[Ohio-Talk] EXT: Who is this guy?

[Andra Stover]

This is so very cool Todd!

On Fri, Jan 21, 2022 at 11:08 AM Richard Payne via Ohio-Talk <
ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Todd Thrives as a Freelance Reporter
>
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>
> Todd Thrives as a Freelance Reporter
>
> Todd Elzey grew up in West Jefferson, Ohio. He lost his eyesight and part
> of
> his hearing at birth from congenital rubella syndrome, brought on from
> measles his mother was exposed to during pregnancy.
>
> Todd began working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)
> in
> August of 2020. He had recently moved back to Ohio from Phelps, New York,
> where he lived for 15 years and held several jobs. He lost his last job out
> of state when reading paper files was too challenging with his visual
> disabilities.
>
> Todd, who has a law degree, debated returning to a traditional job but felt
> accessibility and transportation would continue to be barriers. A friend
> encouraged him to move to Dayton and contact OOD as he contemplated a new
> career.
>
> When Todd met with OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Tiffani
> McGuire-Edwards, he expressed a desire to write and pursue his own media
> site. Tiffani arranged informational interviews and scheduled low vision
> and
> rehabilitation technology evaluations through Goodwill Easterseals Miami
> Valley.
>
> Following the evaluations, OOD provided Todd with assistive technology,
> including eSight, which combines a camera, screens, and software to improve
> visual acuity. Todd used eSight to cover a Kettering Fairmont Firebirds v.
> Archbishop Alter Knights football game from the press box and could see
> everything down to the numbers on the players' shirts.
>
> "I've always been a sports fanatic," said Todd. "The fact that I can now
> cover high school football, baseball, track and field, and other
> large-scale
> events and write about these sports for others is a game-changer for my
> freelance writing career."
>
> Todd's disability also extends to his hearing. Todd is deaf in his left
> ear,
> has only partial hearing in his right ear, and has worn a hearing aid since
> second grade. He was referred to the McGuire Hearing Center in Dayton and
> matched with a Phonak Naida hearing aid and a Roger On microphone that
> captures and transmits sound to the hearing aid. Todd could hear everything
> the Council members said when he covered a Kettering City Council meeting.
>
> "I went from seeing and hearing nothing to everything," said Todd. "None of
> this would have been possible without OOD."
>
> "The eSight and the Roger On have allowed Todd to have more opportunities
> to
> do what he loves. He is experiencing success, and we are so glad we helped
> him find that path," Tiffani said.
>
> Todd explained, "OOD has helped me stay working and has helped me to expand
> what I'm covering to earn more income. I can see more and hear more. It is
> opening up a whole new set of environments that I couldn't have access to
> before."
>
> If you or somebody you know has a disability and would like to work, visit
> OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536.
>
> ________________________________________
> Rapid COVID-19 Testing
>
>
> Ohio has invested in rapid COVID-19 testing with a goal of using fast,
> free,
> and convenient testing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Learn more
> about
> rapid COVID-19 testing.
>
> For trusted information on coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, visit
> coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
>
> ________________________________________
> All About Accessibility: Affordable Connectivity Program
>
> Congress created the Affordable Connectivity Program, providing a discount
> of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and
> up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible
> households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a
> laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they
> contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. Learn
> more at www.fcc.gov/acp <http://www.fcc.gov/acp> .
>
> ________________________________________
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>
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>
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>
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> WTVG, 1-20-22
>
> A Blind Skateboarder's Return to the Ramp
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>
> Athens City Commission on Disabilities Sets Plans, Events for 2022
> The Post, 1-28-22
>
> Lesson of the Day: "At-Home Coronavirus Tests are Inaccessible to Blind
> People"
> The New York Times, 1-18-22
>
> Inspired by Lack of Representation, Deaf Teen Publishes Her Own American
> Sign Language Book
> Fox 2 Detroit, 1-17-22
>
> ________________________________________
>
>
>
>
>
>
>         Questions?
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> 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) 2021,
> OOD received $105,851,903 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State
> covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,648,609. Of these federal funds,
> $15,877,785 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 2021, OOD
> received $299,041 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated
> funds paid the remaining 10%, or $32,933 of the total costs. In FFY 2021,
> OOD received $335,518 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 2021
> paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2021, OOD
> received $1,139,118 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State
> paid over the 10% required match, or $126,568 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 2021. In FFY 2021, OOD received $638,013 in federal grant funds. Funds
> appropriated by the State paid over the 10% of the match required or
> $70,268
> of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.
>
> ________________________________________
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> GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Opportunities for Ohioans
> with Disabilities . 150 E. Campus View Blvd . Columbus, Ohio 43235
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>
>
> Richard Payne,  President
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> 937/829/3368
> Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
>
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