- Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
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Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services 
Great Seal of Oklahoma Agency overview Formed 1993 Headquarters 3535 NW 58 Street
Oklahoma City, OklahomaEmployees 1,079 (FY11) Annual budget $136 million (FY11) Ministers responsible Terry Cline, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Steve Shelton, Chair of the CommissionAgency executive Michael O’Brien, Ed.D., Director of Rehabilitation Services Parent agency Rehabilitation Services Commission Website www.okdrs.gov 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
Contents
Leadership
The Department is led by the Oklahoma State Cabinet Secretary of Health and Human Services. Under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallen, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is Terry Cline.
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 Oklahoma, 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:
- Lynda Collins - Vice Chair
- Ray Kirk - Member
- Steve Shelton - Chair
Divisions
- Disability Determination Division - determines medical eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income
- 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 Blind - provides educational programs for children who are blind or visually impaired
- Oklahoma School for the Deaf - 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.[1]
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 References
External links
State public health agencies of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department of Health • Department of Human Services • Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services • Department of Rehabilitation Services • Health Care Authority • Indian Affairs Commission • Office of Juvenile Affairs
Categories:- State agencies of Oklahoma
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