 Participants of 2023 Summer Youth Work Experiences.
Summer Youth Work Experiences for students with disabilities have been taking place throughout Ohio this summer to help lay the foundation for their future careers. The program provides students with a disability (ages 14-21) the opportunity to explore the world of work and gain on-the-job training.
More than 2,600 students across the state are participating in summer jobs, with additional younger students being supported to explore and prepare for their first job experiences.
Summer work experiences help students build confidence and learn essential skills in a job setting. Youth are assigned to work sites based on their interests and abilities. While working at job sites, students receive support from a job coach and earn minimum wage.
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) give students with disabilities, as young as age 14, an early start in exploring career interests. Five core services include Job Exploration Counseling, Work-Based Learning, Counseling on Post-Secondary Opportunities, Workplace Readiness Training, and Instruction in Self-Advocacy.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Director Kevin Miller said, “Summer Youth Work Experiences offer so much more than just a paycheck. These provide young individuals with supported opportunities to gain essential life skills, develop a strong work ethic, and prepare for their futures.”
OOD works with 75 vocational rehabilitation providers throughout the state to offer Summer Youth Work Experiences. “We couldn’t make these positive experiences possible without our providers,” explained Jay Burns with the OOD Provider and Contract Management Unit. “They provide the students with structure and helpful pointers along the way.”
Sherrilee Case is the Manager of Mission and Career Services for Goodwill Akron. “This is a great experience for students to have their first involvement in the work world,” Sherrilee said. “Students get a chance to practice basic work skills and an opportunity to try out a type of job that they might be interested in working in the future. The experience can be used on a resume, and they also get a job reference from the job coach.”
“Involvement in the program gives students knowledge regarding specific jobs which will then help them make employment decisions,” said Tammy McElhaney, Owner of Blue Sky Employment Consulting LLC. “The success they experience while in this program gives them confidence in their ability to work as well as it fills them with a sense of pride regarding their employment accomplishments.”
David Volak is the Executive Director of Step By Step Employment & Training, Inc. He explained, “It is truly amazing to see the youth at work, two to three years down the road after Summer Youth Work Experiences. They’ve progressed to more hours, greater pay, and career advancement opportunities.”
If you have a child 14 years or older with a disability, reach out to OOD for more information on how we can help your child with career exploration, skill development, and strategies to get a job and/or attend post-secondary education after graduation. Counselors begin talking with students and their parents about next summer’s opportunities starting in the fall. To find out more, visit the OOD Students 14+ webpage.
Up to $7,000 per person is available to Ohioans with disabilities for college, training, and credentialing programs for the 2023 fall term.
The OOD Education Support Funds help students with disabilities in their pursuit of continued education. OOD will provide all eligible college and non-traditional students with disabilities up to $7,000, while participating in OOD services, to be used for tuition or educational expenses during the upcoming fall term. This includes students with disabilities participating in colleges, apprenticeships, trade schools, and credentialing programs.
“Higher education and a successful future should be available for all students,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “By supporting college and non-traditional students with disabilities through services from OOD and its partners, they are given a greater opportunity of success as they transition from education and training to in-demand careers.”
“OOD is dedicated to empowering Ohioans with disabilities through employment and independence,” said OOD Director Miller. “As part of this commitment, the OOD Education Support Funds ease financial barriers while providing individualized career guidance, technology, tools, resources, and connection to a large network of employer partners.”
Students with disabilities (e.g., physical, learning, mental health, sensory, hearing, vision, and more) can qualify for the OOD Education Support Funds through the following steps:
- Apply for OOD services online at OODWorks.com.
- OOD staff will call the applicant and schedule an in-person or virtual appointment.
- Complete the required paperwork to finalize the application.
- OOD staff will determine eligibility and help plan the next steps.
OOD vocational rehabilitation counselors assist students with disabilities with career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, and job placement. OOD’s business relations team connects college students with disabilities to internship and permanent employment opportunities.
The OOD Education Support Funds build on a range of services to help students with disabilities prepare for post-secondary education and employment. From helping younger students explore job interests to supporting students in their first work experiences, support through Ohio College2Careers and more, OOD helps Ohioans with disabilities transition into fulfilling careers.
National Senior Citizens Day on August 21, 2023 presents a chance to express gratitude and respect for the older generation who have contributed so much to our society.
On this day, we can honor senior citizens by engaging in acts of kindness and recognition. Spending quality time with older family members and neighbors, sharing stories and experiences, and showing genuine interest in their wisdom can create meaningful connections.
At OOD, we are proud to support older Ohioans who acquire a disability, experience vision loss, and need personal care assistance to work or prepare to get back to work. If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
OOD and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio partnered to create a searchable database of resources for individuals who are blind or have low vision. With 14 categories of information (e.g., accessible technology, advocacy, employment resources, and independent living), the public can search for resources based on topic or name. Families and professionals can go to one place to find the resources and information they need at the OOD website.
Resources are updated regularly. If you would like to add a resource, please email BSVI-NFBSearchResources@ood.ohio.gov.
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