Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! 

The public is cordially invited to attend 
one of three public hearings set for Mon-
day, February 3, 2014, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 
p.m. at (DRS) state office, 3535 N.W. 
58th2nd Floor Conference Room, Oklaho-
ma City, OK ,. Tuesday, February 4, 2014 
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Total Source for 
Hearing Loss and Access, 8740 E. 11th, 
Conference Room, Tulsa, OK., and 
Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 1:00 p.m. 
to 3:00 p.m., at Great Plains Technical 
Center, 4500 S.W. Lee Blvd., Bldg. 300, 
Lawton, OK. 

The new proposed changes will affect 
vocational rehabilitation and employment 
services for Oklahomans with all types of disabilities. The majority of changes throughout involve the 
name changes associated with the Office of State Finance becoming Office of Management and Enter-
prise Services and the related integration of other agencies into (OMES). Changes to Chapter 10 are 
to demonstrate that some determinations by (DRS) are not subject to the Fair Hearing Process, and 
updating procedures for Special Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Due to state and federal 
audits, minor changes to the Business Enterprise policies section, Chapter 25, must be made. 

 


Office of Disability Concerns 


VOLUME I, ISSUE 4 


January 2014 

 


The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs now has online account services for veterans. ItÕs called My 
HealthVet Account. There are three account type options basic, advanced, and premium. This pro-
vides veterans to enter or access their information faster, such as reviewing their VA Medication Histo-
ry, Pathology Reports, Vitals and Readings, Wellness Reminders, and much more. Please be advised 
there is an authentication process by which VA verifies a VeteransÕ identity before allowing access to 
their VA health record. For more information, please visit: https://www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html 

 


The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services 
and the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Council 

 



Inside this issue: 


Social Security Administration 

2 

 Nutrition Month 

2 

U.S. Department of Education 

2 

OKCareerPlanner.com 

3 

LAW DAY 2014 

4 

Older Americans 

5 

New YeaÕs Resolutions' 

6 



U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 


2014 Public Hearings 


Oklahoma Pledge 
Quarterly Newsletter 



Page 2 


Volume I, Issue 4 


A 1.5 percent (cost of living 
adjustment) benefit increase 
for thousands who receive 
Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) beneficiaries starting in 
December 2013 and January 
2014. 

Also beginning January 2014, 
Social Security tax (taxable 
maximum) will change from 
previously $113,700 to 
$117,000. To learn how 
(COLA) is calculated please 
visit: http://ssa.gov/
pressoffice/pr/2014cola-
pr.html?
utm_source=home&utm_medium=panel&utm_campaign=cola 


The Oklahoma City Social 
Security Administration locat-
ed at 2401 N.W. 23rd St,. 
(located in Shepherd Mall) 
will be moving to their new 
constructed offices Spring 
2014. Their new location 
will be at N.E. 122nd St., and 
Kelley Ave in Oklahoma City, 
OK. 

 The Edmond public transpor-
tation system will be providing 
daily stops at the new (SSA-
OKC) offices. 

For more information, please 
visit: 
http://edmondok.com/index.
aspx?nid=205 


According to the 
U.S. Depart-
ment of Educa-
tion web site 
they have assist-
ed more than 
$150 billion 
each year to help 
millions of stu-
dents pay for 
higher educa-
tion. Start today 

achieving your edu-
cational goal by 
applying for the 
Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid 
(FAFSA). ItÕs easy 
and itÕs simple. Go 
to http://
studentaid.ed.gov/ 

You will also find 
(FAFSA) required 
deadlines dates for 

Federal, State, and College by 
states. Check out the Oklaho-
ma Scholarships at 
www.mycollegeoptions.org 


The Office of Disabil-
ity Concerns will be 
hosting Coupon Uni-
versity Nutritional 
Workshop in March 
2014. Come learn how 
to effectively use cou-
pons, read nutritional 
food labels, and more. 


This is a free event and to 
learn more please visit us on 
Facebook or visit us at 
www.odc.ok.gov 

National Nutrition MonthÑ
March 2014 designated by the 
Academy of Nutrition and 
Dietetics. 

 
January 1 is New YearÕs Day, and a time 
when people decide to make better choices 
for their life. Hopefully eating healthier 
foods will be on the list of changes. Eating 
healthier offers benefits such as help main-
taining proper weight, lowers blood pres-
sure , and a host of other medical chronic 
conditions. 


ÒEnjoy the Taste of Eating 
RightÓ 

 

Academy of Nutrition and 
Dietetics 


March 2014 is National Nutrition Month 


U.S. Department of Education 


College of Your Choice 
2014 

 


Social Security Administration 


Social Security Administration 
Social Security Card 



Page 3 


Oklahoma Pledge Quarterly Newsletter 


Starting a new career can be 
exciting. Let OKCareer Plan-
ner.com help get you started. 
The OKCareerPlanner.com 
provides an array of useful 
information. One may choose 
topics raging from job open-
ings, industries updates, edu-
cation, training, entrepreneur-
ship and a link to Oklahoma 
Career Information System. 
The OKCareerPlanner.com is 
user friendly, and requires no 
assigned login needed to 
search the website. Should 
you decide to create your per-
sonal resume, keep track of 
testing assessments, or person-
al information in OKCIS a 

secure login is required for 
security. The OKCareerPlan-
ner.com is sponsored by the 
GovernorÕs Council for Work-
force and Economic 
Development, previ-
ously known as 
GrowOklahoma.com 
Another free user 
friendly search engine 
is OKJobMatch it 
offers a an extensive 
job search database, 
and other resource tips 
for successful employ-
ment. Another plus 
OKCareerPlanner.com 
can help you discover 
your college career 

path, and how to get there. 
Began your new future today. 


Older Americans are all 
around us, setting 
mile stones along 
the way past, pre-
sent, and future. 
This year the Ad-
ministration for 
Community Living 
is honoring Older Americans 
Month. This years theme 
year Ò Safe Today. Healthy 
Tomorrow.Ó Many times older 

Americans are over looked, of 
the contribu-
tions to our 
society. Older 
Americans , and 
young children 
are usually the 
first to experi-
ence serious medical crisis 
such as the flu epidemic . 
Join the celebration if you 
have a loved one, or know 

someone who is an older 
American. Spend time with 
them, listen to their family- 
history stories, have dinner, 
but let them know you care. 
For more information, please 
visit: http://www.acl.gov/
NewsRoom/
News-
Info/2013/2013_12_20b.aspx 

 


OKCareerPlanner.com 


Honoring Older Americans 


The Oklahoma Bar Associa-
tionÕs annual event ÒAsk a 
LawyerÓ TV Show will be 
May 2014, on Oklahoma Edu-
cational Television Authority 
(OETA). (OBA) lawyers pro-
vide free legal advice to all 
Oklahoma callers statewide. 
(OBA) Law Day is also a free 
legal advice for one day in 

various Oklahoma counties . 
Answering Oklahoma callers 
statewide 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
(OBA) offers online services 
to meet your legal needs, and 
for more information. Please 
visit: www.okbar.org to 
check dates and times for the 
LAW DAY activities. 


The (OBA) board members 
are (17) elected lawyers by 
their peers. To learn more 
about (OBA) please visit: 
http://www.okbar.org/public/About.aspx 

 


Oklahoma Bar 
Association ÒLAW DAY 

2014Ó 


Oklahoma Bar Association Law Day 2014 


Find your career 
path in 2014 



2401 NW 23rd St., Ste 90 

Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2423 

 


A new 365 days is now in 
progress along with thousands 
of New YearÕs Resolutions'. 
New YearÕs Resolutions' 
brings new career or changes, 
spend more time with family, 
travel, meet new people, and 
at the top of the list start a 
new or better fitness program. 
According to Merriam-
Webster dictionary the mean-
ing of resolutions: An answer 
or solution to something. ItÕs 
about seeking new ways to 
approach to an old problem. 
Enjoy 2014 New Year one 
day at a time, and make it 
count! 

 

Happy New Year ! 


2014Ñ 2014Ñ 2014Ñ 2014Ñ 2014 


Phone: 405- 521-3756 

Fax: 405-522-6695 

E-mail: valencia.stiggers@odc.ok.gov 


ÒKeeping you informed 
is Our PledgeÓ 


Oklahoma 
Pledge Quarterly 
Newsletter 


Office of Disability 
Concerns 

 
New YearÕs Resolutions 2014 


The Office of Disability Concerns ( ODC ) 
provides accurate and timely information, 
referral and advocacy. We act as an 
intermediary to persons with disabilities and 
provide services for those with disabilities.