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Welcome to Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

Business Summit to focus benefits of hiring qualified workers with disabilities

Oklahoma City – “Disability at Work: Thrive Forum 2024" is the theme for a Business Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 28 at Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

The event will be hosted by Oklahoma Inclusive Postsecondary Education Alliance, Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services' Business Services Program and the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma.


Award winners earn People with Disabilities Awareness Day honors

OKLAHOMA CITY – Outstanding award winners were recognized last Tuesday by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services as part of DRS’ 30th People with Disabilities Awareness Day. More than 630 participants visited legislators at the State Capitol and attended a resource fair with 70 exhibitors followed by the award ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center.


March 2024 Regular Commission Meeting

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
State Office
3535 NW 58th Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - 10:30 a.m.


School for the Deaf students receive 1,300 postcards from around the world

SULPHUR – Oklahoma School for the Deaf elementary students have received 1,300 postcards from as far as away as Jordan and New Zealand through a new postcard exchange project at their school. The theme is Hearts Around the World.


Sulphur bank president elected Rehabilitation Services’ Commission chair

Oklahoma City – Bank president and former Oklahoma state representative Wes Hilliard was recently elected to his second term as chair of the Commission for Rehabilitation Services.

Commissioner Hilliard has served as acting chair since April 2023.


OK School for the Deaf offers free, online American Sign Language training

SULPHUR, Okla. – Anyone who wants to learn American Sign Language can register now for Oklahoma School for the Deaf’s free online courses. Last year, 452,934 people from the United States and more than 30 other countries participated in OSD’s self-paced ASL I or the advanced ASL II classes.


DRS Resource Guide critical tool for Oklahomans with disabilities

Oklahoma City – Internet access is available either at the tip of a finger or a trip to the library. More people are using the world wide web to shop, do research and communicate via social media or Zoom.

The Oklahoma Department of support Rehabilitation Services’ Disability Resource Guide makes it easy for users to find more than 2,500 government agencies, community organizations and groups for Oklahomans with and without disabilities. It is free and available at https://www.okdrs.gov/guide/home.


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Contact DRS

3535 NW 58th Street, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK  73112

(800) 487-4042 to find the office nearest you
(800) 845-8476 Toll Free
(405) 951-3400 Main Office


January is Braille literacy month in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – January is annually celebrated as Braille Literacy Month in honor of the birthday of Louis Braille, the creator of the tactile reading and writing system that bears his name.

Braille was born January 4, 1809.


Dr. Barresi to serve on Oklahoma Commission for Rehabilitation Services

OKLAHOMA CITY – Dr. Janet C. Barresi, DDS, from Oklahoma City was appointed to the Commission for Rehabilitation Services by Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

She will serve a three-year term beginning immediately and ending November 2, 2026.


Competitors rewarded at School for the Blind’s 10th Cane Quest

MUSKOGEE, Okla. – With white canes as their guides, 32 contestants identified obstacles and surface changes in a competition for medals and prizes during Oklahoma School for the Blind’s eleventh Oklahoma Regional Cane Quest in Muskogee.

Cane Quest is a national program of the Braille Institute of America, based in Los Angeles, California.

DRS Director gives award at Comission meeting

At the December Commission Meeting, two Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services employees were recipients of the 2023 Director’s Awards.

DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt recognized Daniel Lee and Yasmin Avila Guillen.

Daniel works in the management services division in central departmental services. His tasks include taking care of the State Office fleet of vehicles, mail, copy center/print shop and more. What people do not see are the times Daniel is asked to move furniture, set up a conference room, and do a print job for a special project with other special tasks.

Yasmin is a business services coordinator. She excels in building a powerful team of business services specialists, serving as a conduit between DRS and businesses and employers statewide. She plans, organizes, and completes projects and events in the shortest, most efficient manner. Yasmin projects a positive image, makes excellent impressions, and displays professional pride in herself, work and DRS. She possesses high professional values and develops skills needed to maintain the highest standards of professional excellence.

Congratulations, Daniel and Yasmin!


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