Crystal Finds Joy and Balance in Her Job

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 07/10/2020 10:47 AM EDT

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Crystal Finds Joy and Balance in Her Job

Crystal Mancine at her job at Western Reserve Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

Crystal Mancine from Tallmadge, Ohio, was referred to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) after an industrial accident caused significant injuries. Eighteen years old at the time, Crystal received computer and electronics training and began her career in information technology.

Over the years, Crystal’s career became more difficult to manage with mental health disabilities. In 2018, Crystal came back to OOD and met with Jean Jones, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Looking at a variety of options, they decided to focus on finding a job with regular daytime hours that would use Crystal’s skills and experience.

Crystal worked with a job developer from the York Risk Services Group, now known as Sedgwick, on her resume, job search, and interview skills.

A position became available at Western Reserve Hospital, with regular daytime hours and a substantial pay increase. Crystal was hired as a Services Support Specialist, providing software and hardware assistance and training the Help Desk staff.

“Crystal just celebrated her first anniversary at Western Reserve,” said Jean. “She is happy and positive and has made significant contributions to her department. The job has made all the difference, and she is thriving.”

"My mental health has been a battle all my life. The people at Western Reserve treat me like an adult and let me do my job. I am using my skills, gaining new skills, and I feel respected. I am grateful to OOD for believing in me and backing me 100%, giving me this second chance at a career I love. I feel so much better.”

If you have a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com.

OOD Continues to Assist Job Seekers

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.

Training Celebrates ADA 30th Anniversary

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), OOD is pleased to offer this free training for employers on Thursday, July 16, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Learn about respectful etiquette and proper language usage, practical examples for how to have respectful interactions with people with disabilities, and hear first-hand accounts from people with disabilities. To accompany this training, you can also find two resources, "10 Tips for Effective Communication with People with Disabilities," and "Disability Etiquette Simple Rules," on our website. The 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 Business Relations Specialists, Ron Klonowski, and Jill Simpson.

You will not need to pre-register for this training, but please respond to this survey to let us know you'll be joining us. This will assist us in making sure we are sharing any updates, attachments and resources before and after the event.

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 ADA and other applicable laws. To request an accommodation based on a disability, please contact Chris Glover at Chris.Glover@ood.ohio.gov by July 14, 2020.

Trusted Coronavirus Information

For trusted information on coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

All About Accessibility: Ohio State Parks

Ohio State Parks offers visitors a chance to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Learn more about the accessibility of Ohio State Parks.

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Programs provided by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) are funded, in whole or in part, with federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), OOD received 78.7% of its funding through the DOE VR grant. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2019, OOD received $99,548,657 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $26,942,648. Of these federal funds, $14,932,299 is set aside for Pre-ETS. For purposes of the Supported Employment (SE) Program, the DOE SE grant funded 90% of the costs for the Supported Employment for Youth with a Disability Program up to the grant amount and 100% of the costs of regular Supported Employment program costs up to the grant amount. In FFY 2019, OOD received $297,857 for SE Youth with a Disability and State appropriated funds paid a small amount more than the remaining 10% or $33,192 of the total costs. In FFY 2019, OOD received $297,857 in regular SE grant funds. For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2019 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2019, OOD received $1,153,208 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match or $130,000 of the total costs incurred under the OIB program.For purposes of the Independent Living (IL) Program, the federal grant received from HHS paid 90% of the total costs incurred in FFY 2019. In FFY 2019, OOD received funding of $640,571. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10% or $71,175 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.