Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is the State of Ohio agency that empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence.

OOD does this through three areas:

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation

Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired

Division of Disability Determination

Independence for Ohioans with physical or mental disabilities is the mission that unites all aspects of OOD. The agency partners with business, education, and non-profits to facilitate individualized employment plans for Ohioans with disabilities.

OOD's trained and professional staff help Ohio companies recruit and retain employees with disabilities.

The Division of Disability Determination, in agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), determines medical eligibility for Ohioans who apply for Social Security Disability benefits (Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income).

For more information, read the OOD Fact Sheet - About OOD (PDF), which is also available in Microsoft Word: OOD-Fact Sheet- About OOD.

Mission Statement

Empowering Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence.

Our Guiding Principles

In striving for excellence in service, we will:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Mission Statement

The mission of OOD is to empower Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. OOD strives to hire, sustain, and promote a workforce that not only embraces this mission but is also reflective of the rich diversity of the Ohioans we serve. 

OOD considers diversity comprehensively, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, and all other human dynamics that shape creative perspective and professional experience. 

OOD is intentional in cultivating an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where all voices are heard, respected, and valued, as demonstrated by the way we treat all individuals. 

Click Disability Inclusion Access if you would like help with access to our services.

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Contact information for OOD's ADA Coordinator
  • Title II
• File a Grievance
• Request an Accommodation

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Ohio is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin (ancestry), military status, disability, age (40 years or older), genetic information, sexual orientation, or caregiver status, in making employment-related decisions about an individual.

Funding

Programs provided by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) are funded, in whole or in part, with federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), OOD received 78.7% of its funding through the DOE VR grant. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022, OOD received $103,630,848 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,047,485.  Of these federal funds, $15,544,627 is set aside for Pre-ETS.

For purposes of the Supported Employment (SE) Program, the DOE SE grant funded 90% of the costs for the Supported Employment for Youth with a Disability Program up to the grant amount and 100% of the costs of regular Supported Employment program costs up to the grant amount. In FFY 2022, OOD received $603,568 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $60,357 of the total costs.  In FFY 2022, OOD received $603,568 in regular SE grant funds.

For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2022 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2022, OOD received $1,139,118 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match, or $126,569 of the total costs incurred under the OIB program. For purposes of the Independent Living (IL) Program, the federal grant received from HHS paid 90% of the total costs incurred in FFY 2022. In FFY 2022, OOD received $632,008 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% of the match required or $70,223 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.