September Newsletter: AT News You Can Use

Have You Tried the Android Action Blocks Application?

Action Blocks allow you to turn on smart home devices like lights and create action buttons that SPEAK aloud and “live” right on your home screen. They also include Tobii-Dynavox PCS Symbols to use with the message buttons.

Action Blocks were designed to help people with cognitive disabilities and those who have difficulty using their fingers or speech to execute actions on their Android smartphones, thus creating a higher level of independence. 

Go to the Google Store to download the Action Block App.

Register Now

Oklahoma ABLE Tech invites all educators, Speech & Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, administrators, and paraeducators to attend an upcoming, three-part workshop based on several steps of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology.

The workshops will equip all participants to better be able to consider, assess, implement, and evaluate possible AT devices to support students with disabilities as they participate in educational and social opportunities within inclusive environments in their schools.  The fall workshops will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform.

Save the dates below, and visit the AT Support Team webpage for registration links and other updates.

  • AT Assessment Part 1 – Consideration of Assistive Technology (AT)
     - September 16, 2021- 8 am to 10 am -
  • AT Assessment Part 2 – Gathering Information and Trialing Devices 2021
    - October 21, 2021 - 8 am to 2:15 pm - 
  • AT Assessment Part 3 – AT in the IEP and Implementation
     - November 18, 2021 – 8 am to 3:30 pm - 

Funding AT Workshop Scheduled 

This 2-hour virtual workshop is designed for Oklahoma public school administrators, special educators, and related service providers who help students with disabilities.

Participants will learn about resources and grant-writing tips for securing funding for needed AT for students. Participants will also practice matching students to funding options, as well as practice grant writing in the workshop. Guidance for planning and budgeting for AT will be shared as well as sample AT plans so that schools can plan ahead to support the provision of needed AT for students with disabilities. Visit the event and registration link.

Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is designed for students with significant disabilities to assist them with a plan to transition from school to employment through innovative workforce and career development. It is dedicated to workforce development that can benefit the individual, community, and workplace by offering on-site job skills training and support, career exploration in a variety of entry-level positions, internships, interviewing and assessment practice, and job placement. It is not intended as training for the “easiest” jobs, but complex and systematic jobs matched to student skills and interests.

This 2021-2022 school year, Project SEARCH has approximately 63 students accepted into the program. Metro-Tech is back and will have a training site at the Wyndham in Bricktown starting this August. Tulsa Tech and St. Francis are going to join in January 2022. The idea of creating a Tribal Project SEARCH site has been bouncing around as they look forward to more opportunities. 
Currently, there are:

Four high school programs:

  1. Enid Public Schools at INTEGRIS Bass Baptist
  2. Norman Public Schools at Embassy Suites
  3. Moore Public Schools at Norman Healthplex
  4. Oklahoma City Public Schools at SW Medical

Four young adult programs:

  1. Francis Tuttle at Mercy
  2. Francis Tuttle at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
  3. Canadian Valley Tech at INTEGRIS Yukon
  4. Metro Tech at Wyndham Downtown

The high schools are all in the districts, but the adult sites are through the Career Techs.

Hearts for Hearing Funding

Hearts for Hearing Foundation provide the expertise, services, and programs for individuals with hearing loss and their families. They provide the first set of hearing aids for children in Oklahoma with significant bilateral hearing loss up to age eleven at no cost to the family.

Additionally, Hearts for Hearing provides an array of audiology and speech-language services for children that include evaluations, therapy, hearing aid fitting, and cochlear implant services. Adults with significant hearing loss can also receive comprehensive audiological services including evaluations, dispensing of hearing aids and assisted listening devices, cochlear implant services, and auditory habilitation.

To apply or get more information, visit the Hearts for Hearing website.


Learn more about Assistive Technology (AT) for Hearing for people of all ages on ABLE Tech's AT Discovery webpage.

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Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners

ABLE Tech and its partners operate device demonstration and loan programs to increase access to AT.

  • Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma Chapter
    Oklahoma City, 405.319.0780
  • The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital
    Bethany, 405.789.6711
  • EyeLove Vision
    Stillwater, 405.372.7337
  • Handicapped Vehicle Services Unlimited
    Tulsa, 918.622.8400
  • Indian Nations Council of Governments,
    Area Agency on Aging
    Tulsa, 918.579.9477
  • Kiamichi Economic Development District
    Wilburton, 918.465.2367
  • Moore Autism Center
    Moore, 405.735.8478
  • Newby-Vance Mobility
    Guthrie, 405.518.0167
  • NewView Oklahoma
    Oklahoma City, 405.521.4880
    Tulsa, 855.811.9699
  • OSU – Dept of Communication
    Sciences & Disorders
    Stillwater, 405.744.6021
  • Pathways Therapy Center
    Tulsa, 918.712.7868
  • SoonerStart
    Oklahoma City, 405.271.8333 
  • United Access (Mobility)
    Oklahoma City, 888.939.1010

Oklahoma ABLE Tech logo

Oklahoma State Unoversity logo

Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800.257.1705
Email: abletech@okstate.edu