 Press conference participants pictured from left to right: Jason Kopco, student at The Ohio State University; Megan Amling, student at The Ohio State University; Dr. Gregory Crawford, President of Miami University; Dr. David Harrison, President of Columbus State Community College; Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education; Kevin Miller, Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; and Daniel, American Sign Language Interpreter of Deaf Services Center Inc.
On October 24, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) announced the launch of Ohio College2Careers to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. As part of the state’s budget for fiscal years 2020-2021, Ohio College2Careers immerses a full-time, dedicated Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the disability services offices at 15 public colleges and universities:
- Bowling Green State University
- Central Ohio Technical College
- Columbus State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College
- Kent State University
- Lorain County Community College
- Miami University
- Ohio University
- Stark State College
- The Ohio State University
- The University of Toledo
- University of Cincinnati
- Wright State University
- Youngstown State University
“The benefits of this partnership are two-fold,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Ohio colleges and universities will be better meeting the needs of their students by placing career counselors for students with disabilities on campuses, and students will be better prepared to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.”
"This initiative not only allows us to offer additional supports to students with disabilities, but also connects participants to an expansive network of employer partners," said Kevin Miller, Director of OOD. “Working within public colleges and universities means individuals with disabilities have a greater opportunity of success as they transition from academic life to a career.”
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors assist students with disabilities with career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, and job placement. OOD also expanded its business relations team to connect college students with disabilities to internship and permanent employment opportunities. Approximately 1,500 students will be served annually.
“In Ohio, we want to make higher education and a successful future accessible and attainable for all students,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner. “The counselors serving at our participating public colleges and universities will work to ensure that students with disabilities are on the right path to a successful career.”
Jason Kopco and Megan Amling, students at The Ohio State University, shared their experiences with OOD during the press conference. To learn more about Jason, read an article by The Lantern. To learn more about Megan, watch a video by WBNS 10TV.
For more information about the program, including quotes of support from college and university presidents, visit https://ood.ohio.gov/OhioCollege2Careers, or contact Kapila Rodrigo at 614-781-8735 or Kapila.Rodrigo@ood.ohio.gov. If you are an employer interested in partnering with OOD to recruit college students with disabilities for internship or permanent employment opportunities, contact Stephanie Andrian at 614-438-1233 or Stephanie.Andrian@ood.ohio.gov. A video of the press conference announcing the initiative is available at https://ohiochannel.org/video/press-conference-10-24-2019-ohio-college2careers.
 Carlous Blair shakes hands with an employer at the Canton Job Fair. Photo credit: Travis Stewart, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor.
In recognition of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, OOD is hosting job fairs across the state to connect OOD job seekers with employers, as well as recognize businesses who are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.
The fourth job fair took place at the Embassy Suites in North Canton on October 23. The event included 31 employers and 92 job seekers. OOD staff were joined by 39 job developers from 21 agencies to support job seekers.
The Business Relations team at OOD presented an interactive workshop for employers called “Game Changers: An Assistive Technology Playbook for the Win.” This interactive training featured learning stations on assistive technology for employees with disabilities. Katie Frederick, OOD Program Administrator for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, and Jessica Folsom, OOD Rehabilitation Program Specialist, educated employers about assistive technology for individuals who are blind or have low vision. They highlighted Aira, JAWS screen reading software, Windows 10 Narrator, screen magnifiers, tactile stickers, and large print keyboards.
“When we help educate people about assistive technology, it not only benefits those with disabilities, it benefits everyone,” said Frederick.
“So many employers come up to the table and say, ‘We didn’t know this solution existed,’” said Folsom. “I love telling them – it’s that easy, and it helps everyone work.”
 Jessica Folsom, OOD Rehabilitation Program Specialist, and Katie Frederick, OOD Program Administrator for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, show an employer assistive technology at the job fair.
OOD staff Cathy Vickery, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf; Katie Scheetz, Rehabilitation Program Specialist, Personal Care Assistance and Community Centers for the Deaf; and Verna Mooney, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf, educated employers about assistive technology that can help employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. They highlighted a CapTel Captioned TelePhone, iPhone Notes, App MyEar, and the Roger Pen (all-inclusive wireless microphone).
“I feel it’s important to have lots of communication options for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing,” said Vickery. “Equal access ensures that individuals with disabilities, as well as employers, can succeed.”
 OOD staff discuss assistive technology, pictured left to right: Verna Mooney, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf; Cathy Vickery, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf, and Katie Scheetz, Rehabilitation Program Specialist.
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 CVS Health and Bob Evans.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller presents award to Heather Mauk-Pennington, Workforce Innovation & Talent Center Manager, CVS Health.
 OOD Director Kevin Miller presents award to Anita Silva Coil, Regional Human Resources Generalist, Bob Evans.
 Jennifer Everetts, Job Coach for Stark County Educational Service Center (left) and Breanna Sayor.
Breanna Sayor is a 20-year-old Glen Oaks student participating in the Integrated Learning Center of Stark County Schools. She is receiving career assistance from Kristen Kelly, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Jennifer Everetts, Job Coach for Stark County Educational Service Center. Expressing a love for working with children, she completed two job experiences with childcare centers: one assisting with children and a second working in the kitchen. Breanna attended the job fair to learn about available opportunities and look for positions that would match her interest and skills.
 Carlous Blair takes notes as he talks with an employer about open positions.
Carlous Blair is a 46-year-old looking for a janitorial position. Blair said, “I am at the job fair to look, listen, and learn.” He explained he has been working with Holly, his job coach, on preparing his resume and 30-second elevator speech. “I’m a believer that prompt preparation prevents poor performance,” he added.
A number of OOD support staff were on hand to help the event go smoothly. Staff assisted with event details including setup, parking, registration, flow of job seekers, breaks for employer partners, and teardown.
 Pam Laing, OOD Finance Manager (left) and Rhonda Fulton, OOD Finance Supervisor.
 OOD staff assisting with registration, pictured left to right: Susan Johnson, Account Examiner; Steve Tribbie, Manager, Division of Employer and Innovation Services; and Lauren Dalea, Vocational Rehabilitation Caseload Assistant.
Technology helped ease the registration process for this year’s job fairs. “We started with area staff who created a check-in sheet that included the names of employers and attendees," said Steve Tribbie, OOD Manager, Division of Employer and Innovation Services. “Loading these lists into the new registration system provides us with real-time data on participants who attend the job fair. At any moment, we know how many people are here. The system was piloted in May at our Dayton Job Fair, and so far, we have used it at four more job fairs.”
“The new registration process is so much easier, said Lauren Dalea, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Caseload Assistant, who assisted with registration. “We can find names in alphabetical order, click on the names, and get them registered. It is so much more streamlined. People are no longer waiting in long lines. They can get right into the job fair.”
After the job fair, the information is recorded in OOD’s case management system, noting job seekers who participated. The registration system saves time and improves accuracy.
 OOD staff pictured left to right: Berna King, Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor (with service dog Rex); Brandon Kramer, Information Technologist; Kevin Miller, Director; Christine Crine, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; and Janelle Cookson, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Each of the OOD job fairs features a quiet room for job seekers to take time to de-stress if needed. By allocating a calm space at the busy events, OOD helps job seekers bring their best selves to interactions with employers.
 Ronald Klonowski, East Central Area Business Relations Specialist (left) and Marc Manheim, East Central Area Manager.
 
As announced last week by OOD and the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Transition Support Partnership (OTSP) expansion provides approximately 270 additional students with disabilities in Cuyahoga, Franklin, and Hamilton counties with individualized transition services over the next year. The partnership will target an additional 360 students with disabilities statewide in the 2020-2021 school year. OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors help students with career exploration, work-based learning experiences, counseling on postsecondary education, paid work experiences, job coaching, and retention. Watch a video about last week’s visit to West High School in Columbus, held in conjunction with the expansion announcement.
Learn more about OTSP at https://ood.ohio.gov/Students-14/Ohio-Transition-Support-Partnership.
 Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has a webpage dedicated to myths and truths about voting and voters with disabiltities. Visit Voters with Disabiltities to get the facts, forms, and other helpful links.
Supporting Students with Disabilities
Ohio Department of Higher Education, 10-31-19
Low Vision Clinic and Devices Can Help Those with Impaired Sight
Akron Beacon Journal, 10-30-19
Buddy Myers (AgrAbility and OOD)
Zanesville Times-Recorder, 10-30-19
A Lifetime of Farming Continues in Duncan Falls
WHIZ, 10-29-19
New Counselor Helps YSU Students with Disabilities Get Diplomas,
WFMJ, 10-28-19
State Launches Program to Aid College Students with Disabilities
WBNS 10TV, 10-25-19
Career Counselors Coming to Ohio College Campuses to Help Students with Disabilities
Statehouse News Bureau, 10-25-19
Ohio State Implements New Disability Services Program
The Lantern, 10-25-19
Ohio State Supports New Initiative to Aid Students with Disabilities
Ohio State News, 10-25-19
College2Careers: New Counselor Helps YSU Students with Disabilities Get Diplomas, Jobs
Youngstown State University, 10-25-19
Local Woman Didn’t Let Disability Keep Her from Becoming Hairstylist
WLWT, 10-25-19
State Support Helps Miami Serve More Students with Disabilities
Miami University, 10-24-19
Preble County Farmer Won't Miss His 58th Harvest Thanks to Special Piece of Equipment
WKRC, 10-24-19
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