Press Release
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Helping Hands Extend To Disabled Oklahomans A state agency is lending a helping hand to an Oklahoma program designed to help citizens of all ages with disabilities. Oklahoma ABLE Tech is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education in Stillwater. The partnership is designed to provide an additional location for people with disabilities to try out or check out assistive technology. Assistive technology is any item or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. Oklahoma ABLE Tech, which is headquartered at the Oklahoma State University Seretean Wellness Center, makes assistive technology more accessible to disabled people and their families across the state. CareerTech’s role is to an establish additional device demonstration and device short-term loan site through an Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, according to David Jinks, information technology manager at the state CareerTech agency. “By working with the agency staff at the center, CareerTech staff at the 29 technology centers across the state will be able to provide their students with access to the state agency’s demonstration center in Stillwater,” Jinks said. “Students will have the opportunity to learn how assistive technology can help them be more productive in the workplace after their training is finished.” This technology helps people become more active and independent at school, home, the workplace and in the community, according to Linda Jaco. Jaco is associate director of sponsored programs at the OSU Seretean Wellness Center. “Approximately 20 percent of Oklahoma’s citizens have some type of disabling condition that affects their ability to work and attend school,” Jaco said. The ABLE Tech program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration. The equipment available can only be used on a short-term loan agreement program lasting 42 days after check out. To make an appointment at Oklahoma CareerTech’s Assistive Technology Demonstration Center, call 405-743-6882. To learn more about Oklahoma ABLE Tech, call 1-800-257-1705 or 1-888-885-5588 or visit http://okabletech.okstate.edu.
Posted October 15, 2007 |