OOD Works

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...

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 con...

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 incl...

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...

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...

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...

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 en...

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 yo...

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 staf...

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 f...

Rhonda Riley is a mother, grandmother, and animal lover from Clinton County, Ohio. She sat down to speak about her struggles with substance use disorder and how a team helped her work through the obstacles she has faced. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast . Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) can help!...

Brandon Lewis is a senior majoring in journalism at Kent State University. Concerned about securing an internship required for graduation, coupled with having a disability, Brandon reached out to Jessica Vass, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Jessica is designated to Kent State University through Ohio College2Careers , an OOD program at 15 publ...

Angel Colón, Kroger Senior Director of Diversity and Supplier Inclusion, and Kristen Ballinger, Deputy Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Division of Employer and Innovation Services, discuss the partnership between OOD and The Kroger Co.  OOD recognized Kroger as the 2020 Champion of Inclusion Award winner for their commitment to the inclusion of individuals with disabi...

Brock Ewing deferred graduation to participate in the EDGE (Education, Development, Growth, Employment) program, a post-secondary experience at the Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB), tailored to assist students in preparing for adult life. Joined by Joanie Shell, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor designated to OSSB, Brock shares his career p...

Alyssa Carswell returned to Thailand to teach English as a Second Language when she was hit by a car while on a scooter. She discusses her road to recovery and how she found her way to a fulfilling job thanks to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and Step by Step Employment & Training.  Alyssa said, “If you identify as having a disability, it can be hard to accept, but there is...

Jeff Davis, Director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), and  Kevin Miller, Director of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), discuss how the agencies partner to serve Ohioans with developmental disabilities.  Director Miller explains how the agencies work together to implement the Employment First Partnership , which helps adults with developmental disabiliti...

William Clark III, a recent Youngstown State University graduate, published a book in June 2020 titled The Ever So Accurate Tales of a Not So Average Man: The Testament of a Disabled Man , a collection of poems describing the challenges of growing up and living with cerebral palsy. He joins the podcast to discuss his earlier years, experience with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD),...

Dr. Bill Darling, Director of Assistive Technology of Ohio , a federally-funded nonprofit organization that is part of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University, discusses the impact Simeon Fess had on people with disabilities. Bill shares how he discovered Simeon, an Ohioan that while unfamiliar to many, was key in the creation of the Vocational Rehabilitation program during his ser...

Jennifer Strank is an OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Columbiana County. “To help people work, no matter what it is – whether it’s getting back into the workforce, getting their first job, or doing whatever – it’s just a great feeling.” Jennifer explained. “Seeing the growth and self-esteem is amazing.” Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast . Have a dis...

In this episode, OOD Director Kevin Miller discusses the agency's response to coronavirus. Transcripts and MP3 files are available at https://ood.ohio.gov/Podcast . Have a disability? Want to work? Visit OODWorks.com!

Mary Russ talks about her experience training as a voice actor and shares a public service announcement to encourage wearing blue in support of people with autism. She also shares about her experience applying for Social Security disability benefits. Mary is joined by Betsy Russ, her mother. Interested in voice acting by Mary? Visit http://maryruss.icanvoice.com/ . Transcripts and MP3 files are av...

National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day is March 22, 2020, and the OOD Works Podcast features Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors this month.  Dawn Coleman is a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired. “I really like seeing people get a job and meet their goal because I think work is so important. It gives people a sense of purpo...

The OOD 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. “Our staff do a good job understanding the sense of urg...

Katie Frederick, OOD Program Administrator for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, joins the podcast to discuss self-advocacy, assistive technology, and Voicecorps Reading Services. “For me, self-advocacy is knowing and understanding what I need to accomplish a task and being able to explain and share with others what my needs are,” Katie explained. “As a person with a disability, pr...

Chris Page was pulled over for a traffic stop in 2016. His failure to make eye contact caused officers to believe he had been drinking. Chris’ difficulty with motor skills led to him failing a field sobriety test and being arrested. Once in custody, he submitted a urine sample and took a breathalyzer test that proved he had not been drinking. Chris is on the autism spectrum, and his symptoms were...