Accessible Ohio Specialist (VRPA)

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Our agency works with partners in businesses, education, and non-profit organizations to facilitate customized employment plans for Ohioans with disabilities; helps Ohio companies recruit and retain employees with disabilities; and is the sole agency determining medical and vocational Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs in Ohio. We help connect the people of Ohio who have disabilities with the resources, support, and opportunities that fit their unique needs, abilities, and interests so that they can find and retain meaningful employment. To learn more about what we do, please visit our website at ood.ohio.gov.

Follow us on social media @OhioOOD!

Accessible Ohio Specialist Position Overview:  

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is seeking a knowledgeable accessibility professional to make a meaningful impact on accessibility and inclusion across Ohio.

As an Accessible Ohio Specialist, you will serve as a liaison between OOD and Ohio's businesses, communities, venues, attractions, and employers. You will facilitate consultations to assist these organizations in identifying accessibility goals and provide resources to help them enhance accessibility in their environments. In addition, you will develop and deliver training, create resources on accessibility best practices, and execute events. From evaluating digital and built environments to addressing mobility, sensory, and communication needs, you'll be at the forefront of creating inclusive spaces for all.

To excel in this role, you'll need great communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to perform outreach and establish partnerships, analyze complex situations and develop comprehensive reports, and develop and deliver training. You will collaborate with current and potential partners to develop strategies and solutions that break down barriers and promote equal participation, as well as leverage your knowledge of assistive technology, accessibility guidelines, and universal design concepts to drive positive change. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to share potential funding options, best practices, and resources to support partners in achieving their accessibility goals.

As an Accessible Ohio Specialist, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment throughout the state.

Division Overview:

Division of Employer and Innovation Services (EIS) works to raise awareness of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities’ mission with employer partners, to promote a talent pool of job-ready candidates, and to support businesses in the hiring and retention of individuals with disabilities. The Accessible Ohio program, part of EIS, partners with Ohio’s businesses, communities, venues, attractions, and employers to support their accessibility goals.  In addition, EIS is instrumental in the development and implementation of the agency’s strategic plan to ensure that client and stakeholder expectations are met, while providing value to Ohio taxpayers through efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of services.

Pay Information 

Starting salary will be step 1, subject to law or union contract requirements.  New hires advance to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter.  There are cost of living increases to these rates each year and additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below.

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 months

18 months

30 months

42 months

54 Months 

66 Months 

78 Months 

Pay Range

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6 

Step 7 

Step 8  

EX 13

Hourly

$35.68

$37.62

$39.68

$41.82

$44.17

$46.55

$48.47

$50.75

Annual

$74,214.00

$78,250.00

$82,534.00

$86,986.00

$91,874.00

$96,824.00

$100,818.00

$105,560.00

Location Requirements 

This position is available in the following locations:  

• OOD West Chester - 9650 Cincinnati Columbus Rd Cincinnati, OH 45241

  Woodward - 11150 Woodward Lane Cincinnati, OH 45241 

  Montana - 2300 Montana Ave Cincinnati, OH 45211 

We are increasing our in-office presence to 5 days per week across all OOD locations as space permits.  The transition timeline for each office is being determined and more information will be provided by your supervisor before the start date.  Employees must reside at a location that allows for reasonable response time to workplace reporting requirements.

Daytime travel within Ohio may be required. The selected candidate must provide own transportation or, in order to operate a state vehicle, must have a valid driver’s license.

Applications and Selections

Please ensure your online application and work experience clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs). Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered. If you meet the MQs through education, transcripts are required for consideration by attaching directly on the Additional Attachments section of the application (Step 7) or via email to OOD.TalentAcquisition@ood.ohio.gov.

“See resume” is not a substitution for completing work experience and/or supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must also be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application. If "See Resume" is used in place of work experience, your application may not be considered.

Applicants can check their application status and all vacancy-related email correspondence on “My Jobpage.” On the Careers.Ohio.Gov job search webpage, once signed in the link to My Jobpage is displayed under the TeamOhio logo. Applicants who require technical assistance (e.g., issues logging in or other system-related issues) should contact careers@ohio.gov.

The selection process consists of an online assessment and a remote structured interview. All communications are sent via email. Candidates should make sure their account contains an email address that is checked regularly including checking junk and/or spam.

Background Check

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. 

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Completion of undergraduate core program in human service area, business or public administration or related field AND 12 months training or 12 months experience in supervisory, administrative or related position.
 
-Or completion of graduate core program in human service area, business or public administration or related field.
 
-Or equivalent of education and/or experience per Minimum Class Qualifications noted above.

 
Job Skills: Vocational Rehabilitation, Technical Writing, Communications, Occupational Safety, Marketing, Business, Consultation, Collaboration, Establishing Relationship, Presenting, Written Communication

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is amongst the top-ranked state agencies implementing inclusive and accessible planning and programming into businesses operations and services. We strive to hire, sustain, and promote a workforce that not only embraces this mission but is also reflective of the Ohioans we serve.

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact ood.OandA@ood.ohio.gov so proper arrangements can be made. 

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.