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Summer work program for youth with disabilities celebrates success

BETHANY, Okla. – Families and friends gathered August 6 at Bethany Public Library to celebrate the successes of young interns in the BEST STEP summer training and employment for students with disabilities.

Twenty BEST STEP participants, ages 16 to 21, from Bethany and Putnam City received awards at the event.

Read more about BEST STEP employment program

August 2024 Regular Commission Meeting

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Service State Office
Landmark Towers
3535 N.W. 58th Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Video Conference Link
Phone: 1-669-254-5252
Webinar ID: 161 713 9038

Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - 10:30 a.m.

August 2024 Comission Agenda and Packet

Americans with Disabilities Act has provided equality for the last 34 years

OKLAHOMA CITY – July 26 marks the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This landmark civil rights legislation guarantees civil rights protection to people with disabilities. These rights are similar to those provided on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion.

The ADA guarantees equal opportunity in employment, public services, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.

“We are all about total equality and antidiscrimination,” Melinda Fruendt, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services executive director, said. “A small amount of consideration can mean you have a great employee or more sales in your business – equality for everyone.”

Enid disability advocate named DeafBlind Awareness Week spokesperson

ENID, Okla. – Employment is the primary goal for Kristi Bingham from Enid, who was recently named official spokesperson for 2024 DeafBlind Awareness Week in Oklahoma.

Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and their DeafBlind Services staff selected Bingham for the honor which celebrates the life of American author, lecturer and humanitarian Hellen Keller who was born June 27, 1880.

Read more about DeafBlind Awareness Week

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Rehabilitation Services ends waiting list for jobseekers with most significant disabilities

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services reopened job preparation and employment services for a category of jobseekers with significant disabilities known as priority group 2, effective June 17.

Rehabilitation counselors and technicians from DRS’ two employment divisions, Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, will begin immediately serving jobseekers transferred from the waiting list.

Library for the Blind volunteer to compete in Miss Oklahoma contest in June

OKLAHOMA CITY - Alyssa Payne, a native of Oklahoma City, always wanted to do voice-over work. She seized the opportunity when she found a flyer at her local bookstore recruiting volunteers for the Oklahoma Telephone Reader program at Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Oklahoma City.

As an OTR reader, Payne records headline articles from The Oklahoman, which are played on-demand by library patrons through a dial-up phone service. In the recording studio, she narrates and records audiobooks and magazines, such as Oklahoma Today.

Davis business leader expands legacy of service to DRS clients with disabilities

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Charles McCall has appointed healthcare professional and community leader Kelsey Lee to serve on the Oklahoma Commission for Rehabilitation Services.

The Commission is the governing board for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. The agency served 96,178 Oklahomans with disabilities through 25 major programs in 2023.

Good ole boy makes good in Southeast Oklahoma

POTEAU, Okla. -- “I was a deaf kid from Southeast Oklahoma,” said James Lockhart who lives between Wister and Heavener. “My momma was a nurse, and my daddy drove a train. Nobody (in my family) had ever been to a university.”

At age four, Lockhart was diagnosed with chronic otitis media resulting in chronic ear infections and a tympanic membrane perforation. He had five surgeries, including a complete left middle-ear reconstruction by age six.

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3535 NW 58th Street, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

(800) 487-4042 to find the office nearest you
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(405) 951-3400 Main Office

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Students with disabilities’ free summer job training & paid internships start soon

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 400 youth with disabilities are expected to start free summer training offered in 24 rural and urban communities by Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Transition program.

DRS Transition serves more than 3,000 students, 16-21, during the school year through employment programs offered by DRS’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Read more about Transition summer programs

Oklahoma School for the Deaf graduation ceremony is May 21

SULPHUR, Okla. — The Senior Class of 2024 will graduate from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf at 1:00 p.m. on May 21st at 1100 E. Oklahoma St., Sulphur in the OSD Gymnasium.

“I am so proud of this year’s seniors. I have no doubt that they will go forward an accomplish many great things in the world,” Dr. Heather Laine, OSD superintendent, said. “I wish them every success as they venture out to next chapter of their lives.”

Leading the class is Valedictorian RyJan Reininger.

Seven seniors to graduate from the Oklahoma School for the Blind on May 16

MUSKOGEE — Seven seniors will graduate May 16 from the Oklahoma School for the Blind during a commencement ceremony that will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

OSB is located at 3300 Gibson Street in Muskogee.

The OSB 2024 graduating class includes Adan Duran Gonzalez of Coweta, Lorie Cox of Lawton, Mykel Eagle of Stilwell, Emileigh Jackson of Verdigris, Scott Moore of Norman, Gerardo Rodriguez of Oklahoma City and Katelynn Zampella of Muskogee.M

“I am very proud of the OSB graduates and wish them the very best in the next chapter of their lives,” OSB Superintendent Rita Echelle said. “It has been a pleasure watching them grow into the fine young adults they are today.”