View as a webpage / Share

September 10, 2024 - Volume 14, Edition 17

Free online American Sign Language classes now accepting enrollments

Enrollment is now open at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf for its online American Sign Language classes being offered during the fall semester.

The free classes are available in two eight-lesson sections and are presented through prerecorded videos. The self-paced basic courses in conversational American Sign Language are taught by OSD’s Deaf ASL specialist. These are non-credit level courses and do not count toward professional development hours or continuing education units.

The courses attracted 719,121 students since the 2022-2023 school year with 683,016 coming from outside of Oklahoma with many being international users.

Online students will access these lessons from Sept. 16 through Dec. 30.

The registration for online ASL class can be found at https://courses.osd.k12.ok.us/.

Donations can be made to the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Foundation that supports students, schools and families from across Oklahoma who are deaf or hard of hearing. Last year, the school served over 500 students from roughly 145 school districts in 58 counties. The school also provides community outreach by way of training and ASL classes.

All Americans, including those with disabilities,  have voting options to get their voice heard

Over the past couple of years, I’ve learned quite a bit about the election rules in Oklahoma. Especially about those impacting individuals with disabilities. Since a major election is coming up rather quickly, I thought I’d share some of that knowledge with you.

The first thing which might be helpful for people with disabilities is the availability of early voting at the location of your county election board’s office. State law provides for individuals to be able to vote in person from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Wednesday through Friday in the week preceding the election and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Saturday before the election. Sometimes, the county election boards may also set up satellite locations to host early voting. The early voting can be beneficial for people who may feel intimidated or stressed by facing the larger crowds on election day.

Several types of absentee ballots are also available to enable people to able to vote without visiting the polling locations on election day. The regular paper ballot can be requested by anyone for any reason for individual elections or for an entire calendar year. These ballots, after being marked by the voter, are placed in an envelope which is signed by the voter, witnessed and notarized by a notary public.

Absentee ballots are also available for individuals who for various reasons cannot be physically present at the polling location on election day. For these cases, the marked ballots are placed in an envelope, which is signed by the voter, witnessed and signed by two other people.

A new accessible absentee ballot option is available for individuals who meet the statutory definition of blindness found in state and federal law. This ballot is sent electronically and can be filled out on a computer. The marked ballot must still be printed out and placed in an envelope, witnessed and signed by two people.

All requests for absentee ballots must be received by the election board by the third Monday before an election. This would mean for the Nov. 5 election, it must be received by Oct. 21. For individuals who may become incapacitated or whose jobs in the Armed Forces or emergency services may force them to be deployed after Oct. 21, it still might be possible to receive an absentee ballot. Call the election board for more information.

The options for voting assistance at polling locations on election day include an Audio Tactile Interface (ATI) device, which works with the existing voting machines, bringing a voting assistant to help fill out the ballot or asking a precinct official to be a voting assistant. If someone cannot make it into the polling location because of physical incapacity, two precinct officials can meet the voter outside, bringing the voter registry so the individual can sign in and a ballot for the voter to fill out.

Oklahoma has created the online Oklahoma Voter Portal, which is an extremely helpful resource to do and find out a lot of things relating to voting in Oklahoma elections. Through the portal, one can apply for absentee ballots or voter registration forms. They can change their names, addresses, or political affiliations and request replacement voter identification cards. One can also look up their voting precincts and voting locations. They can find what districts they are in for school, city, state and federal elections.

If you haven’t voted since 2020, you should probably check to see where your polling location is. Precinct maps are adjusted every 10 years, after the U.S. Census, so your voting location may have changed two years ago, mine did.

If you need to register to vote, the deadline for doing so is Oct. 11.

Communications team ready to respond

DRS’ Communications team is ready to help tell your story or promote your event.

If you have a media release, publication or other related need, please contact:

Dana Tallon

Phone:  405-951-3402 

Email: DTallon@okdrs.gov   

Brett Jones

Phones: 405-651-4594

Email: bjones@okdrs.gov                         

We look forward to working with you. 

Let's tell their story

Do you have a former client that is building a life of independence?

We want to share their stories with DRS Commissioners and in the DRS Annual Report.

Please email Brett Jones at bjones@okdrs.gov with the client's name and contact information. We will take it from there.

.

Work study card back in stock

A revised Transition: School Work Study card is now available for ordering from the DRS brochure order form.

The can can be reviewed at our website.

New hires or jobs as of Aug. 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:

Exec – Information Systems Applications Specialist David Unklesbay began the new job on Aug. 1.

DDS – Disability Medical Consultant Angela Selmon began the new job on Aug. 8.

FSD – Accountant Mathew Samuel began the new job on Aug. 5.

MSD – Administrative Programs Officer Sara Seabolt began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSB – Teacher Nikki Roper began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSB – Direct Care Specialist Darlus Reeves began the new job on Aug. 5.

OSB – School Transition Coordinator Laci Goins began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSB – Transportation Officer/Student Aide AmyLynn Sotffer began the new job on Aug. 5.

OSB – Direct Care Specialist Michelle Belyeu began the new job on Aug. 5.

OSD – Outreach Consultant Jennifer Freese began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Early Development Specialist Jennie Linck began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Outreach Consultant Jessi Alexander began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Construction/Maintenance Technician Seth Allen began the new job on Aug. 19.

OSD – Food Service Specialist Michael Bidwell began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Director of Outreach and Accessibilities Eric Reed began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Direct Care Specialist Kayte Chebultz began the new job on Aug. 5.

OSD – Teacher Jennifer Bidwell began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Teacher Dawn Kellner began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Teacher Ashley Hines began the new job on Aug. 1.

OSD – Teacher Rachelle Richardson began the new job on Aug. 1.

VR – Rehabilitation Technician Madison Frazier began the new job on Aug. 1.

VR – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Crystal Kixmiller  began the new job on Aug. 1.

VR – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Kami Runyon began the new job on Aug. 5.

VR – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Paige Pulscher began the new job on Aug. 1.

SBVI – BEP Operations Coordinator Christopher Brannaman began the new job on Aug. 1.

SBVI – Vending Facility Business Consultant Ryan Robinson began the new job on Aug. 12.

Doty uses DRS services to cope with vision loss

From the DRS News Archives

Courtesy Stillwater News Press

Dated: September 18, 2024

Charles Gant helps Oklahomans adjust to blindness and regain or maintain maximum independence and self-sufficiency.

As a rehabilitation teacher for people with visual impairments, Gant, who is blind himself, visits people like Judy Doty, a senior client from Stillwater, in their homes.

After he gets to know his clients and understands their needs, Gant customizes free training to successfully deal with their specific vision loss.

Gant works for Visual Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

The agency operates the statewide Older Blind Independent Living Program for seniors such as Doty who are age 55 and older.

“… I have lost a lot of my eyesight, but I have not lost the desire to live and make the most of every day,” Doty, age 70, explained from her favorite chair in the Stillwater home she shares with her husband Jerry Doty. “I still enjoy cooking, baking or gardening, but family ties are most important to me.”

Doty’s vision is impaired by floating debris in both eyes that are gradually damaging her retinas. The doctors call the rare eye disease Uveal Offusion Syndrome. So far, a team of doctors has tried unsuccessfully to find a medical solution that will improve her sight.

“… when there’s no getting over it, then you have to learn how to cope because chances are it’s not going to go away,” Doty explained. “So when the doctor said, ‘There is nothing else we can do for you,’ I said, ‘When the good Lord heals me, I will be back to tell you.’”

Gant is a relatively new rehabilitation teacher with only one year on the job, but his personal experience with vision loss helps make a connection with Doty and other clients.

Doty is confident most of the time but has experienced panic attacks in unfamiliar surroundings.

In addition to counseling and training, Gant suggested technology to help Doty with become more independent, including a Ruby handheld video magnifier which scans and reads documents.

Doty appreciates the Ruby and a “ fun to use” Diamond brand talking watch, which reads the time out loud.

“I don’t push that tech stuff,” Gant explained. “It’s about tried and true techniques that I picked up working through Visual Services.

“To me that’s what independent living is – you have to use a little common sense with what you have to operate,” he said. “I could see right off the bat that Judy had common sense.”

Gant also helped Doty become a patron of DRS’ Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which mails free audio books, and arranged for her to ride Stillwater’s community transit system known as The Bus. Discovering the Stillwater Vision Support Group was also important to Doty’s developing independence by providing social and educational opportunities.

One day, a lady with a white cane named Jan Lavine, introduced herself to Judy Doty at the Stillwater Library. Lavine, who has some remaining vision, noticed Doty using a magnifier.

Doty accepted her invitation to visit the Stillwater Vision Support Group meeting at 1:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. There she found a circle of new friends that share their own experiences with vision problems, as well as suggestions for coping with them.

“Our meeting is good place to seek advice and find out about places to contact for further information,” Doty said.

The support group is open to others with visual disabilities and meets in the club room at Windrock Condominium located at 1000 North Star Drive in Stillwater.

Interested people with vision impairments are welcome to join members for an eight-week Tai-Chi program beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday (September 19) at this location.

“Charles Gant makes it to our support group meetings,” she said. “He’s a very good listener, but he’s a man in the know.

He makes it his business to find out and let you know information to help you meet different needs that occur. “

The Dotys have four children and nine “wonderful” grandchildren.

“Eyesight is a precious part of life, but living doesn’t stop when sight is lost,” Doty said. “The bottom line is watching them enjoy life and being a part of their lives.”

Get the tools you need online

DRS has a robust brochure and promotional material order form that staff can use to get needed tools to support clients.

Please use the order form when seeking brochures or special promotional materials because some quantities require division administrator approval.

Please bookmark the new order form in your browser to make accessing it easier.

Discounts are available for state workers

There are advantages to being a state employee. Most notably, it can translate into some discount when shopping or seeking services.

Here is the current list of all available employee based discounts.

Click here to learn more about available discounts.

DRS services helped Owasso man get job

Taken from a client provided DRS Success Story.

Owasso’s Ty Powell turned to DRS to pursue a job.

Powell, who has autism, wrote that he had struggled to find a job beyond retail before receiving DRS services.

He began working as a machinist.

“I am more confident in working than I used to be,” he wrote.

Laugh it up: No good, very bad hair

Riddle Me This: Legends in their own rights

This edition's question:

What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?

The answer:

???

Send us your answer

Last edition’s question:

Why do cats make good warriors?

The answer:

Because they’ve got nine lives.

Those getting it right included:

Share your ideas

Have an idea for a story or feature? Send it to us. We love hearing your ideas.