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OFFICE OF HANDICAPPED CONCERNS
WILL'S CORNER, OKLAHOMA
(Serving the Disability Community of Oklahoma)
Volume 4, Issue 1
February, 2003
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
Governor Brad Henry submitted his executive budget to a joint
session of the House of Representatives and Senate on February 3,
2003. Within this budget, Governor Henry proposed a budget for the
Office of Handicapped Concerns of $361,542 for the fiscal year of
2004. As a result of the budget shortfall the state is currently
experiencing, the agency has had to cut all staff and Advisory
Committee travel, cease equipment purchases, make the quarterly
newsletter available only on our website, cancel the printing and
updating of resource material, and reduce mailing of resource
materials most of which is currently available on the website.
Dissemination of the results of the agency statewide disability
survey has been restricted to the website. We have canceled the
statewide ADACoordinators training for this year and canceled the
Early Settlement ADA training conference also.
In this budget crisis I ask you to be aware of the restraints on
the service delivery system of the Office of Handicapped Concerns,
and I urge you to contact your elected representatives. (You may
find out your state representatives through your local County
Election Board.) Thank you for your support.
Steve Stokes
Director, Office of Handicapped Concerns
HOW TO TRANSITION STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES TO WORK IN 1500 WORDS OR LESS
(A Success Story in Yukon)
On June 19 of last year I attended a school transition conference
at the Westin Hotel in Oklahoma City and heard Georgie Melot and
Deborah Newport of the Yukon Public Schools share about what their
school system was doing in the area of transitioning students from
special education to the real world of work. I wrote down Deborah’s
name and number and made a mental note that this was something I
wanted to write about. By the time I got around to calling Deborah
Newport to set up an interview, I had forgotten exactly what it was
that had initially impressed me about the break-out session that
she and Georgie Melot had done way back in June. So when I sat down
at the table with Georgie Melot, Deborah Newport, and Vocational
Rehabilitation counselor Terry Goodson, the questions began very
slowly with periods of silence in between answers where I wrote out
in longhand what they were telling me. Then my interest got piqued.
My questions became more rapid. I didn’t even have to think. One
question waved on top of the other as my interest grew to
enthusiasm and my enthusiasm grew to fervor. I felt like one of the
‘49er miners who had discovered gold in California—but this time
the gold was right here and now in Yukon, Oklahoma.
So what is transition for special education students? Transition is
advance preparation for life beyond. When we’re in school we are so
young and the lazy days pass slowly. We don’t have a lot of
responsibility, and most of our needs are met—maybe even some of
our wants. It seems like this idyllic world will last forever until
we find ourselves walking across the stage and accepting that high
school diploma. All of a sudden we are in a different world. We may
have to take some responsibility for our lives, and we find we have
to please a lot of other persons besides ourselves. Self discipline
is required. Or maybe we walk across that stage as a person with a
disability and no one in our families or even we have ever thought
we could do anything with our lives. Keep on living at home. Draw
your Social Security. Let family support you for the indefinite
future. There has been a tremendous gap between a more
academic-oriented special education system and the real world of
work and self responsibility which follows the educational years.
Transition is bridging that gap. Transition is advance planning for
success. Transition is learning how to think for yourself and make
some real-life decisions. Let’s hear how one school system in
Oklahoma and one
state agency have decided to tackle this challenge effectively.
Georgie Melot, (Transition Specialist for the Yukon Public Schools)
“I think one thing that has really made our transition program here
in Yukon work so well is the collaboration we have had with
Vocational Rehabilitation, families, and the business community
working together for our students with disabilities.”
“How do you mean, Georgie?”
“To begin with, my salary as a Transition Specialist is paid half
by Vocational Rehabilitation and half by the Yukon Public Schools.
Many of the students in our Transiton Center are clients of
Vocational Rehabilitation and through that we receive some funding
from VR. VR is also picking up the cost of some of our
instructional materials.”
“You mentioned a Transition Center here in the Yukon Schools. What
is that?”
(Georgie Melot)
“Our Transition Center is a program of instruction we have for
various job categories. We have an Office Unit, a Retail Unit, a
Restaurant Unit, and several others. In those units students learn
practical skills which would help them to be successful in those
types of job categories. For instance, in the restaurant unit
students actually have experience clearing tables, rolling
silverware, washing dishes, and filling salt and pepper containers.
The emphasis in the Transition Center is real work skills that can
translate into job activities which would carry on after graduation
from the public schools. The Transition Center does not in itself
work on academic skills which may be stressed in other special
education classes.”
“So is everyone in special education in the secondary schools of
Yukon involved in the Transition Center?”
“No. Students are involved in the Transition Center who are needing
some specific training to get specific jobs in the community. Some
students may already have some skills and are ready to test the
waters. We have a program called Worksite Learning. Students with
disabilities in special education can actually work on a job in the
community and Vocational Rehabilitation will pay their salary for
up to two hours per day. We had a student who wanted to work at our
local Hastings and VR began paying his salary for ten hours per
week. He did so well that in six weeks’ time he left the Worksite
Learning program and his employer paid his full salary.”
“Georgie, what is the Summer Intern Program?”
“The Summer Intern Program is another program where students who
are signed up for VR can participate. The student agrees to
volunteer for 115 hours of work during the summer, and after they
have completed their 115 hours on the job, VR pays them $600 for
having completed the program. The student is required to write a
journal about their experiences on the job at various points
through their volunteering. They learn so much
from this on-the-job training. One student wanted to work in
heating and air conditioning. He soon learned that he had to change
his lifestyle. He was used to staying up until 2 a.m. sometimes,
and he was not able to continue this when he had to be on the job
by 8. It was a learning experience for him.”
“Deborah, these practical programs in the schools seem really
tailored to transition the student from school to the world of
work. How long have you had this emphasis in the Yukon Public
Schools?”
Deborah Newport, (Director of Special Education)
“This is our third year having a Transition Specialist in our
employ and having a Transition Center as part of our instruction.
Georgie has been a wonderful addition to our services. Previously
our regular special education teachers were feeling overwhelmed
with all the academic requirements and paperwork coming down from
the government. Transition was another thing they had to do on a
long list.”
“So is Yukon committed to this idea of smooth transition from
school to the community?”
Deborah Newport
“Most definitely. One part of our transitioning which has not been
mentioned yet is our Mapping. We begin with some special education
students as early as the 6th grade and with many more in the 8th
grade and the 10th grade. Follow up continues through their senior
year. Mapping is something we do in addition to the IEP. In a
Mapping meeting we invite the student, teachers, family, neighbors,
pastors or anyone who touches the life of the student with a
disability. We sit down with everybody and ask some serious
life-centered
questions. Where will this student live when they graduate from
high school? What will they do? We challenge the group to think
with a vision. When we come up with some realistic major life
goals, we look at things we need to do now to get the student where
they want to be.”
“Can you give me an example?”
“One of our students had severe disabilities. She expressed a firm
desire to live at the Center for Family Love when she graduated.
Our Team applied and she was accepted to live at the Center of
Family Love during the second semester of her senior year. She
actually moved to Okarche, Oklahoma (about 20 miles away) and
continued attending high school in Yukon. She was able to keep her
familiar school situation while she was actually making new friends
where she would be living as an adult. For her, it was a little
like going off to college. Her family did a lot of growing too.
When she moved, there were seventeen members of her family there at
her intake.”
“Terry, what does Vocational Rehabilitation think about this
program of transition?”
Terry Goodson, (Vocational Rehabilitation counselor)
“We have always served individuals with disabilities who are
wanting to work. One thing that is different than before is that I
as a VR counselor only have to deal with one person in the school
system (the Transition Specialist) rather than many different
special education teachers scattered in the three public school
systems with which I work. Georgie provides actual job training and
job development for us which enables us to serve the school-age
population better. Everyone wins.”
(Will)
I have always believed that when various public and private groups
collaborate together that individuals with disability benefit
tremendously. In my opinion, this is another example. Education and
Vocational Rehabilitation are working together in Yukon. Local
businesses and the Chamber of Commerce have also bought into this
idea of transition into the community for special education
students. Students and families which have many times had low
expectations for themselves and their loved ones are becoming open
to new ideas. Look at your school system. How is public education
preparing your son or daughter to be successful when they graduate?
Don’t let these ideas die. You may want to visit with Deborah
Newport at 405-350-1341. You may want to contact Len Tontz
(Educational Consultant at Vocational Rehabilitation) who has
helped develop some of these collaborative efforts at 405-522-6528.
How may we work together for a better future for students with
disabilities?
Yes, I’m a senior citizen! The life of the party. . . even if it
lasts until 8 p.m. Anonymous
REFUGE IN THE CITY
In our hearts, we all wish for a very special place where we may
heal our broken spirits and find the solace we need to pick up the
pieces of our lives and fit them together snugly into the grander
scheme of things. One day we wake up and think, “How does this
painful piece fit into the landscape of my life?” We need time to
sort things out. We seek a refuge so that we may heal our wounds
before we once again resume the sometimes heavy responsibilities of
life. There really is such a refuge. There is a refuge in the city,
and I want to tell you all about this wonderful place.
I came upon it accidentally. I was seeking information about
volunteer attendant care services for a person with a disability
who felt he was coming out of the hospital unprepared. I began
asking questions and the questions lead me in a direction I did not
expect. I was looking for a beautiful, polished garnet but instead
found a diamond. I called Sunbeam Family Services here in Oklahoma
City and stumbled onto a home they had created for people over
sixty who had suffered abuse or neglect. But it was also a place
which could be home to people under sixty with disabilities—a
temporary home while they could feel the pain that had happened to
them and then get on with their lives. Coretha Viney is the woman
who creates this refuge for her residents while they go about
solving their problems.
“Coretha, what prompted Sunbeam to go into residential services for
adults?”
“We actually began over 95 years ago providing residential services
for children. You may have seen the larger building when you came
into our parking lot which served as an orphanage for children. Our
population is aging and becoming more disabled today, and we are
seeing increasing numbers of cases of adults who are victims of
abuse, neglect, or caregiver exploitation. Many adults are victims
of their own self neglect. They do not take their medication as
prescribed. They do not eat properly. They think nobody cares. We
want to show them that somebody cares. That’s why we began offering
residential services for adults.”
“Tell me a little about this home.”
“Adult Protective Services of the Department of Human Services
receives over 1500 referrals a year right here in Oklahoma County
alleging some kind of abuse or neglect of an adult. This safe house
is a temporary solution of where that adult may come while their
problems are addressed in their own homes. We typically serve as a
home for two to thirty days to give the necessary time to build
more long term solutions.”
“Can you serve an adult who is disabled and needs help in managing
the disability?”
“We had a woman here who had severe diabetes and needed assistance
in managing her symptoms. She had a home health nurse who actually
came here to work with her to teach her the things she needed to
do.”
“What if I don’t have my own home health nurse through some other
program? Can you still help me if I have some kind of medical
needs?”
“We have a nurse and a doctor available as well as a dietician. All
serve as consultants. Of course, we also transport people to the
emergency room if need be. We are here to meet your needs while you
are staying with us.”
“Coretha, you mentioned a person with needs resulting from her
diabetes. What if I was diabetic and had no insulin or medication
to control my diabetes. Could you help me?”
“We case manage here. We will find you the medication you need from
one of the local free pharmacies or the county health department.
We want to meet your needs while you are staying with us.”
“Give me some examples.”
“We have a resident psychologist on staff who can counsel with you.
We will make you a dental referral if you need that. We will make
arrangements for your pets to be cared for while you are with us.
We will make arrangements for your bills to be paid during the time
you are here. If you need clothing, we will provide you with
whatever you need. My main purpose is to help people who are
abused, neglected, or exploited to build their self esteem. There
is nothing else like this in Oklahoma. Nationally they call this a
‘safe house’.”
“Will you show me around?”
“Sure, come with me. We’re in the office here, but notice the full
windows looking out onto the living room, dining room, and kitchen.
We have 24 hour staff here seven days a week who are trained in MAT
(medication assistance training). You see this large living room
with the big screen television. It was bought with monies donated
to our program. And the couch and chair here were donated from a
person who had won them in a TV game show. The same with appliances
in the kitchen and furniture in the bedrooms, all were donated to
make our safe house a real home for the people who temporarily come
to live with us.”
“How many persons can you serve at one time?”
“We have four rooms furnished for two people and two single rooms.
One of our single rooms has a handicapped-accessible bathroom
complete with roll-in shower, grab bars near the commode, and a
sink which permits you to roll a wheelchair under it.”
“Everything looks so much like a home. Everything is so clean.
Coretha, I am impressed with this place. So how do you accept
referrals?”
“We have several agencies that refer people to us. You mentioned
Adult Protective Services earlier. They often call me. Local
hospitals also call me who are discharging patients but may not be
able to send them home. We can accept people in wheelchairs, but
they must be able to transfer themselves. We also accept people
referred to us from local police departments or even the city
homeless shelters. We are not equipped to house a family. We work
with individuals or, in some cases, couples.”
“What kind of programs do you have?”
“We coordinate with an adult daycare facility locally which
provides transportation to and from their daycare program during
the week. On weekday evenings and weekends, our guests remain here
at home. They do all the things you do in your home. They watch
television, play board games, and do their laundry. Weather
permitting, they walk in the community. This is a least restrictive
environment. If needs are great enough, however, persons might be
better served in a nursing home. We want to meet the needs of
persons we can serve and are qualified and certified to serve.”
“Who are you qualified and certified to serve?”
“We do not lift individuals, although we do serve persons in chairs
who can transfer themselves. We do not give baths. We can assist
you in the care of your room, and we do prepare a common meal for
all our guests. We maintain a license from the State Health
Department to provide temporary residential care. The first thing
we’ll ask you when you come in is if you are hungry. We’ll get you
a hot bowl of soup, a sandwich, and a hot shower. Only then will we
start asking you questions which will help us to meet your more
long term needs.”
Sunbeam Family Services provides all of this with contributions
from individuals and agencies such as the Department of Human
Services and the City of Oklahoma City. Guests are only asked to
learn how to take care of themselves so they may return to their
homes. This safe house runs on love—love for the vulnerable adults
in our community who need a helping hand. It is a blessing to know
that this place exists. It is a real refuge—a refuge in the midst
of a city which can be very uncaring and even hostile. For more
information, contact Coretha Viney at 405-528-7724, ext. 110. I
think she would love to talk with you.
Keeping Oklahomans Warm
Many of you may have received an enclosure in your gas utility bill
for February letting you know about the Share the Warmth program of
Oklahoma Natural Gas. This month marks twenty years of the program
where Oklahomans voluntarily contribute to help their fellow
citizens through increasing their utility bill payments. Oklahoma
Natural Gas Company sends these “extra” contributions to your local
Salvation Army who in turn help those Oklahomans who need the
assistance in paying their own utility bill. In the last twenty
years you have contributed nearly $5 million to assist over 40,000
fellow citizens. Many of those who received assistance were
Oklahomans who were elderly and disabled. You may consider sharing
your warmth with those who need it the next time your utility bill
rolls around. Your contributions would be greatly
appreciated—especially in these cold, winter months.
VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
Who is Mary Ann Williams? Why am I reading this? OK, give me a
chance here. Let me tell you who she is and you can be the judge if
this is worth your time reading about her. At various times we’ve
talked to you about individuals with disabilities. Do you remember
way back in October of 2000 when we told you about Jim Stovall who
went on from deteriorating macular degeneration to blindness to
founding Narrative Television Network? And he lives right here in
Oklahoma. Well, Mary Ann Williams lives in our own Tulsa, Oklahoma
and on November 21, 2002 was inducted into the Volunteer Hall of
Fame of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at their annual
convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
“So Mary Ann, tell us a little about your disability.”
“Way back in 1974 I was having double vision. It was actually my
ophthalmologist who made my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis after
ruling out other possibilities. (It is strange, but many times a
diagnosis of multiple sclerosis comes from your eye doctor.) There
was no definitive test for MS back in 1974, and doctors had to
check out individual possibilities off a list of causes. I was
referred to a neurologist for a second opinion.”
“Were you employed at the time?”
“I worked in the Tulsa Public Library and continued working there
until the early ‘90’s.”
“Can you tell me a little about your type of MS? I know there are
different manifestations of the disease.”
“I have what is called secondary progressive, lapsing and remitting
type of MS. That means I can have periods of symptoms followed by
periods when I am symptom free. I receive my medication directly
from the drug companies which manufacture it because of the expense
involved.”
“Are your medications expensive?”
“Last year alone I had medical costs of $14,000 most of which was
involved in medication costs. The three new drugs for MS called the
ABC drugs typically cost between $1000 and $1200 per month. There
is a new MS drug on the market called Rebif which is also very
expensive.”
“How are you affected today?”
“There are times when my hands do not work at all. I do not walk
and must use a scooter to get around both inside and outside my
home. I have no speech problems, and this is the usual situation
with the overwhelming majority of people who have my type of MS.
The new drugs cut down on the frequency and duration of relapses
that I have with symptoms. It is very important for people who have
a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to begin taking the new
medications immediately. They will experience less nerve damage and
consequently less disability if they do this. There is a complete
MS clinic under the tutelage of Dr. Pardo at Mercy Hospital in
Oklahoma City. It is the only one of its kind in Oklahoma.”
“Mary Ann, I want to get back to you and the volunteer work which
you do here at the Oklahoma Multiple Sclerosis Society in Tulsa.”
“After I retired from the Tulsa Public Library, I had some time and
I chose to use it to help other people with MS like myself. I began
by setting up the lending library of the Oklahoma MS Society. I
also review books and videos before the Society purchases them with
recommendations where best to invest their money in materials. I
have served as programs committee person and on the Board of
Directors. I do various telephoning projects which need to be done,
and I volunteer as a peer counselor to talk to callers from all
over Oklahoma about multiple sclerosis and how it may affect their
lives. I have also helped organize support groups for people
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and their caregivers. That’s
about it.”
“That’s quite a bit. Tell me about Nashville, Mary Ann. Were you
excited to be inducted into the Volunteer Hall of Fame for the
National Society?”
“It was the thrill of my life. In November my husband and I flew to
Nashville. In the airport my husband walked up to total strangers
and told them I was going to get an award. The awards were given on
stage to each of us individually in the Grand Ole Opry House.
(There were pictures of Elvis Presley when he was very young
backstage.) When I went out on stage, I was immediately blinded by
the glare and a loud ovation. Over all the clapping, I could hear
my husband’s voice shouting, ‘That’s my wife!’ To understand my
husband, you have to know that if he could have come to our wedding
in jeans, he would have. For this event, he actually bought a
tuxedo.”
“Tell me more about the award.”
“The CEO of the National MS Society actually presented the award.
He gave me a plaque and a medallion which I could wear around my
neck. I am the first Oklahoman to be inducted into the Hall of
Fame. I was very pleased to represent our state.”
“Congratulations Mary Ann Williams. I know that people in Oklahoma
who have experienced multiple sclerosis have benefited from your
volunteerism. Let me present you with a little verbal
accolade—congratulations to a volunteer extraordinaire from
Oklahoma.”
Now let me give you some further information about the Oklahoma
Multiple Sclerosis Society in Tulsa. It does not cost to be a
member of the Society. They are a wealth of information for those
with MS, family, and friends. They provide counseling, education
programs, wellness programs, a newsletter, information and
referral, and medical equipment assistance. They also sponsor
support groups in twenty-four Oklahoma cities and towns all the way
from Woodward to Poteau. They have various fund raisers across the
state, and they sponsor a program called Call the Expert. There are
several toll-free numbers where people may call in and speak
directly with a neurologist, an urologist, or a lawyer with
questions. It is generally in the evening from 7-9 p.m. The next
Call the Expert will be in August of this year. You may be
connected with the Oklahoma MS Society through calling the national
number (800-344-4867), and you will automatically be switched
locally. Volunteers like Mary Ann Williams make a tremendous
difference for people with disabilities whether that disability be
multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or autism. You may be able
to volunteer some of your time to help others who are experiencing
a similar disability. Thanks for your consideration.
THE OKLAHOMA BUDGET SHORTFALL
(And the Impact On Social Services)
We recently sent you a letter to let you know why you had not been
receiving a hard copy of Will’s Corner, Oklahoma. We shared with
you that due to recent budget cuts at the Office of Handicapped
Concerns, we were not able to afford the printing and postage
necessary. Of course, as funds become available, we will resume
sending you a hard copy of our newsletter every three months—in
January, April, July, and October. In the meantime, you may access
our newsletter from our website on the internet at
www.ohc.state.ok.us. What we shared with you about budget cuts in
our agency has also been happening in many of the state agencies
you depend upon for services. Let me give you a few examples.
I recently received an email from the public relations officer of
the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. In his email, Nico Gomez shared
with me some of the reductions in Medicaid services which have been
authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. (Medicaid is the
broad umbrella funding which covers many social service programs in
Oklahoma.) Without going into all the detail, these reductions
affect about 130,000 Oklahomans who are receiving some type of
Medicaid services—services to the medically needy, to children, and
to the aged, blind, and disabled population of Oklahoma. That could
well be you or someone whom you know and love. A woman recently
called my office and was telling me the great difficulty her
husband was having in adjusting to living in a nursing home. He
rapidly became disabled at 53 due to a neurological disease. He had
been an active man and employed in a responsible position. The
woman told me how her husband was receiving counseling at the
nursing home to help him adjust to the day-by-day changes going on
in his body. Then—suddenly—she said, the nursing home stopped
providing the services. I explained to her that this happened
because of changes in the policy of the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority reflecting budget reductions. Budget reductions play out
into individual lives of people just like you and me in ways very
similar to this.
Let’s go to another important state agency which provides services
to Oklahomans with disabilities—the Department of Rehabilitation
Services. DRS is perhaps the prime agency in state government
designed to provide the services and supports necessary for people
with disabilities to return to work if that is something they would
like to do with their lives. The Department of Rehabilitation
Services places all those who apply for services into one of their
four categories depending on the level of disability the applicant
exhibits. A person who was blind might be served before a person
with a learning disability because they are considered to have a
higher degree of disability. On July 31, 2002, DRS closed priority
groups 3 and 4 which represent applicants who are considered to
have less debilitating conditions. (We told you about this event in
our October, 2002 issue of Will’s Corner, Oklahoma available on the
internet.) On December 23, 2002, DRS announced the closing of
priority groups 1 and 2. This in effect closes off DRS services to
new applicants after that date. This does not mean that if you had
DRS services before December 23 that your case will be closed. It
only means that if you applied for services after that date your
eligibility would be determined, and you would be placed on a
waiting list. You will be served when new monies are available. The
Department of Rehabilitative Services is a good example of how
services are affected when state dollars diminish.
The Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services is
another example of how social service programs can be adversely
affected by shrinking budgets. Aging Services has reduced some of
its funding to the approximately 275 congregate meal sites in
Oklahoma which offer a hot meal and fellowship to many of our
disabled and elderly population. There has also been a reduction in
personal care supports offered through the Advantage Waiver program
which offers a wide array of services necessary to keep our elderly
and disabled fellow Oklahomans in the community rather than having
to enter a nursing home. Another program for seniors which has been
affected is in the 30 something adult day care programs which exist
currently in Oklahoma. Aging Services is not authorizing funding
for new slots. (There are about 830 slots in adult day cares
available for senior Oklahomans now.) Adult day cares often permit
family members to keep a senior at home rather than seeking
services in a nursing home.
Pam McKeown who is the public relations officer for the Oklahoma
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) confirms
that DMHSA is considering closing the Carl Albert Community Mental
Health Center in Holdenville, Oklahoma because of budget cuts to
that agency. She states that Carl Albert is the smallest of the
community mental health centers in Oklahoma. She also states that
the agency has experienced internal policies freezing new hiring,
prohibiting reimbursement of out-of-state travel, and other
internal efforts to embrace a reduction in monies from the State
Legislature. The Developmental Disabilities Services Division of
DHS which is the primary state agency serving individuals with
mental retardation states they are encouraging their clients who
live in the community to find two roommates if they are needing 24
hour-a-day staffing. DDSD is also authorizing new group homes in
Oklahoma after a long period of not authorizing new group homes. It
is considered that group homes are more cost effective than other
models of residential services.
I am telling you things here that you already know. You already how
your services have been affected. So why are we writing to you
about budget shortfalls in Oklahoma and how these shortfalls are
affecting social services across the state? We’re telling you
because information spawns understanding and understanding relieves
fear. Remember, the Oklahoma economy goes in cycles, and state
government expenditures reflect our overall economy. The budget
shortfall is a temporary thing. Services for Oklahomans with
disabilities will continue for now and increase in the long haul.
But what can we do now?
I think there are some things we can do. Sometimes people with
disabilities get used to other people making decisions for them. We
think, that person told me that I cannot be served in their
program. That is the end of it. It is possible that that is the end
of it, but it may not be. Do some research to find out where that
policy is coming from. Talk to that individual or board of
individuals to explain how this particular policy is adversely
affecting you. In the April, 2002 issue of Will’s Corner, Oklahoma
we talked with you about the Oklahoma Health Care Authority which
establishes policies that govern all Medicaid programs across
Oklahoma. The Health Care Authority Board meets every second
Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. in the boardroom of the Health Care
Authority, 4545 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Suite 124 in Oklahoma City. The public is invited. If you want to
speak before the board, you will need to call in advance and get on
the agenda. The main number of the OHCA is 405-522-7300, and you
would need to ask to speak to the director with your request. And
don’t forget your legislators. You may call your local county
election board with your address and they will tell you who your
legislators are. They can also give you telephone numbers where you
can reach them locally and at the State Capitol. Let your
legislator know the importance of certain programs to you. Our
Legislature needs to hear from grassroots Oklahoma. They are faced
with some tough decisions this legislative session. Information
from constituents will help them make good decisions for people
with disabilities.
“Most of us know how challenging it is to create change—change in
how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible, change in how
others see us and treat us, and change in the world and our options
in it. Yet we know that self-advocacy depends on our effectiveness
in creating change.”
Taken from Popular Education, Vol. 1, No. 1
A man was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid.
It cost me $4000, but it’s state of the art.”
“Really,” answered the neighbor. “What kind is it?”
“Twelve thirty.”
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 10-16, 2003 This is Cover the Insured Week. It will begin
with
a kickoff at the State Capitol at 10 a.m. on the 10th.
There will be town hall meetings on the 16th in Tulsa,
Eufaula, Muskogee, and Stigler among other
locations. We have 600,000 Oklahomans without
insurance in this state. Contact Kelli McNeal at 405-
236-5437 ext. 108 for more information.
The Oklahoma Parent Center sponsors workshops across Oklahoma on
subjects of interest to families with children in special education
of the public schools. The following workshops are offered in your
community. Call the Oklahoma Parent Center for more information:
1-877-4332.
March 4, 2003 Overview Basic Rights, Coalgate, Oklahoma
March 11, 2003 Basic Rights, Poteau, Oklahoma
March 20, 2003 504/ADA Idabel, Oklahoma
April 7, 2003 Basic Rights, Durant, Oklahoma
April 8, 2003 Transition to Kindergarten, Wilburton, Oklahoma
March 31-April 1, 2003 Governor’s Conference on Developmental
Disabilities, Cox Convention Center Okla. City.
Contact Sheree Powell for more information at
405-521-6263.
__________________________________________________________
The following two events are sponsored by the Oklahoma Business
Leadership Network:
April 7-11, 2003 VIRTUAL JOB FAIR, location statewide, purpose to
provide Oklahoma employers the opportunity to regis-
ter their company and open job positions for individuals
with disabilities. You may register online at www.okbln.
jobfit.com. Contact Marilyn Burr at 1-800-522-8224.
April 16, 2003 Reverse Job and Technology Fair, OKC Career Center,
5813 S. Robinson, Contact Marilyn Burr 1-800-522-8224.
If you have an event coming up relating to disability, let us know
at 800-522-8224 we’ll help you publicize.
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