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YOUTH, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND COUNSELORS |
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Ready for an Amazing Summer?
This summer will be an exciting one across the state of Oklahoma. There are many summer events in different parts of the state. STEM Camps, employment skill building (BEST) Camps, work experience (STEP) program opportunities, and Visually Impaired Blind Empowerment (VIBE) Camp are among some of the exciting summer events youth can participate in. With so many options in 2022, we hope everyone is able to find a summer event that is just what they are looking for!
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Summer 2022: BEST STEP Camps for Students
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BEST STEP camps will be held in locations across Oklahoma. These camps blend the classroom learning of BEST (Building Employment Skills for Today) Camps with hands on, work-based learning of STEP (Summer Transition Employment Program). Students will have the ability to attend camps that meet their needs and unique abilities.
We are excited to have BEST STEP camps for our students. If you have any questions about a location, please contact Renee Sansom Briscoe at rsansom@okdrs.gov or 405-212-7789.
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Summer 2022: STEM Camps for Students
The DRS STEM Camp is a no cost three-day in person camp (lunch is provided). Youth will learn to use computers, software, and related technologies to design and create: power racer dragsters, powered HT racers, full color patches for caps, jackets, pants, bracelets, T-Shirts, mouse pads, pin back buttons, and more. STEM Camp is open to all Oklahoma students with disabilities, ages 14-19. Students must be on an IEP, 504 Plan, or have other documented physical, mental, or cognitive disabilities.
We are still working on identifying partners who can help in holding the camps for our students. We are trying our best to find locations across Oklahoma where the STEM Camps can be held. As specific locations, dates and partnerships are established, we will provide updates.
Autism-specific STEM Camp (in OKC) Flyer with Registration Link
Garber STEM Camp Flyer with Registration Link
Lawton STEM Camp Flyer with Registration Link
Tulsa STEM Camp Flyer with Registration Link
East Tulsa STEM Camp Flyer with Registration Link
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Visually Impaired and Blindness Empowerment (VIBE) Program
The Transition Visually Impaired and Blindness Empowerment (VIBE) Program provides assessment and career/higher education exploration. This week-long program will be offered twice and is designed to prepare the individual for higher education, competitive workforce and independent living to the best of their ability. Features of the camp include: independent living skills, communication skills, team building, travel/transportation, career and job exploration, interviews, technology, resume skills and exploration of college/career tech/workforce.
To be held:
June 26 – July 1 and July 24 – July 29
VIBE Camp Flyer: [DOWNLOAD VIBE Flyer]
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Meet Dakota from Lawton
Recently, the DRS Transition team talked with another outstanding young person. Dakota is a graduate of Lawton MacArthur High School who attended Great Plains Technology Center. He talked about how he has found success in life. Here's how the conversation went.
What are your hobbies? I play video games and I read books.
What is your favorite summer activity and why? Go fishing because it’s relaxing and I enjoy fishing.
If I gave you $50,000 to start your own business, what business would you start? I would probably try to start my own graphic design business and do some advertising for bigger companies.
What is your dream job? Graphic designer.
What is your current job in your School Work Study and what do you do there? I work at the Chamber of Commerce as an intern. I put together event bags, help set up for events, and sometimes I give advice on graphic design for posters and flyers.
What do you like most about working in a School Work Study? I like the friendliness of the co-workers and the understanding that if something comes up that I can let them know.
How does being in a School Work Study help you? It helps me understand how things work at a job site and what the basic premise of the job is.
What program are you in at Great Plains Technology Center? Graphic Design
How did you find Great Plains Technology Center? When I was in school they mentioned it to us and I looked over the classes available and found welding, but realized that wasn’t welding wasn’t for me and I was put in graphic design. I really like graphic design.
What have any teachers taught you that have helped you be successful? Mostly to try not to get frustrated with computer programs and to be patient and my patience has grown because of it.
What is one struggle you have with your disability and how have you overcome it? My tendency to blame others when something is missing or if something is wrong. I used to accuse others of stealing. I learned on my own to not be quick to blame others.
Do you have any advice for other students with disabilities? Don’t let others define you by your disability because I know people with disabilities that are successful. Such as I have a friend with autism and he has been successful being offered an internship at an auto body shop. I also know someone with a disability that went to college and got a bachelor's degree.
What is one thing you hope to achieve in your lifetime? My goal would be to make the best life I can and if I have kids create more opportunities for them.
What do you want the world to know about you? I am generally a nice person, but I won’t take people’s negativity and don’t like being defined by my disability.
Who would like to give a shoutout to? I would like to thank my parents and my friend Colin Shirley and all the teachers that have done their best to turn me into the man I am today.
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Nominate Someone Today
If you know a current or former student who has participated in Transition events with DRS or who has found success through DRS Transition services, please let us know by submitting this nomination form.
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Cherokee Nation Vocational Rehabilitation
The Cherokee Nation Vocational Rehabilitation (CNVR) Program began in 1992 as the first continuous Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation program in the state of Oklahoma. It is a discretionary grant with a five-year grant cycle. Vocational Rehabilitation's fiscal year is from October 1 to September 30.
CNVR is not a scholarship program but is based on eligibility. If a person is determined eligible, CNVR is able to assist with the cost of training/re-training at universities, colleges, and technology centers to acquire the skills and education needed to become gainfully employed or retain gainful employment.
For information on services and eligibility criteria, please email vocational_rehabilitation@cherokee.org
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Not Your Average Joe
"Exceptional coffee. Even better people."
With locations in Norman, Oklahoma City (specifically in Midtown, Homeland on May & Britton, and Homeland on Northeast 36th & Lincoln), and Broken Arrow, the mission at Not Your Average Joe is to inspire others in the community by including adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the creation of exceptional coffee in an encouraging atmosphere.
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 Sooner SUCCESS
Sooner SUCCESS is a statewide program. Their mission is to advance a comprehensive, unified system of health, social and educational services for Oklahoma Children and Youth with Special Needs through community based resource coordination. Contact them for more information at 1-877-441-0434.
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 Peer Mentoring Program - National Center for Disability Education and Training
This exciting new mentoring program provides a paid mentorship opportunity with eight weeks of in-person training. Mentees can receive guidance, feedback, and support from their mentor for both social and for career interests.
For information on the Peer Mentoring program or to become a mentee, please contact Torrea Peterson at tpeterson@ou.edu
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Independent Futures that Work Project
This is a new project from the Oklahoma Parents Center.
The Independent Futures that Work project, or IFTW project, is a Federal grant funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, the Rehabilitation Services Administration. It is led by the Alabama Parent Education Center, but they partner with 5 other states which are Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, the project is led by the Oklahoma Parents Center. They are Oklahoma’s only Parent Training and Information Center. They work together with Alabama and other states to provide information for young adults who are transitioning from the entitlement system of Special Education into the eligibility services of young adulthood and adulthood and their goal is to provide the information needed to have as successful a transition to adulthood as possible.
The first year of the project was kind of ramping up, getting the websites and social media pages all up and running, and gathering resources. Each state created an advisory committee. In Oklahoma, the OPC worked together to locate and identify what resources were available, were they useful, and then identified gap areas. This work was a great collaborative effort by many organizations!
For more information visit their website, https://oklahomaparentscenter.org/rsa-project/.
Please check it out and Email the Oklahoma Parents Center if any links don’t work or if you know of another resource that you think should be included!
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Last month we said goodbye to a long time friend and Transition Services professional, Erin Turner. She worked as the Administrative Assistant to Central Technology Center in Sapulpa for our Pre-ETS specialists in that area. She was a passionate advocate for young people who believed in the potential for young people of all abilities to find personal and professional success in life. Erin loved her Church Family, her friends and co-workers at Central Tech - Sapulpa and Corgi friends all over the world. She loved being outdoors, hunting, primitive camping, riding four wheelers, and being in nature. Erin will be missed dearly. |
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Michelle joined the DRS team in early 2009 as a Rehabilitation Technician who was excited to begin her new career in Vocational Rehabilitation. She is an avid science fiction fan who says the three traits that define her are curiosity, optimism, and ambition. Michelle is the proud mom of 4 daughters who she feels have grown into smart, kind, and fun young women. She earned two graduate degrees - a Masters of Liberal Arts and a Masters in Rehab Counseling and is currently working towards completing the requirements to become a licensed therapist. When asked about her favorite part of working with her schools and communities she replied, "Learning from my students while they learn about the world."
Meet Barbara
Barbara started working for DRS in November 2010. She is a Rehabilitation Technician for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit in Oklahoma City, Shepherd Center. She assists three counselors in SDHH. The counselors in her unit serve both adult and transition who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing statewide. Her favorite hobby is to play indoor volleyball and sand volleyball. Barbara's passion for work comes from personal experience. She shared that in school she dealt with discrimination due to her hearing loss and ethnicity. During that time, she thought it was bad, but it gave her the strength to be able to advocate for herself, her children, and for others that are facing similar struggles. Three traits that define her are being a fighter, being helpful, and energetic. The advice she has for kids who are struggling in school is to seek help and to not give up on pursuing their dreams.
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 Michelle Rudesill
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist II
Vocational Rehabilitation
o. 405-522-7918
c. 405-464-6137
f. 405-522-7980
mrudesill@okdrs.gov
 Barbara Briones
Rehabilitation Technician III
Vocational Rehabilitation
o. 405-543-2646
c. 405-496-0492
f. 405-522-7948
bbriones@okdrs.gov
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What is Transition?
The Transition Program provides services to prepare students with disabilities for employment and life after high school. Services may include career counseling, vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, on-the-job training, work-study, and job development and placement. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired divisions jointly run the Transition program so the youth can easily move into adult services when it is time.
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We can help create the blueprint for your youth’s success |
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