Annette Beauchamp Appreciates Help from OOD

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Annette Beauchamp Appreciates Help from OOD

Photo of African -American woman Text: " Because of your services, I'm able to feel comfortable with how to function daily with my limited vision."

Annette Beauchamp of Columbus, Ohio worked for the same employer for 21 years, doing a job she loved, when her vision became so limited, her safety was in danger.

She explained, “I was almost hit by a car trying to cross the street more than once. I would fall over things in my own house. I would pour liquid into glasses that were turned upside down and make a mess.”

Cataracts, nuclear sclerosis, malignant myopia, and night and color blindness were taking a toll on Annette. Fortunately, she connected with Deborah Winston, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), with the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired.

Tune in to episode 41 to hear from Annette and Deborah wherever you listen to podcasts by searching "OOD Works." Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

Invisible Disabilities Week

Graphic with disability symbols and regular person image Text: Some disabilities look like this...some look like this...

October 16-22, 2022 is Invisible Disabilities Week, which brings attention to a physical, mental, or neurological condition that isn’t readily apparent based on appearance. These could include conditions like depression, anxiety disorder, chronic pain, dyslexia, or other conditions that impact a person’s movements, senses, or endurance. Read a proclamation about Invisible Disabilities Week from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted.

Symptoms of invisible disabilities can often lead to misunderstandings, false perceptions, and judgments. The Invisible Disabilities Association works to encourage, educate, and connect people touched by invisible disabilities. During this special week, the association encourages wearing blue and using the hashtags #TimeToBelieve and #InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek on social media in support of people with invisible disabilities.

Manufacturing Month

Photo of man working in a factory Text: In the past year we have placed 550 Ohioans with disabilities into careers in manufacturing

October is Manufacturing Month, a time celebrate the exciting opportunities in the manufacturing industry. The field offers a variety of jobs with competitive pay, solid benefits, and room for advancement. Ohio is a leading manufacturing state. With Governor DeWine’s support, Ohio has announced several new projects including the Intel facility in Licking County, Honda selecting Ohio to lead its electric vehicle production that will include a new battery plant with LG Energy Solution, Ford’s expansion in Lorain County, and General Motors’ retooling in Toledo.

OOD partners with 219 Ohio manufacturing companies to help them hire people with disabilities and make their workplaces more inclusive and accessible. Last year, OOD placed 550 Ohioans with disabilities into careers in manufacturing.

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.

Free Webinar for Employers

Graphic showing cartoon drawings of people with disabilities Text: The Employers Reasonable Accommodations Handbook Session Four : Neurodiversity

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

OOD is pleased to host a six-part webinar series – The Employers’ Reasonable Accommodation Handbook. In Session Four: Neurodiversity at Work, learn best practices for navigating the interactive process through the lens of neurodiversity, ways to foster a disability-inclusive workplace, and ideas for providing effective reasonable accommodations.

The webinar will be hosted by OOD's Worksite Accessibility Specialist, Julie Wood OTR/L, ADAC and Career Development Specialist, Dustin Schwab.

If you have already registered to attend this webinar series, you do not need to register again. 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. You have the option to register for one or all upcoming webinars in this series. All webinars begin at 10 a.m. The remaining sessions in this series include:

Session Five: Sensory Disabilities, November 17, 2022

Learn best practices for navigating the interactive process with employees who have sensory disabilities, ways to foster a disability-inclusive workplace, and ideas for providing effective reasonable accommodations.

Session Six: What Can I Ask and Why?, December 14, 2022

Learn when and why an employer can ask an employee if they need an accommodation, and best practices to support disability inclusion in the workplace.

The webinars will take place as Microsoft Teams Live Events. You can view the training through your web browser, and you do not need to have Microsoft Teams to participate. Click here to join Session Four.

Each webinar in this series has been approved for 1.00 HR (General) re-certification credit hour toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ re-certification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) and 1.00 SHRM Professional Development Credit (PDC) hour toward SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. While this training is not pre-approved for CESP Continuing Education (CE) credit, it aligns with CESP content, and verification of attendance will be provided upon request. These credits are available for attendees of the live broadcast.

Seals of accreditation form HRCI and SHRM

OOD Council Meets Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The OOD Council on August 17, 2022.

The OOD Council will conduct an in-person meeting for OOD Council members and the public on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 10 a.m. For members of the public who are unable to attend, a virtual meeting will be available through Microsoft Teams.

Public comments or correspondence should be submitted to OOD.OfficeofCommunication@OOD.Ohio.Gov by the close of business on Friday, November 11, 2022. For more information about the meeting, including the link for members of the public to join, please visit the OOD Council meetings webpage.

Immunizations Keep Ohioans Healthy

Cartoon graphics of Superheroes Text Be a hero. Get your Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines

Let’s keep all our Ohio families healthy by keeping immunizations up-to-date and getting our flu and COVID-19 vaccines!

All About Accessibility: Disability Benefits

Many people with disabilities fear that they will lose needed health care and other disability benefits if they work. The Disability Benefits 101 Ohio website (DB101 Ohio) provides people with disabilities tools and information on employment, health coverage, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

DB101 Ohio provides:

Information on the benefits programs and rules around work
Tips for success for your individual situation
Answers to frequently asked questions
Videos to learn more about benefits and see how work can help people get to their best life

Visit DB101 Ohio to find out more.

In the News

Social Security Payments Set for Big Increase - What to Know

Associated Press, 10-13-22

Oct. 13 is World Sight Day, Raising Awareness of the Importance of Eye Health

The Highland County Press, 10-12-22

Local Nonprofit Gathers Wheelchairs, Mobility Aids for Arthritis Patients

WCMH, 10-12-22

State Strategies to Foster Inclusive Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities

National Governors Association, 10-11-22

Is Your Organization Inclusive of Deaf Employees?

Harvard Business Review, 10-11-22

New Hope Industries Marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Mount Vernon News, 10-10-22

Fare Share: Inclusion is a Cornerstone of Restaurant Industry

The Columbus Dispatch, 10-10-22

TAC Activities Mark Disability Employment Awareness Month

Springfield News-Sun, 10-9-22

My Adventures in Youth Empowerment

Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, 10-7-22

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Mentoring Panel Set for Oct. 17

Air Force Material Command News, 10-6-22

Halloween Costumes for Children with Disabilities Being Sold at Meijer

WILX, 10-6-22

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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) 2022, OOD received $103,630,848 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,047,485. Of these federal funds, $15,544,627 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 2022, OOD received $603,568 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $60,357 of the total costs. In FFY 2022, OOD received $603,568 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 2022 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2022, OOD received $1,139,118 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match, or $126,569 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 2022. In FFY 2022, OOD received $632,008 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% of the match required or $70,223 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.