Breaking Barriers for May 13, 2025

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services sent this bulletin at 05/13/2025 09:01 AM CDT

May 13, 2025 - Volume 15, Edition 9

Construction equipment at OSD football field.

Field of dreams being planted at OSD

A long-time dream of supporters of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur could finally make it across the goal line later this year.

A new football field and track complex is under construction at the school. Plans call for an 80-yard field, bleachers, press box and a concession area. There will also be three-track lanes circling the field, and for the first time ever, lights will be installed, allowing for games to be played at night.

“When I first started working at OSD, I saw the football field and thought it was time for the school to have an actual football field even though our football team has won three championships in a row (2022, 2023, 2024),” Superintendent Heather Laine said. “By having the football field and track, it will serve many uses such as different games besides football to be played on the field and the use of track lanes for fitness and other uses.”

The field will allow for 6-man and 8-man football games.

New stands and press box will be on the home side, and a smaller set of bleachers will be on the visitor’s side. The existing scoreboard will be kept but relocated to the northeast side of the field just outside the track lanes.

The project is scheduled to be completed in November if the weather does not hamper the project.

The total budget for stadium improvements is $1,519,500, with Valero, which is the world's largest independent oil refiner, donating $100,000 toward the project.

“The community (students, staff, alumni, community in general) is very excited,” Laine said. “This is a dream that they have been wanting since 2000. They tried to raise money, but it was not enough to make this happen. Once they saw the construction company began working on the field, it was a reality for them that this was happening. “

That excitement is shared by state agency leadership who oversee the school – The Department of Rehabilitation Services.

“This project has long been a dream for supporters, students and staff at the school,” DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt said. “These students deserve to have good facilities. They have set a high bar for excellence at the school. We are so proud of them.”

Last season, the OSD football team won the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf football championship for the third year in a row and the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship for the second year in a row. The football team plays eight-man football and competes against schools for the deaf from other states and public-school districts in this state.

State lawmakers learn about OSD mission impact during visit to Sulphur school

Five Oklahoma lawmakers visited the Oklahoma School for the Deaf on April 25, touring the facility with staff and learning about the school’s mission.

OSD Superintendent Heather Laine guided the tour that welcomed State Sen. Jonathan Wingard, State Rep. Mike Dobrinski, State Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, State Rep. Daniel Pae and State Rep. Emily Gise.

Laine told the lawmakers OSD students gain a strong foundation for their lives with the support of school staff who help them develop their communication skills and build confidence they need to advocate for themselves.

OSD staff and students communicate with each other using both American Sign Language and English. Maximized bilingual development is the goal for each student.

SBVI staff hone skills at training in Afton

SBVI instructional staff, along with program managers, the field coordinator and the division administrator, participated in the annual instructional staff training April 28 to April 30.

Rehabilitation teachers, orientation and mobility instructors and assistive technology specialists around the state gathered in Afton to learn and grow their skills together. The training was action packed with three days focused on ethics, service provision and team building.

Professional development staff also hosted a session on “Finding Your Why” during this training.

The photo represents the Hawaiian theme for the day. The top three best-dressed were Stacey Birchfield, Jane Lansaw and the winner was Diana Smith.

Man with glasses with words Watt's what.

Report shows Oklahoma struggling to meet mental health needs

As you may have seen from Executive Director Melinda Freundt’s recent email, May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Where does Oklahoma stand, as far as the availability of services and resources for individuals who need them?

The 2024 State of Mental Health in America report, published annually by Mental Health America, shows Oklahoma has had a precipitous fall from the upward trend exhibited in the 2023 report.

Granted, the 2024 report relies primarily on data collected in 2022. We must take into consideration how catastrophic the events of 2020-2021 were for many individuals’ mental well-being and the lingering effects that may have persisted into 2022.

Here's the data presented in the current report and how it stacks up against the 2023 version.

The State of Mental Health in America report attempts to present “a collection of data that provides a baseline for answering some questions about how many people in America need and have access to mental health services.” Both adult and youth needs and access are tabulated in terms of a broad range of mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and any other mental illnesses. They are divided into 15 different measures.

The overall rankings showed Oklahoma as the No. 38 state out of 51 total - the District of Columbia is included.

In 2023, Oklahoma was ranked No. 27 out of 51. In the overall adult rankings, Oklahoma was No. 47 and in the overall youth rankings we were No. 39. Not very encouraging news, is it?

For context in the 2023 report, Oklahoma’s rankings in the same measures were No. 23 overall, No. 43, in the adult ranking and No. 10 in the youth ranking.

Perhaps I was too optimistic after seeing the 2023 report. I neglected to appreciate the fact the introduction to that report stated, “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 the 2023 report cannot be compared to previous years and therefore should be interpreted as a snapshot in time ranking during the early days of the pandemic.”

I might also have been optimistic because the 2022 State of Mental Health in America showed Oklahoma had a significant rise in the rankings, from No. 45 to No. 33, compared to the 2021 report.

Therefore, it seemed to me we were on the right track and providing better support and services to individuals with mental health needs. In addition, the 988 Mental Health Lifeline had just been launched in July 2022. I was hopeful that it, and changes to the way Oklahoma City Police responded to calls involving mental health crises, might make some difference.

In looking back through the past few years of reports from MHA, it appears Oklahoma’s best rankings have occurred when we had better rankings for serving the youth population. It’s probably not a coincidence to have such a poor showing in the latest report after the past few years when young people experienced major upheavals in the circumstances of their lives.

Now I’m hearing about state lawmakers trying to come up with ways to come up with funds to help keep the hotline up and running. One proposal is to add a five-cent-per-month surcharge to people’s phone lines.

Oklahoma’s success in assisting its residents dealing with mental health issues, both transient and long-term, relies upon the intervention and concern of other citizens. Let’s be those people.

If you’re interested, DRS Professional Development offers a course in Mental Health First Aid. I’ve taken it and can highly recommend it.

Twelve seniors set to graduate Thursday from the Oklahoma School for the Blind

MUSKOGEE – Twelve students will graduate May 15 from the Oklahoma School for the Blind during a commencement ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

OSB is located at 3300 Gibson Street in Muskogee.

The OSB 2025 graduating class includes Alexandra Anotlin of Chelsea, Jaden Brown of Broken Arrow, Elijah Cantu of Muskogee, Jacob Cantu of Muskogee, Sara Cantu of Muskogee, Skylar Hopkins of Miami, Alani Kindelan of Pauls Valley, Jesse Martinez of Stillwell, Kolton-Scott Pennington of Roff, Ocie Webster of Tahlequah, Ryan Williams of McLoud and Tessa Williams of Tulsa.

“This graduating class has excelled both academically and socially inside and outside the classroom,” DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt said. “They will always be an important part of our OSB family, and I know each is on a path to a great, independent life.”

The Oklahoma School for the Blind is the statewide resource for the education of students who are blind and visually impaired. OSB is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

OSB’s residential and commuter students meet all state-approved education requirements and receive specialized instruction in Braille, orientation and mobility, optimum use of low vision, adaptive equipment technology and tactile graphic skills not readily available at other public schools in the state. OSB provides hundreds of free outreach services each year, including free evaluations and consultations, for students attending local public schools, their families and local school staff.

DRS assists Oklahomans with disabilities through vocational rehabilitation, education, employment, independent living programs and the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits.

For more information, phone 877-229-7136 toll free or visit http://osb.k12.ok.us/.

Seven to graduate on May 21 from OSD

SULPHUR — Seven seniors will graduate May 21 from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf during a commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Ken Brown Gymnasium.

OSD is located at 1100 East Oklahoma Ave. in Sulphur.

The OSD 2025 graduating class includes Sadie Christina Bussey of Elmore City, Lauren Mae Fueshko of Claremore, Bodee Tanner Flanary of Ada, Jorge Xavier Hall of Pocasset, Alex Joseph Layton of Yukon, Kaelyn Alyssa Miller of Ardmore and Riley Tate Newell of Pauls Valley.

“This graduating class has excelled both academically and socially inside and outside the classroom,” DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt said. “They will always be an important part of our OSD family, and I know each is on a path to a great, independent life.”

OSD is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, a state agency which assists Oklahomans with disabilities through vocational rehabilitation, education, employment, independent living programs and the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits.

OSD has been located in Sulphur since 1908. The school provides residential and day school educational services at no charge for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. The school provides a range of outreach programs, including pre-school programs and onsite consultation for public school students, their families, public school districts and communities statewide.