On August 24, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that he is investing an additional $2.1 million to assist Ohio college students with disabilities.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) will provide all eligible college students with disabilities up to $1000, while participating in OOD services, to be used for tuition or educational expenses during the 2022-2023 school year.
“Higher education and a successful future should be available for all students,” said Governor DeWine. “By supporting college students with disabilities through services from OOD and its partners, they are afforded a greater opportunity of success as they transition from academic life to in-demand careers.”
Beginning with support in the state’s budget in 2019, OOD launched Ohio College2Careers to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market.
To qualify for financial support from OOD, college students with disabilities must apply and be eligible for OOD services. The student and family must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. OOD will support eligible students with disabilities, in two-year, four-year, and graduate school programs, with up to $1,000 while participating in OOD services, distributed evenly each academic term of this school year, toward tuition or educational expenses regardless of the student’s financial status.
“The financial award is just one of many ways we can support college students with disabilities,” explained Kevin L. Miller, OOD Director. “We look forward to offering career guidance and helping students with disabilities overcome any barriers through technology, tools, resources, and connection to a large network of employer partners.”
“I often say that when it comes to postsecondary education, Ohio’s colleges and universities offer a diversity of opportunity, and that means opportunity for all students,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner. “This additional support, along with the Ohio College2Careers program, helps to ensure that students with disabilities can continue forward to a successful future.”
OOD vocational rehabilitation counselors assist students with disabilities with career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, and job placement. Staff with OOD’s business relations team connect college students with disabilities to internship and permanent employment opportunities.
To get started, students with disabilities can visit OODWorks.com to explore vocational rehabilitation, take a self-assessment, and apply for services.
Danda Adhikari of Cleveland reached out to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) at his doctor’s suggestion in August 2020. During the pandemic, he had been laid off from a sit-down assembly line position, where he helped create engine molds.
“I heard that OOD was an agency that helped people with disabilities find jobs based on their skills and knowledge,” Danda said. “I was seeking a position that would accommodate my disability while allowing me to work in a hospital, office, or bank.”
Sarah Nemitz, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Danda began working together and determined that an office clerk position would best serve him. This type of job would allow Danda to remain seated during work hours to accommodate his physical disabilities, which were brought on by polio when he was a child in Nepal.
Sarah connected him with You Belong, a vocational rehabilitation provider in Lorain, where Amy Taylor, CEO, conducted an evaluation to help determine Danda’s career strengths. This revealed a knack for verbal and computer skills.
Working closely with Eric Hibinger, Regional Manager for You Belong, Danda investigated payroll and bank teller positions. It was recommended that Danda take part in a training program to be a Comprehensive Patient Access Specialist at Cuyahoga Community College. Eric helped him prepare for an informational interview. Danda was accepted into the program, which he took part in from February to July 2021. On July 21, 2021, Danda took a state certification test and passed.
“Danda was one of the most diligent and focused individuals I have ever worked with,” said Eric. “Not only did he consistently check in with me, but he was never late to appointments and always came prepared with multiple job leads and an amazing attitude.”
In August 2021, Danda started a computer training course with Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland & East Central Ohio. After the training, he and Eric began looking for a position that would utilize Danda’s training and certifications.
In mid-October, Danda paused efforts due to a family trip to India. In November 2021, Danda called Eric and was ready to pick up where they left off. He was determined to get a job.
On December 22, Danda was hired by University Hospital Parma Medical Center as a Revenue Cycle Access Specialist, working full-time, and receiving benefits. Danda registers patients, generates estimates, oversees collections, and performs customer service in his new position.
“Danda was such a pleasure to work with,” said Sarah. “He never gave up, stayed the course, and takes pride in working. Danda is already looking into career advancement at University Hospital.”
“He is compassionate, caring, and dedicated to his family,” said Eric. “Danda wanted to provide for his family and wasn’t going to stop until he could.”
“I value developing my mind in a positive field, overcoming challenges, and learning new things,” said Danda. “I enjoy sharing my knowledge and skills daily to help people and make them smile.”
If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
The OOD Council Annual Report Subcommittee will conduct an in-person meeting for OOD Council members and a virtual meeting for the public on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Public comments or correspondence should be submitted to OOD.OfficeofCommunication@OOD.Ohio.Gov by the close of business on Friday, September 16, 2022.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, Ohio will recognize Ohio Overdose Awareness Day with a goal of raising awareness, supporting communities in the fight against drug addiction, and remembering loved ones lost to the epidemic. As a way to help the state and local communities promote Ohio Overdose Awareness Day, RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have partnered together to create the Ohio Overdose Awareness Day Toolkit with the theme "Everyone Knows Someone. Overdoses Impact Us All."
This toolkit features social media graphics and posts, videos, posters, and digital ads that can be used by local communities and organizations to raise awareness on Ohio Overdose Awareness Day. These assets include images from real Ohioans who have shared their stories of recovery with us and have made it a priority to share that recovery is possible! Visit RecoveryOhio.Gov for more information as well as an ever-growing list of how Ohio plans to observe Ohio Overdose Awareness Day.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio invites anyone interested in blindness to its 76th annual Ohio convention: Millennium: Honoring The Past, Treasuring The Present, Shaping The Future. The event takes place November 4-6 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Independence, Ohio.
This year’s convention will include general sessions, breakout seminars, technology workshops, an exhibit hall, and more.
Information about the convention, including hotel rates and reservation details, can be found at NFBOhio.org. Participants who register early (by October 28, 2022) will be eligible for door prizes.
Happy Labor Day! The OOD Works e-Newsletter will return on Friday, September 9, 2022. Stay tuned!
As announced by Governor DeWine in May 2022, the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), OOD, and statewide law enforcement partners have developed a communication card to help individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing exchange information with law enforcement.
The card, which can be downloaded onto a phone or printed and stored inside a vehicle, wallet, or purse, includes various pictures that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can point to in order to help them more easily communicate during interactions with law enforcement.
Click here to download a PDF of the communication card.
Ohio Expands Assistance for Students with Disabilities
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Gov. Mike DeWine Announces $2M in Funding to Support College Students with Disabilities
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Seneca County Opens Its First Inclusive Playground at Opportunity Center
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Sports Facility for People with Disabilities Seeks to Raise Funds
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Community Holds Parade for Athletes Heading to Little League World Series
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Envision and Aira to Bring On-Demand Sighted Guidance for the Blind to Smart Glasses
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Grand Opening Set for New McArthur Goodwill
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