Jack Requests Support for People with Disabilities

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 06/17/2021 09:15 PM EDT

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OOD Works Podcast: Jack Requests Support for People with Disabilities

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Jack Salvaggio of Highland Heights, Ohio is a 2017 graduate of Mayfield High School and a 2020 graduate of the Cuyahoga East Vocational Education Consortium. While a student, he connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to prepare early for his career.

“I hope that people could support people with disabilities, people with autism, any kind of special needs spectrum,” Jack encourages. “Support autism awareness.”

Kenneth Crookston, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, explained, “Jack has been employed since November 2020, and he and his family are so happy. He has been praised for his good work and earned raises and increased hours. He just has an awesome personality that truly adds to the people around him.”

Tune in to episode 29 wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

OOD Continues to Assist Job Seekers

Woman with glasses, in the past 65 weeks OOD has empowered a total of 6,479 Ohioans with disabilities

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.

National Disability Professionals Week

Woman with glasses I'd want them to say that it was easy for them tot talk to me and ask me questions

June 21-25, 2021 is National Disability Professionals Week, as recognized by the National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE). This professional organization represents and supports professionals in the field of disability adjudication, including examiners, administrators, physicians, support staff, and others.

The OOD Division of Disability Determination (DDD), in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security disability benefits (Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income).

In honor of this special week, OOD is highlighting some of our DDD staff and why they choose to serve. Watch a video.

Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

woman with cap and gown The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched Helen Keller

June 21-27 is Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. We reflect on the contributions of Helen Keller, born on June 27, 1880. This trailblazer devoted her life to advance the rights of people who are blind or deaf-blind. To learn more about her accomplishments, read an article by the Perkins School for the Blind.

For more information on deaf-blindness, visit the American Association of the DeafBlind, Hellen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths & Adults, National Center on Deaf-Blindness, World Federation of The Deafblind, and the Ohio Association of the Deaf-Blind Facebook Group.

Honoring Juneteenth

red, black green colors with words Juneteenth Celebrate Freedom June 19

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It’s also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Learn more about Juneteenth at Juneteenth.com.

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20

graphic of tent, logs on fire, and three trees, text Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dads, everywhere, for all that you do!

All About Accessibility: iCanConnect

Sending an email or chatting on the phone can be challenging for people with both significant vision and hearing loss. iCanConnect provides free equipment, including smartphones, tablets, computers, screen readers, braille displays, and more to people who meet federal disability and income guidelines.

Each person receives an individual assessment to determine the best equipment solutions.

iCanConnect serves people from a wide range of backgrounds, including older people who have lost vision and hearing later in life, and people with Usher and CHARGE Syndromes. Learn more by watching a video or visiting iCanConnect.org.

COVID-19 Information in American Sign Language

Image of man hands signing and a woman's hands signing with logos of OOD, OH Dept of Health and CCDs

American Sign Language (ASL) videos on important COVID-19 information, including vaccinations, are available on the Ohio OOD YouTube channel. Please check back regularly as new videos will be added to the playlist. These videos are possible through the partnership between OOD, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Community Centers for the Deaf. Note: These videos are intended for Ohioans who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and use ASL.

Along with the ASL videos, information for minority communities, non-English speakers, plain language materials, and more are featured at the Communication Resources Hub of coronavirus.ohio.gov.

In the News

Ohio House Approves Bill Removing Derogatory Language from State Law

WSYX, 6-18-21

Letters to My Son, a Deaf Boy Who Can Hear: 'I Fell in Love Last Night'

Cincinnati Enquirer, 6-18-21

Findlay Golfer to Represent Ohio in 2022 USA Games

The Courier, 6-15-21

USA Wheelchair Football League Expanding to Nine Cities

SportsAndDev.org, 6-15-21

What Is ‘Optogenetics’? Behind the Technology That’s Bringing Sight to the Blind

Forbes, 6-13-21

Ohio State Parks Open to All

The Courier, 6-12-21

Luke5Adventures Makes the Outdoors Accessible, Looks to Expand Beyond Ohio

Cincinnati Enquirer, 6-11-21

Apple’s Latest Accessibility Features are for Those with Limb and Vocal Differences

TechCrunch, 6-10-21

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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.