Greggory Finds Success with the Support of Many

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 02/24/2023 10:25 AM EST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Greggory Finds Success with the Support of Many

Greggory Harrison has worked to overcome obstacles, but he has always remained positive and strived for new goals, thanks to his amazing support system.

Greggory began working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) in 2016 with Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Elisa Murdock. With the support of Elisa, Crystal Stone, Individual Support Coordinator at the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Scott Campbell, Disability Resource Coordinator/Transition Coordinator at Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living, Greggory found support with job development, resume building, interview preparation, leadership, and self-advocacy skills.

Through Greggory's hard work, he quickly applied what he learned. He led a group of other students while participating in the Fairfield Medical Center Project SEARCH program, found a job he loves, was accepted to a college program, and created Independent U, a self-advocacy group. Elisa shared, "Greggory has always strived to reach his goals. He is a hard worker and wants to be the best. He is a natural leader and wants to help others."

Recently, Greggory accepted a front desk position at Reynoldsburg YMCA, a perfect match with his personality and desire to help others. He enjoys greeting visitors, answering phone calls, signing people up for memberships, and more! "I love my job, my coworkers, and it really is a great environment," Greggory stated.

Even in his personal life, Greggory always wants to make an impact and connect with others. He has created a self-advocacy group, Independent U, in hopes of passing along the knowledge he has gained on his journey to others. The group currently meets Monday and Thursday every other week at 3:30 PM at the Pickerington Library, and all are welcome to join.

He is also looking forward to the future as he has been accepted into the social work and human services program at Columbus State Community College, a significant goal of Greggory's. As he prepares for his first classes this fall, Greggory feels truly blessed to have the support from many, including his parents, siblings, grandmothers, family members, friends, Scott, counselors, and coworkers.

“I've seen G.J. (Greggory) transform from a shy and timid kid to a mature and outgoing adult, and it has been amazing, even fulfilling, to witness this transformation. He has amazing things ahead of him, and I can't wait to see it," Scott shared.

If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.

Director Miller Provides Budget Testimony

Photo of Director Miller and OOD staff at the Ohio State House

A variety of individuals were present at the budget testimony to show their support. From left to right: Maria Seaman, Chief Fiscal Officer/Deputy Director of the Division of Fiscal Management; Greg Dormer, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired; Christopher Smith, Caseload Assistant; Heidi Wells, Caseload Assistant; Kaleigh Matthews, Disability Claims Adjudicator; Director Kevin Miller; Lindsay Thomas, Rehabilitation Program Specialist; Cavon Ray, Disability Claims Adjudicator; Michael Graham, Legislative Liaison; and Steven Tribbie, Budget Manager.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted’s biennial Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 highlights his dedication to making Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities.

On February 22, 2023, OOD Director Kevin L. Miller provided budget testimony to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

Director Miller explained, “Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted’s proposed budget represents a transformational investment that will provide OOD with the maximum amount of federal grant dollars allocated to the state by the second year of the biennium to help Ohioans with disabilities get and keep a job. With a generous federal match of $3.69 drawn down for every $1.00 in state matching funds, OOD's Vocational Rehabilitation program will be fully matched for the first time in more than 15 years. Supporting individuals with disabilities to gain employment and fully participate in their communities strengthens Ohio’s economy, reduces reliance on government benefits, and generates tax dollars.”

To learn more, watch Director Miller’s on-demand testimony on The Ohio Channel.

Celebrating Black History Month: Andraéa LaVant

Andraéa LaVant is the founder and president of LaVant Consulting, an Arizona-based social impact communications firm that specializes in helping brands “speak disability with confidence." At age two, Andraéa was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy called spinal muscular atrophy.

As a disability inclusion expert, Andraéa was also an “Impact Producer” for the film Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, a Netflix-release documentary that fosters dialogue about disability as a social equity issue. The film has earned awards and nominations from the Oscars, Sundance Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, and Peabody Awards.

For over a decade, Andraéa has led inclusion efforts for youth and adults with disabilities. She has given a voice to others with disabilities at many significant events, including former President Obama’s Disability Roundtable and the first National African American History Month: Civil Rights for People with Disabilities. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC, Essence.com, the Root, and a host of other national media.

For more information, visit Andraéa LaVant.

OOD Council Subcommittee Meets March 9, 2023

Photo of OOD Council members sitting around a table. Two ASL interpreters are sitting in the middle of the room

The OOD Council on January 18, 2023.

The OOD Council’s Vocational Rehabilitation Policy Subcommittee will conduct an in-person meeting for OOD Council members and the public on Thursday, March 9, 2023, 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 3, 2023.

For more information about the meeting, including a link for the public to view virtually, visit the OOD Council meetings webpage.

Rare Disease Day on February 28

Rare Disease Day, which takes place on the last day of February each year, seeks to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on individuals' lives.

The campaign calls for people living with a rare disease to have equal opportunities to realize their full participation in family, work, and social life. Learn more at RareDiseaseDay.org.

COVID-19 Testing Assistance for Ohioans Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

Graphic of pill bottle, qtip text, Ohioans who are blind can call a state-sponsored support line through the Be My Eyes app

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), OOD, and community partners are spreading the word about a partnership with Be My Eyes and Accessible Pharmacy that offers a solution for Ohioans who are blind or have low vision with taking at-home COVID-19 tests.

“Utilizing this assistive technology app helps Ohioans who are blind or have low vision overcome at-home COVID-19 testing barriers and have more equitable access to healthcare information,” said Kevin L. Miller, OOD Director.

Learn more at the ODH media center.

All About Accessibility: Seeing AI – Talking Camera

Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft that narrates what is appearing in front of a smartphone’s camera. Designed with and for the blind and low-vision community, this ongoing research project uses artificial intelligence to describe nearby people, text, and objects. Users can hear information about their surroundings, recognize people’s facial expressions, and hear snippets of text. Learn more at the Microsoft AI Overview webpage.

In the News

My Parents Hid My Disability From Me for Years - a Gift Revealed the Truth

Newsweek, 2-23-23

AI-Powered Smart Glasses Provide Subtitles for Those Who are Deaf

Thomas Insights, 2-22-23

Special Olympics Ohio Indoor Winter Games Back at BGSU

Sentinel-Tribune, 2-22-23

Working at Subway is “A Dream Come True”

Morning Journal, 2-21-23

ADA Website Gets Makeover to Become More Accessible

Public News Service, 2-21-23

Long Covid Is a Disability - Here’s How to Ask for Workplace Accommodations

The Wall Street Journal, 2-20-23

The True Story of the U.S. President Who Kept His Disability a Secret

Salon, 2-20-23

I Hid My Disabilities at Work - Now I Know They Don’t Limit My Worth

The Washington Post, 2-19-23

NEORide Pursues Out-of-County Shuttle Service for People with Disabilities

The Canton Repository, 2-17-23

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Questions?
Contact Us

Want a job? Have a disability?
OODWorks.com

Subscriber Services:
Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help

Stay Connected:

Help us support more individuals with disabilities by forwarding to someone you know.

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.