January 2025: Starting the Year with a Fresh Perspective
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YOUTH, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND COUNSELORS
January 2025: Starting the Year with a Fresh Perspective
Fresh Starts in green lettering and Bright Futures in orange lettering with light gray image of a road leading to a sunrise in the background
Fresh Starts and Bright Futures Begin by Connecting with Transition Resources
Opportunities for a fresh start and a bright future are plentiful across Oklahoma. DRS Transition staff is here to help guide students, their family members, and other stakeholders in the right direction so discovering these opportunities is an easy process. Believe it or not, getting connected with transition resources can be as simple as sending an email or visiting a webpage. Below are some popular transition program materials along with a good starting place for getting connected.
Transition folders
Transition folders are file folders that have helpful information printed on them. They provide information on recommended resources, services, and activities for students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. There are elementary, middle, and high school versions of the folders - each of which are intended for a specific age/grade range of students. The folders can be viewed online and can be ordered at no cost. See below for details:
Click here to VIEW elementary school transition folders
Click here to VIEW middle school transition folders
Click here to VIEW high school transition folders
How do you get them?
Transition folders can be acquired at no cost. To request some, send an email to TransitionFolders@okdrs.gov
Please include the following:
Quantity of "each grade level" folder you need:
Name:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Shipping Address:
Reason Needed:
Date Needed:
School Work Study (SWS)
In School Work Study (SWS), students with disabilities can work jobs at the school, its district or the community. Students earn job readiness skills, a minimum wage paycheck and high school credits.
Work Adjustment Training (WAT)
Work Adjustment Training (WAT) is a program that provides jobs through school/community contracts. It gives students a firm foundation in job skills. Because of this, students are better prepared for competitive, integrated employment after high school.
Click here to VIEW the SWS/WAT brochure
For more questions about SWS or WAT, email TransitionTeam@okdrs.gov
Mark your calendar.
Stay Up-to-date with Transition
Employment Skills Survey (for Employers and Educators)
Image of Magnifying glass looking at a paper survey
The Employment Skills Survey seeks insights from employers, supervisors, managers, and educators on the skills of entry-level workers, focusing on inclusive hiring practices for individuals with and without disabilities. This brief, confidential survey offers participants the chance to win one of ten $25 Amazon gift cards and aims to enhance understanding of inclusive employment opportunities.
Employers click here to take employer survey
Educators click here to take educator survey
BEST STEP 2025 Application Now Open!
Apply now for summer 2025! BEST STEP Building Employment Skills Today Summer Transition Employment Program
Applications for BEST STEP 2025 are officially open! Our flagship summer program, BEST STEP, is an opportunity for transition age youth to learn job skills while having fun. There is even an option for many participants to work a part-time summer internship and get paid!
Specific sites and dates for each location are still being finalized. The application and location information for BEST STEP 2025 can be found online using the link below.
Click here for BEST STEP 2025 application and location information
Click here to download BEST STEP 2025 flyer
For questions about the application process, please email TransitionTeam@okdrs.gov
March 2025: People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2025 at Oklahoma History Center
Image of logo, People with Disabilities Awareness Day Oklahoma Strong March 11, 2025 Oklahoma History Center
Oklahoma’s People with Disabilities Awareness Day, which brings hundreds of people with disabilities, their families and their supporters together, will be held on March 11.
PWDAD celebrates the commitment and hard work of Oklahomans with disabilities to lead independent lives and pursue work. Also, it connects vendors who can provide critical services to Oklahomans.
The 2025 event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City. PWDAD is open to the public, and people are encouraged to wear green to show support.
Volunteers are critical to the success of PWDAD, and if you are willing to help, please go ahead and register for the event.
Click here to Register to attend or volunteer at PWDAD.
If you mention the event on social media before or on the day of the event, use the hashtag #PWDAD2025 so we can build a community around this event.
If you have any questions or need help registering, please call us at (405) 951-3478 or email, cmartin@okdrs.gov.
Tulsa Area and Oklahoma City Area Transition Fairs
A graphic of a chalk board with Transition Fairs Calendars for the Tulsa Area and Oklahoma City Area, links to calendars below, check back often.
NEW resource! Anyone can learn about transition (resource) fairs happening in both the Greater Tulsa and the Greater Oklahoma City areas. The calendars can be accessed from a computer through the following links:
Click here for Tulsa area transition fairs
Click here for Oklahoma City area transition fairs
Meet the great and wonderful...
Student/Youth Spotlight
Serving and inspiring Oklahoma's students with disabilities is our passion; our purpose. Each month, we hope to highlight a student whose story encourages others.
We have learned that one of the best ways to hear about our most amazing students is from those that spend time with them everyday. So, we encourage family members, education professionals and transition professionals to tell us about students who are doing amazing things.
This month, we shine the spotlight on Asia, a Project SEARCH participant. She and Tracy Keely talked about hobbies, her love for family, and tips for living a happy and productive life. Here is how the conversation went.
Meet Asia
Nominate a student
How to nominate a Student:
If you know a current or former student who has participated in Transition events or who has found success through Transition services, please let us know by submitting this nomination form.
Click here to nominate a student
Image of Asia
Where did you go to High School? I graduated from YouthBuild in May of 2024.
What are your interests and hobbies? I like to organize stuff in my spare time. I also like to listen to music and do crafts.
What activity do you enjoy the most during the winter? I like to have snowball fights with my brother.
What is your preferred winter drink? My favorite drink in the winter is Hot Chocolate with mint and marshmallows.
If I were to provide you with $50,000 to create a positive impact in your community, how would you use it to bring about meaningful change? I would use the money to help pick up trash and to start a food pantry for the needy.
Have you ever had any prior work experiences or volunteer opportunities? Yes, I have volunteered for “Daily Bread. It is a program that feeds the homeless.
Could you share your experience with the Project Search program? I (like) the Project Search program. I like working with the people here.
What is something you learned from the Project Search program? My first internship in the program has been with the patient access department. I organize documents, help transport patients, and hand out the hospital ID bracelets. I have also learned how to examine documents and identify “mess ups” and fix them.
What are your plans after you complete Project Search? I would love to be an instructor for the Project Search program.
What is your dream career? My dream job would be to own a woodcrafts store.
What advice or tips would you like to share with other youth? My advice to other youth is to not let criticism rule their decisions.
What is the most significant goal or dream you wish to achieve in your lifetime? My dream is to get a driver’s license and to work for Project Search.
What would you like the world to know about you? I would like the world to know that I am a kind person and a good friend.
Is there anyone specific you’d like to give a shoutout to? I would like to give a shoutout to my mom, Christy, Ms. Heather, Brandi, Brandy, and Nick.
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Transition Resources
Image of logo, DRS Business Services Program
DRS Business Services Program
A program of Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Business Services Program (BSP) is a team of employment-focused professionals who are focused on connecting employers with some of their area's brightest and most highly motivated job seekers with disabilities.
Often overlooked, people with disabilities can be a great asset to employers. BSP staff stands ready to successfully bring the two groups together.
They do this by strengthening and helping maintain the knowledge of employers on a variety of disability-related employment topics, and by working with job seekers on critical job placement areas such as determining a career path, creating a resume, applying for a job, interviewing for a job, and excelling in the job.
If you are a job seeker with a disability looking for help with job placement, please contact your DRS Counselor about BSP services or inquire about our employment services at 800-487-4042.
If you are an employer looking to learn more about the advantages of hiring people with disabilities contact Yasmin Avila Guillen at yavilaguillen@okdrs.gov .
Image of logo, Birthright Living Legacy
Birthright Living Legacy
Located in Tulsa, Birthright Living Legacy provides various workshops, education and other programs that help fathers interested in taking a more active role within their family unit. Through these programs and participation options, fathers will have the opportunity to have positive interactions with other fathers while nurturing their relationships with their children. This is all made possible by participating in activities that they both enjoy.
Birthright Living Legacy is also providing a podcast where they talk about various topics and stories of fathers who are living legacies. The link below opens the website for this amazing new podcast. They are helping strengthen Oklahoma families in some important ways.
Click here to visit the Birthright Living Legacy website
Grant Opportunities
Here are some exciting grant opportunities to be aware of:
Pathways to Partnerships Competitive Grant Applications Announcement:
The purpose of the Pathways to Partnerships Grant is for institutions to apply for needed funding to develop new transition programs for students with disabilities that focus on career-exploration, work-based learning, independent living skill acquisition, social development, and competitive integrated employment (CIE) with a preference on students with IDD and students in rural, high-need settings.
Innovative projects generated through this application process will provide amazing opportunities to expand the availability of high-quality transition and postsecondary education programs, ultimately increasing the number of individuals with disabilities who are prepared to obtain and retain employment while living as independently as possible as active members of their community.
The Oklahoma Pathways to Partnerships (OP2P) grant is a Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Award from the Rehabilitation Services Administration. It was awarded to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) on October 1, 2023. There are two broad initiatives:
· Expand capacity of statewide interagency partnerships to serve students with disabilities.
· Expansion of access to effective transition programming, including career exploration and work-based learning, focused on competitive integrated employment (CIE) for children (ages 10-13) and youth (ages 14-24) with disabilities with a focus on those with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (IDD) and those in rural, high-need settings.
The portion of the grant related to this application is Initiative 2.
Submission Details
All applications must be submitted through the OSDE Grant Management System (GMS).
Non-district applicants must complete a _Grants Management User Access Form and email the completed form to Donna Tye-Lewis at donna.tye-lewis@sde.ok.gov by 12/20/24 to gain access to the Grants Management System for this online application process.
You will receive an email confirming receipt of your Grants Management User Access Form within 3 business days of your submission. It will then take up to 14 business days to receive your GMS User Access.
ALL (district and non-district) applicants must email a letter of intent to apply to Donna Tye-Lewis at donna.tye-lewis@sde.ok.gov. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your letter of intent to apply and access to the applications will be added to your GMS account within 5 business days of your submission.
Important Dates
· Application opens: Nov. 6
· Last Day to submit Grant Management User Access Form Dec. 20 by 4:00 p.m.
· Applications due: Jan. 9 by 3:00 p.m.
· Grantees announced: February 28
· Grant Project Begins: July 1
Salad and Go Charities
Grants can be used to expand kitchen facilities, purchase cooking equipment, source nutrient-dense ingredients, support community gardens, and cover other operational costs to enhance the quality and reach of vital hunger relief services.
· Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000.
· Salad and Go Charities has an open application process for organizations in Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Arizona.
Introducing
Meet Julie
Julie Brixey is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Miami office. She joined team DRS in October 2024. Julie and her husband reside in the Gove area, and she has a passion for serving her community. She has a master’s degree in occupational and adult education, and plans on pursuing a second master’s degree that is aligned more closely with her new role with DRS.
Julie has a wealth of professional experience in leadership, education, and workforce in northeastern Oklahoma. She is an innovator, a service oriented professional, and is excited to begin working with Oklahoma’s students with disabilities to help them transition to their post high school phase of life. We are lucky to have her on the team.
Image of Julie Brixey
Julie Brixey
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
Vocational Rehabilitation
ph. 918-542-4716
julie.brixey@okdrs.gov
What is Transition?
The Transition program provides services to prepare students with disabilities for employment and life after high school. Services may include career counseling, vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, on-the-job training, work-study, and job development and placement. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired divisions jointly run the Transition program so the youth can easily move into adult services when it is time.
Contact Us:
Renee Sansom Briscoe
rsansom@okdrs.gov
Phone: 405-951-3488
Chris Compton
ccompton@okdrs.gov
Phone: 405-605-9651
Tracy Keeley
Tracy.Keeley@okdrs.gov
Phone: 918-581-2322
Kevin Randall II
krandall@okdrs.gov
Phone: 405-255-9663
Jessie Renteria
jrenteria@okdrs.gov
Phone: 405-951-3463
Image of Logo, Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services
Image of Logo, Oklahoma Works - a proud partner of the American Job Center network
Image of Empowering Oklahomans with Disabilities, with a paint brush.
We can help create the blueprint for your youth’s success
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Transition Services
3535 NW 58th Street, Suite 500, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
www.okdrs.gov | Email Us at CCompton@okdrs.gov
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