Faculty/Staff Bios:

Jillian Ober, MA, CRC

Program Manager The Ohio State University Nisonger Center 327 McCampbell Hall 1581 Dodd Drive Columbus, Ohio 43210 614.247.6392 (p) 614.292.3727 (f) ober.7@osu.edu

At the Nisonger Center, Jillian manages programs that emphasize community inclusion and lifelong learning for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  One such program is the Next Chapter Book Club, a community-based literacy program for adolescents and adults with IDD.  Jillian travels across the country to provide training workshops for organizations starting Next Chapter Book Clubs, and has presented the program at numerous state and national conferences.  There are currently over 85 book clubs in 14 states, as well as clubs in Canada and Germany.  Please visit www.nextchapterbookclub.org for more information.

Jillian is program manager for the Ohio AmeriCorps Inclusion Project, a statewide initiative to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in national and community service. In addition, she manages Young Adult Transition Corps, an AmeriCorps program of the Nisonger Center, which promotes community service, community access, and social skill development for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from school to adult life.  Please visit www.yatcohio.org for more information.

Jillian also instructs the Nisonger Center’s online Orientation Program for new employees in the field of IDD.

Jillian has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from The Ohio State University.  She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, member of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, and serves on the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Ohio. 

Research:
Fish, T.R., Rabidoux, P., Ober, J., & Graff, V.L.W. (2006). Community literacy and friendship model for people with intellectual disabilities. Mental Retardation, 44, 443-446. (click HERE for a copy)

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