While attending Reynoldsburg High School, David Milligan, who has autism spectrum disorder and auditory processing disorder, wanted to begin to plan for life after high school. A transition coordinator connected him with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). He was able to start exploring career options and gaining hands-on experience through OOD’s Summer Youth Work Experience.
After graduating from high school in 2017, David held several jobs. In September 2020, he attended Columbus State Community College (CSCC) and was hired at a restaurant. Three months into the job, David was furloughed due to the pandemic. While continuing with his academics at CSCC, a friend told him about OOD’s Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) program.
David met with Special Cobb, Ohio C2C Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for career support in the culinary field. Special connected him with Keegan Flint, supported employment coordinator with The Alpha Group to assist him with finding a job. David landed a part-time job as a busser at the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. While bussing tables, David cross-trained for a cook/kitchen prep position. Keegan helped David organize and carry out job duties. David said, “Keegan has helped me gain confidence so that I can be successful in my career field.”
In May 2021, David received his Culinary Arts certificate from CSCC. That summer he was hired at The Hills Market in Worthington as a cook/kitchen prep and dishwasher.
In December 2022, a new opportunity with better pay took David to Wesley Woods, a retirement community. He works as a cook/kitchen prep and dishwasher. Audrey Clark, a job coach with Capabilities, Inc., helped David to get comfortable with the job’s responsibilities. “David is very punctual and is an outstanding employee,” said Robert Olinger, Executive Chef with Wesley Woods.
David’s goal is to keep advancing his culinary career. He said, “Work is important to me because the job I have now is providing me with valuable experience that I will continue to use throughout my career.”
“David is very pleasant and excited to work. He is appreciative of OOD supports,” said Special.
OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors work with students with disabilities at any college or university in Ohio. To get started, students can visit OODWorks.com to explore vocational rehabilitation, take a self-assessment, and apply for services.
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.
April is Celebrate Diversity Month, which dates back to 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of individuals. By celebrating our differences and similarities, we gain a deeper understanding of one another.
The mission of OOD is to empower Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. OOD strives to hire, sustain, and promote a workforce that not only embraces this mission but is also reflective of the rich diversity of the Ohioans we serve.
OOD considers diversity comprehensively, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, and all other human dynamics that shape creative perspective and professional experience.
As Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted continue to bring in-demand jobs to Ohio, their Executive Budget will allow OOD to increase support to Ohioans with disabilities so that they can attain credentials (e.g., degrees, certificates, licensures). These credentials will help remove barriers for Ohioans with disabilities as they work to achieve financial independence.
Nationwide, individuals with disabilities are disproportionately employed in low-wage, entry-level jobs, experience dramatically higher rates of poverty, and have significantly lower levels of educational attainment. People with disabilities are also much more likely to be employed part-time than those with no disability, and the percentage of working-age individuals with disabilities who are employed is less than half that of working-age individuals without disabilities. The Executive Budget aims to level the playing field and increase earnings for Ohioans with disabilities.
With the Governor’s support and a new five-year federal grant, OOD’s Works4Me program will help 1,450 individuals with disabilities to move out of subminimum wage employment and into competitive integrated jobs. The innovative program will bring together partnerships from across the state to bridge the skills gap for individuals with disabilities through career development, work incentives planning, paid community-based work experiences, and wraparound services.
OOD’s Ohio College2Careers is pleased to offer a TeamOhio Showcase on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The Microsoft Teams webinar is open to all college students and recent graduates.
TeamOhio will discuss career and internship opportunities with the State of Ohio. The event will highlight the variety of careers available with the State of Ohio, including where to search, how to apply, and tips for the interview and selection process. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters during this interactive session.
More information, including the webinar link, can be found here.
The Ohio School for the Deaf Alumni Association (OSDAA) will present the film, "The Silent Natural” on April 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. and on April 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The showings will take place in the OSDAA Community Center at 1055 Colony Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081.
This inspirational story tells of the trials and tribulations of William 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.
Admission is $5 cash at the door, or pay in advance at EventBrite. William Hoy historian Steve Sandy will be at the screenings. Visit the OSDAA Facebook page for more information.
Celebrate National Social Security Month – See what you can do with a my Social Security Account. Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
A new driving while texting law in Ohio became effective on April 4, 2023. There are many components of this law, and the Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership is sharing some resources that help explain and promote this law with the end goal of reducing motor vehicle crashes injuries and fatalities related to distracted driving. Please see the below links from the Ohio Department of Transportation for resources regarding this new law. The new distracted driving law can be found in Section 4511.204 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Video: Lock Your Screen Before You Rock the Road
Ohio’s Parent Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders was developed and written by Ohio parents of individuals with autism spectrum disorders who describe their experiences. The information included in the manual is a result of their answer to the question, “What do you wish you had known the first year your child was diagnosed?" The free download is available from OCALI’s Family and Community Outreach Center.
Columbus Dispatch, 4-12-23
OhioHealth Newsroom, 4-12-23
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries Blog, 4-11-23
Dayton Business Journal, 4-10-23
Loveland Magazine, 4-8-23
RETAIN Cares Podcast (Spotify), 3-31-23
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