
Eric Petersen of Mentor, Ohio, served our country as a Marine. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and served in Afghanistan in 2008. Eric came back home and was a reservist and trained as an EMT, paramedic, and firefighter. While working as a firefighter in Akron, Eric experienced a life-changing event during his off-hours: he had a near-fatal motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.
Through years of physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, Eric learned how to walk again and so much more. “Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) worked with Eric for years to help him reenter the workforce. He came such a long way,” explained Sunny Gilmore, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Eric joins the podcast to talk about his experience with some assistance from his dad, Tom Petersen.
Tune in to episode 40 to hear from Eric and Tom wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.
In recognition of the benefits of rehabilitation and the successes of those who have received treatment through all forms of rehabilitation, the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation recognizes National Rehabilitation Awareness Week during the third full week in September every year. This year, National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is September 19-25.
OOD is proud to celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week to highlight the positive impact of rehabilitation. During this week, we reflect on the remarkable outcomes that individuals achieve through the power of rehabilitation, and we reaffirm our commitment to transforming lives through Vocational Rehabilitation.
To learn more about OOD’s services for individuals with disabilities, click here. You can also watch a video about how Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors make a difference.
Happy National Hispanic American Heritage Month! From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more at HispanicHeritageMonth.gov.

In celebration of Deaf Awareness Week, the Community Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing in partnership with Heights Libraries will present the film, "The Silent Natural." The event will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. William Hoy historian Steve Sandy will be at the presentation.
This inspirational story tells of the trials and tribulations of Hoy, the first Major League Baseball star who was deaf. Learn where the hand signals in baseball came from and the history of one of the greatest players of his time.
This film showing is free to the public. Learn more and register by September 20 at the library’s website.
Service dogs help individuals with disabilities lead more independent lives. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.”
September is National Service Dog Month, and thanks to a statewide proclamation from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio is recognizing the special month and dedicating September 18, 2022 as Service Dog Awareness Day. Learn more on the Canine Companions website. Find a “Service Animals in the Workplace” fact sheet on OOD’s website.
The ADA National Network offers an online hub dedicated to providing clarity about service animals. Information includes service animal basics, taking a service animal to work, traveling with a service animal, living with a service animal, service animals in emergency situations, and more. Click here to visit the Service Animal Resource Hub.
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