The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council is served by actively working committees. The four committees are described below, with links to their work products.
Executive Committee
Comprised of the SRC Chair, Vice-Chair, and 3 members-at-large. The Executive Committee also consists of the Associate Director and Director of Sponsored Programs of the OSU, Department of Wellness, who oversees the contractual administration of the ORC. Ensures that committees are assigned to meet the requirements of Section 105 of the Rehabilitation Act with regard to the following activities:
- Public Hearings
- State Plan
- Comprehensive Needs Assessment
- Customer Satisfaction
- Annual Report
Members
Sharron Harrison, Council Chair, Business, Industry and Labor
- Sharon Harrison,
Member at Large, Harrison Consulting – Executive Committee - Lori Chestnut,
Member at Large, Vice – Chair, OSDE – Transition Committee - Nikki Jolly,
Member at Large – The Bridges Foundation – Transition Committee - Taylor Rhoades,
Member at Large – Mercy – Employment Committee - Melinda Fruendt,
DRS Executive Director - Mark Kinnison,
VR Division Administrator - Tracy Brigham,
SBVI Division Administrator
Transition Committee
Active participation on the Oklahoma Transition Council. Support Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) with statewide efforts to enhance transition activities and services for youth in secondary settings to increase successful employment outcomes.
Members
Nikki Jolly, Chair
- Angela Jaworski
- Julie Lackey
- Melissa Davis
- Lori Chestnut
- Lucia Frohling
- Tiffany Davis, Renee Sansom and Barrett Waltz – DRS Liaison
Employment Committee
With an increased emphasis on employment under the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this committee will work together to strengthen coordination with employment and training services for individuals with disabilities who are job seekers.
Members
Taylor Rhoades, Chair
- Scott Mullins
- Robin Arter
- Cameron Whitman
- Yasmin Avila – DRS Liaison
Advocacy Committee
Review, analyze, and advise DSU on the standards and indicators as laid out by Section 106 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Active participation in the DRS State Plan Meetings. Active participation in the DRS Comprehensive Needs Assessment development initiative. Analyze the trends of the Customer Satisfaction Survey.
Activities include, but are not limited to, advocacy and education, policy and State Plan review, and State Plan Public Hearings. Also, responsible for the reviewing/monitoring of pending and current disability-related legislation, particularly with respect to impact on funding; suggest/develop legislation as needed. Active participation on the DRS Policy Re-engineering Committee. Support DRS with both national and state efforts to enhance advocacy activities and services for VR/VS clientele.
Members
- Sarah Soell
- William Ginn
- Debbie Davenport
- Stephanie Hesser
- Charity Woods
- Tina Calloway, Stephanie Roe, Jennifer Hardin and Tonya Garman – DRS Liaison