Employment First (EF) Partnership

As part of the Employment First Initiative, OOD and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities(DODD) have established an interagency agreement to expand Supported Employment services for working-age adults with developmental disabilities.  According to DODD data, there are more than 30,000 working-age adults who receive adult services, the vast majority of which are in facility-based settings.  This statewide initiative supports job seekers to transition from facility-based work and non-work settings (sheltered workshops, enclaves, adult day support programs or residential settings) to competitive integrated employment.

Twenty-five OOD Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors work with local county boards of DD to identify and provide VR services to eligible individuals served through the partnership.  In addition, five caseload assistants were hired specifically for the partnership to provide work incentives planning services to individuals served by the project.

EF Partnership:

• Utilizes Person Centered Planning;
• Helps job seekers understand how working in the community may impact their benefits;
• Provides a full range of individualized, vocational rehabilitation services designed to meet individuals where they are on their unique path to employment;
• Partners with local county boards of DD to provide long term follow along supports through dually certified providers.

Employment First Informational Links

• Employment First Partnership Fact Sheet.
• OOD and DODD Joint Guidance on Referrals for Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Employment First Taskforce Joint Guidance Section 511 (for the Employment First Taskforce Joint Guidance Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage)