Shelton Appointed New Commissioner for State Disability Agency

EDMOND—Steve Shelton of Edmond was recently appointed to the Commission for Rehabilitation Services by Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Lance Cargill.

The commission is the governing board for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), which serves over 180,000 Oklahomans with disabilities each year through vocational rehabilitation, employment and educational programs as well as the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits.

An information technology professional with 30 years experience in the banking industry, Shelton has not allowed blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa to prevent him from reaching his career objectives.

Retinitis pigmentosa causes the degeneration of photoreceptor cells, which capture and process light in the retina, leading to progressive loss of vision.

After spending his childhood in Tulsa, Shelton graduated from East Central University in Ada with a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics. He and his wife Barbara returned to Tulsa where he began his career as a computer programmer. In 1985, Shelton accepted a job transfer and moved his wife and three sons to the Oklahoma City area. His family currently resides in Edmond.

Now a senior computer systems analyst and programmer with Fidelity National Information Services, Commissioner Shelton has devoted countless hours and resources to help people with disabilities achieve their full potential and improve their quality of life.

“As a former client, I know how critical DRS’s assistance is to thousands of Oklahomans with disabilities,” Commissioner Shelton said. “We have finite resources so it’s important that our funding meets the needs of Oklahomans with a variety of different disabilities with a priority on serving those who need our help most.”

Shelton was elected to four terms as president of the Oklahoma affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. He served 11 years on that national organization’s scholarship committee, which awarded over $1 million to deserving students with visual disabilities.

The new commissioner completed two appointments to the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council, volunteered with Boy Scout Troop #479 and currently serves as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Edmond.

“Commissioner Shelton’s experience as a former client and his success in the business world bring a unique perspective to the leadership of the agency,” Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Director Linda Parker said. “We have worked well with him for many years through advisory councils and consumer organizations where his insight into disability issues, positive attitude and analytical approach are appreciated and respected.”

For more information about the Department of Rehabilitation Services, call (800) 845-8476.

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