Oklahoma State University and ABLE Tech Collaborate Across the Stillwater Campus
ABLE Tech is proud to announce its most recent collaboration on the Oklahoma State University Stillwater Campus with University Counseling Services at the Reboot Center. The Reboot Center is a dedicated space in the Student Union that provides a place for students, staff, and faculty to relax, re-wire, and reboot! At the Reboot Center, you can find comfortable seating, soft lighting, and AT to borrow during the visit, such as weighted blankets, fidgets, personalized sand trays, iPads with de-stress apps, and other AT designed to provide stress relief.
University Counseling Services support the OSU mission through efforts to assist students in improving their quality of life so that personal and intellectual growth can be fostered. Services include a Student Counseling Center, Alcohol & Substance Abuse Center, Walk-In Clinic, and the Reboot Center.
ABLE Tech has other OSU campus initiatives in the works such as providing support to the OSU Library learning center, Esports at the Student Union, and much more to come!
SoonerStart News
Logan County Success Story
Wren is an active and sweet two-year-old from Logan County who participates in SoonerStart. Wren was diagnosed at six months of age with Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development—typically causing a progressive loss of motor skills and language.
Wren’s family recently visited Oklahoma ABLE Tech in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to explore assistive technology (AT) that might improve Wren’s quality of life. The family was given the opportunity to have multiple devices demonstrated—gaining hands-on experience and guidance in the use of AT.
Wren enjoyed exploring different toys and switches with the goal of finding a device(s) that would expand her independence at play. Her mom stated, “We will keep exploring AT to continue to find tools that can improve Wren’s quality of life.”
Demonstrations and short-term loans of assistive technology are available to all Oklahomans. The staff of Oklahoma ABLE Tech were pleased to assist Wren and her family, in partnership with her SoonerStart providers, to identify and lend AT that allows Wren to function more independently and to live more comfortably and joyfully.
Congratulations First Quarter Team Winner!
The Payne County SoonerStart team has earned the First Quarter Recognition Award! The team will receive $500 in new AT to add to their demonstration kit!
Temporary Closure! ABLE Tech Reutilization Office is Relocating
The ABLE Tech Device Reutilization Program office will be moving to a new location on November 1! Services related to reutilization activities will be on HOLD from October 31 to November 7 to help the move go as smoothly as possible. The team will be moving to the new location during that week with plans to re-open at the new location on November 8. Once staff and clients have settled into the new location, ABLE Tech plans to host an Open House!
ABLE Tech Device Reutilization office effective November 8, 2022:
4301 Will Rogers Parkway, Suite 950
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
TechAccess Oklahoma Update
Each year, Oklahoma ABLE Tech hosts TechAccess Oklahoma, a conference on all things related to digital accessibility. TechAccessOK is normally held in spring, but throughout the years, we’ve noticed that spring is a very busy time. As a result, we are planning to move TechAccess to the winter, starting in 2024! We hope that by making this move, we will be able to reach a broader audience!
We will also be turning TechAccess into a HYBRID event, meaning that you can attend in person or virtually. As we plan these adjustments, we will still hold an event in the spring of 2023. Be on the lookout for details in the coming weeks!
Have suggestions or questions? Let us know at abt.a11y@okstate.edu.
Spring State Department of Education Training Dates
Each semester, Oklahoma ABLE Tech trains administrators, educators, and related services providers on the quality provision of AT devices and services to students with disabilities! The spring 2023 training dates have been set. Training materials will be mailed to participants prior to Part 1 and will include low-tech AT Make ‘n Take activities.
- Part 1: Consideration of Assistive Technology (AT) - January 19, 2023
- Part 2: AT Assessment and AT in the IEP - February 16, 2023
- Part 3: AT Implementation - March 23, 2023
Registration links will be posted to the ABLE Tech AT Support Team Workshop webpage.
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) News - CANAR Conference
The 2022 Annual Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) Conference will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Dates: December 13 – 15, 2022
Early Registration Deadline: November 6, 2022
Cost:
- CANAR Member $500 – Early Registration $400
- Non-Member $600 - Early Registration $500
- Consumer Registration $300 - Early Registration $200
Contact for questions:
Loquetta Legendre, CANAR
985-718-5167
loquetta.legendre@unitedhoumanation.org
ORC will be assisting with the conference! We hope to see you there!
Special Education Resolution Center (SERC) News – Join us on November 16 for a Wisdom Wednesday Webinar!
Make plans to attend SERC's November 2022 Wisdom Wednesday Webinar taking place live on Zoom, Wednesday, November 16 from noon to 1:30 pm. Our November webinar is titled "Dyslexia: What it is, what it is not, and what does it mean if your child is considered at-risk?” and will be presented by Dr. Gary Duhon and Dr. Sara Rich with the OSU BRIDGE Center.
Participants of this webinar will gain insight into the characteristics of dyslexia with examples of what children with dyslexia may experience. Additionally, participants will better understand the misconceptions associated with dyslexia identification. Finally, the participants will be provided with steps to take when a child is identified as at-risk for dyslexia and resources to address identified reading concerns.
The webinar is free and will benefit families, school personnel, and others who work with children with disabilities.
Contact SERC for more information at serc@okstate.edu
Partner Highlight: Alzheimer's Association
As part of their 'The Alzheimer’s Journey for Family Caregivers' education series, the Alzheimer's Association and LIFE Senior Services held a presentation on assistive technology from Oklahoma ABLE Tech. The caregivers viewed a presentation on how to access ABLE Tech's programs and services and had the opportunity to interact with assistive technology from the Association's demonstration kit. The caregivers left with a better understanding of how assistive technology can improve quality of life for their loved ones and how to access these devices through ABLE Tech.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech partners with the Alzheimer’s Association to better serve aging individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia in acquiring AT that might help them live more independently. Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association at their Core Program Partner page on our website.
ABLE Tech Welcomes New Staff
Peyton Haley, Accessible Communications Coordinator
Peyton joined ABLE Tech in July 2022 as the Accessible Communications Coordinator. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2019 with two bachelor's degrees: Animal Science and Agricultural Communications. She completed her Master’s in Agricultural Communications from OSU in 2021. She has previous marketing and communications experience in agricultural publishing and engineering extension.
She is excited to work with the Department of Wellness Sponsored Programs to further their communications and outreach efforts. Peyton spends her nights and weekends reading, cultivating a houseplant collection, wedding planning, and trying to keep her dogs, Tripp, Penny, and Peach, busy.
Louise Ruleford, Demo and Loan Program Specialist
Louise joined the ABLE Tech team as a full-time Program Specialist in September 2022. She has been an ABLE Tech team member since November 2021 and has loved every day of it! Louise is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy and plans to further her education and acquire a Master's in Occupational Therapy.
Her responsibilities include fulfilling and shipping out device short-term loans, sanitizing returned devices, assisting with device demonstrations, documenting data, and more. She serves as a direct point of contact for clients and is eager to help people find the right AT for them.
In her free time, Louise enjoys rafting, ziplining, hiking, going to the movies, binge-watching the latest Hulu series, and spending quality time with her three precious nieces. Louise was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Louise's favorite spot in Stillwater is the OSU Challenge Course on Western Road.
Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
Oklahoma ABLE Tech and its partners operate device demonstration and loan programs to increase access to AT.
- AbleGamers
Kearneysville, WV - Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma Chapter
Tulsa, 918-392-5009 - Bethany Children's Health Center
Bethany, 405.789.6711 - 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 of Oklahoma
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
- Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Oklahoma City, 405.951.3400 - OSU – Dept. of Communication
Sciences & Disorders
Stillwater, 405.744.6021 - Pathways Therapy Center
Tulsa, 918.712.7868 - SoonerStart
Oklahoma City, 405.271.8333 - Speech Pathway, LLC
Oklahoma City, 405.652.9683 - United Access
Oklahoma City, 888.939.1010
OSU Department of Wellness - Accessibility Programs Staff
- Todd Misener, Chief Wellness Officer/Director, OSU Department of Wellness
- Allyson Robinson, SLP, Assistant Director
- Jo Anne Blades, SERC Program Manager
- Austin Bricker, Reutilization Senior Administrative Support Specialist
- Richard Buntin, Fiscal Operations Specialist
- Carolina Colclasure, ORC Program Manager
- Gretchen Cole-Lade, State Leadership Training Specialist
- Leslie Dady, Administrative Operations Specialist
- Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
- Shelley Gladden, State Level Program Manager
- Brent Greyson, Instructional Design & Accessibility Specialist
- Peyton Haley, Accessible Communications Coordinator
- Terri Harris, Senior Administrative Support Specialist
- Josh Hawkins, State Leadership Program Manager
- Stephanie Hesser, Financial Loan Program Specialist
- Averie Hinchey, Speech-Language Pathologist Specialist
- Stephanie Hesser, Financial Loan Program Specialist
- Rob Keiter, SERC Coordinator
- Lyssa Prince, Digital Accessibility Program Manager
- Natalie Rohwer, Financial Loan Coordinator
- Louise Ruleford, Demo and Loan Program Specialist
- Shelby Sanders, Assistive Technology Specialist
- Brian Sargent, Reutilization Site Coordinator
- Adam Thiel, Digital Accessibility Coordinator
- Amy Woods, Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Kimberly Young, Reutilization Program Specialist
- Michele Young, Fiscal Grant Manager
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.
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