Federal Grant Award Summary

The Opportunities For Ohioans With Disabilities Agency received a formula grant award of $172.51 million from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States program (CFDA 84.126). The award, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, funds Ohio's comprehensive state vocational rehabilitation (VR) program designed to assess, plan, develop, and provide VR services to individuals with disabilities consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, and informed choice.

Through this funding, OOD delivers core vocational rehabilitation services including vocational assessments, career counseling, job training, and community integration support to facilitate employment and independence for individuals with disabilities throughout Ohio. The agency collaborates with sub-recipients, including the Developmental Disabilities Council of Ohio and local workforce development boards, to expand service delivery and enhance access to assistive technologies. As the designated state VR agency with an approved VR services portion of Ohio's Unified State Plan under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), OOD operates as a prime recipient of this formula-based allocation, which is distributed through the Electronic Transfer System and subject to the submission and maintenance of required state plans and compliance with federal vocational rehabilitation regulations and uniform guidance requirements.