OOD Works Podcast: Anthony Keeps Promise Made to His Mother

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OOD Works Podcast: Anthony Keeps Promise Made to His Mother

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One of the last things Anthony Winston of Wellsville, Ohio told his mother before her passing in 2014 was that he would return to college to finish his education.

Anthony, who has cerebral palsy, explains it this way: “It’s basically just a bruise on one of the lobes in your brain. Mine just happens to be on the one that controls your motor skills: walking, running, things of that nature.”

He connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) for assistance and connected with Jennifer Strank, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. “She was right there for me,” Anthony said.

Anthony graduated from the Ohio Valley College of Technology with a 4.0 grade-point average in 2020. Then, in July 2021, he began working at PsyCare Behavioral Healthcare & Counseling in East Liverpool.

“The only person I am ever in competition with is the person I look at in the mirror at every day, and so my confidence is through the roof now thanks to OOD and what they’ve done for me,” Anthony said.

Tune in to episode 34 to hear Anthony’s full story wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

Highlights from 2021

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Since 1970, we have been empowering Ohioans with disabilities. Our Bureaus of Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Visually Impaired, Division of Disability Determination, and all of our support areas have enjoyed seeing Ohioans with disabilities succeed this year. Please enjoy this video of 2021 highlights. We can’t wait to continue to make a difference in 2022.

Booster Doses for Adults and Adolescents

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COVID-19 boosters are now authorized for fully vaccinated individuals 16+, allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to now get a booster six months after their second dose. Learn more about boosters from the Ohio Department of Health.

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: Disability and Spirituality

photo of woman in a circle over text Radical Wholeness - The spirituality of disabilities where everyone is whole

Rev. Joy Wyler, J.D. is a retired minister who writes about the intersectionality of disability and spirituality in her blog RadicalWholeness.blog. If interested, visit the blog to read reflections on diversity, thoughts on mindfulness, and more.

OOD Works Newsletter Returns January 7

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Happy Holidays! The OOD Works e-Newsletter will return on Friday, January 7. Stay tuned!

In the News

Striving to Make Space Accessible for People with Disabilities

National Public Radio, 12-16-21

Deaf Audiologist Michelle Hu Uses Her Experiences to Help Others Navigate Hearing Loss

La Jolla Light, 12-15-21

Grant to Assist Victims of Human Trafficking

Gallipolis Daily Tribune, 12-14-21

Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities Sponsoring CrossFit Sessions

The News-Herald, 12-14-21

How a Café in North Canton is Empowering Those with Physical, Mental Disabilities

Spectrum News, 12-14-21

Springfield Rotary Club Hosts Annual Christmas Party for Children with Disabilities

Springfield News-Sun, 12-14-21

Entrepreneur’s Food Truck “Gift” to Son Benefits Local Autism Efforts

Dayton Daily News, 12-13-21

Siblings with Disabilities Search for New Place to Live After Tornado Hits Group Home

WLWT, 12-14-21

Service Dogs Helping Veterans and Children are Spotlighted on “Fox & Friends”

Fox News, 12-13-21

Princeton Expands ASL Program, Adds Deaf Culture Class

The Daily Princetonian, 12-9-21

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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) 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.