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June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This month, we want to help raise awareness about the disorder and issues that come with it, reduce the stigma associated with the condition, and help those with PTSD receive the treatment and supports they need. For June, our AT specialist selected devices that might help people experiencing PTSD symptoms.
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Dodow - Some people with PTSD struggle with insomnia. The Dodow sleep machine uses light-guided breathing exercises to prepare your body for sleep.
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Snuggle Compression Sheet - These fitted sheets slip over your mattress and provide light compression while you sleep. These are a lighter option than something like a weighted blanket, which some people find uncomfortable.
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Companion Cat - This animatronic animal may be able to serve as an emotional support companion for those who do not want the responsibility of a live pet! Cuddling with the Companion Cat can be comforting, especially when it purrs. There are also dog and bird options!
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Bluetooth Headphones - These noise-canceling headphones can be used alone to block sound, or plugged into a device to deliver more targeted sound during phone calls, video games, or other device-related activities.
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Oklahoma ABLE Tech's Short-Term Device Loan inventory offers almost 5,000 devices in many AT categories including hearing, speech communication, vision, learning cognition/development, seating/positioning/mobility, daily living, recreation, environmental adaptations, computer access, and vehicle modifications. Visit the Device Loan Program webpage to learn more.
To our Oklahoma ABLE Tech Device Short-Term Loan Program users, please check the due date for returning your short-term loans. If loans are not returned by their due date during this time, users may be responsible for paying shipping fees to return the items to Oklahoma ABLE Tech.
If you have any questions regarding your due date, please contact the ABLE Tech Device Short-Term Loan Program staff by phone at 405-744-8342 or by email at abt.deviceloan@okstate.edu.
We'd like to introduce you to the newest face at Oklahoma ABLE Tech, Meg Busteed! Meg joined the team on May 1 as the Device Reutilization Program Manager.
Meg is a Stillwater native. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in Leisure Studies from Oklahoma State University.
Meg has spent much of her career working with the aging population, focused on dementia and caring for caregivers. In her free time, Meg enjoys being outside in the garden, bird watching, going to music festivals and concerts, traveling, and spending time with family. She and her husband, Phil, live in Yukon with their deaf Husky, Roxy. They have two boys, Jace and Cael.
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The Digital Accessibility Team started writing a blog last fall. Check it out to find tips, tricks, and more to help you start incorporating more accessibility into your digital life!
Digital accessibility and low vision experiences
When we think about digital accessibility, it’s common to think about people who use assistive technology, such as screen readers, to interact with our digital content. It’s one of the first things that comes to many people’s minds as learners and instructors! While it’s imperative to consider screen reader users when designing your content, we shouldn’t forget about users with visual impairments who may not be using a screen reader.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 7 million people (about twice the population of Oklahoma) in the United States experience vision loss. Approximately 1 million of those people are blind, while the other 6 million experience some degree of visual impairment. One type of visual impairment is sometimes known as low vision.
The definition of low vision isn’t exact. Still, the common understanding is that a person experiences low vision when they, even with corrective lenses, must use alternative methods to engage in the same activities as those without visual impairment. Examples of this might be screen magnification software, such as ZoomText, or even a low-tech magnifying dome for a cell phone.
Learn more about making your content accessible to those with low vision in Brent's most recent blog post!
For more information on digital accessibility, visit our Digital Accessibility Resources page, or contact us at abt.a11y@okstate.edu.
Mary, from Creek County, reached out to Oklahoma ABLE Tech when she needed new hearing aids. Through the Financial Loan Program, Mary was able to get the Resound Nexia 7 hearing aids and phone clip.
Mary is excited to have her new hearing aids, which allow her to fully participate in her volunteer work with the Red Cross.
Additionally, Mary was also able to tell her audiologist about Oklahoma ABLE Tech so they could share resource information with other patients who may need financial assistance acquiring needed assistive technology (AT).
The Oklahoma ABLE Tech Financial Loan Program partners with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) and BancFirst of Stillwater to provide low-interest loans to those in need of AT. To learn more about the Financial Loan Program and how to apply for a loan to get AT, visit our Financial Loan Program webpage.
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In April 2023, House Bill 1041 changed the graduation pathway for a specific group of students in Oklahoma. By amending 70 O.S. § 11-103.6, it created a new route to graduation tailored for the 1% of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This includes students who are taught to alternate academic achievement standards and participate in the Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP).
This change aims to ensure that these students have a fair and appropriate pathway to graduation that considers their unique needs and abilities. To participate in the OAAP, students require alternative achievement standards in all content areas; have an IEP with observable, measurable goals that include short-term benchmarks/objectives; and meet indicators from the Criteria Checklist for Assessing Students with Disabilities on Alternate Assessments.
Check out the Guidance Briefs for Parents and Educators on Alternative Diplomas and the OAAP for more information. Readers may also be interested in the Alternative Diploma Course Pathway for the coursework requirements for these students.
SERC’s mission is to help school districts and parents resolve disputes at the earliest stage possible. Learn more on the SERC website.
The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) would like to share some excellent summer opportunities for transition students. The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) will be offering its Building Employment Skills for Today (BEST) and Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP) camps this summer, starting on June 3, in different communities.
BEST is a one-week summer program where students will engage in activities to enhance their job search and career interest, workplace readiness to develop social and independent living skills, exploration of education and training programs for after high school, self-advocacy skills, peer mentorship, teamwork and a whole lot of fun!
There are 30 available locations, including Ada, Edmond, Enid, Moore/Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and more. Learn more about the program on the DRS website.
If you have questions about registration or need more information about the program, please get in touch with Renee Sansom Briscoe at RSansom@okdrs.gov
ORC's mission is to facilitate consumer education and empowerment, to assure DRS services are of high quality and lead to the employment of individuals with disabilities within Oklahoma. Learn more on the ORC website.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech is pleased to share the introductory video developed for the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Building Employment Skills for Today (BEST) Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP) camps. This video introduces using assistive technology (AT) in the workplace.
 ABLE Tech developed this resource and other supports for BEST STEP camp participants with the support of Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
To learn more about how AT can be used in education, employment, and community living scenarios, check out our AT Discovery webpages.
In the wake of devastating tornadoes and storms, many victims are left without shelter, belongings, and crucial medical equipment. ABLE Tech, a key participant in the Oklahoma Disaster Plan, supports Oklahomans during these critical times to provide durable medical equipment to those in emergency need.
A Call to Action: Donate Your Gently Used Medical Equipment ABLE Tech encourages the community to donate gently used or unused durable medical equipment and devices, including walkers, wheelchairs, CPAP machines, etc. Your contributions can make a significant difference in the lives of disaster survivors, offering them the support and tools they need to navigate through the aftermath of natural disasters.
When you donate to ABLE Tech, you’re not just giving away equipment; you’re extending a lifeline to individuals who have lost their much-needed medical support in the chaos of a natural disaster. Your donations allow ABLE Tech to swiftly deliver aid and restore a sense of independence to those affected.
Do You Have Lost or Damaged Medical Equipment? If you or someone you know has been impacted by the recent tornadoes and storms, and has lost or suffered damage to durable medical equipment, help is available. Please reach out to ABLE Tech at 405-967-6010. Our dedicated team is here to assist you in replacing what was lost so you can focus on recovery and rebuilding.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those hit hardest by natural disasters. Your generosity and support through ABLE Tech can help rebuild communities and provide hope to those in need.
To learn how you can donate your gently used DME, visit the Device Reutilization Program webpage.
Stillwater, OK – The Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) and its Access to Health Care Community grant program. The grant will be used to assist in funding the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Access project. In partnership with the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Device Reutilization Program, this project will help serve individuals within Oklahoma, Cleveland, and Canadian Counties who need DME. This project provides equipment that promotes independence and ensures safety. Because the OkAT Foundation partners with Oklahoma ABLE Tech, the equipment purchased with these grant funds will be reinfused into the community when its original owners no longer need it.
This grant is part of $327,500 awarded to 16 different nonprofits in central Oklahoma providing healthcare services to uninsured people.
“We are so grateful to have received this grant,” said Natalie Rohwer, the OkAT Director of Lending. “The DME purchased with the grant funds will allow us to serve many individuals in the Oklahoma City area who otherwise may not receive necessary healthcare equipment. We appreciate the support of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.”
Since its inception in 2001, OkAT has partnered with Oklahoma ABLE Tech to assist Oklahomans with disabilities in getting the assistive technology (AT) and DME they need. OkAT's mission is to promote community development by assisting Oklahomans with disabilities of all ages and their family members, advocates, and authorized representatives or entities to increase understanding, access to, and acquisition of needed assistive technology through financial loans, financial education, and other identified resources. Learn more about the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Financial Loan Program on the Financial Loan Program webpage.
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with donors to create charitable funds that will benefit the Oklahoma City community now and in the future. Learn more on the Oklahoma City Community Foundation website.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800.257.1705
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