Students with disabilities can access $7,000 in education support for fall classes

Ohioans with disabilities can now receive up to $7,000 per student to assist with educational costs, including tuition at The University of Akron (UA). The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Education Support Funds were recently announced by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and ODD Director Kevin L. Miller.

The OOD Education Support Funds help students with disabilities in their pursuit of continued education. OOD will provide all eligible college and non-traditional students with disabilities up to $7,000, while participating in OOD services, to be used for tuition or educational expenses during the upcoming fall term. This includes students with disabilities participating in colleges, apprenticeships, trade schools and credentialing programs.

“Higher education and a successful future should be available for all students,” said Gov. DeWine. “By supporting college and non-traditional students with disabilities through services from OOD and its partners, they are given a greater opportunity of success as they transition from education and training to in-demand careers.”

Students with disabilities (e.g., physical, learning, mental health, sensory, hearing, vision and more) can qualify for the OOD Education Support Funds through the following steps:

· Apply for OOD services online at OODWorks.com

· OOD staff will call the applicant and schedule an in-person or virtual appointment

· Complete the required paperwork to finalize the application

· OOD staff will determine eligibility and help plan the next steps

Vocational rehabilitation counselors with OOD assist students with disabilities with career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, and job placement. Staff with OOD’s business relations team connect college students with disabilities to internship and permanent employment opportunities.

“OOD has always been an exceptional resource within the state of Ohio and for individuals with disabilities and their advocates,” stated Jessica DeFago, director of the Office of Accessibility at UA.

“Through the intentional growth of programming through OOD, the Ohio College2Careers (Ohio C2C) program was also developed, and UA has been one of the participating college partners since the inaugural year of the program, ensuring our students have access to the support they need,” DeFago said. “Since that time, Ohio C2C program has seamlessly blended into University operations and our campus community, by way of collaborative efforts between the Office of Accessibility, Career Services and Ohio C2C.”

Media Contact: Cristine Boyd; 330-972-6476; cboyd@uakron.edu