2013 Winter Newsletter (pdf)
2012 Year in Review
Read & Write Gold: iPad Giveaway
Oklahoma AgrAbility Day at the Capitol
Tulsa County SoonerStart Team Wins Service Award
Free Smoke Alarms for Payne County Residents
2012 Year in Review
Happy New Year! As 2013 begins, we are excited to share Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s highlights and key activities as reported in our 2012 Annual Report to be distributed to Oklahoma’s legislators.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Statistics
• 809 assistive technology (AT) devices loaned to Oklahomans in the “try before you buy” short- term loan program.
• 597 AT demonstrations to Oklahomans were performed by SoonerStart personnel to children
0-3 years old.
• Another 1,873 demonstrations to Oklahomans of all ages were provided by Oklahoma ABLE Tech ans its partners.
• The Alternative Financing Program (AFP) provided $265,102.98 in AT device low interest bank loans assisting 49 Oklahomans with disabilities.
• 143 AT devices exchanged from sellers to buyers for a savings of $107,845 through the
Oklahoma Equipment Exchange (OEE).
• 883 individuals received information and referral on AT devices and services.
• AT training events served over 2,709 people.
• The Access to Telework Funds Program (ATF) provided AT device loans for 8 Oklahomans, totaling
$109,952.55 for maintaining employment goals.
Oklahoma’s National Ranking
ABLE Tech ranks 7th in the nation for number of devices exchanged out of 38 reutilization programs.
ABLE Tech ranks 3rd in the nation for number of loans made out of the 25 state financial loan programs.
ABLE Tech ranks 18th in the nation for number of device loans out of 52 programs.
ABLE Tech ranks 8th in the nation for number of device demonstrations out of 54 AT demonstration programs.
Highlights
• ABLE Tech and its partners provided 11 AT loan and demonstration sites to give Oklahomans an opportunity to touch, try, and borrow AT devices and improve independence in the community, schools, and workplace.
• ABLE Tech provided 286 assistive technology device and software short term loans to Oklahoma schools and students; 188 AT loans were specifically for individuals with print disabilities.
• ABLE Tech provided training on accessible information technology including web access, telecommunications, software accessibility, and procurement to 677 state agency and postsecondary personnel.
• ABLE Tech provided training on AT devices and services to individuals, disability related organizations, state agencies, and higher education students.
• “Fire Safety for Oklahomans with Disabilities” professionally installed 1,439 specialized smoke alarms in
252 households statewide.
• 13 Special Education Due Process hearings were resolved by the Special Education Resolution
Center (SERC) - keeping state dollars in the classroom educating students. Due Process proceedings
can cost the state an average of $300,000; therefore, resolved hearing requests saved Oklahomans
approximately $3,900,000.
• The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project provided education, assistance, and support to farmers, ranchers, and their family members with disabilities or debilitating injuries that limited their abilities to perform farm tasks. ABLE Tech–through its partnership with Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services (OCES), Langston University, School of Physical Therapy, and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation–provided direct services to 50 farmers or their family members and completed 36 on-farm site visits.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech and partners operate assistive technology (AT) device demonstration and short-term loan programs to increase accessibility to AT. The assistive technology inventory is available and searchable online at http://oec.okstate.edu/loan/. Oklahoma ABLE Tech allows individuals to borrow devices for 6 weeks at no cost.
Accent™ 700
Accent™ 700, with NuVoice™ software, is a small and portable AAC solution that offers advanced functionality and user-friendly features that make communicating fast and easy.
Accent 700 is preloaded with the updated SB Vocabulary based on the popular Springboard Lite. NuVoice software offers built-in support resources for users and clinicians, including a Context-Sensitive Help function and language development resources from PRC’s AAC Language Lab.
• Context-Sensitive Help built-in for fast answers that are easy to access
• Light-weight and sleek design
• Smooth, high-definition, 7” touch-screen display
• Easy to clean and sealed for protection from moisture and spills
• Carrying handle for portable, on-the-go communication
• Enhanced audio provides superior sound and clarity
• Front and rear cameras
• Integrated Bluetooth® connectivity
• Language Activity Monitoring (LAM)
• Windows® 7 operating system powered by an Intel Atom™ processor
• Built-in user manual
For more information, a demonstration, or to borrow the Accent 700 for 6 weeks, please call Oklahoma
ABLE Tech at 1-800-257-1705.
Read & Write Gold: iPad Giveaway
By Kimberly Berry
ABLE Tech is introducing Assistive Technology to OSU
students in the form of literacy software, and one lucky OSU
freshman recently won a new iPad Mini for participating
in a training session. The software is Read & Write Gold
from TextHELP, with features to improve reading, writing,
research, and report building.
Chelsea Ross, a pitcher on the Cowgirl Softball team,
was chosen at random from the list of OSU students who
participated in training sessions on how to use the literacy
software. The freshman from Kansas City says she was
excited to receive the iPad Mini and believes the Read &
Write Gold software will help her with school. Ross says she
thinks the text-to-speech feature will help her with “staying
in the zone.” Ross also is eager to use the dictation feature.
“I like how you talk and it types for you. That’s really cool,” Ross says. “If you have a thought in your head,
you can get it down on paper.”
Read & Write Gold is available free to all OSU students, faculty and staff. Educators and family members of
Oklahoma K-12 students can use the software on a trial basis by borrowing from Oklahoma ABLE Tech. For
more information, visit okabletech.okstate.edu or call us at 1-800-257-1705.
Oklahoma AgrAbility Day at the Capitol
AgrAbility Day at the Capitol will be held Monday, March 25, 2013, from 1pm to 4pm to increase state legislators’ awareness of the importance of the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project to the success of agricultural producers who have disabilities.
In 2007, the Oklahoma AgrAbility Act was unanimously passed by a bipartisan vote and became law providing Oklahoma farmers/ranchers with disabilities access to the education, assistance and support they need to help them be more independent with their agricultural operations. The Oklahoma Legislature however did not choose to appropriate any funds that would support
expanded services for the Project and provide the program with the ability to be sustained.
During AgrAbility Day at the Capitol, the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project will have the opportunity to explain to state legislators the positive employment impact which the program has on the lives of agricultural producers
with disabilities. In addition, exhibits and demonstrations showcasing the services and accomplishments of Oklahoma AgrAbility will be available in the fourth floor rotunda of
the Capitol building.
If you wish to attend and would like more information
about how you can participate, call 888-885-5588 (voice/
tty) or email ability@okstate.edu.
ABLE Tech Welcomes New Staff
Oklahoma ABLE Tech welcomes Rob Carr as its Accessibility Coordinator.
Rob has worked in information technology for 13 years, and joins ABLE Tech after 6.5 years at The University
of Oklahoma Outreach. Since March of 2010, Rob has focused on digital accessibility and has spoken at two national conferences. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Management Information Systems and Economics. Rob lives in Norman with
his wife, Michelle; 3-year-old son, Liam; two dogs, Yazhi and Chuska; and a baby scheduled to arrive in May.
Tulsa County SoonerStart Team Wins Service Award
By Allyson Robinson
Oklahoma ABLE Tech would like to recognize the
Tulsa County SoonerStart team for outstanding service to
clients requiring assistive technology in Fiscal Year 2012.
The Tulsa County team (pictured right) has won
our annual service award for reporting the most
demonstrations to SoonerStart clients between Oct. 1,
2011 and Sept. 30, 2012. The clients and families showed
high satisfaction with the demos and were able to make
educated decisions about whether assistive technology
would work for their families. Thank you, Tulsa County,
for your hard work and your diligence in reporting. We
really appreciate you!
Free Smoke Alarms for Payne County Residents
Funding for the Solutions 2011 Smoke Alarm Project has come to a close. However, Oklahoma ABLE Tech and its partner, Fire Protection Publications, will continue installing specialized smoke alarm systems in Payne County as long as equipment supplies last! To qualify, you must live in Payne County and be deaf or hard of hearing. You must also provide proof of your disability. The
equipment will have a bed shaker, a very loud low frequency bedside alert signal, and–in some homes–a strobe light to waken and alert people to a fire in their home. Visit our website or call us to get an application while supplies last.
Oklahoma Equipment Exchange
The Oklahoma Equipment Exchange is a free program to help Oklahomans with disabilities acquire affordable equipment. Log onto the Equipment Exchange website, http://oec.okstate.edu, or call ABLE Tech to list your devices or inquire about products at 888.885.5588. Below is a summarized list of items currently for sale or FREE. To see our full list of items in stock or items needed, visit http://oec.okstate.edu.
*In Oklahoma City, you may contact Katie Woodward with the Oklahoma Durable Medical Equipment
Reuse Program for FREE mobility equipment such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs, scooters, and hospital beds.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Staff
Kent Bunker, Director, OSU Department of Wellness
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Linda Jaco, Director of Sponsored
Programs, OSU Department of Wellness
Brenda Dawes, Program Manager
Milissa Gofourth, Program Manager
Kimberly Berry, AT Teacher
Rob Carr, Accessibility Coordinator
Tierra Eller, Marketing Coordinator
Shelley Gladden, Loan Coordinator
Tammie Honeyman, Human Resources Coordinator
Allyson Robinson, SLP, AT ProjectSpecialist
Shelby Sanders, AT Project Specialist
Diana Sargent, Senior Administration Support Specialist
Lisa Croston, Fiscal Officer
Sandra Stevenson, AgrAbility Program Manager
JoAnne Pool-Blades, SERC Program Manager
Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Dunn, OKDMERP Administrative Assistant
Brian Sargent, OKDMERP Site Coordinator
Katie Woodward, OKDMERP Program Manager
Calendar of Events
“On the Road Workshops” informational session on various programs and services available to Oklahomans with Disabilities. Individuals with disabilities, family members and professionals are encouraged to attend this all-day event. The workshop is free and lunch is provided. To register call 877-441-0434.
• Feb. 19, 2013: Guthrie, Granny Had One, Inc.
• March 26, 2013: Stillwater, OSU Seretean Wellness Center.
Feb. 12, 2013: Oklahoma State Webmanagers Group (OSWG) Meeting. Oklahoma City, Department of Libraries.
Feb. 28, 2013: Electronic & Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Council Meeting. Oklahoma City, State Capitol Building.
March 12, 2013: Oklahoma State Webmanagers Group (OSWG) Meeting.Oklahoma City, Department of Libraries.
March 25, 2013: AgrAbility Day at the Capitol.
April 4-5, 2013: Oklahoma Association on Higher Education and
Disability. http://www.ok-ahead.org/.
April 10, 2013: Oklahoma State Webmanagers Group (OSWG) Day at the Capitol.
This publication is available in alternative formats; please call 1-800-257-1705 V/TTY for more info. The Oklahoma State University Seretean Wellness Center is the lead agency for Oklahoma ABLE Tech. The program is funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration(RSA) of the U.S.Department of Education. Grant #H224A050036. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the policy of RSA/ED, and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.
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