New Drs Director Wants Cool Jobs and Independence for Oklahomans with Disabilities
 |
|
Director Michael O'Brien, Ed.D. |
OKLAHOMA CITY — “Cool jobs with good benefits and the opportunity to live
independently” – that’s the Department of Rehabilitation Services’ (DRS’)
twin vision for Oklahomans with disabilities, according to the agency’s new
director, Michael O’Brien, Ed.D.
“As the state disability agency in Oklahoma, it’s our responsibility to make
that happen," O’Brien said in a video message posted on the agency’s website
at www.okdrs.gov.
He spoke on camera with a certified interpreter for the deaf who
communicated the content in American Sign Language (ASL), ensuring that the
information is available to all the agency’s clients and partners.
Nearly one in five, or 620,685 Oklahomans, ages five and over, have
disabilities, according to 2007 U.S. Census data.
O’Brien, who became DRS’ third executive director Jan. 1, directs more than
900 state employees serving 77,500 Oklahomans with disabilities each year.
The agency's Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services programs create
new taxpayers and reduce dependence on disability benefits by helping
Oklahomans with disabilities prepare for and find employment.
The School for the Blind headquartered in Muskogee and School for the Deaf
in Sulphur provide residential and outreach education programs.
Disability Determination makes medical eligibility decisions for Social
Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
benefits.
Management Services provides administrative support to program staff.
"In the next year, you will see DRS re-energized as we re-organize and act
on this twin vision,” O’Brien said in the video message.
“I’m confident that our employment and independence goals are relevant to
all our divisions' programs. I’m very confident in the quality of DRS staff
and leadership. And I’m confident in our ability to make a genuine
difference in the lives of people with disabilities across the state of
Oklahoma.”
The new director was previously employed by DRS from 1997 to 2001 as
administrator of the Vocational Rehabilitation division.
He returned to Oklahoma to accept the director’s job from Las Vegas, New
Mexico where he was an associate professor of rehabilitation and special
education and director of the master’s degree program in rehabilitation
counseling.
He also owned and managed O’Brien Consulting, a private firm which provides
private rehabilitation services, leadership consultation and training, and
agency research and analysis.
A certified rehabilitation counselor and a certified vocational evaluation
specialist, O’Brien is active at the national level in several professional
organizations. He serves as a commissioner for the Commission for Certified
Rehabilitation Counselors, an executive committee member for the Council of
State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and a board of directors
member for the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals. In
addition, he is co-editor of the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment
Professionals Journal.
O’Brien earned a doctorate of education in occupational and adult education
from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., a master’s of education
from Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb. and a bachelor’s in psychology
from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
His previous positions include director of the division of Vocational
Rehabilitation for the State of Washington and past clinical affiliate
professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
He has served as an adjunct graduate school professor at Western Washington
University in Bellingham, Wash., Western Oregon University in Monmouth,
Ore., the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, Langston University in
Langston, Okla., and East Central University in Ada, Okla.
For more information about services offered by the state Department of
Rehabilitation Services, call (800) 845-8476 or visit
www.okdrs.gov .