People With Disabilities Awareness Day Starts With You!

Please be part of "The Winning Strategy" for supporting critical disability programs threatened by state budget cuts! Join us at the State Capitol for the 16th People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7.

Our goals are to unite 500 participants with 75 percent of us visiting state senators and representatives or their staff during People with Disability Awareness Day.

Because of the economic downturn, our legislators will be forced to look for ways to save money and cut programs. People with disabilities and advocates must be at the event to tell our story and explain how important your work is to Oklahomans who need help the most.

For economic reasons, lunch will not be provided this year, but your enthusiasm and willingness to bring friends are more important than ever! Find out everything you need to know about awareness day when you pre-register, and remember: "Be seen! Wear Green!"

— learn more at the People with Disabilties Awareness Day homepage
 

OSD to Host Gallaudet University’s Midwest Regional Academic Bowl for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

The Oklahoma School for the Deaf, headquartered in Sulphur, will host Gallaudet University’s Midwest Regional Academic Bowl on Feb. 4 -6 for deaf and hard of hearing students from 16 high schools in 11 states.

Gallaudet University is a four-year university located in Washington, D.C. for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is the only liberal arts university for deaf students in the world.

Gallaudet University President Dr. Alan Hurwitz will be at OSD for the competition. He will welcome parents and students to a luncheon for invited guests.

Approximately 80 students are expected to participate in the quiz tournament, which is similar to those held by high schools and colleges throughout the country with two exceptions. Questions will be presented to contestants in American Sign Language, as well as in spoken and written English. “Deaf Studies” will be one of the question categories.

— Read the Regional Academic Bowl article

Braving the Rapids, OSB Student Prepares For Adventure

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — He may have low vision, Albinism and Nystagmus, a form of involuntary eye movement, but that won’t stop him from living the adventure Global Explorers have given him. Tenth grader, Andrew Williams from the Oklahoma School for the Blind is one of only ten students in the nation accepted to the “Leading the Way Rim to River 2010” program.

This is an adventure of a lifetime that not only challenges the students physically with a trip to the Grand Canyon but also exposes them to science, service, leadership and culture. The program pairs up visually impaired or blind students with sighted students as guides where they must learn to work together.

— Read the Braving the Rapids article

Policy Hearings to be Held

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council will hold public hearings on policy changes for the department. We will receive comments on proposed amendments to the department's rules, follow this link to review proposed rules. The public hearings will be held:

 

• Monday, February 8, 2010 - 4:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
  Department of Rehabilitation Services,
  2nd floor Conference Room,
  3535 N.W. 58th
  Oklahoma city, Oklahoma
   
• Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.
  Department of Human Services
  2609 S.W. Lee Blvd., Large Conference Room
  Lawton, Oklahoma
   
• Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.
  Total Source for Hearing Loss and Access
  8740 E. 11th, Conference Room
  Tulsa, Oklahoma

If you would like to comment but are unable to attend, written comments may be sent to the attention of Ray Leard, Policy Development, Department of Rehabilitation Services, 3535 N.W. 58th, Suite 500, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112.  Written comments must be received no later than February 10, 2010.