 Cole Schlesner is a December 2020 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Construction Management. He enjoys and has succeeded at his current job as an assistant estimator for Loveland Excavating and Paving. Cole’s supportive work environment makes a difference for him as a person with multiple disabilities.
A severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2009 changed Cole’s life at the age of 14. After emergency surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cole spent 49 days re-learning how to eat, talk, and walk. Cole’s extensive recovery continued with three additional brain surgeries and years of speech, occupational, and physical therapy.
Because of the TBI, Cole acquired an intellectual disability that causes short-term memory and social challenges. When Cole graduated high school, his future was uncertain, and he was not capable of living independently. His dad, Scott, explained that it would have been “comfortable and justifiable” for Cole never to attend college.
Cole started receiving services from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) in 2013 after high school graduation. It was then that he met his Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) Lori Case, who Cole and his family credit as being essential to Cole’s success.
Cole’s family shared that Lori “was always there like a beacon in a storm to encourage and guide him through the long days and dark nights of his journey to obtain his college degree,” which began at the University of Cincinnati Clermont. After two years, Cole decided, with Lori’s encouragement, to transfer to Bowling Green to pursue a degree in Construction Management and live on his own. He completed his degree after seven-and-a-half years. Cole’s hard work and determination and Lori’s consistent guidance and support have led to him getting a great job.
Cole works at Loveland Excavating and Paving. He shared, “It's interesting watching a construction project go from the initial planning phase all the way to completion. When I see the final product, it makes me proud to know that I contributed.”
Matt Brennan, CEO of Loveland Excavating and Paving, extended the opportunity to Cole. “Matt, Bryan, and Jeremy [work colleagues] genuinely care about me and recognize that I have cognitive challenges that sometimes make it hard for me to do my job,” Cole said. “They are understanding and supportive. I'm grateful for my job and for the opportunity to work with people who genuinely care!”
“Cole and our family will be forever grateful to Lori, and to OOD for the resources, guidance, and support that Cole has received,” Scott shared.
“It was a long and difficult journey, but the investment was worth it,” Cole explained. “I couldn't have done it without all of the wonderful people who were in my corner. I know that if I master what I'm doing now, new opportunities for growth will present themselves in the future, and I'll be able to take advantage of them.”
If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
OOD is pleased to offer Inclusive Employer Handbook: Workplace Accomodations, a free training for employers on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 10 - 11 a.m.
Third of a five-part webinar series, this session focuses on the importance of training for supervisors and all employees on reasonable accommodations, criteria for protecting confidential information related to disability, and best practices for providing reasonable accommodations during the hiring process and employment.
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.
Click here to download this event to your calendar.
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 March 16, 2022. Upcoming sessions (all webinars begin at 10 a.m.):
April 21, 2022: Workplace Accessibility
May 19, 2022: Accessibility Hour
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®) and 1.00 SHRM Professional Development Credit (PDC) hour toward SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.
Hillsboro High School students Nicholas Lucas (left) and Jaydon Ames (right) visit with Kelly McKnight, Manager of Training and Development at Kings Island, to learn about potential job opportunities.
The Deb Hall 5-County Transition Expo hosted by OOD, the Ohio Department of Education Region 14 Transition Council, local OhioMeansJobs offices, and the Southern State Community College, was held at Southern State Community College in Hillsboro on Friday, March 4, 2022. This annual event, held virtually last year due to the pandemic, returned as an in-person event for nearly 300 students from 16 different school districts from Adams, Brown, Highland, Clinton, and Fayette counties.
“We are so excited to have students with disabilities gathered in person for this valuable event designed to help them prepare for employment after high school,” said Kevin Miller, Director of OOD. “Students took in presentations on important topics that will better prepare them for interviews and the world of work. They also had an opportunity to visit with many of our employer partners and area businesses to learn about what kinds of jobs are available and what companies are looking for in new employees.”
Amy Luttrell, State Support Team Post-Secondary Transition Specialist and Family Engagement Consultant said, “When they are in school, students rarely can visit with employers. Today’s event aims to get them thinking about what they want to do after school, whether it’s going to college, getting training, or preparing them for the workforce. “
Michelle Dool, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Amanda Brannock, Transition and Self-Advocacy Coordinator for the Brown County Board of Developmental Disabilities, kicked off the event with a presentation called Bouncing and Behaving Behavior on assertiveness and self-disclosure exercises to help students in job interviews.
Jaydon Ames from Hillsboro High School said, “I’m here to learn the right things to do in a job interview.”
Students took part in sessions including Love it, Don’t Leave It on job retention; The Right Steps to Your Digital Footprint on social media; and The Pane of Conflict Resolution on handling workplace conflict.
One of the main highlights of the expo was the employer partners that students visited with their groups. Students asked questions and listened to employers talk about their companies.
Employer partners, area businesses, and educational and community organizations present at the expo included the Highland County Community Action Agency, Shawnee State University, Adams County OhioMeansJobs, Brown County OhioMeansJobs, University of Cincinnati Clermont, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Amazon, Kings Island, Elite Welding Academy, ApprenticeOhio, Southern Hills Career and Technical Center/Project Life, Great Oaks, Cincinnati Bell, Southern State Community College, The Good Dog Groomery, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Kroger.
AJ Bush, a Staffing Coordinator for Amazon, said, “We wanted to take part in the expo to let students know we offer accommodations right from the beginning of the application process and then set up employees with what they need when they come to work with us.”
“We want students to know about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring practices,” said Jasmine Krause, Senior Corporate Recruiter for Cincinnati Bell. “Our circle is big at Cincinnati Bell, and we will go the extra mile to make sure they are comfortable in their workspace.”
Catherine Yeoman, Owner of The Good Dog Groomery in Cincinnati, said, “Everyone loves pets. We have 650 clients, and we require no college or technical degree. We want students to be informed about the opportunity and offer job shadow experiences if they are interested.”
Makayla Risner- Kranz, an Intervention Specialist from Whiteoak High School, brought 9-12th grade students. She said, “Everything went well today for the students. Some of my students expressed that the most eye-opening thing they learned was how what they post on social media could affect their ability to get a job.”
Nicholas Lucas, a student from Hillsboro High School, summed up his experience by saying, “I’m excited to learn everything I possibly can about work and finding a good job. I’m glad to be here.”
Special thanks to the following OOD staff who contributed to the success of this event: Kyna Johnson, Sonya Hill, Jennifer Pitman, Abbie Wallace, Amy Bradford, Lori Case, Michelle Dool, Paetra Flaspohler, Tami Fultz, Vicki Grozier, Angie Hodges, Kerri Stickney, Robert Wendling, Devin Gentry, Samantha Gray, Ruth Sestito, Afton Direnzi, Crystal Hoffman, Wendy Taylor, Michelle Rinehart, Vanessa Elliott, Shawn Madden, Jennifer Roeder, Katie McMahan, Cynthia Crews, Kim Colyer, Kayleigh Jones, Mark Fay, Kristen Ballinger, and Director Miller.
If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, reach out to OOD today. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors can help you explore your options. Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started.
The OOD Council’s Vocational Rehabilitation Policy Subcommittee will conduct an online meeting on March 23, 2022, beginning at 10 a.m.
Public comments or correspondence should be submitted to OOD.OfficeofCommunication@OOD.Ohio.Gov by the close of business on Friday, March 18, 2022. For more information about the meeting, including the link to join, please visit the OOD Council meetings webpage.
The General Assembly of the State of Ohio passed legislation in 2017 designating March 13 - April 15 as Ohio Deaf History Month. Learn about Ohio’s Deaf history, find a variety of resources, and review a collection of ebooks and videos about Deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL) at the State Library of Ohio’s website.
If you or someone you know is deaf or hard of hearing and would like assistance seeking a job, please visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
Sensory Toys Available at the Library
Coshocton Beacon Today, 3-9-22
YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus Blue Jackets Partner for Inclusive Hockey Lesson
WSYX, 3-9-22
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Continues and This Year's Theme is "We're Here"
Hometown Stations, 3-9-22
Paralympic Games Serve as Important Marker of Representation and Inclusion
WKYC, 3-8-22
Prevent Blindness Honors Gareth Vaughan, AMHigley with the Northeast Ohio 2022 People of Vision Award
The Highland County Press, 3-8-22
Ohio Nonprofit Provides Traditional Camp Experience for Those with Disabilities
The Lantern, 3-8-22
DD Awareness Month Celebrates “Worlds Imagined”
The Register-Herald, 3-7-22
Video: Husted Speaks at 2022 Developmental Disabilities Day
Lt. Governor Jon Husted’s YouTube Channel, 3-4-22
Lessons from Blindness
Independent Tribune, 3-9-22
Deaf Residents Want to Take Part in Civic Life, but How Often are Interpreters Provided?
The Herald News, 3-9-22
“My Kids Don’t Want Hugs and Kisses”: The Cultural Dimension of Traveling With an Invisible Disability
USA Today, 3-9-22
Podcast Highlights Postsecondary Transition Services for Students with Disabilities
EdConnection, 3-7-22
Mentor Schools Gets $200,000 Grant to Expand Job Training Program for Students with Disabilities
WEWS, 3-7-22
They Weren’t Wanted at the Paralympics - They’re Excelling Anyway
The New York Times, 3-6-22
Trotwood Goodwill Community Center Moves Forward After Tax Credit Delay
Dayton Daily News, 3-6-22
DCBDD Holds Multi-Agency Planning Session
The Crescent-News, 3-4-22
Meigs Health Matters… Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
The Daily Sentinel, 3-4-22
|
