Director Michael O'Brien, Ed.D.

Michael O'Brien, Ed.D., became DRS’ executive director
Jan. 1, 2009. He directs more than 900 state employees serving 77,500 Oklahomans with disabilities each year. He also directs six divisions, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of Visual Services, Oklahoma School for the Blind, Oklahoma School for the Deaf, Disability Determination Division and Support Services, each with its individual goals and mission.

O’Brien is no stranger to Oklahoma or this agency. He previously served as the administrator of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation from 1997 to 2001.

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 on the Editorial board for the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling.

O’Brien earned a Doctorate of Education in Occupational and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla.; a Master’s of Arts Education in Career Vocational Guidance 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 also 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.

O'Brien will often appear on camera to let the public know of the valuable services we provide.

Video!

Watch the KSBI interview

Transcript of the KSBI interview.

Watch the OKC Metro segment

Transcript of the OKC Metro segment.

Community Involvement

DRS Director Michael O’Brien, Ed.D., works with the community to grow awareness of disability issues and services the agency offers. The Virgil Taylor Golf Tournament is an event that is very special to him.

He worked with the volunteers from Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council and DRS to develop the scholarship fundraiser in memory of his friend and colleague, Virgil Taylor, of Owasso.

“Virgil Taylor was a long-time DRS supervisor and counselor who embraced the rehabilitation philosophy and dedicated his life to helping people with disabilities go to work,” O’Brien said. “The Virgil Taylor Scholarship Fund and this golf tournament are dedicated to his memory.”

Scholarships funded by the golf tournament will assist bachelors-level students at East Central University in pursuing careers in vocational rehabilitation counseling.

To date, the tournament has raised $8,571 for scholarships.