Office of Disability Concerns
Current News
Visit our Calendar to see Current Events!
Aid and Attendance Veterans Benefit 04/30/12
Aid and Attendance (A&A) is a special veteran pension benefit above the basic pension. It provides cash assistance to pay for long-term care either at home or in a facility. Veterans who were discharged honorably after serving during wartime may be eligible. Beneficiaries must demonstrate deficiencies in activities of daily living. Income and resources will affect eligibility. Eligibility for Medicaid may reduce benefits through A&A. You may electronically submit applications at www.ebenefits.va.gov. Submit printed applications to your VA Regional Office. The Oklahoma VA Regional Office is at 125 S. Main Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. Call 800-827-1000.
Adaptive Equipment for You 05/03/12
Hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers--are commonly used things that people with disabilities need. The Oklahoma Durable Medical Equipment Reuse program in Oklahoma City recycles all kinds of equipment for everyone's benefit. If you need equipment or if you have equipment to donate, contact Katie Woodward at 405-523-4810 or katie.woodward@okstate.edu. Come by 3325 N. Lincoln Boulevard just north of the State Capitol to see it all. Right now pick up and delivery is available only in Oklahoma County although anyone across the state can drop off or pick up.
Find Your Legislators 11/14/11
There is a website (http://www.oklegislature.gov/FindMyLegislators.aspx) which allows you quickly to locate contact information of your federal and state legislators. Find out your federal senators and your federal representative with their Washington, D.C. as well as Oklahoma contact information. Also see your state senator and representative contact information. You will be able to e-mail any of these legislators with a click of your computer. Each legislator's website is readily available as well. Finding your legislators has never been easier.
Medicaid Benefits State by State
Medicaid benefits vary from state to state in the United States. For people moving to Oklahoma from another state or for people leaving Oklahoma for another state, there is a way to compare the Medicaid programs posted on the website for the Kaiser Family Foundation. Go to the web address listed below, and you will see a map of the United States. Click on the state you are interested in and pull up information about the Medicaid program in that state. http://medicaidbenefits.kff.org/index.jsp?CFID=4127797
Alzheimer's Study 04/16/12
The University of Oklahoma researchers are testing a new approach to preserve cognitive function in people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. They hope to recruit individuals with mild to moderate dementia for a trial starting in July, 2012. For more information on the study and/or how to enroll, call 405-271-2131 ext. 47022 or email carrie-ciro@ouhsc.edu.
Legislative Bills Touching the Disability Community (Of the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature)
The following bills have been introduced into session of the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature which have the potential to impact the community of people with disabilities.
Southwest Conference on Disability 04/04/12
The Southwest Conference on Disability will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico October 10-12, 2012. It will take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street N.W. For more information contact UNM Disability Conference, Attention: James Johnson, 2300 Menaul Boulevard N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107 or phone 505-272-9654.
Swimming Pools and the ADA 05/21/12
The U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) in Washington, D.C. enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The USDOJ states that existing swimming pools which serve the public must comply with the ADA by January 31, 2013. To find out more about ADA requirements call the USDOJ at 800-514-0301, 800-514-0383 TTY. Hit #7 and you will be connected to a live ADA Specialist. This telephone is staffed M,T,W,F 9:30-5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Th 12:30-5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
American Association of Persons with Disabilities 05/18/12
The American Association of Persons with Disabilities reports there are 2 million people with disabilities in the United States who never leave their homes. Of those 2 million, 560,000 never leave home because of transportation difficulties.
Housing Repair in Tulsa 04/30/12
The Working in Neighborhoods program of the City of Tulsa can assist people in housing repairs to a limited extent depending on family income and selected areas of the city. Assistance is limited to owner-occupied properties. For more information call 918-576-5552 or email housing@cityoftulsa.org.
Free Bus Transport in Oklahoma City 05/07/12
Oklahoma City's Metro Transit will provide free rides on their buses on the third Friday of every month between May and August. Those dates include May 18 (Bike to Work Day) as well as June 15, July 20 and August 17.
West Town Workshops for People Who Are Homeless 05/22/12
The Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City offers a number of workshops in the month of June which are available to individuals and families who are homeless in the Oklahoma City area. Those workshops will take place at the West Town Resource Center located at 1724 N.W. 4th Street in Oklahoma City. The following workshops will be offered: June 4, 1:30 p.m. Decision Making/Problem Solving; June 6, 11 a.m. Parenting With Love and Logic; June 7, 2 p.m. Stress Relief; June 9, 1:30 p.m. Responsibility; June 9, 3 p.m. Time Management; June 11 1:30 p.m. Attitude; June 13, 11 a.m. Women's Empowerment Group; June 14, 1:30 p.m. A Few Steps to Organization; June 16, 1:30 p.m. Communication; June 18, 1 p.m. Budgeting; June 20, 11 a.m. Parenting With Love and Logic; June 21, 2 p.m. Tenant Education; June 25-29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Career Development Workshop. RSVP Tanna Thompson at tthompson@homelessalliance.org or call 405-415-8428.