 Drew first connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) in 2016 when he participated in Project SEARCH, a unique transition-to-work training program for students with disabilities. The program made a lasting impact on Drew, who is on the autism spectrum and has obsessive-compulsive disorder, by pushing him beyond his comfort level.
Following participation in the program, a local Kroger hired Drew as a bagger. With a few years of experience at the store, Drew was ready to pursue a promotion. In December 2019, Drew was promoted to a third shift stocker and decided to reapply for OOD services for support in navigating the new position.
Drew received help from Bill Bench, Job Coach with Buckner Employment Services & Training (known as BEST). Drew quickly adjusted to having a third shift schedule and gained confidence in his new role. With the coronavirus pandemic, BEST began providing services remotely to make sure that Drew continued to receive the support he needed by phone.
OOD has had a long-standing partnership with Kroger to fulfill their workforce needs. This partnership has been even more critical to Kroger during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, Kroger partnered with OOD to create accessible documents to communicate safety precautions to associates with disabilities. Since October 1, 2019, OOD has placed a total of 114 participants with Kroger.
Sarah Carmella worked with Drew as his Service and Support Administrator at the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities the first time he came to OOD, and today she is his OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She explained, “Working with Drew in two different roles is rewarding because I have seen him grow so much! I am proud that he successfully advocated for himself to get this promotion, as well as sticking things out during a pandemic.”
“OOD provided the services and job coaching that helped me succeed in my new stocking job at Kroger,” Drew said. “It’s busier now, but not too much different. I like being active and being on the move.”
If you have a disability and want to work, visit OODWorks.com.
National Interpreter Appreciation Day was May 6. Watch a video of Ohioans who expressed their thanks for interpreters’ skills and compassion for barrier-free communication during the coronavirus pandemic.
 Top, left to right: Kim Colyer (pictured far right with her team), Rebecca Halstead, and Bess Wills. Bottom, left to right: Pat Thaker, Steve Tribbie (with his son and wife), and Jonathan Rollings.
Public Service Recognition Week, May 3-9, is a time to honor the hardworking men and women of the OOD workforce. Because staff are working remotely, OOD hosted a virtual Excellence in Service ceremony to recognize and reward individuals who have performed "above and beyond" their normal work duties.
Kim Colyer and Rebecca Halstead were named the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired award winners. Kim, Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor, said, “I serve because there is no better feeling than to see a person overcome challenges to achieve their goals!”
Rebecca, Vocational Rehabilitation Program Administrator, said, “Meaningful employment benefits the lives of individuals, students, families, and businesses in Ohio. The work I do supports field staff with technology to assist Ohioans with disabilities.”
Bells Wills and Pat Thaker were named the Division of Disability Determination award winners. Bess, Disability Claims Adjudicator, quoted Warren Buffet: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” She added, “I want my legacy to be that of a planter of trees.”
Pat, Disability Claims Adjudicator, said, “I serve because I want to help Ohioans in need.” In addition to being awarded by OOD, Pat was notified this week that he is the recipient of the 2020 Social Security Administration Commissioner’s Honor Awardees.This award was in recognition of Pat’s “sustained superior quality, processing time, customer service, dedication to learning, and cooperation in teaching others.”
Steve Tribbie and Jonathan Rollings were named support award winners. Steve, Research and Reporting Manager, said, “I believe I’ve been graced with the ability, in some small way, to lift others up. And because I can do that, I should do that.”
Jonathan, Technology-Based Training Developer, said, “Helping people to learn more about our agency, our technology, and our community makes everyone’s life a little easier and a little better, and supports OOD in our important mission of empowering Ohioans with disabilities.”
Years-of-service milestones were also presented. Congratulations to Sherry Fath, Administrative Professional, on 35 years of service. Congratulations to the following individuals for 30 years of service: Sandra Grady, Human Capital Management Manager; Prisna Manirochana, Financial Associate; John Deweese, Disability Claims Supervisor; Dawn Kneessi, Disability Claims Specialist; Kelly Rammell, Administrative Professional; Geoffrey Smith, Program Administrator; James Gears, Vocational Rehabilitation Program Specialist.
For trusted information on coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). Be sure to check frequently for new resources. Recent additions include the Children/Youth with Special Healthcare Needs – COVID-19 Checklist, Businesses/Employers - COVID-19 Checklist, COVID-19 Guidance on Ohio Travel, and COVID-19 Update: State Budget Impact.
Happy Mother's Day to all moms, everywhere, for everything you do!
ClearCaptions is a free phone captioning service that provides near real-time call captions of phone conversations for individuals whose hearing loss inhibits their phone use.
Similar to captioned television, ClearCaptions makes it possible to read written call captions of what callers say on a home phone, mobile device, or computer.
The free service provided by ClearCaptions is paid through a fund administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). There is no cost to qualified individuals whose hearing loss inhibits their phone use. Learn more at ClearCaptions.com.
The Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov website includes a dedicated webpage with a collection of the most recent news releases from Governor DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health, and slides used in COVID-19 Daily Briefings by Governor DeWine and Amy Acton, MD, MPH, Director of the Ohio Department of Health. Also included on this page are a selection of curated news stories about COVID-19.
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