Go back in time with us with this classic press release - meet Bud Averyt



This media release was originally released on Nov. 30, 2016. DRS has been empowering Oklahomans for 25 years.


Visual problem can’t stop Chelsea gun repair businessman

Averyt hold a gun part.

CHELSEA, OKLA. – Albert Averyt, known as Bud, couldn’t afford a hunting rifle, so at age 17, he bought and converted a military rifle.

“The first thing I did was cut off the stock, cut off the barrel and crowned it,” Averyt said, smiling a little as he remembered the process. “I had to bend the bolt handle because I added a scope, contoured the receiver, and drilled and tapped holes for the scope mount.”

And so a gunsmith was born thanks to “a little common sense and a lot of reading.”

Thirty-eight years later, Averyt is still doing everything from rebarreling a rifle to building custom guns.

DRS offers free summer training for young jobseekers with disabilities

Woman hugs smiling woman with award

OKLAHOMA CITY – Career planning and on-the-job training will continue for Oklahoma students with disabilities when school ends, thanks to Transition School to Work.

Students from across the state are signing up for innovative job training programs offered free of charge by Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual services.

VR and VS are divisions of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

OSD to graduate eight on May 22

Eight photos of OSD graduating seniors

SULPHUR – Eight seniors from Oklahoma School for the Deaf will graduate in a commencement ceremony set for 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, in the OSD gym, at 1100 East Oklahoma Street in Sulphur.

The OSD 2019 graduating class valedictorian was Ezra Hart and the salutatorian was Haden Denney.

The class includes Denney of Midwest City, Dylan Dickson of Shawnee, Dylan Evans of Sulphur, Hart of Ada, Braiden Hilton of Keota, Brandyn Mieritz of McAlester, Miracle Pearson of Midwest City and Rosalinda Reyes of Oklahoma City.

Three School for the Blind students will compete in national Braille Challenge®

3 smiling young people

MUSKOGEE, Okla. – Three Oklahoma School for the Blind champions will represent the state in the national Braille Challenge® competition in Los Angeles this summer.

The finalists are: Katelynn Zampella, Richelle Zampella, both from Muskogee, and Hunter Kelley from Claremore.

The OSB students were selected based on their scores in the Oklahoma Regional Braille Challenge® held at OSB in March. Braille students in grades one through 12 participated at the regional level.

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