior Field Trainer, Kroger.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller (right) presents award to Miami University staff pictured left to right: Denise Ison, Assistant Director Office of Equity & Equal Opportunity; Mary Jane Leveline, Sr. Human Resources Generalist; and Theresa Murphy, Director of Employment, Employment and Compensation Services.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller (right) presents award to Stacey Miller, Director of Human Resources, Hyatt Regency.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller (right) presents award to Synchrony Financial staff pictured left to right: Justin Eberly, Human Resources Manager in Dayton, and Amya Stephens, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources.
James Clinkscale, State Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) (pictured left), addressed job seekers during the Employer Showcase. Clinkscale highlighted job opportunities in state government.
Several state agencies participated in the job fair, including the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Representatives from the Ohio Treasurer of State and the Ohio Secretary of State provided information about STABLE accounts and voter registration.
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Several OOD Council members were on hand to talk with job seekers and employers. Pictured left to right: OOD Director Kevin Miller, Dr. Carolyn Peters (Chair), Karis Spence, Dr. Matthew Sauer, and Mark Fay, OOD Southwest Area Manager.
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Chris Moranda,(pictured left) Executive Director of Disability:IN Ohio was at the job fair to explain the organization’s partnership with OOD. The peer-to-peer network of Ohio employers are committed to employing individuals with disabilities. Disability:IN Ohio is a statewide affiliate of the national Disability:IN organization. Also on hand was Karis Spence, President of Disability:IN Ohio. Spence is also an OOD Council member and Vice President, Enterprise Talent Advocate for Huntington Bank, one of OOD’s employer partners.
“Job fairs, like the one held today in Cincinnati, are important because they provide us with a pipeline of qualified candidates while promoting a workforce of inclusivity,” said Spence.
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Employers offered job seekers the opportunity to explore a variety of open positions. Pictured left: OOD Director Kevin Miller with Dan Connors, President and CEO of St. Joseph Home. Connors attended the job fair to recruit workers to fill direct support professional and nursing vacancies.
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Jim Bauer (pictured right) of Meyer Tool participated in the job fair in an effort to expand Meyer’s employee base. “We have been around since the 1950s, and we want to make our name known for employing individuals with disabilities,” said Bauer. “I’ve gotten six really good resumes, and I’ve already handed out three applications. Another candidate, who has disabilities as a result of an accident, is one I may offer a day position,” said Bauer. “We know that people with disabilities can do the job for us.”
Ryan Brooks is a job seeker who spoke with Bauer. “I have been with a grocery store for about 10 years, running all departments,” said Brooks. “I am now interested in a machine tooling position with Meyer Tool because I am looking for a new opportunity and a new challenge.”
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Kevin Huss (pictured left), a Project SEARCH instructor with Great Oaks Career Campuses at Xavier University, brought 12 students to the Cincinnati Job Fair. “This event gives them their first experience of talking to employers and a real opportunity to practice what they have learned,” said Huss. “Each student came with a goal of participating in five ‘meet and greets’. They were all nervous when they started, but they got better as the event went on. They learned about jobs and companies they had never heard of before. The students have met their goal. They are ready for employment - to get that job and keep it,” Huss added.
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Earlier this week, OOD and the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced the launch of a training for all state employees: Disability Etiquette and Awareness. The training is an effort unprecedented in state history that ultimately supports inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.
The e-learning training module features interviews with several Ohioans who discuss their disabilities and offers practical examples for interaction and communication. Disability Etiquette and Awareness helps participants become aware of respectful etiquette and proper language usage related to interactions with people with different types of disabilities.
“This is an important step toward greater inclusion,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Improving the workplace for employees with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s a matter of attracting and sustaining a talented workforce.”
The training effort is an extension of Governor DeWine’s Executive Order 2019-03D, signed on January 14, 2019, establishing Ohio as a disability inclusion state and model employer of individuals with disabilities. In May, LeadOhio, the statewide management training curriculum, was enhanced to include presentations on disability in the workplace. The expectation for inclusion was also furthered as OOD staff assisted DAS in the creation and selection of the State Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator in May, following a nationwide search.
"This is about promoting inclusive workplace cultures," said Kevin Miller, Director of OOD. "Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their differences, are welcomed, respected, included, and valued. Understanding perspectives from those with the lived experience of a disability is an effective way to increase awareness and learn practical tips.”
“With more than 50,000 employees, the State of Ohio is one of the largest employers in the state,” said DAS Director Matt Damschroder. “Our goal is to be a model employer for inclusion, and to be a leader in achieving Governor DeWine’s vision of Ohio becoming a disability inclusion state.”
For more information on no-cost disability etiquette and awareness training for businesses, visit https://ood.ohio.gov/Employers/Windmills, or contact Stephanie Andrian at 614-438-1233 or Stephanie.Andrian@ood.ohio.gov.
In episode 5 of OOD Works – the Podcast, Jeremy Shapira, Inclusion and Diversity Strategy Manager for Giant Eagle, and Kristen Ballinger, Deputy Director of OOD’s Division of Employer and Innovation Services, discuss the partnership between OOD and Giant Eagle.
Since January 2019, OOD has collaborated with Giant Eagle to embed a vocational rehabilitation staff within the human resources office to increase access to quality jobs for Ohioans with disabilities. OOD partners with Giant Eagle to source candidates for available openings at their food, fuel, and convenience retail locations and distribution center in Northeast Ohio.
“Not only does the company win from this, but the person who was just hired wins. Their family wins. The community wins. Everyone around this person wins,” Shapira said.This partnership also provides support to Giant Eagle Team Members with disabilities and their supervisors to increase retention.
Find the episode now wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." You can also ask Siri, Alexa, or Google Home to play “OOD Works Podcast,” or stream the episode. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast.
 October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. A learning disability is neurological in nature and can affect a person’s ability to read, write, understand, focus, organize, and memorize. As with other disabilities, there are many types and degrees of learning disabilities, and each person is affected differently.
Although not all employees with learning disabilities require accommodations in the workplace, for some, accommodations and accessibility solutions can create a more productive work environment. The OOD Business Relations Team can help employers with a no-cost worksite accessibility consultation.
To read more, check out “What Employers Should Know about Learning Disabilities” from the Learning Disabilities Association of America. If you are an employer looking to diversify and strengthen your workforce through the inclusion of people with disabilities, visit the OOD Business Relations Team webpage to get started.
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