Supporting Entrepreneurs Who are Blind

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 03/03/2023 10:28 AM EST

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Supporting Entrepreneurs Who are Blind

Left to right: Stawn Essman, Nicole Perrin, and Steve McMillin.

March 2, 2023 was National Vending Day, and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) recognizes its 75 Business Enterprise (BE) Operators!

OOD’s BE Program provides entrepreneurial careers in food service and vending by licensed operators who are legally blind. BE Operators manage cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars, and vending machines in state and federal buildings and highway rest areas, where licensed operators have priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and the Ohio Revised Code. The program also operates at state universities, colleges, and county buildings.

The program provides initial training and ongoing support to BE Operators. Many participating entrepreneurs have shared that the program has provided a sense of worth and supported their independence.

“For a 50-year-old losing his vision, who does not want to retire but does want to stay active in business, the answer for me was the BE Program,” explained Steve McMillin. “It offers the flexibility to run things on my own while having assistance to solve problems. It has been very impactful and beneficial for me, and I have had lots of fun.”

If you would like to learn more, visit the BE Program webpage. If you have questions, please contact Christy Hauck at 614-312-1271 or Christine.Hauck@ood.ohio.gov.

Stakeholders Weigh In on Budget’s Historic Investments to Support Ohioans with Disabilities

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted’s biennial Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 reinforces his commitment to making Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. This historic investment will allow Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to positively impact the lives of Ohioans with disabilities like never before. Governor DeWine’s significant investments provide OOD with the maximum amount of federal grant dollars available by the second year of the biennium, allowing the Vocational Rehabilitation program to help even more Ohioans with disabilities get and keep a job.

Governor DeWine’s Executive Budget also funds a brand-new initiative called Accessible Ohio. This initiative will support Ohio’s cities, counties, state agencies, attractions, and venues in becoming accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities.

What Our Stakeholders are Saying:

“Governor DeWine calls us all to see that an investment in the disabled people of Ohio will bear fruit far into the future. With Ohio struggling to find qualified individuals to meet the employment needs of the twenty-first century, he is unlocking the potential of thousands of Ohioans who will add their education, skill, and energy to our employment pool helping to carry it forward to greater success and prosperity for everyone in the state.”

Matthew Sauer, PhD, OOD Council Chair and Assistant Director Accessibility Resources for Clermont College and the University of Cincinnati

“I want to thank you for your continued commitment to the people supported by Ohio’s developmental disability system and those served by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. We are grateful for the Governor’s proposed investment in these two vital systems.”

Peter J. Moore, President/CEO of the Ohio Provider Resource Association

“We are extremely proud of the work our members have done, in partnership with OOD, to help Ohioans with developmental disabilities achieve competitive, integrated employment, and we believe that this budget amplifies the work our members do every day.

Scott Marks, Vice President of the Ohio Provider Resource Association, from budget testimony to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on February 22, 2023

“The Community Centers for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing across the State of Ohio share one voice of enthusiasm about the unprecedented investment that Governor DeWine has proposed in support of helping Ohioans who are deaf, deaf/blind, deaf+, or hard of hearing reach their goals and potential in the community, academically, and vocationally.”

Jennell Vick, Executive Director of the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center

“These budget initiatives and the leadership of Director Miller will support us to recruit and retain the staff that we need to continue to provide vital employment services to both Ohioans with disabilities and Ohio employers.”

Linsey Hollingshead, Director for Operations for Partners in Employment, from budget testimony to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on February 22, 2023

“I am very supportive of the budget initiatives outlined by Governor DeWine and Director Miller for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.”

Amanda Smith, Chief Services Officer for ARC Industries, from budget testimony to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on February 22, 2023

“We are an organization that provides vocational rehabilitation services funded by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities…I encourage the General Assembly to approve the Governor’s budget proposal for OOD.”

Liz Owens, CEO of The Alpha Group, from budget testimony to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on February 22, 2023

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! We pause to celebrate Ohioans with developmental disabilities and encourage inclusion. It is an honor to help individuals with developmental disabilities live fulfilling lives through employment, contributing to a better Ohio.

This month we also recognize the importance of support from families, direct support professionals, county boards of developmental disabilities, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and others.

March 8 is International Women’s Day

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. OOD is proud to support women with disabilities in their career goals!

All About Accessibility: Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center

From business conferences and work retreats to weekend getaways and special events, the new Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center seeks to make every experience an adventure—an accessible one.

The lodge opened in October 2022 with a focus on accessibility that is making the peaceful settings, modern amenities, quality dining, and top-notch service available to ALL guests, including individuals with disabilities. Todd Tucker, general manager of the lodge, affirms the facility’s commitment to full compliance “with all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for new hotels and lodging facilities.”

In fact, with its thoughtfully designed guest and meeting rooms, including ADA rooms, common spaces, elevators, fitness center, registration desk, swimming pool, entrances—and routes connecting all of them—the Hocking Hills Lodge makes accessibility a mainstay, not an afterthought.

Learn more about the many advantages of staying at Hocking Hills Lodge & Conference Center from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or book your next adventure (or relaxing getaway) at HockingHillsParkLodge.com.

In the News

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The Crescent-News, 2-28-23

Should You Advocate for Your Disability Needs in a Job Interview?

Quartz, 2-28-23

Wright State Alumni to Speak at Ohio Disabilities Awareness and Advocacy Day

Wright State University Newsroom, 2-27-23

Work to Start for Play at Kirtz School

Youngstown Vindicator, 2-27-23

Connecting for Kids Offering Free Resource Fairs for Families in NE Ohio

WTAM, 2-27-23

“Yes, You Can Do This”: The Story Behind the Rapid Rise in Sports for Youth with Disabilities

Youth Today, 2-27-23

People with Disabilities Invited to Training Sessions for Flying Pig Weekend

WKRC, 2-26-23

Events in Clark County Highlight Inclusion for Those with Developmental Disabilities

Dayton Daily News, 2-26-23

Remote Work Helped Push Disability Employment Up to a Record High

Bloomberg, 2-24-23

Helping Others to Say, “But I Did!”

Dayton Daily News, 2-24-23

Athens County Commissioners Declare March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The Athens Messenger, 2-22-23

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

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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.