Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is an agency
of the government of Oklahoma
responsible for providing people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with the opportunity to obtain employment and independent living through counseling, job training and other individualized services. DRS helps bridge barriers to success in the workplace, school and at home. DRS has five divisions, Vocational Rehabilitation, Visual Services, Disability Determination, Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf. These divisions operate dozens of specialized programs that help Oklahomans lead more independent and productive lives.
The Department is governed by the Rehabilitation Services Commission, composed of three members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
. The Commission, in turn, appoints the Director of Rehabilitation Services to serve as the chief executive officer of the Department.
The current Director of Rehabilitation Services is Michael O’Brien, Ed.D. who was appointed by the Commission in 2008.
The Department was established in 1993 during the term of Governor David Walters
. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Mary Fallen, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is Terry Cline
.
, one member appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
. All members of the Commission serve three year terms.
As of 2011, the current members of the Board are as follows:
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the government of Oklahoma
Government of Oklahoma
The government of the US State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial...
responsible for providing people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with the opportunity to obtain employment and independent living through counseling, job training and other individualized services. DRS helps bridge barriers to success in the workplace, school and at home. DRS has five divisions, Vocational Rehabilitation, Visual Services, Disability Determination, Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf. These divisions operate dozens of specialized programs that help Oklahomans lead more independent and productive lives.
The Department is governed by the Rehabilitation Services Commission, composed of three members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
. The Commission, in turn, appoints the Director of Rehabilitation Services to serve as the chief executive officer of the Department.
The current Director of Rehabilitation Services is Michael O’Brien, Ed.D. who was appointed by the Commission in 2008.
The Department was established in 1993 during the term of Governor David Walters
David Walters
David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
Leadership
The Department is led by the Oklahoma State Cabinet Secretary of Health and Human ServicesOklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services
The Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Mary Fallen, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is Terry Cline
Terry Cline
Dr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...
.
Rehabilitation Services Commission
The Human Services Commission is the governing board of the Department. The Commission is composed of three members, with one member appointed by the Governor of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, one member appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking State Senator. The Oklahoma Constitution states the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma serves ex officio as President of the Senate, and is the highest-ranking...
, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
. All members of the Commission serve three year terms.
As of 2011, the current members of the Board are as follows:
- Lynda Collins - Vice Chair
- Ray Kirk - Member
- Steve Shelton - Chair
Divisions
- Disability Determination Division - determines medical eligibility for Social Security Disability InsuranceSocial Security Disability InsuranceSocial Security Disability Insurance is a payroll tax-funded, federal insurance program of the United States government. It is managed by the Social Security Administration and is designed to provide income supplements to people who are physically restricted in their ability to be employed...
and Supplemental Security IncomeSupplemental Security IncomeSupplemental Security Income is a United States government program that provides stipends to low-income people who are either aged , blind, or disabled. Although administered by the Social Security Administration, SSI is funded from the U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust fund... - Vocational Rehabilitation Division - employment services for people with any disability, except blindness
- Visual Services Division - employment and independent living services for people who are blind or visually impaired
- Oklahoma School for the BlindOklahoma School for the BlindOklahoma School for the Blind, more commonly known as Parkview School, is located in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Since the early 1900s the school's primary mission has been to provide specialized education to students who are identified as being blind or visually impaired...
- provides educational programs for children who are blind or visually impaired - Oklahoma School for the DeafOklahoma School for the DeafOklahoma School for the Deaf is a residential school for the deaf and hard of hearing students ages 2 through 18. The school teaches K-12 students in Sulphur, Oklahoma.-History:...
- provides educational programs for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Staffing
The Rehabilitation Services Department, with an annual budget of well over $100 million, is one of the largest employers of the State. For fiscal year 2010, the Department was authorized 1,079 full time employees.| Division | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Rehab and Visual Services | 509 |
| School for the Blind | 110 |
| School for the Deaf | 144 |
| Disability Determination | 316 |
| Total | 1,079 |