Mayor David Holt and the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Committee on Disability Concerns presented the Public Personnel Award to DRS’ own Communications Officer Rachel McLemore at City Hall on Oct. 11.
McLemore was selected for the award because of her extra efforts in projects for DRS. She collaborated with a co-worker, Brett Jones to spotlight offices in the state. They go to various offices and interview the counselors and techs and give credit and recognition to deserving staff members. The goal of the special newsletter feature is to show off the work the staff does for our clients.
Another extra duty for McLemore was posting to DRS social media. Once again, she embraced the assignment. DRS has a rule of two posts a week on social media. She has surpassed that goal. On average she is posting two stories every day. Rachel looks for stories that promote individuals with disabilities in a positive light. She developed a feature called Fiction Friday that introduces a book where the lead character is a person with disabilities.
“Rachel is a successful DRS client who hit the ground running as the newest member of the DRS Communications Team,” Jody Harlan, DRS communications director said. “We are proud she was honored by the Mayor’s Committee on Disability Concerns and happy to work with her every day.”
The plaque given to McLemore reads:
In recognition of your work as a public employee and your service beyond employment in removing social, attitudinal and environmental barriers for individuals with disabilities.
McLemore said she believes information about and for people with disabilities needs to be promoted loudly and in a dignified way. She writes and shares information so society can see people with disabilities are like everyone else, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or the website. She shines a positive spotlight on all things disability.
 People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2023 is coming.
Order the official t-shirt today.
Oklahoma’s People with Disabilities Awareness Day, which brings hundreds of people with disabilities, their families and their supporters together, will be held on March 7.
The 2023 event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City. The event is open to the public, and people are encouraged to wear green to show support. People should eat before attending the event.
Attendees can show your support for the event by buying and wearing the official t-shirt.
PWDAD celebrates the commitment and hard work of Oklahomans with disabilities to lead independent lives and pursue work.
Buy the official PWDAD t-shirt from our store.
On Nov. 17, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release stating they were opening an investigation into the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department.
The investigation will focus on whether the state "fails to provide community-based mental health services to people in Oklahoma County, leading to unnecessary admissions to psychiatric facilities and police contact. The investigation will also examine Oklahoma City’s systems for responding to people experiencing behavioral health crises, including through the 911 call center and OKCPD."
Although I must admit I initially found such an announcement shocking, the more I considered it, the more I understood how such an investigation might be both warranted and somewhat welcome. Those of us who serve individuals with disabilities, including those with psychiatric disabilities, are quite aware of the inadequacy of Oklahoma’s publicly available mental health services. A 2015 report funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found Oklahoma was 44th among the states in per capita funding for mental health.
Only two years later, in 2017, as the state faced a budget cap of over $200 million, the commissioner of the state Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services agency announced the budget cuts could force the end of all state-funded outpatient services in Oklahoma. Eventually, a resolution was reached, which allowed services to continue but only for those with the most severe needs.
Another possible reason for this investigation might come from some of the tragic instances where there have been some fatal contacts between the police and individuals who were Deaf or had psychiatric or cognitive disabilities. Several of those encounters resulted in complaints being filed with the DOJ. Whatever your view of the “Defund the Police” movement might be, I, at least, was hoping it could lead to some fruitful discussions about police interactions with individuals with disabilities. It’s likely this movement and the shocking nature of some of these tragic confrontations led Oklahoma City to commission a report to "engage, analyze, and form recommendations regarding specific law enforcement practices and related topics." The report from 21CP Solutions was provided to the city in November 2021.
The DOJ announcement came only weeks after Mental Health America released its 2023 version of The State of Mental Health in America report. As you may remember from last year’s column discussing the 2022 report, which relied on data from 2019, Oklahoma certainly had significant room for improvement in its provision of mental health services. This year’s report carries a warning: "The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact on the ability to collect data for national surveillance in 2020. As a result of both measure and methodological changes … the indicators in this year’s report cannot be compared to previous years."
Nevertheless, Oklahoma’s rankings in the various categories did not change much. It’s highly likely the deficits found in the 2022 report also have not changed. Oklahoma appears to do much worse providing mental health services when comparing adults with youth. We rank in the bottom third of states in the number of adults who have a mental illness who do not receive treatment, even though Oklahoma ranks in the top ten of states in the availability of mental health workers. The 2023 report ranks Oklahoma 43rd overall for adults. According to the MHA, this indicates, when compared to other states, in Oklahoma “adults have a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care.”
Granted, the optics of having the DOJ open an investigation are generally not good but might it lead to some of our government officials taking this issue more seriously? I think it presents an opportunity for Oklahoma to evaluate where we are in the provision of services. However, before advocating for changes to services, we must first consider some basic questions. Does it seem more people are experiencing mental health problems? Mental Health America has identified numerous indicators which point to increased post-pandemic mental health concerns.
Another consideration is whether services are being adequately provided. Is Oklahoma’s new 988 crisis hotline being sufficiently utilized? Is the general public really aware of this new option? Data for this will be somewhat sparse since it was only launched in July of 2022. It’s a good step forward, but it will only be effective if it is publicized, used, and if it connects individuals with needed services.
The DOJ investigation might elicit some changes, but Oklahoma will only make improvements to services if the public makes it a priority.
 DRS’ SBVI 91, Julie Bailey’s Unit, recently participated in a Christmas Door Decorating Contest at the Tulsa’s Sun Building where they are housed.
The office’s theme highlights the services they provide, and the adaptive equipment that "Santa and his reindeer” can provide clients. The office didn’t place, but they gave a great effort. The photos are from their effort.
Breaking Barriers hereby nominates them for an honorable mention.
Has your office had a holiday party or decorated the office?
Send your photos to Breaking Barriers for inclusion in the next edition.
Planning for a night out but want to know if the restaurant you are choosing is keeping it clean in the kitchen.
Recent inspections, if they have been conducted, are available on the on Oklahoma Department of Health website. You can search by county and restaurant name.
Branding for any business or agency requires consistency.
One area where that consistency is needed is in our email signatures.
If you are new to DRS or want to make sure your email signature is in compliance, go to our handy email signature tips guide.
From the DRS News Archives
Dated: Dec. 9, 2010
OSD Football Team Ranked 2nd Nationally
SULPHUR — The practice field is a cow pasture with a goal on each side, old scoreboard and bleachers - no lights and no field house for adoring fans. They would like to have the finer things in sports, of course, but these are incidental to the coach and players from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD). For them, "staying positive" and playing with heart is what football is all about.
The OSD Indians fought hard for their #2 spot this year, losing their lead in the last 20 seconds of the national deaf school championship game when three-time, national deaf school champs, the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, surged ahead. The final score was 46-42.
Still, Coach Tommy Varner is happy with the team's six wins and three losses, up from a zero to nine season only four years ago.
This has been one of the best seasons that OSD has ever had since I've been here in 13 years," Varner said through an interpreter for the deaf. "We have a football mentality team. They understand the game, and that helps more than people know. Overall, we are very proud of the way our team played."
Varner credits Assistant Coach and Defense Coordinator Lawson Pair and Special Team Coach Chris Reagle with helping the OSD students prepare for a successful season. All the coaches are deaf.
Senior Austin McKenzie from Sulphur plays offensive end and defensive linebacker. He and two other key players, Marshall Griffith from Loco and Ren Stone from Skiatook, "had a positive effect on the younger kids (on the team)," Varner said.
"The younger kids looked up to these seniors and learned from them. They motivated, encouraged them and gave them positive advice and influence."
McKenzie's freshman year, the OSD Indians' win-loss record was 0-9.
"The coach kept saying, 'Don't worry. We're going to get better,'" McKenzie said through an interpreter.
Two years ago, the record improved to 5-3. In McKenzie's junior year after the loss of three or four senior players, it slipped to 3-3. This year, 6-3 was good enough to earn second place among deaf schools in the U.S.
"All the players came back this year," McKenzie said. We started with a lot of kids — 30 kids. My parents are really impressed with the team...."
After graduation in 2011, McKenzie and close friend Marshall Griffith plan to play football for Gallaudet University located in Washington, D.C.
It is the only liberal arts university for deaf students in the world.
"This summer, I am hoping I am able to help the OSD team get ready for next year's football," McKenzie said.
In spite of lights borrowed from the "hearing school" in Sulphur for night games and unrealized dreams of a field house, the OSD Indians have the full support of the deaf community.
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). These days, state money is tight, but Coach Varner's attitude is positive.
"We should focus on our team's success and the importance of football to our students' achievement and success," Varner said through an interpreter for the deaf. "Don't make it about financial need. It's really about school success."
For a program that didn't have football five years ago, OSD is doing pretty well.
 
 Today’s riddle:
What is the best present you can receive for Christmas?
Answer?
???
Send your answer to bjones@okdrs.gov
Last edition’s riddle:
What is a mathematician’s favorite food on Thanksgiving?
Answer?
Pumpkin Pi!
Those getting it right included:
- Dayna Jarman
- Renee Skocdopole
- Stacey Dutton
- Laura Prater
- Susan Young Mock
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