 Alex at his summer job at The Home Depot.
Alex Claus graduated from Medina High School in 2019. He now attends Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland and participates in OOD’s Ohio College2Careers program, where he works with Mary Hennessey, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. The Ohio College2Careers program ensures 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.
Last month, Alex participated in a virtual mock interview training and worked with Lori Peters-McCracken, Job Developer with Creative Rehab, to find a part-time job and build his resume. Alex interviewed at The Home Depot and was offered a job as a lot attendant, handling carts, maintaining the parking lot, helping customers take items to their cars, and watering flowers in the garden center. This experience will help Alex gain new skills and experience in preparation for his long-term goals after college.
"Work is important to me because I get to learn and discover trying new things," said Alex. His goal after graduation is to become a marketing manager or establish a business such as a bakery or ice cream shop.
"Alex came to see me on his own," said Mary. "He goes to school full-time, maintains his schedule, has excellent grades, and is a hard worker.” Mary, who stays in regular contact with Alex, also lends support to his family as Alex seeks greater independence.
"As a parent, I want him to find a job that he is happy and comfortable with, and that will provide him with benefits so he can get an apartment with a roommate," said Lisa, Alex’s mother. "Alex has been guided by caring people and counselors, in addition to his family, to help him reach his goals. We are so proud of him and grateful for this support.”
Alex began building his work skills and preparation for college by participating in OOD services beginning in 2015 after a referral by his transition coordinator at Medina High School.
In 2016, Alex participated in a three-week Summer Youth Career Exploration, in partnership with the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This program introduces students to the world of work. Alex visited various Medina businesses and learned about essential work skills and behaviors.
The following year, Alex took part in the Summer Youth Work Experience at Elmcroft of Medina. He worked at the assisted living facility, preparing snacks, helping with activities, and interacting with residents.
In 2018, Alex participated in a paid internship with the Medina County Career and Vocational Training Center. There he helped with filing, document management, and general office duties. Alex also took part in a competition sponsored by the Business Professionals of America and was awarded third place for his mock interview project.
Alex traveled to Columbus to participate in OOD’s Youth Leadership Forum during the summer of 2019, where he learned about self-advocacy and made a lot of new friends.
"It has been rewarding to be a part of his journey," said Chris Crine, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, who assisted Alex in high school. "I watched him grow to a very determined young man.”
If you know a youth, 14 years of age or older with a disability who could benefit from services, reach out to OOD for assistance with career exploration, skill development, and strategies to get a job after graduation. Visit the Students 14+ webpage for more information.
 Join us June 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. for a free training to learn how to support employees with disabilities during COVID-19.
Learn about various communication best practices and the option to utilize remote job coaching to support employees with disabilities during COVID-19. Learn about accommodating different learning styles, accessible documents, and various methods that can be used to more effectively communicate COVID-19 safety precautions in the workplace to employees with disabilities. Also, learn about the situations when remote job coaching services are beneficial, and the equipment and workplace policy modifications to consider. This training will take place as a Microsoft Teams Live Event. You can view the training through your web browser, and you do not need to have Microsoft Teams to participate. Here is the link to join the training.
The training will be hosted by OOD’s Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Zeigler Wood, Occupational Therapist Registered/Licensed, and OOD Business Relations Specialist, Dennis DeYoung.
You will not need to pre-register for this training, but please respond to this brief survey to let us know you’ll be joining us.
This Program has been approved for 1.00 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
OOD is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, and programs in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws. To request an accommodation based on a disability, please contact Chris Glover at Chris.Glover@ood.ohio.gov by June 16, 2020.
 If you have a disability and want to work, reach out to OOD today. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors can help you explore your options. Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started.
 June 10, 2020, will mark the 50th anniversary of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). We honor our accomplishments, recognize who we have become, and rededicate ourselves to our future endeavors.
Governor James A. Rhodes signed House Bill 929, creating an independent seven-member commission to direct Ohio's Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program that included the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Bureau of Services for the Blind, and the Bureau of Disability Determination (formerly housed with VR), on June 10, 1970.
OOD’s mission has always been to assist people with disabilities to find employment or maintain employment and adjudicate Social Security disability claims.
Through the years, OOD has created new programs and expanded upon current services in the VR program as well as the modern-day Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, Division of Employer and Innovation Services, and Division of Disability Determination, to assist individuals with disabilities. These accomplishments include:
- Eliminated the waitlist so that all eligible individuals with disabilities receive VR services without delay
- Elevated our focus on business as a customer by creating the Division of Employer and Innovation Services. The Division’s Business Relations Program received national recognition when it was selected as one of four finalists for the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center 2020 Innovations in American Government Award
- Helped increase wages for people with disabilities
- Changed the agency’s name to better reflect the mission of the organization
- Expanded services for youth with disabilities, including a partnership agreement with the Ohio Department of Education that engages students at an earlier age and implementation of new Pre-Employment Transition Services
- Established the Employment First partnership agreement with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities that partners with county boards of developmental disabilities and local providers to improve services to individuals with developmental disabilities
- Improved the consistency of services purchased from VR service providers by implementing a VR Fee Schedule with standardized service definitions and rates
- Embedded Counselors in the human resources departments of two Ohio employers, The Ohio State University and Giant Eagle, to assist with sourcing, hiring, and retention of OOD participants with disabilities
- Embedded counselors in local communities to better engage program participants in service
- Transitioned from paper-based documentation systems to web-based systems
- Created online access to services via OODWorks.com
- Established job fairs to connect OOD job seekers with Employer Partners
- Supported legislation (e.g., the Communication Disability Law and the creation of the OOD Council)
- Known as a national leader on quick disability determinations and compassionate allowances completed in the Division of Disability Determination’s Fast Track Unit
- Recognized for overall decisional accuracy and timeliness for Social Security disability claims
- Piloted and implemented the Social Security Administration’s new case processing software
 We thank our Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Disability Claims Adjudicators, support staff, providers, and other stakeholders for their dedication and hard work to help Ohioans with disabilities fulfill their potential.
We look forward to the next 50 years as we continue to empower Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence.
For trusted information on coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Shannon Seger (of DSC NW) made this short video on behalf of Ohio’s CCDs inviting the deaf community to take part in the statewide accessibility survey.
Community Centers for the Deaf (CCDs) in Ohio are conducting a statewide survey for deaf and hard of hearing Ohioans. The survey provides a chance to offer feedback about communication accessibility during this ever-changing time of COVID-19. The goal is to learn how the CCDs can better serve the deaf and hard of hearing community through communication accessibility. All answers and input will be kept confidential. To participate, find the survey here.
Note: All of the survey questions are available in both English and American Sign Language (ASL). For the ASL version, click on the blue question, and a video will appear.
 Google Maps now offers an “Accessible Places” feature to have wheelchair accessibility information more prominently displayed in Google Maps. By turning on the function, a wheelchair icon will appear in Google Maps, indicating whether accessible seating, restrooms, or parking is available at a specific location. To learn more, read a blog post or watch a video.
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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