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April 23, 2024 - Volume 14, Edition 8

Commissioner steps down after years of service

DRS Commissioner Wes Hilliard stepped down from his post on April 17. His decision was announced at the monthly Commission hearing. Kathleen Arrieta, assistant to the Commission for Rehabilitation Services, wrote to staff on April 18 that Hilliard’s decision came after recently added workplace responsibilities in Sulphur made travel to Oklahoma City difficult. “Mr. Hilliard was appointed to the Commission in July 2019 by Speaker Charles McCall and has since served with dedication and a passion for the mission of the Department of Rehabilitation Services. On behalf of the Commission, I would like to thank Mr. Hilliard for his service to the Commission and DRS. We all enjoyed working with him and wish him all the best,” Arrieta wrote.

DRS Commissioners Theresa Flannery, left, and Janet Barresi, right, congratulate  Kevin Statham for 30 years of service to the agency.

Statham honored for dedication to agency

Chief Financial Officer Kevin Statham received recognition for 30 years of service to DRS at last week’s Commission meeting. Statham began at the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services in 1994. That was a year after SB 356 was signed into law making DRS its own agency. He was hired as part of a transition team tasked with extracting financial functions out of Department of Human Services and establishing a stand-alone financial unit. He excelled and his duties were expanded until he was appointed chief financial officer in September 2013. His early career in private accounting taught Statham to read regulations, tax law and to find ways to say “yes.” He doesn’t like to say “no” and tries to find a way to make an idea work within the regulations. He said that growing with the agency has been a tremendous opportunity and would like to thank the top-notch DRS staff, and his financial services staff, who make his job easier with their professionalism, competency and dedication to service. He said, “Time flies when you mostly enjoy what you do.” In June, Statham and his wife Michaelle will celebrate 35 years of marriage. They have two sons, Conrad and Carson.

New staff, new roles announced as of March 31

Here are some of the new people you may meet soon at an upcoming event. Take some time to welcome the following to their new positions and see who's retired.

New hires or new jobs:

OSB – Direct Care Specialist Samantha Larkin began the new job on March 4.

OSB – Direct Care Specialist Lynzi Smith began the new job on March 11.

OSD – Construction Maintenance Technician Steven O’Neal began the new job on March 11.

OSD – Direct Care Specialist Shane Nevins began the new job on March 4.

VR – Rehabilitation Technician Lori Hurst began the new job on March 4.

VR - Rehabilitation Technician Connie Coombs began the new job on March 11.

Introduction to DRS back in stock 

An updated version of the brochure titled Introduction to DRS is now available.

The 20-page brochure outlines services the agency provides to Oklahomans with disabilities.

To order copies of the brochure, please go the the brochure order form.

Accessible versions of the brochure can be found on our website.

Snow turned to DRS to gain life skills

Taken from submitted DRS Client Success story.

Bartlesville’s Suzanne Snow ’s macular degeneration led her to seek services to maintain independence.

Services received by Snow included:

• Training/education,
• counseling and guidance,
• telecommunications and adaptive equipment,
• information and referral,
• independent living services
• Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped services
• Braille
• Orientation and mobility.

“Oklahoma Services for the Blind has helped to orient to a new state, town and disability level,” Snow wrote. “SBVI has allowed me to get in touch with organizations such as the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Wahzahze Health Center, local eye doctors and much more.”

Snow named Jenifer Harris, Debra Eagle and Jane Lansaw as DRS staff members who made a difference in her life.

State agency to assist with "Stop Veteran suicide" campaign

From DRS News Archive

Courtesy of the McCurtain County Gazette

From April 23, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services is providing financial support to a campaign designed to prevent military veterans from taking their own lives.

The nonprofit group Honoring America’s Warriors has launched a national media campaign and rehabilitative service officials will present a check to the group Thursday at its Disability Determination Division offices in Oklahoma City.

Disability Determination Division administrator Noel Tyler says officials were looking for a way to help veterans through an Oklahoma organization when organizers saw a link about Honoring America’s Warriors.

Funds raised for the campaign will help the organization provide therapeutic activities that assist veterans who may be experiencing depression or anxiety that could lead to suicide.

Laugh it up: Always

Riddle Me This: Here comes the judge

This edition's question:

What is it that no one wants, but no one wants to lose?

The answer:

???

Send us your answer

Last edition’s question:

Four cars come to a four-way stop, each coming from a different direction. They can’t decide who got there first, so they all go forward at the same time. All 4 cars go, but none crash into each other. How is this possible?

The answer:

They all made right-hand turns

Those getting right included:

1. Lynn Hickman
2. Brenda Knutson
3. Julie Bailey

Share your ideas

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