2019 National Rankings
Oklahoma ABLE Tech is proud to report these national rankings for FFY19 as compared to other Assistive Technology State Act Programs. 
State-Level Programs
- Device Demonstration: #1 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 6,807
- Device Short-Term Loan: #3 out of 56 programs with a total of 2,719
- Financial Loans: #1 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 273
- Device Exchange: #1 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 2,656
- Device Reuse: #16 out of 52 programs participating with a total of 1,419
State Leadership Programs
- Training: #6 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 3,869
- Information and Assistance: #4 out of 56 programs participating with a total of 11,057
Financial Microloan Success Story
Amy, a new mother from Sayre Oklahoma, used the financial microloan project to purchase an Apple Watch. She has Brugada Syndrome, which makes her heart go into super ventricular tachycardia beating up to 500 bpm. When this happens, she faints, which can be a dangerous situation for her and her baby.
The Apple Watch detects abnormal heart rhythms and alerts Amy so she can sit down and get somewhere safe before she faints when her heart rate is high. The watch also calls 911 if she faints and informs the ambulance of her location. Amy gave ABLE Tech a shout out on social media to say, “With this watch along with the crib and other items ABLE Tech has helped me get - I can care for my baby with confidence and live a more normal life. Thank you for everything you have done for me!”
Amy and her baby are thriving with her new Apple Watch and adaptive baby care equipment she received through ABLE Tech. The microloan project is a small dollar financial loan provided by ABLE Tech and OkAT to help get lower-cost AT in the hands of Oklahomans.
Two AT Funding Workshops Planned in June
Spots are filling fast for ABLE Tech's online AT Funding Workshops. If your district struggles to find money to buy tools needed for students with disabilities, make plans to participate in one of these virtual ABLE Tech workshops, “Funding Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities” on June 5th or June 12th.
These free workshops are designed for Oklahoma public school administrators, special educators, and related service providers. Participants will learn how to plan and budget for AT, match students to funding options and practice writing grant applications. There are no prerequisites for this workshop. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for OTs, PTs, and SLPs.
SoonerStart & ABLE Tech Collaboration - Success Stories
Tulsa County Success Story
Tristan is a 3-year-old with a diagnosis of Apraxia of speech. Tristan often becomes frustrated due to his inability to communicate needs and wants with daily activities. Recently, Tristan's SoonerStart provider trialed an iPad with LAMP that yielded excellent success. Tristan now becomes excited, gestures, and squeals when using the LAMP app on the iPad to communicate. Tristan's family borrowed an iPad from ABLE Tech’s Device Short-Term Loan Program for a six-week trial. After the trial of AT, the family and the IFSP team met with Berryhill School District for the transition conference. Berryhill School District has offered to download the LAMP app on the family's iPad to continue working on Tristan’s future communication needs.
UPDATE: ABLE Tech Pediatric Walker Project
The Device Reuse Program has placed sixteen of nineteen walkers into the hands of children who can benefit. ABLE Tech is reaching out today to help get the three remaining small-sized walkers to children through the Pediatric Walker Project. Through this project, the walkers are returned to ABLE Tech once the children outgrow them or no longer need them. Please help ABLE Tech get these into the homes of young children. Email amy.l.woods@okstate.edu or call 405.744.7734.
3rd Quarter Team Winner
The Tulsa SoonerStart team has earned $500 in new assistive technology (AT) to add to their county kit.
TechAccess Oklahoma Returns in 2020
Oklahoma ABLE Tech has decided to move its technology accessibility conference, TechAccess Oklahoma, to an online format for 2020. We will still have the event on June 4th and 5th and have speakers from across the country and from Oklahoma. They will share expertise and insights about accessible technology like websites and software. Instead of getting together in person, we will use the Zoom platform to connect.
ABLE Tech is working quickly to finalize the schedule and the topics. Registration and information is now available on the conference website at www.techaccessok.org. Maybe best of all, this event is FREE!
Reutilization Program News
January, February, and March have been busy months for the Reutilization Program! Thanks to a generous grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Reutilization has installed 21 ramps, thresholds, and/or accessible pathways for temporary use (up to 3 months borrow-time) for Oklahomans in need!
There are currently 17 other planned installations in the next month. The response to this program has been very exciting, and we are so glad to be able to provide this service.
Spotlight on Success
Slade is a 3-year-old from Cleveland County who is receiving services through the Moore Autism Center. He used ABLE Tech’s Short-Term Loan Program to trial a NovaChat for communication during therapy. Previously, Slade’s primary means of expression were screaming and crying.
With the use of the NovaChat in therapy, he is learning to communicate words and phrases by imitating the device. Slade can now express his wants, needs, and ideas with his speech-generating device.
ABLE Tech to Launch NEW Device Inventory Database
ABLE Tech is excited to announce a new process for requesting short-term device loans, gently-used durable medical equipment (DME), and assistive technology (AT) exchange items. This database is called NATADS.
For over ten years, ABLE Tech has used NATADS to track device inventory and short-term loans. Now with new functionality, Oklahomans can use the system to register, log in, and submit a request for devices from a public access side.
There are multiple search functions to help you choose the best device(s) to request, and realtime feedback shows if items are available. The system is quick, reliable, and completely confidential. Create a free account on this site.
Once you are on the public site - you can choose between:
- Device Short-Term Loan Program: to borrow NEW AT for up to 6 weeks.
- Device Reutilization Program: to borrow GENTLY-USED DME for as long as it is needed.
If you previously requested items in the Exchange Program (Ex. specialized adult wheelchairs, pediatric equipment, braces, and walking boots), you will now choose the drop-down menu: Device Exchange/Reuse Program for this inventory and the Adaptive Baby Care items.
AT Device Feature
The Vario Digital FHD Advanced
This device is a fold-able desktop video magnifier with outstanding image quality, compact design, and customizable settings. It has large tactile buttons and the dials are easy-touse and feature voice output when in menu mode. Images can be captured and stored on a removable 8GB SD card and viewed either on the LCD screen or on a computer monitor by connecting the type C USB cable.
Interested? View in the ABLE Tech inventory.
Welcome Clara
Clara Orr joined ABLE Tech in January 2020. She attended OSU from 1996 to 1998 and transferred to the University of Phoenix in OKC to complete her Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She received her Master of Science in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership with an emphasis in Occupational Education from OSU in 2012.
Clara has a variety of experiences working in medical fields, state and federal government, oilfield manufacturing, and education.
She and her husband, Ricky, have two children and two grandchildren.
Upcoming Events and Training
Please check the ABLE Tech website regularly for COVID-19 updates.
June 4th & 5th: Tech Access Oklahoma Conference - 2 day - Online Training
June 5th & June 12th: Funding AT for Students with Disabilities - Online Training
August 13th: TSHA Hearing Helpers Support Group Presentation - Tulsa
August 20th: On The Road - Tulsa
Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
Oklahoma 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
Handicapped Vehicle
Services Unlimited
Tulsa, 918.622.8400
Hearing Loss Association
of America, Central Ok Chapter
Oklahoma City, 405.717.9820
Indian Nations Council
of Governments
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
Miami, 918.238.7302
NewView Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, 405.521.4880
Tulsa, 855.811.9699
OSU – Dept of Communication Sciences & Disorder
Stillwater, 405.744.6021
SoonerStart
https://www.ok.gov/health/Family_Health/SoonerStart/
Stillwater Eye Care
Stillwater, 405.743.4212
The Scholl Center
Tulsa, 918.508.7601
United Access (Mobility)
Oklahoma City, 888.939.1010
OSU Department of Wellness - Oklahoma ABLE Tech Staff
- Todd Misener, Chief Wellness Officer/Director, OSU Department of Wellness
- Linda Jaco, Associate Director, Sponsored Program
- Kimberly Berry, Assistive Technology Teacher
- Jo Anne Blades, SERC Program Manager
- Rob Carr, ICT Accessibility Program Manager
- Melisa Cranfield, Reutilization Program Manager
- Lisa Croston, Grants-Contracts Fiscal Officer
- Matt Dalthorp, Site Coordinator Assistant
- Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
- Shelley Gladden, Loan Program Manager
- Tammie Honeyman, Sponsored Programs Administrative Associate
- Rob Keiter, Coordinator Special Education Resolution Center (SERC)
- Kelli Jones, Business and Administrative Operations Specialist
- Kim O’Meilia, Marketing and Communications, Accessibility Specialist
- Clara Orr, Business and Administrative Operations Specialist
- Lyssa Prince, ICT Accessibility Coordinator
- Allyson Robinson, SLP, Assistant Director
- Natalie Rohwer, Financial Loan Coordinator
- Shelby Sanders, Assistive Technology Specialist
- Brian Sargent, Reutilization Site Coordinator
- Tabatha Scott, Speech Pathologist Specialist
- Amy Woods, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
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.