Public Invited to Disability Agency’s Outreach and Education EXPO Oct 15 and 16

OKLAHOMA CITY – The state agency responsible for providing many critical services to Oklahomans with disabilities has scheduled a free community outreach and education event on Oct. 15 and 16. DRS Director Michael O’Brien, Ed.D. encourages current and former clients, partner agencies and the public to participate in the 2009 DRS EXPO on the Oklahoma School for the Deaf campus located at 1100 E. Oklahoma Street in Sulphur.

The EXPO theme is “16 Candles” in honor of DRS’ 16th anniversary.

The event will be hosted by O’Brien and the Commission for Rehabilitation Services Commissioners: Chair Ben C. White from Lawton, Vice Chair Ray Kirk from Muskogee and Member Steve Shelton from Edmond.

Participants may earn continuing education credits for attending workshops about services and issues affecting the disability and rehabilitation communities. Sixteen workshops are planned on topics such as: introduction to American Sign Language, managing Social Security benefits, and adaptations and modifications for visual impairments.

Exhibitors, including the Social Security Administration and DRS' Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct 15th and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 16. Exhibit space is available.

The Visiting Nurses Association will offer flu shots for $20, flu mist for $25 and pneumonia shots for $55.

Overnight lodging is available for a fee on the School for the Deaf campus on a first-come, first-served basis.

DRS EXPO sponsors include: Cochlear American; NanoPac, Inc.; Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council; Oklahoma Vision, LLC; Sign Language Resource Services (SLRS);and Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD)

Partners are: Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security Administration, Visiting Nurses Association, Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program, Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) and Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Participants are encouraged to register online at http://tinyurl.com/y9bmf5h. For additional information contact DA.OK.S39.PR@ssa.gov  or 405-419-2576. Those who use telecommunications equipment for the deaf may call 405-419-2750.

Background: DRS offers a wide range of programs serving approximately 70,000 Oklahomans with disabilities each year. The agency’s divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services operate employment programs that created 2,246 new taxpayers in 2008. The divisions also help employers recruit qualified workers who have turnover rates five to six times lower than employees without disabilities. The School for the Blind in Muskogee and School for the Deaf in Sulphur provide accredited academic and specialized education programs for children attending their residential schools, as well as onsite consultation benefiting students who attend other public schools, their parents, and educational staff. DRS’ Disability Determination Division, which determines medical eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, has earned national honors for exceeding production and accuracy goals.

(###)