OOD Works Podcast: Jennifer Walker's Life-Changing Experience

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OOD Works Podcast: Jennifer Walker’s Life-Changing Experience

Man and woman standing in front of image Foundation Fighting Blindness

Jennifer Walker is pictured with her husband Kevin.

Jennifer Walker of Blacklick, Ohio is a wife, mother, and teacher. In her sixth year of teaching, her vision began to deteriorate from retinitis pigmentosa. One of the first steps she took was to reach out to the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD).

“Contact OOD for sure, because that was the first step for me into a lot of other great things that happened,” Jennifer explained.

Sharon Valade, BSVI Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, said, “Jennifer was so proactive in working with her employer to resolve concerns with accommodations. She was also on a great team at the school!”

Tune in to episode 28 wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast. To learn more about the Foundation Fighting Blindness – Columbus Chapter, visit their website.

OOD Continues to Assist Job Seekers

Young man in baseball cap holding a box, text, in the past 61 weeks we have placed 5,970 Ohioans with disabilities into jobs

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.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Graphic of three fourths circle with lap top at end with letters GAAD

May 20, 2021 marked the 10^th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities.

Ohio Vax-a-Million Offers $1 Million, Free College to Vaccinated Ohioans

Graphic of Vax A Million enter at OhioVAXAMILLION.com photo of one million dollar check and piggy bank

All Ohioans 12+ are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ohio Department of Health offers a fact sheet on frequently asked questions for parents, guardians, and youth ages 12-17 eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. Schedule vaccinations at GetTheShot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Ohio Vax-A-Million is a public outreach campaign consisting of a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Make sure you are entered by visiting OhioVaxAMillion.com today!

Ohioans 12 to 17 years of age, who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination, may enter for a chance to win one of five four-year full-ride scholarships, including room and board, tuition, and books, to any Ohio state college or university.

Ohioans 18 years of age and older who have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccination if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, have a chance to win one of five, $1 million prizes.

Ohio Vax-a-Million is an opt-in program. Ohioans will be asked to register for the drawings by visiting OhioVaxAMillion.com or by calling the Ohio Department of Health Call Center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Registration is quick and easy. To be eligible for the final drawing, you must submit an entry through OhioVaxAMillion.com by June 19, 2021, 11:59:59 p.m.

Winners will be announced each Wednesday, starting May 26, at approximately 7:29 p.m., for five weeks. A listing of TV stations where the announcement will be available is at OhioVaxAMillion.com. The winners will also be posted on OhioVaxAMillion.com after the announcement. The final announcement will take place on Wednesday, June 23.

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: Braille Service Center

fingers ready to touch a braille piece of paper

The Ohio Penal Industries (OPI) Grafton Braille Service Center (GBSC) is located at the Grafton Correctional Institution. The GBSC provides a full-service braille, tactile graphic, and large print production facility.

The GBSC transcribers are National Library Service (NLS) certified through the Library of Congress and Unified English Braille (UEB) certified through the NLS and/or Canadian National Institute of Blind. They are also trained in mathematics (Nemeth Code) braille transcription, foreign language transcription, music transcription, tactile graphics production, textbook formatting, and advanced proofreading techniques. All transcriptions are proofread two times before distribution.

Visit the GBSC webpage or contact Steve Jones at steven.d.jones@odrc.state.oh.us or 440-281-2248 for more information.

OOD Works Newsletter Returns June 4

Person walking with US flag above their head, stars, Memorial Day 2021 A Tribute to Our Heroes

Looking ahead to Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service for our country. The OOD Works e-Newsletter will return on Friday, June 4. Stay tuned!

In the News

Apple Announces New Accessibility Tools for Watches and iPads to Help People with Disabilities

Ohio News Time, 5-20-21

AFMC Autism at Work Program Open to Students on the Autism Spectrum

Lompoc Record, 5-19-21

Website Makers Tinker with Tools to Serve Blind Users

The Wall Street Journal, 5-19-21

Man Who Is Paralyzed Communicates By Imagining Handwriting

National Public Radio, 5-14-21

May is Mental Health Month - State Agencies Mark Observance with Launch of “Thrive Outside” Initiative, Other Efforts

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Drug Addiction Services Media Release, 5-13-21

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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.