FFY 2022 ABLE Tech Annual Report

Device Demonstration – Employment

Mr. Gilbert is a 46-year-old who entered the MOVE Program through NewView Oklahoma. The MOVE Program is a specialized training to help individuals learn necessary skills to go back to work, enter the workforce, or go back to school. For 90 days Mr. Gilbert received Occupational Therapy, AT and Orientation and Mobility services, and gained skills and training to be more independent.  During this time, NewView therapists were able to assist Mr. Gilbert with training in mobility, cooking, cleaning, finances, JAWS training on his computer, and many other daily living skills.  With access to AT through a partnership with Oklahoma ABLE Tech, the therapists at NewView were able to show Mr. Gilbert different types of accessibility equipment to help with reading mail, magazines, menus, currency, cooking instructions, and much more.  Mr. Gilbert recently graduated from the MOVE Program and stated: "As I reflect on these last 4 months, I just have to be speechless of how the knowledge is being absorbed into body, mind, and soul. Knowledge that can never be broken or forgotten. You know for many years I've sat under some strict instructors, but none that were willing to sit down and explain these things to me.  Not just how, but why. I just feel like something good is about to happen. The team at NewView has done what no other teacher could do with me and that, my friend is saying something!"

Device Short-Term Loan – Education

Julian is 6 years old and was diagnosed with autism in 2019. Through a partnership between Oklahoma ABLE Tech and the Moore Autism Center, Julian was introduced to speech generating device solutions to help him communicate. Through demonstrations and trials using the LAMP Words for Life app on an iPad, Julian is now able to request objects to play with such as potato head toys and colors. He also communicates, "hi" and "bye" as well as "all done" and "more". Julian's goals for the future are to continue building his vocabulary to improve his communication with others. This will also assist him at school while interacting with teachers and peers.

Device Reuse – Community/Education

Ashton, a student in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Tulsa Community College, had foot surgery that left her unable to bear weight on her left foot. She received crutches from the hospital; however, walking made her significantly fatigued. After obtaining a rolling knee walker through Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Device Reuse Program, Ashton was able to do her everyday tasks, including field trips to museums, with much greater ease. When reflecting on her experience receiving the rolling knee walker through the program, Ashton commented, “This has made doing everything possible.”

State Financing – Employment

Derek of Alva had been severely injured in the line of duty as a police officer in Oklahoma during a police pursuit. The injuries left him paralyzed on his left side and unable to walk. His existing wheelchair was only able to function on solid hard ground, which limited him from doing activities he has always enjoyed -such as fishing, hiking, and nature trails. He had heard about an Action Track Chair that has tracks instead of wheels to get him back outside doing what he enjoyed before his injury. The ABLE Tech low-interest Financial Loan Program helped Derek purchase the Action Track Chair. Derek notes, “I was able to purchase this chair and I love it!! I am now enjoying time with my kids and grandkids doing what we enjoy which is fishing and camping. This chair has changed my life for the better. I never would have been able to go fishing again with my kids if I didn’t have this chair.”