Opinion: Community jobs preferred for disabled

Jo Fessler is an Colerain Township resident.

Ask anyone with a family member who has a developmental disability, and they will tell you their dream is to see their loved one find a meaningful job and, through that job, to contribute to society.

That dream came true for my son, Tom, more than a dozen years ago. As an employee of a fast food restaurant in North College Hill, his life has been positively impacted by being part of a team. He has even earned the Employee of the Month award.

Thanks to a new program in Ohio, Employment First, more families have been given a chance to see that same dream come true. Established by Gov. John Kasich in 2012, it's an effort to ensure that more individuals with developmental disabilities are successfully working in community-based settings. Until just a few years ago, that was an impossible dream for too many Ohio families.

Every person has abilities, skills and talents that can enrich the community and the lives of people around them. For every Ohioan, working is a vital part of our life experience, and we should expect the opportunity for meaningful work to be within the reach of everyone, whether or not they have a developmental disability.

Helping more Ohioans with a developmental disability find community-based employment benefits everyone. Those who have a disability gain greater independence, increased financial security and improved self-esteem. Employers and co-workers are exposed to more diversity and a broader range of capable employees. Our entire society benefits when all citizens are able to participate and contribute.

Employment First will help more individuals achieve those goals through its focus on community employment as the preferred outcome for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Employment First is shifting expectations, and that is welcome news. Even if you haven't heard about it, there's a good chance you've seen it in action locally. If you've eaten pickles from Izzy's restaurants, they were probably packed by Tony, who has been working at Kaiser Pickles for almost 20 years.

If you've ordered a pizza from LaRosa's, you may have talked to Mark, who has worked in the company's call center for close to a decade. Mark has learned to enter orders with his feet because his arms were amputated when he was very young.

While Ohio is making great progress in creating new job opportunities for those with developmental disabilities, all of our businesses can help the state achieve more by helping create job opportunities for everyone. OhioEmploymentFirst.Org has many resources that help individuals with developmental disabilities and employers connect.

Ohioans are now coming to realize that every person can expect that community employment will be the preferred outcome for all working-age adults. Young people with disabilities are planning for employment options during their school years, and working-age adults can get help matching abilities and interests with workplace opportunities.

For the more than 90,000 Ohioans with a developmental disability, hope has never been more in reach. Cincinnati, known for its strong communities, is especially well poised to play a major role in helping the state keep its momentum in finding employment opportunities for those who have autism, Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. Our state – and our communities – will be stronger for it.