Join us for People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2012

On April 17, 2012, come and be a part of a wonderful day at the state capitol and help increase the awareness of issues important to people with disabilities. Not only do we hope that you will talk with your legislators but also visit the 60 plus exhibitors that will be there ready to inform and answer questions.

People with Disabilities Awareness Day at the State Capitol gives people with disabilities and advocates like you a chance to talk with decision-makers who can preserve or expand services that make a critical difference in the lives of Oklahomans with disabilities. Last year, 550 people participated in this free event, which is hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and friends. This year, our goal is for you and a friend to visit your state senators and representatives or their staff on April 17. Volunteers will be available to take you on legislative visits and provide other assistance.

-Read more about People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2012 and register for the event

-Read entire Tech-Now article

Oklahomans who can’t use standard print enjoy free audio books from State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

For people who love to read, a disability that blocks access to books is a life-changing event – and not in a good way.

“Reading for myself was the thing I missed the most after I lost my vision,” Benny Meier said.

Always an avid reader, Meier now gets audio versions of his books and magazines free of charge from the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (OLBPH) in Oklahoma City.

“The library for me has been a godsend – a tremendous blessing to a person who is blind or visually impaired,” Meier said. “We can keep up with what’s going on in the world through books and magazines just like people who can see them.”

-Read the entire OLBPH article

National Deaf Athletics Association names Oklahoma School for the Deaf quarterback co-player of the year

The Oklahoma School for the Deaf quarterback Colin Larkins was named co-player of the year in the U.S. by the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletics Association.

Larkins, a senior, shares co-player honors with Taylor Koss from the Wisconsin School for the Deaf.

Larkins broken all of OSD’s passing records on the career and season levels.

This year, he completed 115 passes out of 196 attempts this year for 2047 total yards. He led the team to 40 touchdowns in 2011.

-Read the entire Larkins article

Public Invited To Disability Program Hearings

Proposed rule changes potentially affecting several programs for Oklahomans with disabilities will be the focus of a public hearing held by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC).

The public is encouraged to attend the meetings, which will be held in Oklahoma City on Feb. 6, Tulsa on Feb. 7 and Lawton on Feb. 8.

Programs affected by the proposed new rules are administered by DRS and include vocational rehabilitation and employment services for Oklahomans with all types of disabilities.

DRS provides a variety of services that help individuals with disabilities achieve employment, personal independence and self-sufficiency. The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council advises DRS on development of policies and plans for rehabilitation services.

 The public is invited to comment on proposed rule changes. Public hearing dates and locations are:

• Oklahoma City – Monday, Feb. 6, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Department of Rehabilitation Services State Office, 3535 NW 58th St., 2nd floor conference room
• Tulsa – Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Total Source for Hearing-loss and Access (TSHA), 8740 E. 11th, Conference Room
• Lawton – Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Great Plains Technical Center, 4500 S.W. Lee Blvd., Bldg. 300, Room 301A

The proposed rule changes are available on the DRS website. To read them go to the policy changes webpage.

Copies of the proposed rules may also be obtained by writing the Policy Development Unit, attention Ray Leard, Department of Rehabilitation Services, 3535 NW 58, Suite 500, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. Leard may be reached by email, policycomment@okdrs.gov, phone, (405) 951-3406 or (800) 845-8476. Both numbers are accessible by telecommunication devices for the deaf.

Persons unable to attend the hearings may send written comments to Ray Leard at the address above or by email to policycomment@okdrs.gov. Comments must be received no later than Feb. 8, 2012.