Candice Armstrong Thrives Serving Others

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 12/03/2021 09:09 AM EST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Candice Armstrong Thrives Serving Others

Photo of black woman and text: OOD helped me be the best version of myself that I can be

Candice Armstrong has found her true passion and a fulfilling job at the Warmline, a 24/7 support line that assists callers with low-level crises. Each call on the Warmline is different. Some people come to Candice requesting mental health resources, while others look for a supportive person to listen to them.

Candice describes herself as a compassionate, positive person and says that her own mental health disability helps her relate to individuals with depression and anxiety. She most enjoys the feeling of being effective in supporting those who need it.

Getting assistance and support for finding a fitting job helped Candice come out of her comfort zone. Accepting herself as a person who is blind was a long struggle that made getting a job difficult.

“I had to decide I was ready to work,” Candice explained. She feels that Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) provided a supportive environment to experience new things safely. Candice was especially encouraged by Paetra Flaspohler, her OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

“No one forced me into anything, but they [OOD] encouraged me along the way. OOD helped me be the best version of myself that I can be,” said Candice.

To help Candice prepare for work, OOD provided her with low vision services and technology to maximize Candice’s limited vision. She also received employment support from Karen Schoenharl, an access technology specialist, Debra Simmons of CareWorks, and the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

“Hearing Candice speak with confidence and passion about her work is the greatest gift I can ask for as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Her journey to find successful employment is an inspiration to me and reinforces my belief in the power of work,” Paetra said.

If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.

International Day of People with Disabilities

December 3 marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with a disability and increasing public awareness, understanding, and acceptance. More information about the day is available at the United Nations’ webpage.

Free Webinar for Employers

graphic featuring gift boxes in circles and text: The Gift of Talent

OOD is pleased to offer The Gift of Talent, a free training for employers on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

To celebrate the spirit of the season, this webinar will share best practices to cultivate and promote the talents and skills of employees with disabilities. You’ll learn how to apply the skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities of employees with disabilities in the workplace; how to create collaboration opportunities; and strategies to help employees with disabilities advance in their careers.

This training will be hosted by OOD’s Business Relations Specialists Cynthia Crews, Kelly Jordan, Mike Hoag, Ron Klonowski, and Jill Simpson.

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 December 8, 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 Subcommittee Meets December 16

Photo of two people at a table participating in a Zoom meeting

The OOD Council Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan Subcommittee will conduct an in-person meeting for OOD Council members and a virtual meeting for the public on December 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Find the link to join at the OOD Council meetings webpage.

Public comments or correspondence should be submitted to OOD.OfficeofCommunication@OOD.Ohio.Gov by the close of business on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Help for Students Who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind

Photo of a woman showing a young man something on a paper TEXT: ACT Test Prep

In partnership with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and the Ohio School for the Deaf, OOD is offering a six-week online course to help students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deafblind prepare to take the American College Test (ACT). Learn more and find the required electronic forms on the OOD website. The deadline to apply and submit all completed forms is December 13, 2021.

All About Accessibility: Transition Services for Students

two photos of young women side by side with play button superimposed

OOD can provide students with disabilities ages 14+ with transition services from school to employment. OOD works together with students, families, schools/colleges, and community partners to provide services that promote successful transitions to careers and adult life.

In this video, Erin Immell, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Samantha Gray, a Caseload Assistant, explain what OOD does, the specific services offered, and how to get the process started.

To learn more, visit the Students 14+ webpage.

In the News

30 Years and Counting: AgrAbility Continues to Help Farmers, Ranchers with Disabilities

The Daily Yonder, 12-2-21

MCBDDS Honors Excellence of People with Disabilities and Allies in Community

Dayton 24/7 Now, 12-1-21

Everything You Need to Know About Selecting the Right Wheelchair Tires

NewMobility.com, 12-1-21

How a Once Struggling Deaf Football Team Rode a Historic Season to a Championship Game

CNN, 11-29-21

Actress Monica Calhoun Shares Touching Video of Her Teaching Her Blind Son to Swim

BlackNews.com, 11-29-21

Mobility Plan Now Available

The Delaware Gazette, 11-27-21

Boxing Clinic Helps Children with Visual Impairments

Spectrum News, 11-27-21

Tablespoon Cooking Co. has Provided a Career of All Abilities

Ohio News Time, 11-26-21

Local Brain Injury Survivor Appointed to State Disability Board

Toledo Blade, 11-26-21

The Ability Center in Sylvania is in Need of Puppy Raisers

WTOL, 11-26-21

Perrysburg Resident Puts People Behind the Wheel

Perrysburg Messenger Journal, 11-23-21

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Questions?
Contact Us

Want a job? Have a disability?
OODWorks.com

Subscriber Services:
Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help

Stay Connected:

Help us support more individuals with disabilities by forwarding to someone you know.

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.