 Instructors Marla Berkowitz, Laura Smith, and Charisse Heine lead students through an exercise.
Launched in the fall of 2018, the Ohio Deaf Literacy Partnership (ODLP) provides adult basic literacy to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing through a partnership between Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio School for the Deaf, and the Delaware Area Career Center Aspire. The program offers adult learners who are deaf and hard of hearing, literacy in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. The program seeks to provide individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing with the literacy and communication skills needed to further their career potential.
“We’re helping Ohioans who are deaf and hard of hearing further their communication skills so that they can be successful in their communities and careers,” OOD Director Kevin L. Miller said.
Participants of ODLP become more fluent in both ASL and English through 8-12 hours per week of learning opportunities through group classes, online modules, and one-on-one sessions with an instructor. All learning features direct communication without the intervention of a sign language interpreter. The program focuses on improving overall communication abilities, workplace communication skills, reading levels, and independent living skills.
One of the two 2023 ODLP groups includes individuals who are immigrants and refugees. Partners actively recruited individuals who are deaf from other countries to boost literacy to help address the challenges facing those who have left sometimes dire situations in their homelands with the hope of a better future.
The skills students are gaining in ODLP are changing their lives. Students shared how they entered the program to improve their reading, writing, and ASL abilities, which they are doing, but they are also learning important life skills. Valued learning activities including banking and finance, using video interpreting services, working with in-person interpreters, and communicating through email.
The class discussed the possibilities they see thanks to ODLP: expanded vocabularies, reading comprehension, better money management, social confidence, and greater independence in the community. They also disclosed that as they develop skills, they are growing their knowledge and laying the groundwork to advance their careers. Future areas of interest include commercial driving, graphic design, and working with deaf children.
ODLP has been featured in national reports, a gallery of innovative practices, and a recorded webinar released in observance of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. In 2021, the Manhattan Strategy Group recognized the partnership for its innovative and effective practices in adult education, as selected by the Advancing Innovation in Adult Education project.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, visit the deaf services webpage for information about the services available.
 Top row, left to right: Kim Bavis, Marshawn Kerner, Jonathan Bjorgen, Stacey Liggett, Deborah Sedwick, James Savitscus, Zach Smith, Fred Schindler, and Director Miller.
Second row, left to right: Marshawn Kerner, David Albrecht, Kim Ocasio, Martin Himes, Prabha Sankar, Jaffer Sathik, Director Miller, Kimberlyn Price, Mindy Birch, and Director Miller.
Third row, left to right: Susan Pugh, Roya Hood, Jessica Folsom, Jan Mader, Hagar Collier, Julie Hance, Kira Dawson, Kristin Garrett, Charuta Kelkar, Shannon Komisarek, and Director Miller. Susan Pugh, Christopher Smith, and Director Miller
Bottom corner, left to right and top to bottom: Mindy Birch, Kyle Yator, Kevin Byers, Nathan Jackson, Terrika Keck, Sarah Loch, Jason Evans, Mollie Moore, and Adam Myers.
At OOD’s Excellence in Service Award Ceremony last week, staff members from across the state were honored for performing “above and beyond” in their efforts to improve customer satisfaction and job performance and encourage creativity, innovation, and initiative.
Christopher Smith was one of the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired award winners. He was awarded for his willingness to mentor other staff and his helpfulness in leveraging data and creating templates. “I believe that we create life-changing impacts for the individuals that we serve and that our collective efforts can be a catalyst in creating a culture of inclusion in our communities across Ohio,” Christopher said.
The Disability Innovation Fund Project Team was an additional Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired award winner. Hagar Collier, Kira Dawson, Jessica Folsom, Kristin Garrett, Julie Hance, Roya Hood, Charuta Kelkar, Shannon Komisarek, and Jan Mader worked to submit a grant application that resulted in a $9 million, five-year federal grant to Ohio. Through the grant, OOD’s Works4Me program will help 1,450 individuals with disabilities to move out of subminimum wage employment and into competitive jobs. “We serve because together we can engage more Ohioans with disabilities in competitive integrated employment,” said the team.
Kim Bavis was named a Division of Disability Determination (DDD) award winner. Not only does she work with appeals, but she also takes on extra cases, volunteers to help with special projects, mentors staff, and provides outstanding customer service. She said, “I want to give a voice to the people who serve and those that we serve who do not feel heard. Small actions, when multiplied, can change the world.”
The DDD Homeless Unit was also an award winner. Mindy Birch, Kevin Byers, Jason Evans, Nathan Jackson, Terrika Keck, Sarah Loch, Mollie Moore, Adam Myers, and Kyle Yator worked with U.S. military casualties, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and others to provide proactive and ongoing contact to serve some of Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens. “We serve so that the most vulnerable Ohioans can receive their disability determination as quickly as possible,” the team shared.
Jonathan Bjorgen, Stacey Liggett, James Savitscus, Deborah Sedwick, Zach Smith, and Ken Vendley served on the DDD IT Relocation Team, which was a Support Division award winner. Their planning, hard work, and ongoing assistance supported a smooth relocation of all DDD staff, without any interruption in services to claimants. They said, “We serve because we enjoy helping others and we know the support we provide makes a real difference in our customers’ lives.”
The Website “Find Us” Development Team was also a Support Division award winner. David Albrecht, Martin Himes, Kim Ocasio, Prabha Sankar, and Jaffer Sathik worked with the Office of Communications to provide an accessible, responsive map and improved navigation on the OOD Find Us webpage, making it easier for Ohioans to find offices and appointment centers. “We serve to help OOD be a leader in leveraging technology to meet the needs of Ohioans with disabilities, empowering our staff to provide exceptional service and setting an example for the state of Ohio,” the team said.
Years-of-service milestones were also presented. Congratulations to Mary Lowery-Nelson for 40 years of service as well as the following individuals for 35 years of service: Rhonda Fulton, Janine Kocher, and Brenda Shields.
Congratulations to the following individuals for 30 years of service: Scott Blake, Jenny Fleming, Christina Glover, Kimberley Johnson, Loren Mayle, Thomas A. Melfo, Julie Mosley, Marcia Owens, Neil Preston, Sean Ragsdale, Sherri Simpson, Amy Wobser, Margaret Worth, and Courtney Yoho.
 Pictured are the 2023 BE Program’s “Years of Service” award recipients, new licensees, and OOD staff. Front row from left to right: Business Consultants Lindsay McKinney, Jen Mead, and Orville Sharp. Middle row from left to right: Business Consultant Sara Gudorf; Operators Larry Danflous, Mark Wood, and Scott Allen; Business Consultant Tonia Koo; new Licensee Seth Ryan; Operators John Canaday and Shelbi Hindel; new Licensee David Char with guide dog Claudette; and Operators Nicole Myrick, Dan Hall, and Annette Lutz. Back row from left to right: Business Consultant Scott Shepherd; Operators Mike Russell, Kurt LeMaster, Patty Sliker, Gary Black, Mike Osborne, and Jim Lutz; new Licensee Trenton Tribble; Business Consultant Lynne Hustwick; Operators John McNamara, Yvette Shackleford, and Lenny Johnson; and Business Consultant Kelsi Burrier. Not pictured: Operators Kristopher Douglas, Hugh Workman, John Stuetzer, Jeffrey Squibb, Doug Bruso, Mark Kasmer, Thomas Neal, James Debus, and Mark Ulbrich; and new Licensee Juan Gonzalez.
After three years of virtual meetings, the Ohio Business Enterprise (BE) Program’s Statewide Conference was held in person at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square on May 5-6, 2023. BE Operators, new Licensees, OOD staff, and additional guests were provided with national updates and innovation strategies from Nicky Gacos, president of the National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM), a subsidiary of the National Federation of the Blind, and Michael Colbrunn, second vice president of NABM.
The BE Program recruits, trains, and licenses Ohioans who are legally blind in having entrepreneurial careers in food service management. These opportunities include the management of cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars, and vending in state and federal buildings, as well as, interstate highway rest areas, where licensed operators have priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and Ohio Revised Code. BE Operators also run businesses at state universities, colleges, and county buildings. OOD provides ongoing support, technical assistance, and training.
At the conference, BE professionals learned about new technology, tools, and devices to make their work easier, more efficient, and more appealing to customers. They were encouraged to modernize for future business success and attend upcoming trade shows.
During the awards ceremony, a total of 27 BE Operators and three new BE Licensees were presented with certificates recognizing anniversaries with the program. In addition. New Licensees were congratulated on completing a rigorous training program and displaying flexibility during the challenging time of the pandemic.
Keynote speaker Mark Ricketts, President and CEO of the National Church Residences, a company that provides affordable housing and healthcare to older adults, presented on leadership. He spoke on the importance of BE Operators serving the mission of the program. Emphasizing the importance of character, Mark shared that each BE Operator represents the mission of the program and every other person involved in the profession. He concluded by encouraging the participants to help others live better, have hope, and make a difference in the world.
Many exhibitors were on hand, including the State Library of Ohio, the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, RSA Management Group, Magnifiers & More, Cantaloupe, Pilot Dogs, and OOD. Breakout session topics included Shaffer Distribution vending update and machine hands-on, personal finance, and a “Business Management Operator Panel” facilitated by BEP Training Manager Cynthia Lee.
Vendors showcasing their products included Unified Strategies Group, Inc., Second Nature, Vistar, and Pepsi.
Frank Bragassa, Chair of the Ohio Vendors Representative Committee and BE Operator in Cincinnati, said, “It is great to have an in-person statewide conference. Our annual statewide training conference provides enhanced training, networking, and collaboration that helps operators better manage their business, increase sales, and achieve success in the BE Program. The conference was a huge success.”
For more information, please visit the BE Program website.
Looking ahead to Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service for our country. The OOD Works e-Newsletter will return on Friday, June 2. Stay tuned!
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