750 attend People with Disabilities Awareness Day at the Capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin joined more than 750 disability advocates at the 24th People with Disabilities Awareness Day on March 13 at the state Capitol.

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Service hosted the event, which included 76 disability-related exhibitors and 120 volunteers.

The agency provided Braille and large print materials, certified sign language interpreters and other accommodations to enable all guests to fully participate.

Nickles earns Social Security Trail Blazer Award for customer service innovation

Photo: Serious man in dark jacket

Oklahoma City – Innovative ideas that improve customer service and benefit the public earned Brian Nickles from Norman a Trail Blazer Award from the Dallas Region of the Social Security Administration.

Nickles, who is Disability Determination Services administrator in Oklahoma, received an award letter from Regional Commissioner Sheila Everett, who wrote, “Ideas, such as Brian’s, are imperative for SSA to advance in our service to the public.”

DDS is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

DRS Vocational Rehabilitation to relocate Durant office serving jobseekers with disabilities

Vocational Rehabilitation office in Durant will relocate on Thursday, March 1, to room 101 in the Russell Building at 1422 N. 5th on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.

The office is located on the first floor of the Russell Building, which is across from the Student Union.

The main phone number will remain 580-924-2677.

The office provides career planning, employment and related services to job seekers with disabilities in Bryan and western Choctaw counties.

Oklahoma School for the Blind receives $15,000 grant from the Kirschner Trusts

Group of happy young people stand in front of a building entrance.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee is pleased to announce that the school has received a $15,000 grant from The Kirschner Trusts.

The grant will be used to expand the transportation program provided OSB to take residential students home for the weekends and return them to school.

“We are excited about the support of the Kirschner Trusts and are grateful for the generous award for the second year,” Rita Echelle, OSB superintendent, said.

School for the Blind students to serve Feb 1 at Sapulpa Lion’s beans & chili dinner

Young man wearing sunglasses and apron stands beside young woman wearing glasses and an apron who holds a dishcloth.

SAPULPA, Okla. – Since 1952, the Sapulpa Lion’s Club members have prepared their family style beans and chili recipes for friends and neighbors who come back every year.

Twenty-five Oklahoma School for the Blind students will help serve at the annual fundraising dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 1 at Sapulpa First Baptist Church located at 124 S. Elm.

Students include seventh and eighth graders, high school students from the service learning class and members of OSB’s Family, Career and Community Leaders (FCCLA).

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