Accessible Ohio Initiative Unveils No-Cost Webinar Series to Promote Statewide Accessibility

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 01/05/2024 10:01 AM EST

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Accessible Ohio Initiative Unveils No-Cost Webinar Series to Promote Statewide Accessibility

This week Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) announced an upcoming six-part webinar series dedicated to supporting a more accessible Ohio for individuals with disabilities.

Moments after taking the oath of office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D, establishing Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. Building on this commitment, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted's operating budget for OOD introduced a pioneering initiative, Accessible Ohio. This program aims to foster accessibility and inclusivity across Ohio’s businesses, venues, attractions, and communities for individuals with disabilities. Accessible Ohio Specialists are offering a no-cost webinar series to promote greater accessibility statewide.

“We strive for progress and growth, and we must ensure that everyone in our communities has the chance to thrive,” said Governor DeWine. “Our commitment to inclusivity through initiatives like Accessible Ohio reflects our dedication to leaving no one behind.”

“We invite you to join us in this critical journey toward inclusivity and accessibility,” said OOD Director Miller. “The webinar series from our Accessible Ohio Specialists will be an invaluable resource to gain insights, strategies, and best practices to help create a more inclusive and accessible Ohio for all."

Topics will include guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act, the intent of a universal design approach, the four priority areas of the accessibility journey, and the role of Accessible Ohio in supporting Ohio entities to be more accessible and inclusive. The series will conclude with “The Game Plan” to describe ways to assess and establish goals for accessibility, identify strategies for making progress toward these goals, and answer questions from the previous five webinars.

January 18, 2024: The Fundamentals

February 21, 2024: Planning and Awareness

March 20, 2024: Navigation

April 18, 2024: Experience

May 22, 2024: Personal Care

June 20, 2024: The Game Plan

All webinars will begin at 10 a.m. and take place as Microsoft Teams Webinar events. Each webinar will be recorded and archived for future viewing. Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) credits will be available for attendees of the live broadcast. More information, including the link to join, can be found on the Accessible Ohio Playbook webpage.

OOD Assists Job Seekers

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.

World Braille Day

World Braille Day is celebrated annually on January 4^th to recognize the contributions of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system, and to raise awareness about the importance of Braille literacy. This day recognizes the impact Braille has on the lives of individuals who are blind or have low vision, providing them with a means of literacy, education, and independence. By promoting the use of Braille, World Braille Day advocates for equal access to information, education, and communication for people with visual impairments, helping them to integrate more fully into society and achieve greater autonomy.

To learn about how OOD assists Ohioans who are blind or have low vision, visit the blind and low vision services webpage.

OOD Council Presents Annual Report Letter

The OOD Council provides feedback to OOD on its Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) programs. Recently, Dr. Matthew Sauer, Chair of the OOD Council, released their annual report letter, a reflection of a remarkable and historic year for OOD and the Ohioans it serves. The report features the collaborative efforts between the OOD Council and OOD Director Kevin L. Miller's team. It's a testament to the shared dedication to fostering meaningful employment opportunities that pave the way for independence and enriched lives.

Read the 2023 OOD Council Annual Report Letter.

All About Accessibility: Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease and the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, more than three million Americans have glaucoma, and experts estimate that half of them do not know they have it. Learn more about glaucoma, request a free educational booklet, and find tips to raise awareness at Glaucoma.org.

The OOD Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired helps Ohioans with low vision and blindness. The program provides individuals, ages 14 and up, with direct, personalized services to assist them in finding and keeping meaningful work and personal independence. Get started today at OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.

In the News

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The Business Journals, 1-3-24

Lewiston Comes Together to Help Families, Deaf Community Heal from Tragedy

ABC News, 1-3-24

UCLA Creates New Disability Studies Major

Spectrum News, 1-3-24

The Pervasive Loneliness of Autism

Time, 1-3-24

Ohio Dog Bakery Employs People with Disabilities

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How AI Helps Some People with Disabilities Communicate

Marketplace, 1-2-24

Developmental Disabilities of Clark County Receives $380K Grant for Adult Accessibility

Springfield News-Sun, 12-29-23

Inclusive Employer Award

CareSource, 12-28-23

People with Disabilities Soon Can Use Blue Envelope to Aid Police Relations

The Vindicator, 12-28-23

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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) 2023, OOD received $105,851,906 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,648,610. Of these federal funds, $15,877,786 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 2023, OOD received $301,051 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $33,450 of the total costs. In FFY 2023, OOD received $301,051 in regular SE grant funds.

For the purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2023 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2023, OOD received $1,159,083 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $128,787 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 2023. In FFY 2023, OOD received $645,712 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $71,746 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.