FFY25 Oklahoma ABLE Tech National Rankings
All 50 states, four U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico receive formula grant funding under the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (AT Act). These 56 grantees are required to carry out a continuum of specified state-level and state-leadership activities that promote the ability of people with disabilities to know about, have access to, and ultimately be better able to obtain AT.
According to the Center for Assistive Technology Act Data Assistance (CATADA), which is the central hub for AT Act data, Oklahoma continues to lead the nation in several areas!
- Device Demonstrations: #1 in total number of devices demonstrated (7,801); #1 in total number of individuals participating in demonstrations (12,334)
- Device Loans: #2 in total number of loans (2,545); #1 in total number of devices loaned (6,249)
- Device Reutilization: #14 in total savings ($684,303); #16 in number of devices distributed (1,968)
- Device Exchange: #3 in total savings to Oklahomans ($96,105); #3 in total devices exchanged (1,206)
- State Finance: #1 in total devices financed (122); #4 in total loan value ($823,813)
- Education and Training: #6 in total participants (3,707)
- Information and Assistance: #4 in individuals served (10,484)
April 22 was National Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Day
We celebrated National AT Awareness Day on April 22! National AT Awareness Day celebrates the important role AT plays in the daily lives of people with disabilities and older adults. These tools help people learn, work, communicate, and live independently in their communities. This day reminds us of how helpful support and funding from the federal government are in making sure people have access to the resources they need to go to school, work, and be part of their communities. Assistive technology helps people take part in everyday life. These tools are needed, not luxury items.
National AT Awareness Day also honors the hard work of AT specialists, program coordinators, and other AT-related professionals. These individuals help people with disabilities find the right tools for their unique needs.
Assistive Technology (AT) Highlights
Using AT can make caring for someone easier. Oklahoma ABLE Tech is proud to partner with the Oklahoma Human Services Community Living, Aging and Protective Services (CAP) division to provide the AT Respite Kit Project to support caregivers. A caregiver is someone who provides day-to-day care to another person, such as a parent caring for a child or an adult caring for an elderly family member.
To help meet the needs of caregivers, Oklahoma ABLE Tech has added the Daily Medication Organization kit to our Device Loan Program inventory! This kit includes six items and is available for loan for up to six weeks. The Daily Medication Organization kit is designed to help individuals and caregivers organize, track, and manage medications safely and consistently.
The kit combines visual supports, physical organization tools, and reminder systems to reduce confusion, missed doses, and double dosing. It supports independence while promoting medication safety across home, travel, and shared caregiving environments.
- Pill Map – The Pill Map is an easy-to-follow, visual guide for when someone should take their medication. The erasable pen makes changing medications easy and makes it easy to identify the medication in each capsule.
- Portable Pill Taker – The Portable Pill Taker helps people remove their pills from the aluminum/plastic packaging on the go. A medication box makes taking medication contactless and reduces the risk of losing medication.
- Pill Tracker – The Seven-Day Pop-It Pill Tracker can be placed directly on the pill bottle and makes it easy to remember when medication was last taken.
- LiveFine Automatic Pill Dispenser – The electronic pill dispenser can be customized to meet specific needs. The system lets you set pill schedules up to six times a day via our easy interchangeable rings. The system alerts the user with audio and visual alerts and locks.
- Medication Tracker and Pill Reminder – This visual medication tracker can be used three times/day for seven days a week. The device is easy to use, low-tech, and versatile. It can be hung by a hook, magnetically attached to a surface like a fridge, or has a stand to go on a flat surface.
- Pill Cutter – Pill cutters can be used to cut small pills into halves or other pieces. This device is NOT to be used with capsules, but can be used with tablets and/or vitamins.
Table of Contents
- FFY25 Oklahoma ABLE Tech National Rankings
- April 22 was Assistive Technology Awareness Day
- Assistive Technology (AT) Highlights
- Financial Loan Program Success Story – Glen and Terri G.
- Filling the Gap: How the Device Reutilization and Device Exchange Programs Support Oklahomans
- Oklahoma ABLE Tech attends the Oklahoma Association of People Supporting Employment First conference
- Career Opportunity with the State Leadership Team
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 21
- SERC Update – Helping Families and Schools Support Student Success
- ORC Update – ORC participated in Spring 2026 Conferences in Washington D.C.
- SAS Update – The Interactive Process
- Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
- OSU Department of Wellness – Accessibility Programs Staff
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To learn more about the Daily Medication Organization Kit or other available AT for respite, visit our AT Respite Kits webpage at Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Respite AT webpage!
Financial Loan Program Success Story – Glen and Terri G.
Glen and Terri needed help financing a wheelchair accessible van. They reached out to Mobility Works, a provider of wheelchair-accessible vans and other assistive technologies (AT), and Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Financial Loan Program to help purchase an accessible vehicle.
Mobility Works general manager, Jacob Everidge, shared that Glen can now transport Terri to church and other community activities.
“Mobility Works and the family are very thankful for Stephanie and the financial loan department,” Jacob said.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech collaborates with organizations across the state that support and promote awareness, access, and acquisition of assistive technology devices and services. Thank you to Mobility Works for being a trusted partner of Oklahoma ABLE Tech!
Filling the Gap: How the Device Reutilization and Device Exchange Programs Support Oklahomans
For many Oklahomans with disabilities, accessing the right assistive technology (AT) or durable medical equipment (DME) can be challenging due to cost, availability, or insurance limitations. That’s where Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Device Reutilization Program and the Device Exchange Program come in by offering practical solutions to help fill the gaps.
The Device Reutilization Program
The Device Reutilization Program collects gently used DME like wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and specialty items, sanitizes and refurbishes them, and reassigns them at no cost to eligible individuals. Priority is given to SoonerCare members, but any Oklahoman with a documented disability can apply. You can request up to three items at a time, and staff will match you with available equipment based on your needs.
Oklahoma Equipment Exchange
This person-to-person exchange platform allows individuals to donate, sell, or request AT and DME items. The Device Exchange Program is similar to a classifieds system for AT devices and DME, helping people find items like lift chairs, modified vehicles, or communication devices at low or no cost. It’s a great way to locate hard-to-find or specialty items that may not be available through traditional channels.
Together, these programs help bridge the gap between need and access, ensuring more Oklahomans can live independently and safely. To learn more about either of the programs, visit the Device Reutilization Program webpage.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech attends the Oklahoma Association of People Supporting Employment First conference
In April, Bethany Navarro, Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Transition Coordinator, attended the annual Oklahoma Association of People Supporting Employment First conference. Bethany displayed and demonstrated employment and transition-related assistive technology (AT) devices. She also talked with attendees about the programs and services Oklahoma ABLE Tech offers individuals seeking employment and how AT can be used in their various employment environments.
If you would like to learn more about employment-related AT devices or transition services, visit Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Employment Services webpage.
Career Opportunity with the State Leadership Team
We are actively seeking applicants for a Program Manager in Stillwater! View the entire job description or apply on Oklahoma State University’s hiring website.
State Leadership Program Manager
This role manages the daily operations of the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) contract. The State Leadership Program Manager provides school districts and parents with key stakeholder information and assistance. The Program Manager will also collaborate with key stakeholders to complete all contractual activities and deliverables required in the contract.
Requirements
- Directly related work experience, including experience working with statewide advisory groups or commissions.
- Knowledge of various software and assistive technology (AT).
- Experience in the development and delivery of presentations.
- Must possess strong communication, computer, writing, and organizational skills.
- Must be knowledgeable about accessibility.
- Must be able to conduct research and apply information.
- Must be able to direct and supervise staff on state leadership programs.
- Must be able to monitor and manage budgets.
- Must be able to work with the Marketing and Communications Manager to communicate and promote program activities.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is May 21
It’s easy to forget that accessibility benefits everyone, but Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) helps bring that into focus. While accessibility is about ensuring people can use digital tools, information, and spaces regardless of ability, it’s really about people and how we all connect, participate, and belong. But more than that, it’s about people.
Small changes can make a big impact. For this year’s GAAD, Oklahoma ABLE Tech encourages you to learn, engage, and take action!
Learn
- Watch one of the Web Accessibility Initiative’s (WAI) Web Accessibility Perspectives videos
- Take one of Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s free accessibility courses
- Request digital accessibility training
Engage
- Email our team for help or guidance
- Participate in Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
- Attend an upcoming accessibility conference
Take Action
- Check out Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s ADA Title II Accessibility Roadmap
- Learn how to add subtitles and captions to YouTube videos
- Use Digital.gov’s Plain Language Guide
- Check out WebAIM’s Keyboard Accessibility resource
- Use Disability IN’s Accessible Procurement Toolkit resource
Accessibility Programs Updates
SERC Update – Helping Families and Schools Support Student Success
Student success is strengthened when families and schools work together to support learning across home and school environments. When families share the strategies they are using at home and schools to communicate instructional goals and observed progress, students benefit from consistent expectations and support. Research shows that when students receive aligned support across environments, they are more likely to retain skills and experience success across academic, behavioral, and social‑emotional areas of learning. Extensive research on family–school partnerships shows that coordinated support across home and school leads to stronger academic, behavioral, and social-emotional outcomes for students receiving special education services.
The links below provide research‑based resources and practical guidance to help families and schools build strong, collaborative partnerships that support student success. If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to the Special Education Resolution Center (SERC) for assistance through SERC’s website.
Resources
- Springer Nature Link’s The Effects of Family-School Partnership Interventions on Academic and Social-Emotional Functioning: a Meta-Analysis Exploring What Works for Whom webpage
- EBSCO’s Family Involvement in Special Education article
SERC’s mission is to help school districts and parents resolve disputes at the earliest stage possible through conflict resolution and creative problem-solving. Learn more on the SERC website.
ORC Update – ORC Participated in Spring 2026 Conferences in Washington D.C.
The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) participated in the Spring Conferences in Washington, D.C., last month. ORC was represented by Stephanie Hesser, Kennda Miller, Allyson Robinson, and Carolina Colclasure. The first conference was the National Coalition of the State Rehabilitation Councils (NCSRC), held on March 28 and March 29, 2026. The sessions included:
- State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) 101
- Putting Faces to the Work: How SRCs Can Use Social Media to Strengthen Engagement, Communication, and Strategic Impact
- I Am the SRCs Why, by Erin Compton, a transition student and the Chair of the Illinois SRC
- Partnership as Practice: Collaborative Inquiry in the Needs Assessment Process
- Policy Updates by Federal officials
- Navigating Forward: From Mission to Measurable Impact in SRCs
The second conference was the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), held from March 30 to April 1, 2026. The sessions included:
- Talent that Works – Elevating the Business Voice in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
- Congressional Staff Panel: Federal Policy Priorities
- From Visibility to Access: How Nevada VR Uses Digital Media and Online Services to Strengthen Engagement and Efficiency
- Reducing Systemic Friction to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment
- Positioning VR for the Future: Federal Policy, Disability Alignment, and Systems Transformation
- Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) update: Advancing VR Program Performance and Accountability
The third conference was the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB), held from April 1 to April 3, 2026. The sessions included:
- RSA updates
- Outreach and Vision Rehabilitation Service through innovative partnerships
- Overview of a variety of smart glasses and wearable devices using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Assistive Technology and Innovation in Business Enterprise Programs
- Beyond barriers: Innovation leads to Independence
Through participation in these conferences, ORC members gained a wealth of valuable information, practical insights, and knowledge across key areas of vocational rehabilitation, policy, and innovation. These learnings will be used to inform and strengthen ORC’s strategic planning efforts for the upcoming year.
ORC’s mission is to facilitate consumer education and empowerment, to assure services are of high quality and lead to the employment of individuals with disabilities within Oklahoma. To learn more, visit ORC’s website.
SAS Update – The Interactive Process
Students who register with their disability service office (DSO) are often required to go through an interactive process to get accommodations! But what does that even mean? The interactive process is when the student provides information about their disability, asks questions, and helps their DSO understand the barriers they are facing so that accommodations can be provided!
Examples of the Interactive Process
- Student Testimony – DSOs use student testimony to help identify appropriate accommodations! It is important to understand how the student experiences their disability to understand how to provide access in learning.
- Asking for help – Students can reach out to their DSO when they experience new barriers or conditions, need help understanding how their accommodations work, or to address accommodation concerns.
- In K-12 schools, the process can look like adjusting an individualized education plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan or requesting transition information as they prepare for college.
- Chatting with professors – It is important for students and their professors (or teachers) to discuss how accommodations apply in their course. If additional support is needed, the DSO can be brought into the conversation to help!
Questions about transitioning to Oklahoma State University or registering for accommodations? Contact us by calling 405-744-7116 or emailing accessibility@okstate.edu.
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is dedicated to facilitating an accessible campus experience for students with disabilities at OSU-Stillwater and NOC-Stillwater. To learn more, SAS website.
Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
Oklahoma ABLE Tech and its partners operate device demonstration and short-term loan programs to increase statewide access to AT.
- Bethany Children’s Health Center
Bethany, 405-789-6711 - Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), Area Agency on Aging
Tulsa, 918-579-9477 - J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Disabilities
Norman, 405-307-2800 - Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma (KEDDO), Area Agency on Aging
Wilburton, 918-465-2367 - Mobility Works
Tulsa, 918-622-8400 - 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 - Norman Regional Rehab Services
Norman, 405-307-1786 - Oklahoma Department of Human Services – Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services (CAP)
Oklahoma City, 580-768-9327
- Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services – Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Oklahoma City, 405-951-3400 - Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services – Vocational Rehabilitation
Oklahoma City, 405-521-2140 - Oklahoma State University (OSU) – Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Stillwater, 405-744-6021 - OSU – University Counseling Services Reboot Center
Stillwater, 405-744-5458 - SoonerStart
Oklahoma City, 405-271-8333 - Therapy Specialists
Stillwater, 405-377-8255 - United Access
Oklahoma City, 888-939-1010
OSU Department of Wellness – Accessibility Programs Staff
- Todd Misener, Assistant Vice President and Chief Wellness Officer, OSU Department of Wellness
- Allyson Robinson, Director of Accessibility Programs
- Mikayla Busby, Administrative Support Specialist I
- Meg Busteed, Device Reutilization Program Manager
- Cam Cheek, SAS Interpreting Coordinator
- Carolina Colclasure, ORC Program Manager
- Cassandra Cotton, SAS Program Coordinator
- Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
- Allison Fennell-Conch, SERC Assistant Director
- Orfa Foster, Administrative Operations Specialist
- Shelley Gladden, Assistant Director, Assistive Technology Core Programs
- Peyton Haley, Marketing and Communications Manager
- Terri Harris, Device Demonstration and Loan Programs Specialist
- Joshua Hawkins, Assistant Director, State Leadership
- Stephanie Hesser, Financial Loan Program Specialist
- Averie Hinchey-Lucas, Device Demonstration and Loan Programs Manager
- Alisa Holuby, SERC Program Manager
- Rob Keiter, SERC Program Coordinator
- Angie Larison, SAS Accessibility Specialist
- Lillie Love, Device Reutilization Program Warehouse Specialist
- Chase Mason, Administrative Operations Specialist
- Gwen Mellor, Communications Specialist
- Bethany Navarro, Program Coordinator, Transition
- J.J. Newsom, Device Reutilization Program Driver and DME Educator
- Natalie Rohwer, Financial Loan Program Manager
- Louise Ruleford, Device Demonstration and Loan Programs Specialist
- Tracy Sexton, Sponsored Programs Coordinator
- Adam Thiel, Digital Accessibility Coordinator
- Chelsey Thompson, SAS Program Specialist
- Jennifer Williams, Device Reutilization Program Administrative Support Specialist
- Amy Woods, Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Kimberly Young, Device Reutilization Program Specialist
- Michele Young, Fiscal Grant Manager