ABLE Tech Connect – Vol. 3, Issue 1

FFY24 by the Numbers

Every year, Oklahoma ABLE Tech works to enhance assistive technology (AT) services for people with disabilities in the state. In the federal fiscal year 2024 (FFY24), ABLE Tech received $503,284 from the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help Oklahomans access and acquire needed AT as well as provide training, technical assistance, public awareness, and information and assistance to those in need. These funds, coupled with $1.37 million in leveraged dollars, resulted in savings and benefits to Oklahomans which totaled $4.05 million! 37,848 individuals participated in ABLE Tech’s programs and services this year.   

We are so thankful for all agencies and organizations who partnered with us to help us achieve our goals this year:  

• Administration for Community Living (ACL) Public Health Workforce 
• Department of Human Services, Community Living, Aging, and Protection Services (DHS CAP)
• National Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Center  
• National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training (AT3) 
• Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) - COEDD, INCOG, KEDDO 
• Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT)  
• Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)  
• Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA)  
• Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE)  
• Southwest Americans with Disabilities Act Center (SWADA)  

Thank you to each of our partners for their collaborations and help in making 2024 another outstanding year!  

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Assistive Technology (AT) Highlights

This month, check out these AT devices that can help with emotional regulation. There are many ways to help individuals achieve emotional regulation, like providing sensory input and learning about or acting out emotions. These devices can be used during playtime, as well as in a therapy or classroom setting.

• I Love My Puppy Touch and Feel Board Book – This is a touch-and-feel board book with different textures on each page to touch and explore. We also have other textured books and adapted books with easy-to-turn pages!
• Kimochis Mixed Bag of Feelings – Kimochis are plush toys with an emotion written on one side and a face that corresponds with that emotion on the other side. This helps individuals learn to identify emotions!
• Emotions Flipbook – Instead of the typical page-turner, this book sits up on a stand and shows emotions and a character making that face on one side. On the other side, the book shows things you can do & possible next steps when feeling these emotions. 
• Active Calming Center – Feelings can be a lot to process! After working to identify and express them, how do you work through the tough emotions? This is a set of activities to help individuals safely regulate their strong emotions.

Table of Contents

• FFY24 by the Numbers
• Assistive Technology (AT) Highlights
• Register Now for TechAccess Oklahoma 2025!
• Success Story – Robin
• Spring 2025 Workshop Series – Register Now
• Exciting Program Updates in Oklahoma City!
• Apply for a Microloan for AT or DME
• Meet Nichole Fox!
• SERC – Special Education Staffing and Retention
• ORC – 2025 People with Disabilities Awareness Day
• Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners
• OSU Department of Wellness – Accessibility Programs Staff

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Register Now for TechAccess Oklahoma 2025!

Join us for TechAccess Oklahoma 2025! We only have 150 in-person seats available, so if you plan to join us in Oklahoma City, sign up early! TechAccess Oklahoma is an annual event presented by the Oklahoma ABLE Tech digital accessibility team and 2025 marks our 10th anniversary. 

Our conference isn’t just for web developers—it’s for everyday people who want a better understanding of digital accessibility. We want to break things down and make it easy, to guide you through the fundamentals, and have a good time doing it. This year, we’re excited to bring back some of our favorite speakers from the last ten years!

Schedule:

• Tuesday, March 4, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Wednesday, March 5, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: MetroTech District Center, Springlake Campus, Meeting Rooms G, H, and I; Oklahoma City, OK.

Speakers:

• Christina Adams, Manager of Digital Accessibility, Siteimprove
• Rob Carr, Strategic Accessibility Coordinator at WebAIM
• Chad Chelius, Accessibility Expert, Chax Training and Consulting
• Lucy Greco, Accessibility Evangelist, University of California, Berkeley
• Devon Persing, Digital Accessibility Specialist and Author
• Judith Risch, Title IX & Equity/Access Services Special Advisor, Grand River Solutions
• Glenda Sims, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, Deque
• Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, State of Minnesota

For more information about creating accessible digital content, visit our Digital Accessibility Program page, or contact us at abt.a11y@okstate.edu.

Success Story – Robin

Robin is a young boy with autism and a speech delay. Robin works with Moore Autism Center. Through Moore Autism Center’s device demonstration partnership with Oklahoma ABLE Tech, they added Alphabet Sounds Teaching Tubs to their assistive technology (AT) inventory. 

Alphabet Sounds Teaching Tubs help users learn to identify letters and their sounds. Additionally, users can also play memory games and build their vocabulary skills. 

Using the Alphabet Sounds Teaching Tubs, Robin has increased his language and communication skills. His speech-language pathologist is excited for Robin to continue developing those skills as time progresses. 

Moore Autism Center is a multi-specialty clinic comprised of autism specialist psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. Additionally, they provide AT device demonstrations of AT to help people make informed AT decisions. To learn more about Moore Autism Center and our other Core Program Partnerships, visit the Core Program Partnerships webpage.

Spring 2025 Workshop Series – Register Now

On January 16, Dr. Josh Hawkins and Amy Woods, OTA, kicked off our Spring 2025 Workshop Series with Part 1: Consideration of Assistive Technology (AT). It was a great start, and we are excited for the next session!

Join us February 20, 2025, for part 2 of our workshop series, Gathering Information and Trialing Devices! You’ll learn helpful tips and strategies to make the best choices for students (or individuals in need).

This workshop is offered in a hybrid format—you can attend in person at the Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater or join us virtually on Zoom.

To learn more, visit the AT Workshop Series webpage. We can’t wait to see you!

Exciting Program Updates in Oklahoma City!

Oklahoma ABLE Tech is thrilled to announce that we have enhanced two key activities of our Device Reutilization Program!

Smart Home Demonstration Site Reopens!

Our OKC Smart Home Demonstration site is now open again! If you’re interested in assistive, smart home, or enabling technology for your home, please schedule a tour with us. Tours are available in person or virtually every Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. To schedule a tour, please visit our website and book your slot. Bethany Potts, one of our Program Coordinators, will oversee the smart home tours. She will also provide hearing assistive technology consultations at this location.

New Collaboration with OK DHS CAP

We are also pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Client Assistance Program (OK DHS CAP). CAP will support the R&R4R (Durable Medical Equipment Reuse and Repair for Respite) initiative. This partnership will help Oklahoma ABLE Tech improve our Device Reutilization Program to serve Oklahomans who care for their family and friends.

The R&R4R initiative helps us to repair, redistribute, demo, and train on durable medical equipment. We aim to improve life for caregivers and those they care for. We do this by providing or maintaining vital equipment that helps in caregiving. DME is crucial for in-home caregiving. It improves patient care and gives caregivers a much-needed respite. Careful selection, proper use, and diligent maintenance of DME can unlock its full potential, ensuring a balanced and sustainable caregiving environment. As caregiving dynamics change, integrating DME will be vital to support both caregivers and patients.

Apply for a Microloan for AT or DME

Did you know that an Oklahoma Assistive Technology (OkAT) Foundation microloan can cover the out-of-pocket deductible for durable medical equipment (DME) or even the full cost if you have been denied by insurance?  The microloan is for purchases $3,000 or less and can be repaid over a maximum term of 36 months. This loan allows for additional flexibility in credit criteria and debt-to-income ratio. Common examples of items financed with the microloan include low-cost hearing aids, scooters, vision equipment, ramps, or lift chairs.

All loans have an 8% interest rate. To learn more about microloans or to apply for a loan go to Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Financial Loan Page or visit OkAT’s website.

Meet Nichole Fox!

Nichole joined Oklahoma ABLE Tech in January 2025 as the Learning Experience Designer. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2019. She has a degree in Chemistry and a focus on Secondary Education. Nichole has previous experience in the education realm as a middle school teacher, curriculum developer, and instructional designer. She enjoys creating engaging learning experiences for diverse audiences to establish positive connections to knowledge and skill expansion.

Nichole has two corgis, Bonnie and Luna. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and shopping for houseplants. She also likes to keep up with the latest scientific advancements. 

Accessibility Programs Updates

Special Education Resolution Center – Special Education Staffing and Retention

School districts across the nation are struggling to fill special education staff vacancies. This has impacted both schools and their students. Some states and districts have seen a rise in emergency certifications. They also face high turnover rates and training issues. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), through the U.S. Department of Education, released the latest federal data on special education personnel in schools.

To address the above issues and support schools, OSEP released a “Dear Colleague Letter” on the importance of retaining special education staff. OSEP has also published articles for school leaders on keeping qualified professionals to serve students with disabilities. Take a look at these documents, and let SERC know if you need any guidance!

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. 

Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council – 2025 People with Disabilities Awareness Day

The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) invites you to the 2025 Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) People with Disabilities Awareness Day (PWDAD). It is set for March 11, 2025, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

PWDAD is a fun-filled day for the public. PWDAD provides information and services for people with disabilities. Over 70 exhibitors will share information about their services.

It’s also our day to connect with lawmakers. We must tell them about the services that benefit people with disabilities. Additionally, you don’t want to miss the awards program where DRS will honor outstanding programs and individuals.

Please visit the PWDAD webpage to register and get more information about the agenda.

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 about ORC, visit their website. 

Oklahoma AT Center Locations and Partners

Oklahoma ABLE Tech and its partners operate device demonstration and loan programs to increase statewide access to AT.

OSU Department of Wellness – Accessibility Programs Staff