 Lindsey McClay from Portsmouth had a clear goal: to enter the medical field and secure a more stable job closer to home. Her passion for helping others and her desire for personal fulfillment drove her to pursue a career as a clinical medical assistant.
Despite her aspirations, Lindsey faced significant personal challenges, including anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These hurdles made it difficult for her to navigate the job market and pursue her dream of a career in healthcare. The financial worry of returning to school while adjusting her work schedule added another layer of stress to her journey.
Fortunately, Lindsey found support through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). With the help of Shauna Christian, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, she was able to access the resources she needed.
Lindsey obtained her Medical Assistant Certification from Phlebotomy Plus. With OOD's support, she could pursue her training without the burden of financial strain, allowing her to focus on her education while managing her personal challenges.
Throughout her journey, Lindsey's husband, Aaron, was her biggest supporter, and she received encouragement from her school instructors, who constantly pushed her to achieve her goals.
Lindsey is now thriving in her role at a medical center. She works closely with surgeons who perform breast cancer surgeries, providing care and support to patients. Lindsey’s dedication to her work and her ability to be a supportive presence for her patients demonstrate how pursuing your goals can lead to a rewarding career.
If you or someone you know has a disability and would like to work, visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
 June 22 – June 28, 2025 is DeafBlind Awareness Week. We reflect on the contributions of Helen Keller, born on June 27, 1880. This trailblazer devoted her life to advancing the rights of people who are blind or DeafBlind. To learn more about her accomplishments, read an article by the Perkins School for the Blind.
For more information, visit the American Association of the DeafBlind, Hellen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths & Adults, National Center on Deafblindness, World Federation of the Deafblind, and the Ohio Association of the Deaf-Blind Facebook Group.
 Key Topics
Join us on July 16, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM as we host a webinar titled “All About Sensory Inclusion.” In this webinar, we will offer strategies and tools you can use to ensure your workplace and community spaces are equipped for individuals to manage their sensory needs. It will address:
- The meaning of sensory inclusion;
- Ways to accommodate sensory needs in the workplace and in community spaces; and
- Universal design concepts to create sensory inclusion in your work and community environment.
Presenters
Cynthia L. Crews, Business Relations Specialist
Tanya K. Vela, OTR/L, ADAC, Accessible Ohio Specialist
Registration
This event is hosted through Microsoft Teams Webinar. Pre-registration is required to attend. Please visit the registration site to complete a brief form. Once you have completed the registration form, you will receive an email that includes the link to join the event and add it to your calendar.
Accommodation Requests
The State of Ohio is a disability inclusion state; therefore, we promote access to our events (e.g., meetings, trainings, job fairs). To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please call Chris Glover, Employer Services Liaison, at 614-842-3659, or send an email to OOD.HiringAbility@ood.ohio.gov by July 9, 2025.
Credit Hours
This webinar has been approved for 1.00 HR (General) re-certification credit hour toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ re-certification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®) and 1.00 SHRM Professional Development Credit (PDC) hour toward SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. While this training is not pre-approved for CESP Continuing Education (CE) credit, it aligns with CESP content, and verification of attendance will be provided upon request. These credits are available for attendees of the live broadcast.
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HR Certification Institute’s® official seal confirms that OOD meets the criteria for pre-approved recertification credit(s) for any of HRCI’s eight credentials, including SPHR® and PHR®. (HRCI.org)
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OOD is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.
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 Happy Independence Day! The OOD Works e-Newsletter will return on Friday, July 11. Stay tuned!
 The State of Ohio is once again kicking off its annual program to help Ohio families beat the heat and stay cool this summer.
From July 1 through Sept. 30, income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program (HEAP).
“We’re proud to partner with community action agencies across the state to deliver this critical support during the hottest months of the year,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, which administers the program. “Time after time, this program has proven to be a vital lifeline for countless Ohioans when temperatures start to rise.”
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households or those that have a disconnection notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill, require air conditioning, or those with a person 60 years or older living in the home who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health. Qualifying medical conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, and others.
To qualify for assistance, Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of up to eight members, and 60 percent of the State Median Income for a family of nine or more members. For a family of four, the annual income must be at or below $56,262.50.
Last year, the Summer Crisis Program assisted more than 44,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $13.5 million in benefits.
Starting this year, applying for assistance and managing an account will be easier than ever. A new, streamlined online portal will be available at energyhelp.ohio.gov. To get started, Ohioans must register for an OHID account, which provides a secure and convenient way to access their HEAP account.
“We know that when someone is facing a crisis, every minute counts,” said Director Mihalik. “This new online system makes it faster and easier for Ohioans to apply for help — so they can get the support they need, when they need it most.”
Registration takes less than 7 minutes and can be completed in these easy steps:
- Click “Create an OHID,” and follow the six-step account creation process.
- Ensure account security by setting up multi-factor authentication.
Ohioans can start their application online but must schedule an appointment with their local Energy Assistance Provider to complete the application. Depending on the agency, the appointment may be in-person, on the phone, or virtual. The application and list of providers can be found online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Ohioans can also call 800-282-0880 to find their local provider. Hearing-impaired customers may dial 711 for assistance.
Clients need to bring copies of the following documents to their appointment:
- Their most recent energy bills.
- A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
- Proof of disability, if applicable.
- Physician documentation noting that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health, if there isn’t a member older than the age of 60.
Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus program who meet the above criteria may also be eligible for central air conditioning repairs or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.
For more information about the Summer Crisis Program, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.
Enroll in a Self-Paced Digital Accessibility Camp
Case Western Reserve University’s The Daily, 6-24-25
New Advisory Commission to Address Disability Rights
Spectrum News, 6-23-25
Licking County Board to Offer Universal Changing Table at Local Independence Day Events
Newark Advocate, 6-23-25
Aquatics Staff Receive Training on Service Dogs
The Advertiser-Tribune, 6-23-25
National Deaf Basketball Championship Game
Fox 7 Austin, 6-24-25
What Brings Autistic People Joy?
Psychology Today, 6-22-25
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