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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s biennial Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 highlights his dedication to making Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. The proposed budget will allow Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to secure the largest investment in its history to positively impact the lives of Ohioans with disabilities.OOD Director Kevin Miller and Maria Seaman, OOD Chief Financial Officer, join the podcast to discuss the Executive Budget and how it will support OOD and partners to serve more Ohioans with disabilities and increase the services provided to them.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started.Connect with OOD on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioOODTwitter: https://twitter.com/OhioOOD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohioood/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ood/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@OhioOODSign up for our newsletter and other email updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHOOD/subscribers/qualify.

Regan Patten is a goal-driven student finishing up her education in Health Information Technology at Terra State Community College. She has solid work experience and family support as she takes her next step and begins working in the health field upon graduation.  However, it didn’t come easily. Regan explained, “I have struggled with a learning disability involving math ever since I could remember.” She connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and has benefitted from assistive technology and financial support.“She is going to be a great employee, and any employer who hires her will be very lucky to have her,” said Tonya Mortimer, OOD Sr. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.Regan shares her journey in this episode. Kristin Garrett, OOD Program Administrator, also joins the episode to discuss how OOD is supporting eligible college students with disabilities with financial support toward tuition and educational expenses, while participating in OOD services, during the 2022-2023 school year. OOD can help ensure college students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. Need more information or have general questions about OOD's services for college students with disabilities or the Ohio College2Careers program? Email college2careers@ood.ohio.gov. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Connect with Ohio College2Careers on social media: @OhioC2C. Connect with OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.Sign up for our newsletter and other email updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHOOD/subscribers/qualify.

James Sims began experiencing vision loss in his forties. After meeting with an optometrist, he was referred to an eye surgeon. He had multiple surgeries to address serious, long-term ocular issues. He explained, “I lost a lot of vision and quickly knew that I was going to need some services and some accommodations if I wanted to continue to work in the same field that I work in.”With a master’s degree and extensive experience in marketing and communications, James connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) for services to help him continue his career with his onset disability. He was initially reluctant because he thought OOD could not support employment solutions in his career field. Amy Beavis, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, helped James become aware of the services that could help and assured him he could continue doing the work he enjoyed.Amy linked James with Susan Walters at Matrix Vocational Solutions, a vocational rehabilitation provider, who helped James navigate the application process to find a job that would be a good fit.After working with Amy and Susan, James landed a marketing position with PrimaryOne Health, where he worked for four years. He then accepted a Marketing Manager position at The Ohio State University. In addition to the full-time position he enjoys, James recently published a children’s book titled “The Incredible, Amazing, Fantastic Life of Mr. Smith,” which can be purchased through Amazon and other retailers. The book is about Mr. Smith, an ordinary dad with a big imagination, who shares a tall tale about his encounter with a seal and a hungry great white shark.James’ message to others with disabilities is to “Keep an open mind. Just realize this: it’s a part of what is going on with you but doesn’t define you at all. Know what you can do, what your ceiling is, and what abilities you have. So just lean in and get to work."Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Connect with OOD on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhioOODTwitter: https://twitter.com/OhioOOD/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohioood/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ood/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@OhioOOD Sign up for our newsletter and other email updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHOOD/subscribers/qualify.

The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Division of Disability Determination (DDD), in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security disability benefits. DDD is federally regulated and receives 100% of its funding from SSA.  Under SSA, disability is based on an individual’s inability to work.  Robert Fenn and Brandon Smith, Public Affairs Specialists with SSA,  join the podcast to discuss changes to Social Security disability benefits in 2023.(Check out episode 27, Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits, for additional information.)Learn more at SSA.Gov or call 800-772-1213.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Annette Beauchamp of Columbus, Ohio worked for the same employer for 21 years, doing a job she loved, when her vision became so limited, her safety was in danger.She explained, “I was almost hit by a car trying to cross the street more than once. I would fall over things in my own house. I would pour liquid into glasses that were turned upside down and make a mess.”Cataracts, nuclear sclerosis, malignant myopia, and night and color blindness were taking a toll on Annette. Fortunately, she connected with Deborah Winston, Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), with the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired.  Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Eric Petersen of Mentor, Ohio, served our country as a Marine. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and served in Afghanistan in 2008. Eric came back home and was a reservist and trained as an EMT, paramedic, and firefighter. While working as a firefighter in Akron, Eric experienced a life-changing event during his off-hours: he had a near-fatal motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury.  Through years of physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, Eric learned how to walk again and so much more. “Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) worked with Eric for years to help him reenter the workforce. He came such a long way,” explained Sunny Gilmore, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Eric joins the podcast to talk about his experience with some assistance from his dad, Tom Petersen.  Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Krista Allison is a federal employee and Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022. She has used her title and platform to highlight the importance of community accessibility, host fundraisers to support disability-related causes, and enhance the safety of individuals with disabilities. Krista has worked with two police departments to implement a form designed to assist police officers, firefighters, and paramedics when they are called to a house where a resident has a disability. Over the years, Krista has been a participant with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Working with Kenny Crookston, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Krista has been able to maintain her independence through a vehicle modification and efforts to make her home more accessible.Krista will compete in the Wheelchair America 2023 National Competition at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan from August 15-21, 2022. During this week-long event, state titleholders from across America will join to participate in leadership training, advocacy workshops, mentoring events, and judging sessions. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Learn more about Krista on the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022 Facebook page.  Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) provide direct, personalized services to help individuals with disabilities find and retain meaningful work. Hear firsthand from eight counselors throughout the state to learn what Vocational Rehabilitation is all about.Dana Young, Jessica Galloway, Barbara Sloan, Andrew Ellis, Sarah Jordan, Eric Bostick, Tiffany McGuire-Edwards, and Lori Case are the counselors interviewed.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Troy Hammond is a comedian, actor, and guest speaker from Columbus, Ohio. During his career, which has included performing in 35 states, he hasn’t been pulled down by the challenges that come with traveling and working as a person who is blind. With assistance twice over the years from the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), Troy has steadily grown his career, although it hasn’t been easy.  “You can adapt. You can make the best of your situation, and you can do your best,” Troy explained. Troy currently plays the character of “Blind Billy” in Welcome to Flatch, a docu-comedy on Fox and Hulu that kicked off in March 2022. The show features a documentary crew that sets out to explore the lives of residents in a small (fictitious) town in Ohio named Flatch. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Visit Troy's website at TroyHammond.com.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Makayla Jones has been helping with family businesses for years. Now, in her senior year at Wilberforce University, she’s completing her degree in business management with her sights set on launching her own business. What’s more, Makayla is earning A’s while playing forward on the Wilberforce University women’s basketball team. Makayla, who has a learning disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has found support from Taleisa Jones, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, dedicated to Wilberforce University through OOD’s Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) program.  Ohio C2C is available at 17 public colleges and universities in Ohio to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Need more information or have general questions about Ohio College2Careers? Email college2careers@ood.ohio.gov.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find Ohio College2Careers on social media: @OhioC2C. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities’ Division of Disability Determination (DDD), in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security disability benefits. DDD is federally regulated and receives 100% of its funding from SSA.  Under SSA, disability is based on an individual’s inability to work.  Robert Fenn and Brandon Smith, Public Affairs Specialists with SSA,  join the podcast to discuss changes to Social Security disability benefits in 2022. Learn more at SSA.Gov or call 800-772-1213.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

One of the last things Anthony Winston of Wellsville, Ohio told his mother before her passing in 2014 was that he would return to college to finish his education.  Anthony, who has cerebral palsy, explains it this way: “It’s basically just a bruise on one of the lobes in your brain. Mine just happens to be on the one that controls your motor skills: walking, running, things of that nature.” He connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) for assistance and connected with Jennifer Strank, OOD Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. “She was right there for me,” Anthony said. Anthony graduated from the Ohio Valley College of Technology with a 4.0-grade point average in 2020. Then, in July 2021, he began working at PsyCare Behavioral Healthcare & Counseling in East Liverpool. “The only person I am ever in competition with is the person I look at in the mirror at every day, and so my confidence is through the roof now thanks to OOD and what they’ve done for me,” Anthony said.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

In October 2021, OOD announced Cleveland Clinic as the 2021 Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award winner for their commitment to individuals with disabilities in the workplace and being a leader of diversity and inclusion best practices in Ohio. Listen to episode 33 of the OOD Works Podcast as staff with Cleveland Clinic discuss their “disability-inclusive” culture. Guests from Cleveland Clinic include Diana Gueits, Interim Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Carmen Roman, HR Business Partner, serving as an Advisor while supporting the Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute and the Glickman Urology & Kidney Institute; and Tim Gibbons, Department Director of Patient Transportation in Operations. They are joined by Michael Hoag, OOD Business Relations Specialist for the Northeast Region of Ohio.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Employers interested in partnering can visit the OOD Business Relations Team webpage to get started. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

OOD Director Kevin Miller and Kristin Garrett, Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) Program Administrator, join the podcast to discuss career support for college students with disabilities. Ohio C2C is an OOD program available at 17 public colleges and universities in Ohio to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Learn more about Ohio C2C. Need more information or have general questions about Ohio College2Careers? Email college2careers@ood.ohio.gov.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find Ohio College2Careers on social media: @OhioC2C. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Michael Schor is the Associate Professor of Instruction at Ohio University (OU) where he teaches finance courses and is the president of the OU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. He was a participant with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) about fifteen years ago. Recently, Michael reached out to his former OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Melinda Wingard, to share how he is doing. “I think people all have special parts of their past and things in which they’re interested in that could be aborted or blocked by a disability or change in circumstances,” Michael reflected. “Whatever kinds of things people are going through, it’s important not to lose valuable parts of themselves and to have that full richness in life by removing barriers.” Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Priya Goddard is a 2021 participant of the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) in Cleveland, a collaboration of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, and Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP).  At YLF, high school juniors and seniors with disabilities participate in a weeklong career leadership training program to help prepare them to be one of Ohio's future leaders by improving leadership, citizenship, and social skills. Priya explained that she is writing a book on autism and getting bullied. “I was really thinking about some of the things that I’ve been through but also just really wanting to help other people,” she shared. “Everybody on the spectrum has their own differences, but each one of them has something to bring that is powerful and meaningful.”  Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Jack Salvaggio of Highland Heights, Ohio is a 2017 graduate of Mayfield High School and a 2020 graduate of the Cuyahoga East Vocational Education Consortium. While a student, he connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) to prepare early for his career. “I hope that people could support people with disabilities, people with autism, any kind of special needs spectrum,” Jack encourages. “Support autism awareness.” Kenneth Crookston, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, explained, “Jack has been employed since November 2020, and he and his family are so happy. He has been praised for his good work and earned raises and increased hours. He just has an awesome personality that truly adds to the people around him.” Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Jennifer Walker of Blacklick, Ohio is a wife, mother, and teacher. In her sixth year of teaching, her vision began to deteriorate from retinitis pigmentosa. One of the first steps she took was to reach out to the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities’ Division of Disability Determination (DDD), in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security disability benefits. DDD is federally regulated and receives 100% of its funding from SSA.  Under SSA, disability is based on an individual’s inability to work.  DDD and SSA staff join the podcast to answer questions about applying for disability benefits. ·        Brandon Smith, Public Affairs Specialist with SSA  ·        Robert Fenn, Public Affairs Specialist with SSA ·        Kristen Alexander, Disability Claims Manager with DDD ·        Beth Baker, Professional Relations Officer and Field Office Liaison with DD Learn more at SocialSecurity.Gov or call 800-772-1213.Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Director Kevin Miller and Maria Seaman, OOD Chief Financial Officer, discuss Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's biennial Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. His commitment to making Ohio a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities has only been reinforced with this budget.  The Governor’s proposed budget for OOD allocates sustained funding that will be considered by the Ohio Legislature over the next several months, and if approved, will help OOD continue programming and services. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast.Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD.