Public Invited to Disability Program Policy Hearings
OKLAHOMA CITY - Proposed rule changes potentially affecting several programs for Oklahomans with disabilities will be the focus of a public hearing held by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council.
The public is encouraged to attend the meetings in Oklahoma City on Feb. 5, Tulsa on Feb. 6 and Lawton on Feb. 7.
Programs affected by the proposed new rules are administered by DRS and include vocational rehabilitation and employment services for Oklahomans with all types of disabilities.
DRS provides a variety of services that help individuals with disabilities achieve employment, personal independence and self-sufficiency. The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council advises DRS on development of policies and plans for rehabilitation services.
Proposed policy changes effect the following chapters: Chapter 1 - Administrative Operations, Chapter 3 - Management Services Division and Chapter 10 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services.
The changes include housekeeping items such as removing the references to the Independent Living Program, which is no longer operated by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or adding language to clarify the Division of Visual Services may serve individuals with sight threatening progressive conditions or functional limitations due to sight loss. As well as an updating agency and program names to remove obsolete references.
Other changes include definition updates, removal of extended evaluation language and removal of homemaker employment outcome language to reflect recent federal law changes.
Public hearing dates and locations are:
- Oklahoma City – Monday, Feb. 5, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m., Department of Rehabilitation Services State Office, 2nd floor conference room, 3535 NW 58th St., Okla. City;
- Tulsa – Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., Total Source for Hearing-loss and Access, Conference Room, 8740 E. 11th, Tulsa;
- Lawton – Wednesday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m., Great Plains Technical Center, Bldg. 700, Room 701, 4500 S.W. Lee Blvd., Lawton.
If you would like to comment but are unable to attend, written comments may be sent to the attention of Tina Calloway, Policy Development, Department of Rehabilitation Services, 3535 N.W. 58th, suite 500, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112. Written comments must be received no later than February 7, 2018.
Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained from the DRS web site at www.okdrs.gov , by e-mail policycomment@okdrs.gov, or by letter to the Policy Development Unit, attention Tina Calloway, Department of Rehabilitation Services, 3535 N.W. 58th, Suite 500, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or by calling (405) 951-3552 – Toll free 1-800-845-8476.
2018 Proposed Policies
Chapter 1. Administrative Operations
612:1-5-2. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) [AMENDED]
612:1-5-3. Division of Visual Services (DVS) [AMENDED]
612:1-7-3. Relationships with state boards: ex officio representation from the Department [AMENDED]