 Haley Marion began working with Erin Immell, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, in August 2019, when she was a senior at Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. Haley was referred to OOD by Keri Thompson, Work-Study and Transition Coordinator at Mason High School.
Haley has an intellectual disability, a non-verbal learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety. Symptoms from her disabilities often impact her attention and emotional control. Haley has always loved animals and initially wanted to apply to a veterinary technology program, but her transition team encouraged her to be a part of Project SEARCH.
Project SEARCH is an intensive nine-month internship program that provides training and education, with a goal to place students with disabilities in competitive integrated employment.
"We considered Haley's anxiety, emotions, and where she was in her academics. We knew a long-term job readiness program like Project SEARCH could help her understand what is required in a work setting and help her build some important coping skills," said Erin. "We also knew it would give her time to work on obtaining her driver's license."
Gerry Knapp, Transition Coordinator for the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities, arranged for Haley to take a tour of Project SEARCH in February 2020. She came away very excited about the program. In the months that followed, OOD provided special tutoring to help Haley with driver's education.
While Haley had completed all her diploma requirements in May of 2020, she decided to defer her graduation to participate in Project SEARCH to further explore, develop, and build her readiness skills for competitive employment and independent living.
"When Haley began her Project SEARCH experience in August of 2020, our focus was to support her and talk through her anxiety," said Nick Vrettos, Project SEARCH Coordinator at the Warren County Career Center. "Haley did rotations at Warren County Children Services, the Warren County Board of Elections, and the Humane Association of Warren County. She had a few bumps initially, but it was soon clear that she was a tremendous worker who took pride in her work and encouraged others. Haley's growth in maturity and self-confidence was evident in a short time. We were proud of what she has accomplished and knew she was ready for job development," he added.
To create her resume, Haley started working with Stephanie Burgess, Lead Skills Trainer and Job Developer at Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati. They also practiced mock interviews. Haley was prepared for the interview when a job was posted for a Pet Care Specialist at the Red Dog Pet Resort & Spa in May 2021.
After an initial online interview, Haley went to The Red Dog for a tour, and they offered her the job. Haley's responsibilities include cleaning kennels, water and feeding the animals, walking the dogs, washing and sanitizing bowls, doing laundry, and her favorite part of the job-personal playtime with the dogs!
Kristin Fox, Skills Trainer for Easterseals Serving Greater Cincinnati, provided job coaching and helped Haley learn how to clock into work, use a checklist to stay on track with tasks, and manage her time.
Haley has graduated, obtained her driver’s license, and is now working successfully three to four days a week, is making $11 an hour. Her supervisor recently praised Haley as “an employee with a great work ethic and attitude, who gets along with her co-workers, and is doing large amounts of work."
Haley has also taken classes in Veterinary Technology at Sinclair College in Mason.
"It has been rewarding to see Haley's transition and her growth through work. Through her experiences, she learned coping skills, and being a leader means being a part of a team. These are all tools that will help her be successful in the vet tech program," said Erin.
"Having a job makes me feel good about myself, and I like getting paid," said Haley. "I am learning to work with people and learning about dogs. I am thankful to all my teachers, OOD, Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the team at Project SEARCH, Easterseals, and my parents, who have encouraged and supported me along the way."
If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! We pause to celebrate Ohioans with developmental disabilities and encourage inclusion. It is an honor to help individuals with developmental disabilities live fulfilling lives through employment, contributing to a better Ohio.
This month we also recognize the importance of support from families, direct support professionals, county boards of developmental disabilities, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and others.
Susan Pugh, OOD Deputy Director of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, is a guest in the Manager Minute, a production of the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management. The episode “Get in and Get er’ Done! How Ohio Makes VR Work for Customers!” highlights Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Executive Order to make Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities, OOD's approach to process improvement, and other efforts.
March 3, 2022 was National Vending Day, and OOD recognizes all of its Business Enterprise (BE) Operators.
March 3, 2022 was National Vending Day, and OOD recognizes all of its Business Enterprise (BE) Operators!
The BE Program enables Ohioans who are legally blind to have entrepreneurial careers in food service management. Licensed operators operate and manage cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars, and vending in state and federal buildings, highway rest areas, and state colleges and universities, where they have priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and the Ohio Revised Code.
When you purchase from vending machines at locations such as the Ohio Department of Transportation rest areas or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Hocking Hills Visitor Center, you support BE Operators!
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. OOD is proud to support women with disabilities in their career goals!
March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Did you know that cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common physical disabilities in children?
The word “cerebral” refers to the brain’s cerebrum, which is the part of the brain that regulates motor function. “Palsy” describes the paralysis of voluntary movement in certain parts of the body. CP affects movement and posture, sometimes causing challenges with posture, walking, muscle tone, and movement coordination.
Depending on how CP is managed, motor skills can improve or worsen over time. While symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual, there are many medical and support options to help individuals with CP lead fulfilling lives.
Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati, the University Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the Center for Independent Living Options are partnering to offer a roundtable discussion for individuals with disabilities to share their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. The virtual event will take place on Tuesday, March 22 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Learn more and register at bddy.me/3K2M2bc. For questions, email Rachel.Miller@cchmc.org.
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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers special assistance to people with disabilities. If you are unable to complete your tax return because of a disability, you may be able to obtain assistance from an IRS office or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Tax Counseling for the Elderly Programs sponsored by the IRS. Learn more at the IRS website.
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