OOD Participant Leads Face of Forgiveness Walk

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OOD Participant Leads Face of Forgiveness Walk

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Reverend Dr. Johannes Christian is the author of “The Face of Forgiveness: A Memoir,” which details how his life changed in 2001 after being struck in the face by a seven-pound rock thrown from an overpass by a troubled youth. The accident left him blinded, permanently disfigured, and in constant pain.

Dr. Christian is the founder of the Face of Forgiveness Foundation and Director of MOBILE (Mid-Ohio Board of Independent Living Environment) Disability Resource Center. Over the years, Dr. Christian has participated with OOD to overcome barriers caused by his disabilities and continue working.

Currently, Dr. Christian is leading a Face of Forgiveness Walk 2021 fundraising event. He has been walking from Columbus, Ohio to Washington D.C. Funds raised will benefit MOBILE and the Face of Forgiveness Foundation. You can follow his progress on the Face of Forgiveness Facebook page.

Sharon Valade is Dr. Christian’s OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She said, “He is a truly remarkable man and has my highest admiration for his journey to D.C. and journey in life. So much is to be learned from Dr. Christian about a crisis, gathering support, hope, moving forward, and leadership that inspires and unifies.”

Sharon connected Dr. Christian with Tiehan Liu, Ph.D., with Ohio Job Connection.

“My main concern was his safety during the Face of Forgiveness Walk,” Dr. Liu explained. Assistive technology, including the BlindSquare app on his iPhone and a white cane, support Dr. Christian’s walk and work on the go.

“He is an inspiration,” Dr. Liu said.

You can watch a video Dr. Liu created on Dr. Christian’s walk for more information.

Free Webinar for Employers

OOD is pleased to offer Essential Functions in the Workplace, a free training for employers on Thursday, November 18, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Learn about best practices for identifying a job’s essential functions, writing statements in an inclusive way, and applying them to the hiring process and employment. You’ll also learn the roles essential functions have in interviews, determining reasonable accommodation, and evaluating job performance.

The training will be hosted by OOD's Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Wood, OTR/L, ADAC and Career Development Specialist, Dustin Schwab.

Please respond here to let us know you're attending. 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. Click here to join the training.

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 November 15, 2021.

This Program has been approved for 1.00 HR (General) re-certification credit hour toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ re-certification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) and 1.00 SHRM Professional Development Credit (PDC) hour toward SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.

OOD Council Meets November 17, 2021

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The OOD Council will conduct an in-person meeting for OOD Council members and a virtual meeting for the public on November 17, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Public comments or correspondence should be submitted to OOD.OfficeOfCommunication@OOD.Ohio.Gov by the close of business on Friday, November 12, 2021.

Thank a Veteran by Hiring a Veteran

Photo of Governor DeWine with flags in the background

In this video, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine explains that if you want to thank a Veteran, hire a Veteran.

Ohio offers job search and other employment assistance for Ohio’s Veterans and spouses of Veterans. Please visit OhioMeansVeteransJobs.com for more assistance.

For Veterans who have a disability that prevents them from achieving career success, OOD can connect you to services and resources to help you meet your goals. Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.

Native American Heritage Month

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November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Learn more at NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.org.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 5-11

V-2-School graphic: Text: children Age to 11 are now eligible 150 10,000 scholarships and 5 10,000 SCHOLARSHIPS

With the authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11, Ohio Vax-2-School is open for 5-11-year-olds. Your child could win one of 150 scholarships worth $10,000 each or one of five grand prize $100,000 scholarships. Enter today: OhioVax2School.com.

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: Vision Loss and Blindness

Connect Center Graphic featuring text connect center

The American Printing House (APH) for the Blind ConnectCenter seeks to empower people toward greater independence and lifelong success by providing curated information and resources to assist children, parents, job seekers, adults, and older people who are blind or visually impaired. Visit APHConnectCenter.org to find various career tools, transition hub for teens and young adults, parent support, webinars and trainings, and more.

In the News

For First Time in Long History, Horace Mann School Now has Deaf Principal, Assistant Principal

CBS Boston, 11-4-21

MBTA Makes Changes to Service for People With Disabilities

Associated Press, 11-2-21

Local Employers Find Success in Hiring Workers with Disabilities

WKBN, 11-1-21

Successes Highlighted for Disability Employment Awareness Month

Herald-Star, 10-31-21

Williams County Board of DD Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The Crescent-News, 10-30-21

Brother and Sister with Dwarfism Work to Debunk Misconceptions about Genetic Condition

Spectrum News, 10-29-21

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

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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) 2021, OOD received $105,851,903 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,648,609. Of these federal funds, $15,877,785 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 2021, OOD received $299,041 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $32,933 of the total costs. In FFY 2021, OOD received $335,518 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 2021 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2021, OOD received $1,139,118 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match, or $126,568 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 2021. In FFY 2021, OOD received $638,013 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% of the match required or $70,268 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.