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YOUTH, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND COUNSELORS |
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STEM Camps Helping Students Have a Fun Summer
Tech-now, Inc. provides STEM lessons to select Oklahoma schools and districts throughout the year. These lessons are capped off each year by a statewide STEM competition at the end of the school year. As fun as the lessons are throughout the year, Tech-Now truly ups their game in the summertime with their exciting summer STEM Camps.
In June 2025, STEM Camps kicked off to a strong start. In the two June Camps, Noble and Waukomis, 28 students were able to attend summer STEM Camps. In these camps, students learned some important STEM concepts while having fun, hanging out with peers, and even making some cool things they could take home with them. Sherri Derennaux, who helps run Tech-Now, said that this summer they played What’s in the Cards and this summer's STEM take home items they got to make include gravity racers, hats, shirts, socks, buttons, ropes and Tagz.
The summer STEM Camps have been a success. To find out if STEM is available at your school or school district or to learn about future STEM Camps, emails can be sent to technowincok@gmail.com.
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July 2025: Cheyenne and Arapaho Department of Health: Family Wellness Days
 The Cheyenne and Arapaho Department of Health in collaboration with the Johnson O'Malley (JOM) program, Oklahoma Department of Health, and Southern Plains will be hosting Family Wellness Days in Watonga, Clinton, Concho and El Reno. Dates and times for these beneficial events are listed below.
Watonga
July 11, 2025 - Watonga ERC, 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Address: 257210 E 820 Rd, Watonga, OK 73772
Clinton
July 18, 2025 - Clinton ERC, 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Address:2015 Dog Patch Rd, Clinton, OK 73601
El Reno
July 25, 2025 - Cheyenne and Arapaho Dept. of Health, 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Address: 1950 S Shepard Ave, El Reno, Oklahoma 73036
Concho
August 1, 2025 - Concho ERC, 11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Address:200 Wolf Robe Cir, El Reno, OK 73036
July 2025: Inclusive Communication Conference
Presented by Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma, and Unity Forward Oklahoma, the theme of this year's conference is “Bridge to Success: Behavior and Communication Strategies for Inclusive Learning.”
Conference Kickoff Mixer:
Wednesday, July 16, 5:00 p.m.
at Social Capital - 5178 Hudson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73109
Conference:
Thursday, July 17, 8:00 a.m.
at Metro Tech Springlake Campus - 1900 Springlake Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
July 2025: Calm Down Strategies and Community Resources - Virtual Session with Oklahoma Family Network
 Join Oklahoma Family Network (OFN) for a helpful virtual training session on July 22, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. In this virtual session you will discover a variety of effective calm down techniques. Additionally, you will gain valuable knowledge of community resources that can provide ongoing support and guidance. By the end of this training, you will be equipped with practical tools and supports to help you navigate some of life's challenges with confidence and resilience.
Select this link to register for Calm Down Strategies and Community Resources vrtual training session
Fall 2025: OK! State Fair Accessibility Expo coming this September
We're excited for the inaugural Oklahoma State Fair Accessibility Expo, taking place at the Fair on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from noon to 6 p.m. This new fair event will feature exhibitor booths highlighting accessible services, programs, and products for disabled Oklahomans and their families. It will also offer sensory-friendly art activities and short presentations on disability-related topics. Admission to the expo is included with regular Oklahoma State Fair entry.
Your organization's services are an important part of Oklahoma’s disability community, and we hope you'll consider participating in this meaningful opportunity to connect with fairgoers and share what you offer. This event will coincide with Sensory-Friendly Time at the Fair, creating an ideal opportunity for exhibitors to connect directly with disabled attendees and their families in a welcoming, accessible setting.
We especially encourage participation from:
• Community organizations offering direct services or resources for disabled Oklahomans
• Health, education, housing or transportation providers with accessibility-focused programs
• Advocacy groups working to improve quality of life and access
• Agencies and nonprofits promoting inclusion, adaptive recreation, or disability rights
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Serving and inspiring Oklahoma's students with disabilities is our passion; our purpose. Each month, we hope to highlight a student whose story encourages others.
We have learned that one of the best ways to hear about our most amazing students is from those that spend time with them everyday. So, we encourage family members, education professionals and transition professionals to tell us about students who are doing amazing things.
This month, we shine the spotlight on Gavin, a graduate of Savanna High School and Kiamichi Technology Center. He and Kevin Randall talked about school, his future, and the BEST STEP summer program. Here is how the conversation went.
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Meet Gavin
What school did you graduate from?
I graduated from Savanna High School with a high school Diploma & I graduated from Kiamichi Technology Center as a certified welder.
What are your interests and hobbies?
I like to fish, hunt and work on my truck.
What activity do you enjoy the most during the summer?
I enjoy fishing, hunting, working on my truck, and going to the lake to hang out with my friends.
What is your preferred summer drink?
I like sweet tea.
If I were to provide you with $50,000 to create a positive impact in your community, how would you use it to bring about meaningful change?
I would start an after-school program to help prepare youth who are interested in attending college. I would help the youth navigate the process and fill out the paperwork needed to enroll in college.
Have you ever had any prior work experiences or volunteer opportunities?
I worked at a place called Simple Simon's Pizza for a few years.
Could you share your experience with the DRS Summer Program called BEST STEP?
In the summer of 2024, the BEST STEP program gave me the opportunity to work at Barnett Construction as part of my internship for STEP. Brooke Mason, the Pre-ETS specialist at Kiamichi Tech, helped me find this job.
What is something you learned from the DRS Summer Program called BEST STEP?
At first, I was nervous to work, but BEST STEP taught me helpful communication skills, soft skills, new skills, and other skills that allowed me to be successful on my worksite.
What is your dream career?
My dream job is to be a pipeline inspector.
What type of work will you do at your summer job?
In the summer of 2025, I will be working at Barnett Construction, doing many jobs including working at the Barnett shop, at work locations, on vehicles, on machines, with barbed wire, on homes, and more.
Can you share one challenge you've faced due to your disability and how you managed to overcome it?
I am hard of hearing and was able to overcome some of the challenges by using technology while I was on my job. I am also getting some AirPods that cancel out loud noises but allow me to hear people speaking at normal speaking levels.
What advice or tips would you like to share with other youth?
I would tell youth not to be afraid to jump into something new and to make sure they are communicating with their BEST STEP team during their summer internship.
What is the most significant goal or dream you wish to achieve in your lifetime?
At this time, I am looking forward to going to Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and graduating.
Can you share a situation where you've had to adapt to a new environment or learn something new? How did you approach that experience?
I have an auditory processing disorder. I was not able to read until the 5th grade, but I overcame my challenges and obstacles through consistent practice and perseverance.
What would you like the world to know about you?
I am a hard worker, I care about others, I never give up and I believe everyone should be treated equally.
Is there anyone specific you'd like to give a shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my mother and father, Brooke Mason, Matt Sewell, Jason Barnett, Jeff, and all of the people who have helped me.
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How to nominate a Student:
If you know a current or former student who has participated in Transition events or who has found success through Transition services, please let us know by submitting this nomination form.
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 Transition Resources
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The Hidden Workforce
The Hidden Workforce is a podcast and radio show that serves as a resource for students and transition-age adults who live with different abilities. This insightful and entertaining program helps people get connected with nonprofits, programs and services that assist with a variety of needs. Hosts and guests on the Hidden Workforce will provide support, bring awareness to opportunities, answer questions- or they may find a story from a self-advocate that inspires and uplifts them.
It doesn’t stop there! They're here for parents, guardians, caregivers, and families. On this show, they will share valuable information on organizations and opportunities that can assist your loved ones and offer respite opportunities for self-care and much more.
They highlight resources from state agencies like DRS and DDS to break down the opportunities and programs they provide for individuals with different abilities and their families!
Their goal is to provide resources, spread hope, and empower people with disabilities to chase their dreams. We can’t wait for you to hear these helpful and inspiring stories!
You can tune in every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. live on Groovy 105.7, or on all major podcast streams including:
Spotify (select this link to open The Hidden Workforce on Spotify)
Apple (select this link to open The Hidden Workforce on Apple)
iHeart Radio Podcasts (select this link to open The Hidden Workforce on iHeart Radio Podcasts)
If you would like a story, nonprofit, program, or resource to be featured, please reach out to Maggie Bond at maggie@risestaffing.net
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ABLE Tech
ABLE Tech is Oklahoma’s Assistive Technology (AT) Act program. ABLE Tech’s mission is to improve access to, and acquisition of, assistive technology to individuals with disabilities of all ages.
They support high school youth with disabilities in their journey through high school and as they transition to post-secondary lives.
ABLE Tech provides demonstrations, presentations, and short-term loans of AT devices (a try before you buy program). ABLE Tech has formed partnerships with DRS’s BEST STEP Summer Camps and A New Leaf Transition Academy. ABLE Tech staff also provides training to high school educators and Pre-ETS staff regarding how AT can support students with disabilities in high school and as they transition to post-secondary life.
If you would like more information about ABLE Tech, please contact Dr. Joshua Hawkins at ABLE Tech -
1-800-257-1705 or by email joshua.hawkins@okstate.edu.
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Here are some exciting grant opportunities to be aware of:
TSET: Innovations in Built Environment Grant
- Access to Healthy Foods grants are funded up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of 24 months.
- Healthy Students in Schools grants are funded up to $200,000 per year for a maximum of 24 months.
- For more information and to apply, visit https://oklahoma.gov/tset/fundingopportunities.html .
- Applications will be accepted beginning July 1, 2025.
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TSET: Discovery Grant
- Proposed programs should target 1) large segments of people with strategies to prevent tobacco use or obesity, or 2) populations, regardless of size, with the greatest rates of tobacco use and/or obesity.
- Maximum funding per applicant is available up to $250,000 per year.
- For more information, please contact https://oklahoma.gov/tset/funding-opportunities/discovery-grants.html .
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Shelia Kates is the pre-employment transition specialist at Kiamichi Tech in Idabel, Oklahoma, where she has proudly worked for nearly a year. Shelia is originally from Haworth, Oklahoma and is a graduate of Haworth High School. Her professional journey began in education, where she spent 13 rewarding years teaching 5th through 8th grade in her hometown.
Driven by a deep passion for student development, she earned a master’s degree in School Counseling, which led her to serve as an elementary school counselor at Broken Bow Public Schools for two years. Throughout her career, she has been especially inspired by students with disabilities. Shelia witnessed firsthand how, with just a bit of extra time, guidance and encouragement, these students could achieve remarkable academic and personal success.
Now, as a transition specialist, she has the privilege of supporting students with disabilities as they navigate the path toward their post-secondary goals. Whether college- or career-bound, her mission is to ensure that every student she works with leaves high school with a clear plan for their future and the skills needed to transition successfully into adulthood.
Shelia is committed to empowering these young individuals with the tools, confidence, and support necessary to thrive beyond the classroom. We are lucky to have her on the team.
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 Shelia Kates
Pre-Employment Transition Specialist
Kiamichi Technology Center
ph. 580-286-7555
skates@ktc.edu
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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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