May 2021
May 2021ABLE Tech Appreciates Your Partnership
Thank you for your support in enabling us to be successful in 2020!
2020 National Rankings
Oklahoma ABLE Tech is proud to report these national rankings for FFY20 as compared to other Assistive Technology (A.T.) Act Programs.
State-Level A.T. Act Programs
- Device Demonstration: #1 out of 55 programs participating with a total of 6,105
- Device Short-Term Loan: #2 out of 55 programs with a total of 2,605
- Financial Loans: #1 out of 30 programs participating with a total of 338
- Device Exchange: #1 out of 25 programs participating with a total of 11,899
- Device Reuse: #15 out of 53 programs participating with a total of 1,375
State Leadership A.T. Act Programs
- Training: #8 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 3,200
- Information and Assistance: #4 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 11,308
SoonerStart & ABLE Tech Collaboration
Tulsa County Success Story
Gus is a bright, happy, outgoing two-year-old boy from Tulsa. He has been receiving Speech Therapy services from SoonerStart for his delayed speech that was identified at one year of age. Various speech communication platforms were trialed for Gus, including Sign Language and picture exchange communication symbols (PECS), all with minimal interest or progress from Gus.
The SoonerStart provider, Kim Macy, suggested trialing a Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) application on an iPad provided through ABLE Tech’s Device Demonstration Program. Gus' mother listened to the provider's explanation of the application during the demonstration provided and received additional resources to research and learn more about the technology. Gus' mother attended a virtual LAMP training before incorporating it into Gus' life. After the trial and additional research from the resources, it was determined this type of AT would meet Gus’ needs; therefore, the family purchased an iPad that was dedicated to the LAMP app use. During COVID quarantine, the whole family learned LAMP to successfully incorporate it throughout Gus’ entire day. Gus is now using communication in multiple environments such as home, physical therapy, and speech therapy. Some of his favorite requests are singing, riding his bike, going to the park, and asking his dad to play the guitar!
3rd Quarter Team Winner:
3rd Quarter Team Winner:The Tulsa County SoonerStart team has earned the 3rd Quarter Recognition Award! The team will receive $500 in new assistive technology (A.T.) to add to the demonstration kits!
Device Demonstration Program
Evan is a 5-year-old from Cleveland County who receives speech therapy services through Moore Autism Center, one of ABLE Tech’s assistive technology (A.T.) demonstration partners. He was introduced to an iPad with the communication app, Proloquo2Go. After trialing three other speech-generating devices without a successful outcome, Proloquo2Go was a win! This successful demonstration led to a short-term loan through ABLE Tech for an extended trial at home. Evan is now able to make food requests, ask for help, and complete phrases such as “ready, set, go!” using the iPad and Proloquo2Go app.
Device Loan Program Feature
The Allora 2 is elegantly designed for face-to-face communication! The detachable display/speaker can be worn around the neck on a lanyard, or given to someone to read the message, placed in the middle of the table for a meeting or at the restaurant, or you can attach it to the back of the car headrest for the back seat passenger to read.
The speech output uses a high-quality intelligible Realspeak speech synthesizer and dual forward-facing stereo speakers for maximum volume. Check it out in ABLE Tech's inventory weblink.
Reutilization Program News
Oklahomans are on the move thanks to ABLE Tech’s Device Reutilization Program! Following some generous donations, Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Device Reutilization Program has been able to retrieve, refurbish, repair, and reassign gently-used mobility equipment to individuals across the state.
No matter their age, disability, or location, when the reutilization program has an appropriate match of equipment and receives valid paperwork from an Oklahoman in need (Ex. application, doctor’s prescription, mobility evaluation, etc.), individuals are able to receive durable medical equipment (DME) for free! The last three months have seen many successful matches.
Financial Loan Program Success Story
Patricia of Antlers Oklahoma lives in an area outside of public transportation and, due to a physical disability, is unable to independently transfer from her wheelchair to a seat in a vehicle. A wheelchair-accessible vehicle would allow her to continue with everyday activities, so she applied for and received a low-interest loan through ABLE Tech’s Financial Loan Program. This loan covered costs to modify a vehicle and gave Patricia the ability to go to the grocery store, doctor appointments, and see her kids play in school activities. Patricia expressed, “this loan is a blessing for sure and gives us a semblance of independence! Thank you so much for making this possible.”
Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T.) Accessibility Update
A little over one year ago, just before the pandemic arrived in Oklahoma, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services updated the state's technology accessibility standards. The new standards went into effect on March 1, 2020. About two weeks later, attention moved to focus on making programs and interactions available online.
Now, one year later, ABLE Tech wants to remind our friends in state agencies, public higher education institutions, and the Career and Technical system about these new standards. The long and the short of it is, Oklahoma now refers to the standards in Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act as updated in January 2018.
You can read more about accessibility in Oklahoma's public sector on the Oklahoma website.
Welcome Michele
Michele Young joined the Oklahoma State University (O.S.U.) Department of Wellness Sponsored Programs in March 2021 as Grant Manager. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Ethics from Mid-America Christian University and completed her Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
She recently retired from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center after 31 years of sponsored grants finance and management. She lives in Oklahoma City and has four children – her youngest daughter marched in the Cowboy Marching Band and graduated from O.S.U. in 2018.
CONTACT: Shelby Sanders, shelby.sanders@okstate.edu