Generous Donation to ABLE Tech
Through a very generous donation, Oklahoma ABLE Tech received 16 pediatric walkers, purchased new, from a very special family. On December 18, 2015, the Askum Family learned that their son would have Spina bifida.
Now every year they commemorate the day of this diagnosis, by organizing a charity drive to support other children with special needs!
ABLE Tech is collaborating with SoonerStart to disseminate these walkers across the state.
Thank you, Askum Family!
Fire Safety Grant Opportunity!
Our current smoke alarm grant for this year has two components: The first component is to install smoke alarms and alert devices in 350 consumer’s homes who have vision, hearing, or mobility impairment across the state. The second component is a pilot project for 6 individuals to pilot and trial “smart home smoke alarms”.
We are currently seeking individuals who would be interested in participating in the smart home smoke alarm pilot program. Pre-requisites include: Must have internet and Wi-Fi access, must have a smartphone, must have one of the qualifying disabilities (hearing, vision, or mobility impairment). If you currently use other smart home products, we will be happy to work with that brand for smoke alarms.
We will ask for feedback of the equipment, ease of use of the equipment, and testing of the equipment periodically throughout the first year of use, but will remain in your home beyond the trial period. Please contact ABLE Tech at 800-257-1705 if you are interested or know someone who is interested in participating.
John B. Gets His Dream Truck
ABLE Tech Financial Loan Success Story
John is 26 years old from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He first became familiar with ABLE Tech in 2014 when he used the financial loan program, with his mom as the co-signor, to purchase a modified vehicle for transportation.
John has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and was using a non-modified vehicle for transportation and relying on his parents for transferring in and out of the car for trips outside of the house. He had no credit history, but with the ABLE Tech loan program was able to get pre-qualified and purchased a 2006 Dodge Caravan. During this time, he was able to make all loan payments, requiring only one rescue payment when he had a mix up with his disability check, which was agreed upon and repaid in a timely manner.
Fast forward to 2018, and John was due for an upgrade. He re-applied through the financial loan program by himself and thanks to his successful repayment, he not only qualified for a loan by himself, but he had improved his credit score enough which put him in a great position to make this purchase. He was then able to buy his “dream truck” – a 2008 Chevrolet 1500 Pickup. “I try to be an active individual and enjoy many of the same activities as others my age, however, my previous vehicle drug on everything, especially speed bumps, and made it difficult to get to many places while enjoying the Oklahoma back roads.”
2nd Quarter Team Winner
The Payne County SoonerStart team wins and will receive $500 in new assistive technology (AT) to include in their county kits. Congratulations!
Sooner Start & ABLE Tech
Payne County Success Story
Wilder is an 11-month-old boy from Payne County, diagnosed with optic nerve hyperplasia.
Wilder's family, the Payne County SoonerStart team, and a local boy scout recently worked together to earn an Eagle badge. The boy scout created a small sensory room in order to increase environmental exploration. The assistive technology invention has enabled Wilder to play with his toys and explore his surroundings.
ABLE Tech Adds New Devices to Loan Inventory
As Oklahoma’s Assistive Technology Act Program, ABLE Tech contracts with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to provide Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services for Oklahoma public school students, educators, and families. Trialing devices is an important part of the process of selecting technology to help students with disabilities succeed in school and other settings.
The ABLE Tech Device Loan Inventory includes more than 2,500 items in the AT categories of computer access; daily living; environmental adaptations and controls; hearing; learning, cognition and development; recreation; seating, positioning, and mobility; speech communication; vehicle modifications; and vision. Each year, funding from OSDE allows ABLE Tech to add new technology and replace devices which have become worn or obsolete.
Is Your Website Accessible?
The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more. It is essential that websites be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with diverse abilities.
In November 2018, Oklahoma ABLE Tech participated with the Oklahoma Workforce Board Directors to discuss the topic of accessibility in their own websites. This kicked off a series of one-on-one meetings where ABLE Tech evaluated and presented results from web accessibility testing on each site.
SAVE the DATE
June 6-7, 2019
TechAccessOK Conference – Sheridan Downtown OKC
An Oklahoma ABLE Tech Conference located in the Sheridan Downtown OKC
Adaptive Baby Care Device Feature
Podee Hands-Free Baby Bottle Feeding System
ABLE Tech’s Adaptive Baby Care Equipment for Parents with Disabilities (ABC Program) can help parents with disabilities complete baby care tasks easier and more safely.
For a parent that has difficulty holding a baby and/or the bottle due to pain, fatigue, or weakness, this adapted bottle can allow a parent to feed a baby more easily and more safely. It also allows for the baby to be fed in a supported upright position.
Learn more about the ABLE Tech ABC Program
AT Device Feature
TAP Wearable Keyboard
The keyboard of the future. Comfortable, Ergonomic, wearable and easy to use, Tap enables you to control your devices wherever you are.
- Tap Wearable made from soft-touch TPU
- Charging case with 370mA backup battery
- MicroUSB cable and Quickstart guide
- Works with any certified USB adapter (not included)
- A suite of free mobile (iOS/Android) Tap Apps & Games such as TapGenius to learn Tapping & the Tap Alphabet
Learn more about the TAP device in the ABLE Tech AT Inventory website.
Meet ABLE Tech’s New Employee
Melisa Cranfield is a registered occupational therapist. She grew up in Vermont and received her associate in science and her Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in 2002, then received her Masters in occupational therapy and her Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) certification in 2010.
She has worked in virtually all settings, with people ages three weeks to 104 years! Her professional passion is assistive technology (AT) and matching the right people with the right equipment.
Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
Oklahoma ABLE Tech and their partners operate device demonstration and loan programs to increase access to AT.
- OSU – Department of Communication Sciences & Disorder
Stillwater, 405.744.6021 - Hearing Loss Association of America, Central Okla Chapter
Oklahoma City, 405.717.9820 - Moore Autism Center
Moore, 405.735.8478 - NewView Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, 405.521.4880
Tulsa, 855.811.9699 - Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
Oklahoma City, 405.319.0780 - Pathways Therapy Center
Tulsa, 918.712.7868 - The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital
Bethany, 405.789.6711 - SoonerStart Intervention Program
Oklahoma City, 405.271.8333 - United Access (Mobility)
Oklahoma City, 888.939.1010
OSU Department of Wellness
- Todd Misener, Chief Wellness Officer, OSU Department of Wellness
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Staff
- Linda Jaco, Associate Director, Sponsored Programs,
- Allyson Robinson, CCC-SLP, Assistant Director
- Rob Carr, ICT Accessibility Program Manager
- Milissa Gofourth, Program Manager
- Sandra Wright-Hackler, CCC-SLP, Program Manager
- Katie Woodward, Program Manager
- Dawn Aaron, Administrative Assistant
- Dina Anderson, Occupational Therapist Specialist
- Kimberly Berry, Assistive Technology Teacher
- Kelli McDoulett, Reutilization Grant Coordinator
- Shelley Gladden, Loan Coordinator
- Tammie Honeyman, Grant Coordinator
- Kimberly O’Meilia, Marketing, Accessible Formats
- Lyssa Prince, ICT Accessibility Coordinator
- Shelby Sanders, Assistive Technology Specialist
- Brian Sargent, Reutilization Site Coordinator
- Amy Woods, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Lisa Croston, Grants-Contracts Fiscal Officer
- Jo Anne Pool Blades, SERC Program Manager
- Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
- ABLE Tech Social Media
This publication is available in alternative formats; please call 800.257.1705 for more information. The Oklahoma State University Department of Wellness is the lead agency for Oklahoma ABLE Tech. ABLE Tech is funded through the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and maintains coordination and collaboration efforts with partners throughout the state of Oklahoma.