DRS and Mental Health Agency Sponsor Deaf Town Hall Meetings

In order to improve services for people with hearing loss, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) will sponsor a series of town hall meetings in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened and deaf-blind people are encouraged to attend the meetings and share with staff their ideas about what needs to be done, what gaps need to be filled and what service areas need improvement.

– Read the full Deaf Town Hall media Release
– Watch the ASL Video Release

Don't Miss it! Its Out of Sight!

Individual Artist of Oklahoma (IAO) and the Oklahoma League for the Blind will present Out of Sight, an art exhibit to raise awareness about living with vision impairment. Opening night is Saturday, October 17th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show will run from Oct. 17th through Nov. 6th at 706 W. Sheridan, Oklahoma City. Viewing times will be Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5:30 p.m. The works of art are rendered black and white maximizing the use of high contrast, which is good for those with low vision. The artists have also been encouraged to produce artwork that appeals to multiple sense, especially touch.

Special kudos goes to the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (OLBPH) for creating the cell phone audio tour of the show. Twenty-one artists have artwork on display for the show and each artist wrote statements about their individual art piece. Approximately half of the artist went to OLBPH’s digital studio and recorded their statements personally and the other statements were read by OLBPH volunteers. When patrons view a particular piece they can call a phone number displayed with the artwork and hear the artist’s recording. Patrons should bring a cell phone to take advantage of the audio tour.

For more information go to the IAO Web site at www.iaogallery.org.