Today, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) announced the City of Cincinnati as one of the 2025 Governor’s Inclusive Employer Award winners for their commitment to individuals with disabilities in the workplace.
Moments after taking the oath of office, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D, which established Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and a Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. To reinforce his commitment to Ohioans with disabilities, H.B. 110 included presenting an award during October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to employers who meet the criteria for having a workplace inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
The City of Cincinnati demonstrated its commitment to disability inclusion, emphasizing accessibility throughout its operations and employment practices. With more than 6,600 employees, the City integrates disability-inclusive policies in hiring, training, and communications. All staff involved in hiring, human resources, and reasonable accommodations regularly participate in training in disability etiquette and awareness, inclusive language, and hiring best practices, ensuring a proactive and equitable approach for all.
The City of Cincinnati has engaged in activities to support the hiring of OOD job seekers, participated in educational opportunities offered by OOD, and taken part in events that highlight disability inclusion and accessibility.
“I’m so incredibly grateful to Governor DeWine and leaders at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities for recognizing the intentional steps we’ve taken to open our doors to everyone,” said Sheryl Long, Cincinnati City Manager. “I make it my priority to ensure that our thousands of public servants are representative of our community’s depth and diversity. Investing in a supportive work environment is making sure that our employees can be their whole selves while on the job, which means the entire community benefits.”
OOD determined the criteria for the award in alignment with its Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Inclusive Workplace; Recruiting, Hiring, and Supporting Employees; Workplace Accommodations; and Workplace Accessibility. A five-member committee utilized a predetermined scoring rubric that focused on the employer’s descriptions of policies, processes, and activities related to disability-inclusive employment.
Additionally, CareSource scored more than 80 points on its application and is recognized as an Ohio Inclusive Employer.
OOD offers its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all employer partners for their commitment to establishing and growing a culture of diversity and inclusion in the Ohio workplace for individuals with disabilities. Employers seeking to diversify and strengthen their workforce by including individuals with disabilities can learn more about partnering with OOD on their Business Relations Team webpage.