 Amy is ready for her shift to begin at Meijer.
At the onset of COVID-19, Amy Zahora decided to halt her efforts to get a job. She was concerned she didn’t know how to navigate safely and wanted to avoid contracting the virus.
Eric Bostick Jr. is Amy’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). He said, “Amy showed tremendous maturity in making the right decision for herself not to work until she felt 100% comfortable.”
Amy, who has visual and developmental disabilities, found herself becoming increasingly bored at home. In the summer, she again began considering work. As her roommates moved forward with their own job opportunities, Amy decided to give employment a try.
In August, she was hired by Meijer as a greeter and received support from the provider of her choosing, Boundless Community Pathways. The vocational services team prepared Amy for wearing a mask at all times, increasing hygiene practices like handwashing and sanitizing, maintaining a safe social distance, and monitoring her health for signs of illness. Amy understood the importance of the guidance provided, began using recommendations from the team, and found she enjoys her position.
Last month, Meijer was named a Gold Level winner of the 2020 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards to recognize its ongoing commitment to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Earlier this month, Meijer and OOD partnered to host “Meijer Hire Day” that included 48 interviews for OOD participants, with 25 hires confirmed to date, throughout the state.
Once Amy is stable in her position and services from OOD conclude, she will receive long-term, ongoing support from the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities for as long as needed. This collaboration is one of the key parts of the Employment First Partnership, which helps adults with developmental disabilities start careers. Counselors assist Ohioans with developmental disabilities through career exploration, training, and skill development as they work toward employment.
If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com.
 Damon Hiles stays on task with the MeMinder App while at his job at McDonald’s in Chillicothe.
OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Victoria Pierce first met with Damon Hiles in January 2020 at First Capital Enterprises, Inc., an adult day and vocational program for individuals with developmental disabilities in Ross County. “I noticed right away that Damon was a natural-born leader,” said Victoria. “As we were sitting in the conference room, his peers kept coming in to seek his direction about different tasks. Damon has a good relationship with everyone he meets.”
Damon is 44 and has a developmental disability. Although he has a guardian, Damon lives independently with direct support professional services. Damon enjoyed the vocational program, but due to the pandemic, he could no longer go.
Through the Employment First partnership, OOD and the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities (RCBDD) supported Damon in community employment. Damon’s Job Developer, John Page with Capabilities, Inc., took Damon to an open interview at McDonald’s in Chillicothe. He got the job and now works 20-25 hours a week and is responsible for various cleaning duties and assisting customers.
Heather Chaney, RCBDD Service and Support Administrator, has known Damon for more than 20 years. “Damon loves to keep busy. He is never idle. He plays Special Olympics basketball, and he is always friendly. That is why the job at McDonald’s is a good fit,” said Heather.
Damon was one of the first to benefit from the Innovative Technology Solutions Grant, which helps people with intellectual disabilities overcome barriers through innovative technologies. Job coach Brittany Carter with Capabilities Inc. coached Damon remotely through MeMinder, an assistive technology app. MeMinder provides pictures and word prompts read to Damon to keep him on target as he follows his daily tasks at work. Brittany has monitored Damon’s tasks and progress virtually.
Brittany said, “This technology has helped to make this opportunity for Damon possible during this time of COVID-19, and has helped Damon feel more secure working independently.”
When asked about his new job, Damon said, “I have met a lot of people, and the customers like me. I help the older folks with their trays, and I always treat the customers right.”
 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.
OOD is pleased to offer “Job Developers and Job Coaches in the Workplace,” a free training for employers, on Thursday, November 19 at 10 a.m.
Learn how job developers and job coaches help job seekers and employees with disabilities find and retain competitive employment. Questions and answers are facilitated throughout the presentation. Specific topics to be discussed will include:
- Types of on-the-job supports available to employers and employees with disabilities
- Contrast differences in traditional roles of Job Developers and Job Coaches for pre- and post-employment
- Job Coaching as a reasonable accommodation
- Remote Job Coaching and how it can be used as a strategy during COVID-19
- Best practices for collaborating with Job Developers during COVID-19
The training will be hosted by OOD’s Business Relations Specialist, Dennis DeYoung and Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Wood, OTR/L.
Two resources, “Remote Job Coaching” and “Job Coaching Instructional Strategies,” can be downloaded from the OOD website.
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 help us make sure we are sharing any updates, attachments, and resources before and after the event.
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.
This program is approved for 1.25 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 per 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 November 17, 2020.
 For trusted information on coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
 The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Rethinking Drinking website offers valuable, research-based information. The site challenges visitors to examine drinking habits and risks and provides strategies and tools to reduce alcohol intake and ask for help. It also has resources for underage drinkers.
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