Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities recently announced its 2016 Opportunity Awards winners, which recognizes and highlights Ohio companies committed to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Meijer was named a Champion of Opportunity for its work in the southwest Ohio region, where the company has face-to-face contact with potential applicants and gives them tours of their facilities. This helps to provide quality vocational guidance for every candidate.
Creating Opportunity Award winners in Greater Cincinnati include:
Brookdale, Mason
Hayneedle Distribution Center, Monroe
Koch Foods Inc, Fairfield
Krispy Kreme, Cincinnati
Kroger Market Place, Cincinnati
Mac’s Pizza and Pub, Maineville
Rodizio Grill, Liberty Township
Trade Global, West Chester
Xscape Theaters Northgate Mall, Cincinnati
These awards seek to recognize companies at various levels in the process: from those who have just begun to recruit, hire, and retain individuals with disabilities to those with a proven track record of integrating individuals with disabilities into their work force. See a full list on the OOD website.
But their love for each other and necessity to work together meant finding a very accommodating employer, which was tricky. “They are just really, really close. Been together their whole lives…never been apart. It was a struggle to find employment because they would have to take on two,” Puckett remarks. “They wanted to work the same shifts.”
Margaret and Mamie Cade with Michael Williams at his business, where both sisters work.
Enter Michael Williams, owner and director at R.M. Funeral Services. As a student at Ohio University in Athens, Williams saw a young man with developmental disabilities working at a Wendy’s and vowed that if he started a business, he would do what he could to employ a person with developmental disabilities.
As a small business owner, he was wearing a lot of hats. In addition to cleaning and upkeep around his facility, he was performing all of the day to day business operations. He reached the point when cleaning and general maintenance, which he views as paramount to the success of his business, was falling to the backburner. “Cleaning is a constant. The busier we are, the more cleaning. We want to make sure that our facility is top notch for families,” stresses Williams.
The Cade sisters were matched with R.M. Funeral Services by Employment First Job Coach Ashley Darling and have been employed since March of 2016, working two days a week. Their hard work, earnestness, and attention to detail led to even more work from Williams, such as gardening, and property and building maintenance.
“Once I developed a relationship with them, I knew they would do a great job. There is always something that can be done,” Williams comments. “I wish I could get some of the other business owners here to jump on board. It’s beneficial for [them], beneficial for the person with special needs, and it benefits the customers.”
In addition to cleaning at R.M., the sisters have a great fondness for gardening, and work at a greenhouse. They also clean for other businesses as needed. In their free time, the sisters solve a lot of jigsaw puzzles, and love watching the Ohio University Bobcats play football and basketball.
“Employment First is exemplified by the cooperation of multiple agencies, supports provided through the VCBDD, and the desire of a local business to hire to people’s strengths,” says Tina Spanos from VCBDD. “That is what provided the Cades the springboard to success [at] their jobs.”
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) oversees a statewide system of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The agency’s mission is continuous improvement of the quality of life for Ohio’s citizens with developmental disabilities and their families.
Without question, 19-year-old Aurora Hobden said, she wants to land a job. The prospect both thrills and frightens her.
Will she be able to manage her emotions? Follow procedures? Multi-task?
“What might be hard is handling the pressure,” Hobden said. “Being able to know what you’re supposed to do and do it and maybe be good at it.”
Aurora Hobden, left, and Hunter Kleman take part in an exercise at Greenleaf Job Training Services. (Photo by Kyle Robertson for The Columbus Dispatch)
The Upper Arlington resident is among thousands of Ohioans with developmental disabilities whose path to employment no longer leads — at least not automatically — to a spot in a sheltered workshop. State and federal policies that aim to sharply decrease reliance on programs considered “segregated” are steering more and more would-be workers to jobs in the community.
But that transition, no matter how welcome, can be overwhelming. Many of those seeking work spent years in special-education classes and programs where expectations were gentle and nontypical appearances and behaviors didn’t stand out.
“There are certain things that are accepted in those environments that won’t be in the community,” said Jessica Schollenberger, an instructor and job developer at Greenleaf Job Training Services in Clintonville. She’s helping Hobden and a handful of other young adults enrolled in a new class at Greenleaf that is designed to focus on the soft skills that often make or break job success for people with disabilities.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities recently launched a new website aimed at helping people with disabilities find a job. OOD Works is a job portal where you can learn about vocational rehabilitation services and complete an online assessment.
What is vocational rehabilitation?
These services help individuals with disabilities find a job and be more independent. This involves deciding if a person is eligible, setting an employment goal, putting the goal into a plan, and getting the job services and training needed to get a job. Job coaching and other employment services may also be involved.
More than 40 people attended the Nov. 17 Workforce Solutions Summit to learn from businesses about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.
Mary Stagaman talks to the audience about the importance of inclusive hiring.
“We want to bring more people with disabilities into gainful employment, and this has to be part of our strategy,” said Mary Stagaman, senior inclusion adviser for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “There are many barriers to employment but that does not mean unemployable.”
Stagaman, who provided the keynote speech, said people with disabilities have diverse experiences and businesses can benefit from this pool of talent.
Fifth Third Bank utilized Project Search, a business-led school-to-work transition program, to find employees with disabilities and expand hiring, said Program Manager Mitch Morgan.
He added employee engagement has improved by having people with disabilities on staff. For example, Morgan said, one year after Fifth Third hired two Project Search graduates, that department had a 30 percent increase in regular attendance at work.
“We pursued learning and best practices, and did our homework for what skills are needed and train people to do that job,” he said. “It took a long time to get to a point to justify the business case. You can have challenges with any employee, and it’s important to create a match for the position.”
Kings Island also adopts the practice of finding the right employee for each job, whether it is in food service, games, admissions or elsewhere. The amusement park has been hiring people with disabilities for years, setting special interview days and finding the best fit.
“They have an overwhelming pride in their work and love the job,” said Diann Shafer from Kings Island. “Our guests respond positively and enjoy seeing them around the park.”
Warren County Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Joseph Kirby also has experienced benefits after hiring someone with a disability to help gather files for cases. “Her motivation and enthusiasm are contagious,” he said. Small adaptations for her, like using a cart to collect files or having an alphabet chart, have been adopted by other employees.
At ThyssenKrupp Bilstein in Butler County, they’ve hired 14 people with disabilities. “It’s a pool of untapped talent,” said Paul Meintel, who works with the company’s aftermarket group. “It’s a secret boon because they bring so much to the table,” he said.
Having discussions and hearing from other business leaders helps because familiarity starts to remove the idea of “other,” which Stagaman said is vital as Cincinnati’s businesses continue to grow and look for new workforce talent.
Matt Disher of Cintas and Lauren Todd of ViaQuest moderated the panel. The County Boards of Developmental Disabilities in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties partnered for this regional event at the Crowne Plaza in Blue Ash.
Nineteen-year-old Anne, a recent high school graduate, was greeted by OOD Director Kevin Miller.
Chris with CVS employees Carla Hawkins and Winnie Jeffrey.
Cintas employees Matt Birkenhauer, Faiza Askari and Stacey Callos.
Matching qualified candidates with employers is what Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is all about. OOD kicked off National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) with a job fair in Cincinnati this week. This event featured 251 OOD job seekers with disabilities interacting with 48 area employers looking to fill vacant positions.
OOD’s regional job fairs provide individuals with disabilities opportunities to connect with employers. The job fairs also raise awareness with employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities by providing Windmills educational workshops to help Ohio businesses recruit a diverse workforce.
For job-ready candidates, making personal connections with employers at the job fairs has a big impact. Chris, a job seeker from Cincinnati, was excited to see so many possible job opportunities, but was especially pleased with CVS. “I was offered a pharmacy technician position at a CVS in Cincinnati on the spot!” he said.
Employers thought the day was well organized and job seekers were prepared and qualified. Cintas employee Faiza Askari said, “There are a lot of interested people who are very involved and engaged. Everybody is well prepared to look for a job.”
This team of Cintas Human Resources employees frequently participate in job fairs and were surprised that for the first time, they ran out of flyers. “These people really came here to find jobs,” said Stacey Callos.
Many organizations in Cincinnati are encouraging local businesses to consider hiring adults with developmental disabilities, and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC) is no different. A recently released video highlights the abilities people with DD make in the local workforce.
“We really want to see ourselves as catalysts to encourage employers … to open their minds to the possibility of hiring adults with Down syndrome and really give them a chance,” said Jim Hudson, executive director of DSAGC.
Finding meaningful work is a goal many people strive to achieve, and people with developmental disabilities often want the same opportunity. Since Ohio’s Employment First initiative was signed into law four years ago, it has raised the expectations for people of working age with developmental disabilities.
The initiative also required data tracking for employment services providers and County Boards of DD. This information, which includes wages received, type of work, transportation, number of hours worked per week, benefits received and other data, can be analyzed for trends to help guide decisions and resources in the future.
In Hamilton County, it’s no surprise that nearly 40 percent of people with disabilities work in the food service industry, which has long been a strong employer of people with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “restaurants and other eating places have gained 1.2 million jobs since 2010.” Strong job growth in this sector helped more people with developmental disabilities to find jobs.
Marketing, sales and retail is the second most popular occupation type with 25 percent of the total jobs. Many retailers are able to utilize people with developmental disabilities in various roles within their respective organization. Providers of employment supports are working diligently to build and maintain relationships with hiring managers so customized options for employment are becoming available. Many large retailers such as CVS, Walgreens and Kroger, to name a few, are now concentrating on developing disability hiring initiatives to increase diversity in their respective organizations. This is a positive trend and will help to increase options for job seekers in the future.
The healthcare job category is currently at 3 percent of the total employment picture in Hamilton County. National trends in this field indicate that there will be substantial opportunity for employment growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “healthcare industries are expected to have the fastest employment growth and to add the most jobs between 2014 and 2024.” This substantial growth could lead to more opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to contribute in the healthcare field. Marketing and outreach to this industry may be a sound strategy over the upcoming years.
Our data, in the chart below, represents more than 10 occupation types, which shows more businesses are beginning to see the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. It’s also encouraging to see more available career options for people with developmental disabilities, who have the right to make informed decisions about their chosen career path to obtain jobs in community settings that meet their individual needs.
People with developmental disabilities can complete almost any type of work when given the opportunity. Employment is a priority for Hamilton County DD Services, and we will continue to work with businesses to expand opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live and work in their communities.
Nathan Beck is the Employment Coordinator for Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services.
It’s been more than four years since Ohio’s Employment First initiative was signed by Gov. John Kasich. Since then, thousands of people with developmental disabilities have found jobs in the community. In a recent radio interview, John Martin, director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, discussed the effort to find more opportunities for people with DD who want to work.
One way of developing workplace diversity is reaching out to groups that have largely been kept out of the job search process.
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber was selected for participation in a pilot program designed to increase the workplace inclusion of people with disabilities.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), “Getting Down to Business: A Pilot to Strengthen Small Business Through Disability Inclusion” will provide customized assistance to help increase Chamber membership to recruit and retain qualified people with disabilities.
“We are proud and excited to be one of three organizations, and the only Chamber, selected for this pilot program,” said Jill Meyer, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We intend to lead the charge in creating best practices for other regions to join and continue this important work.”
Proposed activities for the pilot program include the creation of an advisory committee on disability issues, development of a job shadowing program linking young people with disabilities to Chamber member businesses and a series of educational events for employers and human resources professionals.
Meyer served on the Board of Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services from 2011-2015.
In Hamilton County, it’s no surprise that nearly 40 percent of people with disabilities work in the food service industry, which has long been a strong employer of people with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “restaurants and other eating places have 
Employment Spotlight 