New Video Series on Workforce Pathways for Students with Disabilities

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 09/19/2025 10:00 AM EDT

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New Video Series on Workforce Pathways for Students with Disabilities

Three shapes with text "Get Ready! Get Set! Keep Going!"

The Broadcast Educational Media Commission (BEMC), in collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW), and ThinkTV, has launched a video series titled "Get Ready! Get Set! Keep Going!" This resource is designed specifically for Ohio students with disabilities, providing important information to help them jumpstart their careers and navigate their unique career pathways.

For parents, educators, and students, understanding the resources available is crucial for preparing for life after high school. This series emphasizes the importance of early planning and highlights the various opportunities that can empower students in their career journeys. Whether students are just starting to think about post-graduation plans or are already on the path, there’s something in this series for everyone.

Get Ready!: This segment is tailored for high school students with disabilities who may be contemplating their futures. The video introduces practical tools to help clarify career aspirations and connect students with the right support networks.

Get Set!: Part two explores actionable next steps to initiate a successful career pathway. This includes valuable information on pursuing further education, entering the workforce, and discovering different vocational opportunities.

Keep Going!: The series concludes with a recap of strategies and inspiring stories from individuals who have successfully navigated their career journeys. Their experiences can provide motivation and real-life examples of achieving goals.

The "Get Ready! Get Set! Keep Going!" series offers American Sign Language (ASL) and audio-described formats, ensuring that all individuals can engage with this important content.

Empowering Ohio's Deaf Community: Celebrating Deaf Awareness Month

Hands signing "interpreting" and text "Deaf Awareness Month"

September is National Deaf Awareness Month, and International Week of Deaf People begins September 20, providing an opportunity to foster understanding, inclusivity, and communication for the Deaf community.

For more than 30 years, OOD has served Ohioans who are Deaf, Deaf/Blind, or hard of hearing through partnerships with community entities throughout the state, often referred to as Community Centers for the Deaf. OOD works with these partners to provide support and communication services, ensuring individuals have the information needed to fully integrate into employment and other activities.

Learn more in a video about Deaf services, in American Sign Language. If you or someone you know would like to get started with OOD, please visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.

Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Services Webpage: OOD and community partners offer support and communication services to Ohioans who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing as well as their families and communities.
Searchable Database of Resources about Deafness, DeafBlindness, and Hearing Loss: OOD and the Community Centers for the Deaf partnered to create a searchable database of resources with 34 categories of information (e.g., Deaf Culture, Domestic Violence, Employment, Housing, Sign Language, Substance Use, and Youth Services).
Communication Disability Law: Individuals with a medically-diagnosed communication disability can voluntarily register to notify law enforcement if pulled over.
Communication Card: A communication card is available to help individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing and police officers communicate with each other.

Accessible Ohio Feedback Forum

OOD invites you to share your ideas for the Accessible Ohio program. Please join us for the Accessible Ohio Feedback Forum on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Accessible Ohio reinforces Governor Mike DeWine’s Executive Order, which established Ohio as a disability inclusion state and a model employer of individuals with disabilities. Our team’s mission is to prioritize accessibility from the start, promote inclusiveness, and ensure everyone can experience Ohio in an equitable way. Accessible Ohio is a resource for Ohio’s businesses, communities, venues, attractions, and employers by providing consultations, education, and resources.

Join us to provide valuable feedback as we share updates about our services. We seek your input as we strive to make Ohio more accessible and inclusive for all.

This event is hosted through Microsoft Teams Webinar. Pre-registration is required to attend. Please visit the registration site and 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.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for this event.

All About Accessibility: Team Tressel Fitness Challenge

Seven graphic figures of Lt. Governor and students. Text: Governor's Healthy Ohio Team Tressel Fitness Challenge

As part of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s efforts to make Ohioans healthier and help every person live up to their full potential, he and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, in collaboration with Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin, launched the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.

Launched earlier this month in schools, the challenge encourages and equips students to form healthy fitness, nutrition, and sleep habits over 90 days through individual goal setting. A total of 690 schools — more than 173,000 students — are committed to the initiative, which includes three different levels of achievement and a completion certificate at the end.

Parents, family members, and community organizations are encouraged to participate in the challenge and support students and schools as they work toward their goals. Find tips on how to get involved at the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge webpage.

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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) 2024, OOD received $166,384,030 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $45,031,510. Of these federal funds, $24,957,605 is set aside for Pre-ETS.

For purposes of the Works 4 Me program, OOD received 100% of its funding through the DOE Disability Innovation Fund grant. In FFY 2024, OOD received $716,175 for this program.

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 2024, OOD received $593,853 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $65,984 of the total costs. In FFY 2024, OOD received $593,853 in regular SE grant funds.

For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2024 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2024, OOD received $1,166,389 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $129,599 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 2024. In FFY 2024, OOD received $646,297 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $71,811 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.