Oklahoma ABLE Tech
The Assistive Technology Program for the State of Oklahoma  (pdf format)

Connecting Oklahomans with Disabilities to Assistive Technology ANNUAL REPORT 2009

http://okabletech.okstate.edu

Key Activities 2009

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Statistics

• 484 assistive technology (AT) devices loaned to Oklahomans in “try before you buy ”short-term loan program
• 1058 AT demonstrations to Oklahomans - 540 were demonstrated by SoonerStart personnel to children 0-3 years old
• The Alternative Financing Program provided $378,032 in AT device low interest bank loans assisting 73 Oklahomans with disabilities
• 232 AT devices exchanged from sellers to buyers for a savings of $313,943
• Sooner AMBUCS Share4Life Komputers, donated 470 recycled computers to individuals to improve independent living and vocational skills
• 541 individuals received information and referral on AT devices and services
• AT training events served over 1,522 people

Highlights

• ABLE Tech serves individuals of all ages and all disabilities in Oklahoma.
• ABLE Tech and its partners provide 9 AT loan and demonstration sites to give Oklahomans an opportunity to touch, try, and take home AT devices and improve independence in the community,schools, and workplace.
• ABLE Tech provided training on accessible information technology including web access, telecommunications, software accessibility, and procurement to 739 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 148 specialized smoke alarms in105 households statewide.
• All 30 Special Education Due Process hearings were resolved by the Special Education Resolution Center - keeping state dollars in the classroom educating students. The average cost of a due process hearing is $300,000; therefore, resolved hearing requests saved Oklahomans approximately $9,000,000.
• The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project provides education, assistance and support to farmers, ranchers and their family members with disabilities or debilitating injuries that limit their abilities to perform farm tasks. ABLE Tech, through its partnership with Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services, Langston University and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation provided direct services to 24 farmers or their family members.

Demo and Loan Program Assisted Oklahomans

Type of Individual Pie Chart

Individual with Disability 56%
Family Member 33%
Education 7%
Health & Rehab 2%
Other 2%
Type of Individual
Other2%

AT Category Pie Chart

Hearing 24%
Vision 20%
Mobility, Seating, Positioning 18%
Speech Communication 14%
Computer Related 9 %
Environmental 7%
Other 8%

Programs are provided at no cost to Oklahomans.

ABLE Tech Alternative Financing Program

Oklahoma ABLE Tech, in partnership with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation and BancFirst of Stillwater, provides low interest bank loans to Oklahomans with disabilities for the purchase of assistive technology.

Type of AT Purchase Bar Graph

Computers $24,152
Vehicle Mods $116,919
Hearing $286,709
Recreation $3,523
Other $74,486

Oklahoma’s National Ranking

ABLE Tech ranks 2nd in the nation for number of loans made out of the 28 financial loan programs

ABLE Tech ranks 4th in the nation for number of recycled devices out of 43 reutilization programs

ABLE Tech ranks 17th in the nation for number of device loans out of 54 loan programs

ABLE Tech ranks 8th in the nation for number of device demonstrations out of 55 AT demonstration programs

Success Stories in Oklahoma

The loan program through Total Source for Hearing-loss and Access allowed for the trial of a Redcat Class Amplifying System within the 3-year-old classroom at Freedom Elementary. Currently there are three 3-year-old boys with hearing loss in this classroom, and at times hearing aids would not be sufficient. The town of Sapulpa, Oklahoma has approximately 20,000 people. So, to have 3 boys the same age with hearing loss is a first for the school system. The loan program allowed the teacher to be able to evaluate the system before purchasing the equipment. She has a unique perspective because she is also the Assistive Technology Professional for the Sapulpa School System. The teacher saw the sound system help all the children participate better during group instruction time.  When she allowed the children to use the microphone [to speak into], she had a significant increase in vocalizations in one of the non-hearing-impaired students. She is looking forward to trying the Sound System with an FM system as well.

Through the partnership program with the Mary K. Chapman Center at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 28-year-old gentleman with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities from Tulsa County was able to try the DynaVox V. This is a high level, picture based, dynamic alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) device. He had been an AAC user for ten years, but his device became damaged beyond repair. The Mary K. Chapman Center provided an AAC assessment to discuss a variety of new communication options with him.  Through this assessment he borrowed the DynaVox V and was very excited because he was able to participate in a wide variety of daily communication situations with the dynamic features of the device. Having the ability to communicate through AAC is extremely important to him. He runs his own business and needs to interact with a wide variety of people daily. After his trial period, Medicaid purchased a new device. The ability to “try before you buy” is a core goal of the ABLE Tech Demo and Loan Program.

The Hearing Helpers Room through the Hearing Loss Association of OKC provides access to a variety of assistive technology to help people find ways to hear better, live more independently, and enjoy life more through improved hearing. Our ABLE Tech partners enjoy sharing personal success stories like this one from the Hearing Helpers Room: an 81- year- old Oklahoma City gentleman visited the demo room to try a variety of devices to aid in TV listening. He was pleased with the ability to try different models to see which device would best fit his needs. He preferred the Williams TV listening system and was able to take it home for a short-term loan of six weeks. He said, “besides allowing me to hear the TV clearly, it makes TV viewing with my family a more enjoyable experience.”

Oklahoma Access to Telework received an application for a guaranty loan from a 39 year old female with Sickle Cell Anemia. She wanted to purchase a computer software program for medical billing. Through the Telework program this applicant was able to purchase this software at a low interest rate and make monthly payments over a 60 month term. She would not have been able to purchase this program without the Access to Telework program. The Telework program helped by allowing her to be able to work
from home and use the education and skills that she had before she became sick. By purchasing this software program the user has been able to overcome financial obligations by receiving payment for the medical billing.

ABLE Tech demonstrated a variety of assistive technology to a mother and her eighteen year-old daughter from Oklahoma County. The eighteen-year-old college student indicated her struggles with the pace of college classes and her need for additional support for reading and writing. ABLE Tech demonstrated a variety of assistive technology including voice recognition and literacy software products. Individuals with reading and writing needs often benefit from software that will provide an audio version of the text as well as highlighting the word as it is read aloud. Textbooks, homework, and other print copies can be requested in an electronic version or scanned into the computer. Audio feedback with word highlighting is an effective tool for reading comprehension and increases retention. Literacy software also assists with the writing process with many built-in supports in addition to audio feedback. The mom and daughter were excited about the possibilities of this type of software and its potential to increase her college success. Through ABLE Tech’s loan program they were able to borrow a laptop and TextHelp Read Write and Gold literacy software for six weeks and were highly satisfied with our program.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Contact Information

OSU Seretean Wellness Center Director Robin Purdie
Director of Sponsored Programs Linda Jaco
Oklahoma ABLE Tech Program Manager Milissa Gofourth
Program Specialist and Web Coordinator Brenda Dawes
Alternative Financing Program Coordinator Lindsey Davis
Senior Administration Support Specialist Diana Sargent
Assistive Technology Specialist Shelby Sanders
Assistive Technology Specialist Tessa Stinnett
Oklahoma Special Education Resolution Center Jo Anne Pool
Administrative Assistant Shannon Esmeyer
Oklahoma AgrAbility Program Manager Sandra Stevenson
Oklahoma AgrAbility Program Assistant Stacy Bauter

OSU Seretean Wellness Center1514 W. Hall of Fame Stillwater, OK 740781-800-257-1705 or 405-744-9748 Fax 405-744-2487Info-line 1-888-885-5588 V/TTY
ABLE Tech Website http://okabletech.okstate.edu
AT Equipment Exchange http://oec.okstate.edu

Oklahoma ABLE Tech Partners

Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Stillwater 1-888-885-5588

Hearing Loss Association of Oklahoma City 
405-717-9820

New View
Oklahoma City 405-232-4644

Total Source for Hearing-loss and Access 
Tulsa 918-823-8742

Mary K. Chapman Center for Communicative Disorders
Tulsa 918-631-2913

Department of Rehabilitation Services, AT Lab for Blindness and Low Vision, 
Oklahoma City 405-522-3442

Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education 
Stillwater 405-743-5542

Total Health
Stillwater Medical Center 405-624-6592

SoonerStart Early Intervention Program 
405-522-5167

AMBUCS Share4Life Komputers
405-360-1521

Development Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) 
Tulsa 918-794-7632

Seretean Wellness Center
REAL SOLUTIONS FOR REAL PEOPLE

This program is funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the U.S. Department of Education,Grant #H224A090036. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the policy of RSA/ED, and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.