Moments after taking the oath of office, Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D, which established Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. To reinforce his commitment to Ohioans with disabilities, his Executive Budget includes presenting an award during October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to employers who meet the criteria for having a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
Businesses of any size are encouraged to apply for this award. A special recognition will be awarded for the small business category, recognizing that these organizations may not have the same resources as larger organizations and must be creative in meeting the criteria established for the Inclusive Employer Award.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) invites Ohio employers to complete an application to be considered for the award. Please download the application from our website and submit to OOD.HiringAbility@ood.ohio.gov by August 13, 2021. Winners will be announced in early October 2021.
In this video, Governor DeWine, JobsOhio President Nauseef, and OOD Director Miller explain the award and encourage applications.
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 reinforces his commitment to making Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities.
The budget for OOD:
- Represents a continued state investment of $19.4 million in General Revenue Funds (GRF), in each year of the biennium, for the OOD Vocational Rehabilitation program.1
- For each $1 of state investment, OOD draws down an additional $3.69 in federal vocational rehabilitation grant funds to support efforts in Ohio.
- Establishes a Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award, building on Governor DeWine’s Executive Order 2019-03D that established Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and a Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. The award recognizes Ohio businesses that demonstrate excellence in having a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
- Expands services for college students with disabilities seeking higher education and career services through the Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) program, which will serve approximately 1,500 college students with disabilities annually. Ohio C2C counselors are immersed within the disability services offices at colleges to assist students with disabilities with various additional supports.
- Continues services for students with disabilities through the Ohio Transition Support Partnership by serving approximately 4,000 high school students with disabilities annually. OOD counselors educate parents, teachers, and students with disabilities on the importance of work. Together they develop strategies and provide services to ensure students secure employment upon graduation or transition to post-secondary education.
- Expands OOD Jobs for Recovery, assisting Ohioans with disabilities who are court-involved find and keep employment. Consistent employment helps Ohioans in recovery stay on a positive path, increase their independence and income, and engage meaningfully in the community.
- Supports the Employment First Partnership, helping individuals with developmental disabilities find and keep employment. The partnership between OOD and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has expanded community employment services for adults with developmental disabilities.
- Sustains the Ohio Vocational Apprentice program, supporting Governor DeWine’s Executive Order 2019-03D, making it possible for OOD participants to secure paid apprenticeships with state agencies with the goal of permanent employment.
- Supports more than 650 Employer Partners in meeting their workforce needs by sourcing qualified candidates with disabilities for their open positions, hosting virtual and in-person hiring events, and providing webinars to promote disability inclusion and worksite accessibility.
- Collectively these initiatives will allow OOD to serve approximately 30,000 individuals with disabilities throughout Ohio. OOD counselors will purchase approximately $74 million in services from more than 300 service provider partners throughout the state. It also will expand the number of businesses OOD assists in recruiting new employees and strengthening diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- For those individuals who are unable to work due to their disability, OOD’s Division of Disability Determination will continue to determine medical eligibility for Ohioans with disabilities who apply for Social Security disability benefits. Nationally, a 22% increase in the filing of Social security disability claims is expected.
- Continues funding for Independent Living programs, including services provided by the Independent Living Services for Older Blind Ohioans program, Personal Care Assistance program, Community Centers for the Deaf, and Centers for Independent Living.
1In addition to GRF, OOD receives other state and local matching funds to draw down federal dollars.
OOD is pleased to offer a free training for employers, specifically targeted to supervisors who manage employees with disabilities. “Supervisors and Title I of the ADA” will take place Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 10-11 a.m.
Learn about best practices for the supervisor’s role in navigating the hiring process and supervising employees under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Questions and answers are facilitated throughout the presentation. Specific topics to be discussed will include:
- Disability-related criteria specific to the two phases of the hiring process
- The supervisor’s role in the interactive process
- Strategies for addressing common workplace situations when disability is involved
The training will be hosted by OOD’s Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Wood, OTR/L, ADAC and Career Development Specialist, Dustin Schwab.
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.
This program has been approved for 1.00 HR (General) recertification credit hour 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 9, 2021. The use of this official seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.
As pediatricians and parents, Dr. Amponsah and Dr. Shepherd shared in a video their recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccination for kids 12 and older. The vaccines help protect kids, keep our communities safe, and will help us get things back to the way we remember.
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 Ohio Association of People Supporting Employment First (Ohio APSE) is offering two virtual academy sessions: Family Forum on Employment Services and Business Engagement for Community Rehabilitation Partners (CRPs).
The Family Forum on Employment Services is geared for family members of people with disabilities to teach the basics of employment services.
The Employment Services and Business Engagement for Community Rehabilitation Partners (CRPs) focuses on connecting with businesses to help people with disabilities find employment.
Continuing education credits are available. Learn more and register at EventBrite.com.
The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is offering the In‘Sights’ Photo Contest as a way to help increase positive images of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Past themes including “work,” “technology,” and “families” resulted in over 500 photos for use on the Nisonger Center website, Facebook page, and various promotional, educational, and research materials. This year’s theme is “Sports and Play Activities,” and submissions can include photos of individuals playing sports or engaging in other playful activities, carrying out hobbies, and spending time with friends and family. Learn more at the Nisonger Center website.
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