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Independence in Family and Community Life Instructional Services for People Who are Blind Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Equipment Distribution Program
- Interpreter Services
- QAST
- Senior Citizens Hearing Aid Project
- Augmentative Speech Device Program
- Vocational Rehabilitation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Services for People Who Are Deaf-Blind Employment Training Center
What
are independent living services?Independent living services (such as medical equipment, assistive technology, specialized skills training and home modifications) enhance the ability of individuals with severe disabilities to live independently and function within their families and communities.
A Statewide Plan for Independent Living addresses planning, financial support and coordination between programs providing independent living services, Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).
Based on federal Rehabilitative Services Administration guidance, most independent living services will now be provided or coordinated through DRS contracts with the centers for independent living rather than directly by DRS staff. A portion of the funding will support activities of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC). DRS will continue to serve eligible individuals currently on our independent living services caseloads under the old plan until those cases are closed.
DRS’s Division of Visual Services will provide specialized skills training and related services to help people who have severe vision loss remain in their homes. DRS’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will continue to offer adaptive telephone equipment and other assistance to eligible individuals through the Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. The new Statewide Independent Living Services Plan does not affect funding for these services.
Rehabilitation teaching helps Oklahomans adjust to loss of sight while developing practical skills designed to maintain their independence. The Division of Visual Services' rehabilitation teachers provide counseling and instruction in the individuals' homes on daily living skills (such as cooking or banking), adjustment counseling, personal and home management, communication methods, adaptive techniques or devices and recreation activities. Individuals also learn skills in preparation for employment or community service.
Legal blindness occurs when visual acuity with best correction is 20/200 or less or when side visions results in a field restriction of 20 degrees of less.
For more information, contact reboykin@drs.state.ok.us.
Orientation
& MobilityThe Division of Visual Services' orientation and mobility specialists provide instruction on a one-on-one basis to help individuals with visual impairments use white canes and other independent travel techniques.
For more information, contact reboykin@drs.state.ok.us.
The NEWSLINE® service reads newspapers over the telephone to Oklahomans who are unable to read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, a learning disability or the physical inability to hold or turn the pages of printed material.
The service provides newspaper text in synthesized speech. Using the keypad on a touch-tone phone, people with visual disabilities can speed up the reading pace, skip articles and sections, or reread articles. It is available 24 hours a day and is entirely free to eligible individuals.
The national NEWSLINE® was created by the National Federation of the Blind and is funded in Oklahoma by the Division of Visual Services.
For more information about NEWSLINE, contact the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at (405) 521-3514 in Oklahoma City or (800) 523-0288 toll free statewide.
The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provides free services to Oklahomans who are blind or visually impaired and those with learning disabilities or physical limitations that make it difficult to use standard print.
Thousands of books, textbooks and periodicals in recorded and braille formats
and playback equipment are available to library patrons at no charge. The Library's
Descriptive Videos collection offers narrated description of film action in
popular and classic movies and television programs.
A text-only transcript of the video is available here. (MS Word)
The Library provides textbooks and other instructional materials in braille and other accessible formats for students with visual impairments in kindergarten through grade 12, as long as funds are available to meet the requests.
The Hill is the Library's award-winning sensory garden and walking path designed with special features for people with disabilities, including a tactile map in braille and materials chosen for fragrance and texture.
The Library, operated by the Division of Visual Services, is part of the national network of libraries affiliated with the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Oklahomans for Special Library Services (OSLS) is an active organization which supports the work of the library.
Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
300 NE 18th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 521-3514
(800) 523-0288 Toll Free
(405) 521-4672 TTY/TDD
For more information, visit the web site maintained by the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or contact library@drs.state.ok.us.
Older Blind Independent Living ProgramThe Older Blind Independent Living Program expands independent living services for people who are 55 years old or older and legally blind. Rehabilitation teachers located in Division of Visual Services offices throughout the state provide one-on-one assistance to assist older people in adjusting to blindness and regaining or maintaining maximum independence and self-sufficiency.
The Older Blind Program operates a telephone line which provides recorded information about grocery ads, newspaper articles, television guides and other publications. In the Tulsa area, the number is (918) 743-3332. The statewide, toll free number is (800) 829-3255.
Older Blind Program staff present training for businesses, organizations and others to develop greater awareness of the abilities and needs of older Oklahomans who are blind.
Legal blindness occurs when visual acuity with best correction is 20/200 or less or when side visions results in a field restriction of 20 degrees of less.
Older Blind Independent Living Services Program:
(918) 742-8989 Voice/TTY/TDD
Telephone Information Line:
(918) 743-3332 Tulsa
(800) 829-3255 Statewide, Toll Free
For more information, contact mksanders@drs.state.ok.us.
The Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit provides services to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing and, some cases, to those who are Deaf-blind or those with speech impairments. In addition to information and referral about services and resources, the Unit, which is part of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, operates the following programs:
The Oklahoma Equipment Distribution Program provides special equipment at little or no cost for individuals with hearing or speaking problems that prevent them from using the telephone.
Equipment available to assist with telephone communications include telephones with amplified handsets, ring signalers that flash when the telephone rings, loud bell ringers that adjust the loudness and frequency of the ring and Teletypewriters/ Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf. Also called TTYs or TDDs, these typewriter keyboards connect to telephones, enabling people to type messages to others with the same equipment. Qualified individuals may be provided other equipment for telecommunications, home, personal safety and other needs. To view/print an application for the equipment distribution program, click here. Completed applications, accompanied by the required supporting documentation, should be sent to:
Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Oklahoma School for the Deaf
1100 E Oklahoma Street
Sulphur, OK 73086
(580) 622-4930 Voice/TDD
(580) 622-4959 Fax
(866) 309-1717 Toll free Voice/TDD
For more information, contact tprince@drs.state.ok.us.
The Interpreter Services program provides sign language interpreters and real-time captioning to assist VR/VS clients who are deaf, hard of hearing or Deaf-blind. DRS will only contract with interpreters who are certified through R.I.D., Q.A.S.T., or other equivalent bodies.
If you would like to get a copy of the latest list of all certified Oklahoma interpreters, it is available for download in Microsoft Word format oklacertint1.doc
The Oklahoma Department of Education maintains an independent list of interpreters which can be accessed in Microsoft Word format: Department of Education Interpreter Listing
The Oklahoma Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) is the method used by the Department of Rehabilitation Services to test and evaluate the proficiency of individuals requesting Oklahoma certification as interpreters for the deaf. If you would like to complete the application for certification, it is available for download in Microsoft Word format drsQASTapp07.doc (158 KB) . For more information please contact L.V. Berglund at lberglund@drs.state.ok.us or 405-522-7936 (Voice/TDD) or 800-833-8973 (Voice/TDD).
People age 60 and older who have a hearing loss of 35 decibels or greater in the better ear may be eligible for hearing aids at little or not cost to the individual. As long as funds are available, services through the project include hearing testing, hearing aid evaluation and the purchase of one or two hearing aids. Senior citizens may apply by contacting:
Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Oklahoma School for the Deaf
1100 E Oklahoma Street
Sulphur, OK 73086
(580) 622-4930 Voice/TDD
(580) 622-4959 Fax
(866) 309-1717 Toll free Voice/TDD
For more information, contact tprince@drs.state.ok.us.
Augmentative speech devices, individually prescribed by a licensed speech/language pathologist, are purchased for Oklahomans of any age with severe speech or voice disabilities through this program when all other funding sources have been exhausted. For more information, contact:
Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Oklahoma School for the Deaf
1100 E Oklahoma Street
Sulphur, OK 73086
(580) 622-4930 Voice/TDD
(580) 622-4959 Fax
(866) 309-1717 Toll free Voice/TDD
For more information, contact tprince@drs.state.ok.us.
VR assists persons with disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, in the area of employment. Our office of Servies to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing houses three specialist counselors in the Oklahoma City area and two specialist counselors in the Tulsa area. Our specialty counselors provide direct communication with deaf and hard of hearing clients by using sign language or using other techniques to effectively communicate. For more information, contact hcrumley@drs.state.ok.us.
High school students who are deaf or hard of hearing may also participate in a transition program which will address the unique issues encountered by the students and prepare them for their transition to work or college. For more information about the transition program go to the "Students" section of our Web site or contact ljgameson@drs.state.ok.us.
We are also in contact with other counselors around the state that specialize in deaf and hard of hearing issues.
The Division of Visual Services provides advocacy, information and referral, evaluation, and guidance and counseling services for individuals who are deaf-blind and their families. Tactile, vibratory and other equipment which assists people in communicating and receiving environmental information is available.
Individuals may be referred for deaf-blind services who are legally blind (or have progressive visual disabilities that will result in legal blindness) and severe to profound hearing losses (or significant difficulties communicating in home or community settings). There are no age requirements for services; however, this program primarily serves adults.
Deaf-blind services staff work closely with other DRS programs to ensure that Oklahomans with dual sensory loss have equal access to all services and programs.
For more information, contact jblake@drs.state.ok.us.
Our Employment Training Center provides independent living skills training, employment readiness training and job placement services to VR clients who are deaf or hard of hearing, or have other disabilities. These services contribute to the employment plan between the VR counselor and client. For more information contact lsantin@drs.state.ok.us or call 1-800-833-8973 or 405-951-3578.