Oklahoma Parents Center, Inc.

05/01/2026

May trainings are here! 📚✨
Don’t forget to check our pinned post for the full list of updated trainings happening all month long.

We look forward to seeing you there! 💙

04/30/2026

This week, we highlight autism as one of the disability categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Autism refers to a developmental disability that can affect communication, social interaction, and behavior. Students with autism may experience differences in how they learn, interact with others, and respond to their environment. These differences can impact participation and progress in school. In the special education process, this category helps guide evaluation, eligibility, and supports tailored to a student’s individual needs. It should be noted that a medical diagnosis of autism does not automatically meet eligibility criteria under the IDEA category of autism. The team will need to consider how autism affects a student’s educational needs and whether specialized instruction is needed.

More information about Autism as a disability category can be found on pages 40-45 in the Evaluation and Eligibility Handbook published by the Oklahoma State Department of Education Special Education Services at https://bit.ly/48pug09. We invite families and educators to share their experiences related to autism and the supports that have helped students succeed. Reach out to SERC at okserc@okstate.edu for additional questions.

04/30/2026

✨ OPC OVERVIEWS + RESOURCES ✨

Looking to learn more about the Oklahoma Parents Center and the support available to you and your family? We’ve got you covered! 💙

Our OPC Overviews are designed to help parents, caregivers, and professionals better understand special education, available services, and how to confidently support children and youth with disabilities.

📚 Explore our Resources Section for helpful brochures, tools, and information you can use anytime:
https://oklahomaparentscenter.org/brochures

📱 Stay connected with us on social media for trainings, tips, and updates:
Facebook • Instagram () • TikTok ()

💡 Empowering families. Building partnerships. Supporting success.

🌐 OklahomaParentsCenter.org

The OPC specializes in special education support for people with disabilities from birth to age 26 and their families. We have been providing services to Oklahoma parents and family members of children with disabilities, young adults with disabilities, and the professionals who serve them since 2000...

04/28/2026

One of the biggest mindset shifts in parenting is this: behavior is not random, and it’s not happening to you, it’s coming from something inside your child.

It’s easy to look at a child’s behavior and label it as defiance, attention-seeking, or “doing it on purpose,” because that’s often what we were taught to believe. But when you pause and look a little deeper, you start to realize that behavior is actually information, it’s a signal.

✨ It’s your child’s way of communicating something they don’t yet have the words, skills, or regulation to express. ✨

🫶🏼 A child who is melting down might not be trying to push your buttons, they might be overwhelmed.
🫶🏼 A child who is acting out might not be seeking attention in a negative way, they might be seeking connection.
🫶🏼 A child who isn’t listening might not be ignoring you, they might be struggling with a skill they’re still learning.

When we only focus on stopping the behavior, we end up addressing the surface, but the root stays untouched. And when the root stays untouched, the behavior keeps coming back in different forms.

But when you shift your lens and start asking, “What is underneath this?, What is this behavior trying to communicate?” everything changes. You move from reacting to understanding, from control to connection, from frustration to clarity.

And here’s where the real transformation happens, not because your child suddenly becomes “easier,” but because you begin to meet them differently. 💕 You begin to respond in a way that actually supports what they need, instead of just trying to make the moment stop.

That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, and it doesn’t mean you’ll always get it right. It simply means you’re willing to look beyond the behavior and see the child in front of you.

💫 And that shift alone can change the entire dynamic. 💫

Because when a child feels understood, supported, and connected, the behavior doesn’t need to speak so loudly anymore. ❤️

04/28/2026

Integrity is at the heart of everything we do 💙

At the Oklahoma Parents Center, we believe trust is built through honest communication, transparency, and meaningful relationships with families, educators, and communities.

By working together with respect and openness, we create stronger partnerships that support children and youth with disabilities.

Learn more about our resources and trainings:
👉

The OPC specializes in special education support for people with disabilities from birth to age 26 and their families. We have been providing services to Oklahoma parents and family members of children with disabilities, young adults with disabilities, and the professionals who serve them since 2000...

04/27/2026

Natalie represented Oklahoma ABLE Tech and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) at the Kiamchi Economic Development District of Oklahoma's (KEDDO) Senior Citizen Fair and Wellness Day on April 18!

She hosted a booth so attendees could learn more about assistive technology (AT) and available resources and services provided by Oklahoma ABLE Tech and OkAT!

04/27/2026

Since it’s almost summer☀️

04/26/2026

We are excited to announce the 17th Annual OPC Statewide Conference! The event will be held 8am to 5pm on Friday, June 5th, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Norman – Hotel & Conference Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
The theme this year is BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS…CREATING SUCCESSFUL CHANGE!

This conference is FREE to attend but due to space restrictions and logistical limitations at the hotel, registration will be capped at 200 participants.
Register now to avoid being placed on the waitlist.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OPC2026

04/26/2026

Join us for a Special Needs Benefits Discussion at Grace + Mae! 💙

Come learn about benefits and services that may be available for your child—from birth through young adulthood. This is a great opportunity to get helpful information, ask questions, and connect with local resources.

Sooner SUCCESS and the Oklahoma Parents Center will be sharing valuable information to help support your family—we would love to see you there! 🤝

📅 April 30
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Grace + Mae | 823 W Outlaw Ave, Pauls Valley, OK

📞 580-291-6730
📧 stephanie-redelk@ou.edu

✨ Free to attend
✨ Open to families and caregivers

For more resources and trainings, visit: OklahomaParentsCenter.org

04/26/2026

❤️❤️

This is so true!

Image:

04/24/2026

💯 I am definitely THAT parent.