National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 03/19/2021 09:01 AM EDT

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National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day

Picture of man with glasses and grin. Text: There are many skilled educated, and caring people available at OOD

Monday, March 22, 2021 is National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day. We take this opportunity to thank the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and all Vocational Rehabilitation staff for their tireless work. We honor their commitment to providing direct, personalized services to help individuals with disabilities find and retain meaningful work.

Watch a video to learn about how Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors make a difference.

One Year After COVID

Girl with mask on holding two bowls of food. Text, In the past 52 weeks, we have placed 4,829 Ohioans with disabilities into jobs

It has been one year since the start of the pandemic, and OOD has continued safely providing individuals with disabilities the services and supports they need to get and keep a job.

If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like 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 Series for Employers on Supporting Employees with Disabilities and Accessible Work Environments

Finger pointing at a piece of paper. Text, The Employers' ADA Handbook Session 3 Performance, Conduct, and Safety

OOD is pleased to present The Employers’ ADA Handbook, a free five-part series to help employers navigate Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Employers’ ADA Handbook features monthly hour-long webinars with an accompanying Learner’s Guide and resources. Questions and answers are facilitated throughout the presentations. The trainings are hosted by OOD’s Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Wood, OTR/L, ADAC, and Business Relations Specialist, Dennis DeYoung. The first two sessions, Title I Overview and Reasonable Accommodations and Undue Hardship, are available on-demand.

On Wednesday, March 24 at 10 a.m., the third session, The Employers’ ADA Handbook – Performance, Conduct, and Safety, will cover the best practices for navigating performance, conduct, and safety concerns with employees with disabilities. Specific topics to be discussed will include:

Strategies for discussing low performance and reasonable accommodations with an employee with a disability
How to address misconduct and consider reasonable accommodations with an employee with a disability
Practical guidelines for addressing safety, direct threat, and disability in the workplace

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.

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 on March 24.

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®).

The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

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 March 22, 2021.

Lots of Socks for World Down Syndrome Day

collage photo of different color socks from OOD staff.

OOD staff display #LotsOfSocks to show their support.

World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2021, is a day to celebrate the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. The 21^st day of March was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21^st chromosome that causes Down syndrome.

The #LotsofSocks campaign exists to raise awareness of Down syndrome. Anyone can choose socks that are going to get noticed, whether mismatched or colorful. The idea is to start a conversation so that you can share that you are raising awareness of Down syndrome when asked about your socks.

For more information, visit WorldDownSyndromeDay.org.

COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Central Scheduling Tool getheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov and Ohio Governor Mike Dewine and OH Department of Health logos

Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced expanded vaccine eligibility. Ohioans can book an appointment at the Cleveland mass vaccination clinic or any of the more than 1,300 local vaccine providers located in Ohio. Visit GetTheShot.Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov.

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: OhioMeansJobs Website

OhioMeansJobs website with people wearing glasses looking down, and a woman smiling talking on the phone. Text, Get the Most Out of OhioMeansJobs.com

Earlier this month, Lt. Governor Husted announced the redesign of the OhioMeansJobs website. Job seekers and employers looking to hire will find the updated site much more streamlined. OhioMeansJobs.com, a one-stop site, includes a resume builder and rater, online tutorials, free access for companies to post job openings, and more.

In the News

RightHear Orientation App for the Blind

Forbes, 3-17-21

"The Improvaneers" Build Skills for Those with Developmental Disabilities

Spectrum News One, 3-17-21

Boston Marathon Icon Dick Hoyt, Who Pushed Son in Wheelchair for 32 Races, Dies

Today, 3-17-21

Findlay Man Uses Art to Overcome Disability

WTOL, 3-17-21

A Man with Autism Asks Future Employers to “Take a Chance on Me” in a Heartfelt, Handwritten Viral Letter

CNN, 3-16-21

Columbus Rep. to Introduce Bill Removing “Derogatory Terminology” in Ohio Revised Code

WSYX, 3-15-21

Starbucks Now Offers Access to App for Blind, Low-Vision Customers

CNet.com, 3-15-21

What Seeing People Should Know About Blind People Wearing Sunglasses

HealthLine.com, 3-15-21

Social Media has Upped its Accessibility Game, but Deaf Creators Say It Has a Long Way to Go

The Washington Post, 3-15-21

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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) 2020, OOD received $103,332,949 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $27,966,859. Of these federal funds, $15,499,942 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 2020, OOD received $369,584 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $41,065 of the total costs. In FFY 2020, OOD received $369,584 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 2020 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2020, OOD received $1,148,413 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match, or $127,601 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 2020. In FFY 2020, OOD received $641,721 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% of the match required or $71,302 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.