People with Disabilities Awareness Day to mark 30th anniversary on March 5

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services will host People with Disabilities Awareness Day on March 5. The event brings hundreds of people with disabilities, their families and their supporters together and will again be held at the Oklahoma History Center. The event is marking its 30th year.

The 2024 People with Disabilities Awareness Day will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City. The event is open to the public, and people are encouraged to wear green to show support for the event. People should eat before attending the event.

For 30 years, People with Disabilities Awareness Day is an opportunity for Oklahomans with disabilities to engage lawmakers and share their personal stories about what services are helping them live independent lives and pursue careers. This year, participants are encouraged to visit the event web site at www.okdrs.gov/pwdad/registration, and register for the event. Facebook users can stay up to date on the event by visiting the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Facebook page. When posting on social media, participants are asked to use #PWDAD2024 in their messages.

Oklahomans are encouraged this year to reach out and share their stories with their lawmakers through making in-person appointments, calls, emails and through social media. If Oklahomans are uncertain who their lawmakers are, they can find that information by visiting http://www.oklegislature.gov/.

This year’s event will feature Navilens signage for the first time. The signage allows attendees who are visually impaired to use their cell phone to scan codes, giving them enhanced information about the event, vendors and scheduled events. The codes are also easier to scan than traditional QR codes.

The 2024 event will include the honoring of 11 individuals. Some have received services from DRS and have excelled at pursuing goals such as education, training, independent living and obtaining employment. Others have worked to assist Oklahomans with disabilities or demonstrated excellence in reporting on the journeys of Oklahomans with disabilities.

Award winners include:

• Vocational Rehabilitation Client of the Year – Ethan Smith
• Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Client of the Year – Elmer Norton
• Oklahoma School for the Blind Student of the Year – Emileigh Jackson
• Oklahoma School for the Deaf Student of the Year – Riley Newell
• Business of the Year – CVS
• State Agency Partner of the Year – Department of Human Services, Development Disability Services
• Workforce Partner of the Year – Central Oklahoma Workforce Innovation Board
• Communications Award – KOCO News 5 Morning Show
• Senator of the Year – Senator Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City
• Representative of the Year – State Representative Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Lynn Cragg, Oklahoma School for the Blind.

Follow the Oklahoma Department if Rehabilitation Services on social media including @okdrs on Twitter on Instagram, and Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services on Facebook.

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Last year, DRS served 96,178 individuals with disabilities with career preparation, employment, residential and outreach education, independent living programs and the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits. The agency helps job seekers with disabilities face barriers to employment, such as inaccessible worksites, lack of transportation or the need for specialized equipment or training. For more information, visit http://www.okdrs.gov or phone 800-845-8476.