Employer Awards
Ohio Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award 2022 – Call for Applications!
Moments after taking the oath of office, Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D, which established Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and a Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. To reinforce his commitment to Ohioans with disabilities, H.B. 110 included presenting the Governor's Inclusive Employer Award each year during October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to employers who meet the criteria for having a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is responsible for determining the criteria for the award and promoting participation by Ohio employers. OOD will review applications and make recommendations to Governor DeWine for the selection of the award recipient(s).
The Application Form to submit your response can be found here. A PDF version of the application is provided on this page to assist you in compiling your response as the Application Form will not allow users to save their work in-progress. Please make sure you have completed the Application Form in its entirety before submitting.
Questions regarding the Award or any technical issues can be directed to ood.hiringability@ood.ohio.gov.
The deadline for responses is 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Only one application may be submitted per company. Thank you for your interest in applying for this Award!
2021 Governor's Inclusive Employer Award
Congratulations to the 2021 Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award Winner:
From left to right: Kevin Miller, OOD Director; Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD, CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic; Felicia King, Northeast Ohio Faith Based/Minority Outreach Liaison with the Office of Governor DeWine; Diana Gueits-Rivera, Interim Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Cleveland Clinic; Kelly Hancock, DNP, Chief Caregiver Officer, Cleveland Clinic.
The 2021 Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award Winner, Cleveland Clinic, has demonstrated a clear commitment to creating and maintaining a workplace that includes individuals with disabilities. Their “disability-inclusive culture” is evident throughout all phases of employment with clear policies on hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities, handling reasonable accommodations, and maintaining employee privacy. They also provide accessible physical spaces and electronic resources, disability training, and an Employee Resource Group called DiverseAbility that supports caregivers and patients.
Moments after taking the oath of office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D, which established Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and a Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. To reinforce his commitment to Ohioans with disabilities, H.B. 110 included presenting an award during October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to employers who meet the criteria for having a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities. OOD determined the criteria for the award in alignment with its Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Inclusive Workplace; Recruiting, Hiring, and Supporting Employees; Workplace Accommodations; and Workplace Accessibility. A five-member committee used a predetermined scoring rubric focused on the employer’s descriptions of policies, processes, and activities surrounding inclusive employment.
“I am pleased to honor Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to providing an inclusive workplace,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “They are leading the way for other Ohio businesses by recognizing individuals with disabilities provide a valuable and often untapped talent pool.”
Cleveland Clinic is an OOD Employer Partner and was named a Gold Level OOD Employer Partner of Inclusion in 2020 and a Silver Level winner in 2019. Employers looking to diversify and strengthen their workforce by including people with disabilities can learn more about partnering with OOD at the Business Relations Team webpage.
2020 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards
We are pleased to announce the 2020 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!
Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:
The Kroger Co. has collaborated with OOD for several years to increase employment opportunities and job retention for people with disabilities throughout its grocery stores and distribution centers in Ohio. Over the past year, Kroger has hired 217 OOD job seekers. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kroger took the initiative to create accessible communications to ensure the health and safety of its associates with disabilities.
Platinum Level, Gold Level, and Silver Level Award Winners
Platinum Level
- Advance Auto Parts
- FedEx
- Giant Eagle
- OhioHealth
- The Ohio State University and OSU Wexner Medical Center
- Walgreens
Gold Level
Silver Level
- Amazon
- Incept Corp
- University Hospitals
2019 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards
We are pleased to announce the 2019 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!
Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:
Giant Eagle operates more than 400 food, fuel and convenience retail locations throughout Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana and employs more than 32,000 Team Members. Giant Eagle has excelled in building an inclusive workplace, immersing an OOD Talent Sourcing Coordinator within their company to support recruitment and retention of Giant Eagle Team Members with disabilities. For more information, watch a video about the partnership.
Platinum Level, Gold Level and Silver Level
Award Winners
Platinum Level
- CVS Health
- FedEx Ground
- OhioHealth
- Walgreens Distribution Center
Gold Level
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Silver Level
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2018 Employer Partners of Inclusion Awards
We are pleased to announce the 2018 OOD Employer Partners of Inclusion Award Winners!
Congratulations to the Champion of Inclusion Award Winner:
Champion of Inclusion
Crown Equipment Corporation
New Bremen, Ohio
Crown Equipment Corporation is one of the top five largest lift truck manufacturers in the world and employs over 4,000 Ohioans. Crown has collaborated with OOD on many diversity and inclusion initiatives since 2015, including piloting an on-the-job training program this year.
Platinum Level, Gold Level and Silver Level
Award Winners
Platinum Level
- CVS Health
- FedEx Ground
- Fifth Third Bank
- Giant Eagle
- Heartland at ProMedica/HCR ManorCare
- OhioHealth
- The Ohio State University
- Walgreens Perrysburg Distribution Center
Gold Level
- Aramark
- Kroger
- Meijer
- Teleperformance
- University Hospitals of Cleveland
Silver Level
- G4S Secure Solutions
- InfoCision
- MaritzCX Research
- Marriott International
- MetroHealth System
- Renhill HR on Demand
- Speedway
- U.S. Social Security Administration
2017 Opportunity Award Winners
Champion of Opportunity Award
- Natural Essentials INC - In the northeast Ohio region, Natural Essentials INC has committed itself to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace by hiring an internal job coach to assist in the successful development and sustainability of their workforce. Natural Essentials is very open to making workplace accommodations, including teaching American Sign Language to their management staff so they can better communicate with their deaf/hard of hearing employees.
- The Ohio State University – Based in Columbus in the southeast region, The Ohio State University (OSU) is a committed partner dedicated to providing an inclusive work environment. OSU has created a culture which encourages the support and advancement of employees with disabilities. OSU has coordinated multiple disability awareness trainings in an effort to educate their employees about people with disabilities and promote an inclusive workplace. OSU partnered with OOD to embed a Talent Sourcing Coordinator full-time on campus, as a result the OOD Talent Sourcing Coordinator has become engrained in OSU’s human resources team leading to the hiring of OOD’s candidates.
- Miami University – In the southwest Ohio region, Miami University is a committed partner dedicated to providing an inclusive work environment. Miami has created a workplace culture that encourages the support of and fosters the advancement of employees with disabilities. As a partner agency in Project Search, Miami has hired several of the participants in the past year. Miami is committed to retaining their inclusive, diverse workforce and partners with OOD to offer job save services to their employees when challenges arise on the job.
- Heartland (HCR ManorCare) – Located in Sylvania in the northwest region, Heartland has provided quality employment opportunities for OOD candidates during this period and has hired 14 OOD individuals. The Heartland at ProMedica facility has especially gone above and beyond by working with OOD staff to identify positions and discuss options for OOD individuals to be successful. They have shown willingness and flexibility in offering work schedules that meet the needs of OOD individuals.
Creating Opportunity Award
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Committed to Opportunity Award
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2016 Opportunity Award Winners
Champion of Opportunity Award
The Champion of Opportunity Award honors companies that have gone above and beyond and who serve as statewide examples of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.
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Creating Opportunity Award
The Creating Opportunity Award recognizes companies who have recently begun hiring individuals with disabilities.
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Committed to Opportunity Award
The Committed to Opportunity Award recognizes companies with a proven commitment to integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce.
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2015 Opportunity Award Winners
Champion of Opportunity Award
Kroger, Cincinnati
The TJX Companies, Central Ohio
JSI Janitorial Services, Cleveland
MaritzCX, Toledo
Creating Opportunity Award
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Committed to Opportunity Award
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2014 Award Recipients
Champion of Opportunity Award
- OhioHealth MedCentral Hospitals, Mansfield
- Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati
- Giant Eagle, Central Ohio
- InfoCision, Akron
Creating Opportunity Award
- Advantage Sales and Marketing, Cincinnati
- Piada Italian Restaurant, North Canton
- Rachel Wixey & Associates, Maumee
- Sandridge Foods, Medina
- Walmart, Westerville
- Best Western Plus, Steubenville
- BurgerFi, Mentor
- ClearPath, Akron
- Honda East Power Equipment, Cincinnati
- Parkview Care Center, Fremont
- Scioto Corp, Cincinnati
- Scioto Downs, Columbus
- Shoppers World, Columbus
- Steve’s Market and Deli, Urbana
- Travel Centers of America, Hebron
Committed to Opportunity Award
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