THE VOICE
Vision · Opportunities · Innovation · Choices · Expertise
Photo of Dacia Johnson OCB Executive Director
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Governor Brown’s Action Plan includes expanding career training for Oregon job seekers, optimizing success for Oregon entrepreneurs and small business owners, and good government. The Commission for the Blind is proud to help Oregonians who are blind establish career paths and work to support themselves and their families. When provided access to opportunities, training, and tools, Oregonians who are blind can be successful in any job of their choosing. If you are an employer interested in diversifying your workforce by hiring a qualified job seeker who is blind, or by offering job exploration opportunities to an individual who is blind entering the workforce for the first time, please reach out to us. What I know to be true is that a diverse, skilled workforce is stronger and can deliver more for your business and the community that you serve.

OCB was a proud sponsor and partner of the Casey Eye Institute Macular Degeneration and Vision Expo that was held earlier this month.  This annual event is a great opportunity for the agency to show citizens from around the state how training and equipment bolster the independence of seniors who experience vision loss so they may remain active in their homes and communities. If you or someone you know is experiencing vision loss that is impacting their ability to keep their job or live independently, our staff are here to help.  

This edition of the Voice is a reminder to all of us that just because it hasn’t been done before by someone who is blind, doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible. Breaking through barriers is what Oregonians who are blind do each day!
OCB VR SUCCESS STORIES
SAMRAWIT BIYAZIN - TAX CONSULTANT, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

Each day Samrawit continues to break barriers and dispel myths about blindness. As a child in Ethiopia, she was taught only basic math because she was blind. But this didn't stop her from becoming a lawyer in Ethiopia and a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
When Samrawit moved to the US, she came to OCB to learn independent living skills. She enrolled at PSU and took her first math class. Excelling in math, she began to consider new career options, took an accounting class, and fell in love with the profession. 
Last June, Samrawit graduated from PSU as the first student who is blind to earn an undergraduate degree in Accounting. Samrawit was invited to speak at her commencement ceremony and share her remarkable story. She encourages others who are blind to “always follow your heart and keep on trying."  

Today, Samrawit lives in Virginia and works as a tax consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She became a US citizen in December 2018.
GLENDA SUCHI - TALENT ACQUISITION COORDINATOR, PROVIDENCE PORTLAND MEDICAL CENTER
When Providence Childcare Teacher Glenda Suchi decided it was time for her next career challenge, she hoped to stay with Providence and the culture of inclusivity she'd known and loved for the past 13 years. Glenda applied for a position as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator in the Providence HR Department. Thanks to her proven track record and her background in education and training, she got the job!

During Glenda’s onboarding, her new supervisor, John Heffron, reached out to OCB for accommodation guidance. With help from OCB Technology Specialist Ruth Lazzari, John and Glenda were able to create an accessible technology workspace to maximize Glenda's efficiency and effectiveness.
“I just LOVE my new job and how easy John and Ruth made it for me to work like everyone else!”
-Glenda Suchi, Talent Acquisition Coordinator
“I am really pleased both with this partnership and how well Glenda is doing!”
 - John Heffron, Sr. Manager, Talent Acquisition
OCB IS ENGAGED!
15TH ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S MARKETPLACE CONFERENCE
In March members of the OCB Business Enterprise Program participated as an exhibitor at the 15th annual Governor’s Marketplace organized and hosted by Governor Kate Brown's Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This event allows businesses the opportunity to meet face-to-face with buyers from state, federal and local agencies. The BEP team spoke with many organizations and company representatives about OCB. They discussed expanding opportunities for BE participants who are blind and employed as managers in the food service industry.
CASEY EYE INSTITUTE MACULAR DEGENERATION AND VISION EXPO
In April OCB Independent Living and Low Vision specialists participated as an exhibitor at the Casey Eye Institute Macular Degeneration and Vision Expo. This free event featured informative talks, mini workshops, presentations and exhibits of visual aids, assistive technology, and helpful community resources. 

OCB staff not only worked one-on-one with conference attendees, but were asked to give presentations on the following topics:

Staying connected, organized and informed with Apple's voice-controlled assistant
Chris Cooke OCB Rehabilitation Instructor

Recreational opportunities for people with vision loss
Ashley Smith, OCB Rehabilitation Instructor

Tips and tactics for a fun and enriching social life Charlene Cook, OCB Rehabilitation Teacher

OCB DELIVERS CUSTOMIZED DIVERSITY TRAINING
Around the state our Business Relations Coordinators and Assistive Technology Instructors deliver customized diversity awareness training focused on:
  • Blind Etiquette
  • General Disability Awareness
  • Person First Language
  • Sighted Guide Techniques
  • Technology Demonstrations
  • Diversity and Inclusion Recruiting Strategies
  • OCB Programs and Services
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (ODOT) DIVERSITY TRAINING
In March OCB staff were invited by the Oregon Department of Transportation Region 4 Diversity Action Team to conduct a customized training session for 50 ODOT staff members. Following the training, ODOT Diversity Team Lead Tana Foos requested additional assistance in learning how to encourage and promote the hiring of individuals with vision loss at ODOT. Tana will continue to work with OCB staff in an effort to host work experiences and recruit OCB clients.
"We learned so much from the presentation from the Commission for the Blind and are looking forward to implementing this knowledge in our quest for increased diversity and inclusion."

-Tana Foos, STIP & Finance Plan Coordinator
FEATURED WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
The center for Diversity and Inclusion at OHSU leads and supports institution-wide initiatives to create an environment of respect and inclusion for all people.

As the largest employer in Portland, OHSU has the ability to create a considerable employment impact for community members with disabilities. For the past several years, OCB Business Relations Coordinators have worked closely with OHSU's Center for Diversity and Inclusion to engage with Oregonians who experience vision loss. As a result of this collaboration, OHSU now hosts OCB client internships and work experiences. In addition, a job carve program for individuals with significant barriers to employment was recently developed.

THE OHSU JOB CARVE PROGRAM WORKS!

In March OHSU hired an OCB client via this job carve program to work as a Support Services Aid in their Environmental Services department.

We want to thank Diversity Talent Acquisition Program Manager Riikka Salonen and all of our partners at OHSU for supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL (SRC) BUSINESS COMMITTEE
It is the Mission of the SRC to work to ensure Vocational Rehabilitation is consumer driven and that available programs, services, and resources result in competitive integrated employment.
Recently the SRC Business Committee hosted a health care sector round table discussion for employers in the Portland Metro area. Along with representatives from Kaiser, Legacy, OHSU, and the Oregon Health Authority, OCB Business Relations Coordinators reported on efforts to promote and recruit job seekers experiencing disabilities. This discussion was a starting point in encouraging Oregon employers to establish a Business Leadership Network Affiliate with Disability:IN, a leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide.
Affiliates engage in networking discussions to increase their knowledge of community outreach, recruiting and interviewing, the accommodation process, and barriers to employment. Being a part of Disability:IN sends a message to the community that the business is committed to including people with disabilities in the workforce.
Interested in hosting an OCB-led customized diversity awareness training session?

Please email or call us at (971) 673-1588 today!
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