Oklahoma ABLE Tech

05/27/2026

Natalie and Shelley attended the Adaptive Sports Expo at the Santa Fe Family Life Center in Oklahoma City on May 7!

The Adaptive Sports Expo brought together families, athletes, caregivers, therapists, and community partners to celebrate inclusive recreation. Shelley and Natalie shared about adaptive sports assistive technology (AT), services provided by the Financial Loan Program and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT), and the Respite AT kits available through the Device Loan Program.

Thank you to the Santa Fe Center for the invite! We had a lot of fun!

05/26/2026

Big news from Stillwater's own LIFE Center! We're so grateful to have played a small role in this milestone!

"LIFE Center Adult Day Services is proud to share how partnership and community collaboration helped make a long-awaited dream a reality! As the LIFE Center staff worked to secure a new wheelchair-accessible van to support their participants, we connected with Oklahoma ABLE Tech, whose guidance and resources were instrumental throughout the process."

Through Oklahoma ABLE Tech's relationship with United Access, staff members connected the LIFE Center with a trusted provider who understood the unique transportation needs of individuals living with disabilities and those with age-related needs. This partnership helped LIFE Center staff navigate options for accessibility, functionality, and long-term sustainability to make the best decision for participants and families.

Transportation remains one of the greatest barriers to services for many living with disabilities and age-related needs in rural Oklahoma. The LIFE Center's new accessible van moves them one step closer to providing reliable transportation to and from the center, helping reduce isolation and improve access to engagement, care, and community connection.

"We are incredibly grateful to Oklahoma ABLE Tech for helping bridge the gap between need and solution," said a LIFE Center representative. "Their willingness to connect organizations like ours with the right partners creates meaningful impact for communities across Oklahoma. By bringing together resources, expertise, and a shared purpose, Oklahoma ABLE Tech helps organizations like the LIFE Center expand opportunities for aging well, independence, and inclusion."

The LIFE Center shared that the new van represents far more than transportation. It represents access, dignity, and connection for the individuals and families they serve every day.

05/22/2026

Are you a parent or caregiver of a young child who wants to learn more about assistive technology (AT)?

Empowering Your Child: AT for Early Development Zoom session will be held on June 18 at 1:30 PM. The virtual information session will cover the basics of AT with a focus on early intervention. We’ll also share information about Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s programs and services that support young children in building skills and independence.

Register for Empowering Your Child: AT for Early Development at https://bit.ly/49htoeB. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and ask questions!

05/21/2026

It’s easy to forget that accessibility benefits everyone, but Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) helps bring that into focus. While accessibility is about ensuring people can use digital tools, information, and spaces regardless of ability, it’s really about people and how we all connect, participate, and belong.

The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities.

To learn more about how to get involved, visit the GAAD website at https://bit.ly/3yBua4s.

05/20/2026

Summer Reading Challenges are kicking off! Stay on track with assistive technology (AT) for reading.

The following AT devices are available for short-term loan through Oklahoma ABLE Tech:
• C-Pen Reader Pen 2
• Scanmarker Air, Pal, Pro, or Reader
• FingerFocus Highlighter to Go
• Dyslexia Reading Bar (3D-printed device)

You can also adapt books on your own for individuals with fine motor and/or vision impairments. Add page turners or fluffers with popsicle sticks, paperclips, clothespins, pom-pom balls, or other household craft items. Page turners add leverage so an individual can turn the pages using the adaptation. Page fluffers add space in between pages to allow room for the individual's fingers to turn the pages.

To learn more about how to borrow AT from Oklahoma ABLE Tech, visit https://bit.ly/3G2g3bu.

05/18/2026

Discover how Apple devices are designed to support users of all abilities right out of the box with the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) and the National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training (AT3) Center's Empowering Ability with Apple Accessibility webinar on May 27 from 3 to 4 PM.

Dave Mara, Apple Senior Engineer and Accessibility Specialist, and Molly Landin from WorldWide Business Development - Accessibility will lead this webinar about practical ways to personalize your settings so devices work the way you need them to. They'll explore built‑in accessibility features across iPhone, iPad, and Mac that support vision, hearing, mobility, speech, and cognitive needs.

Whether you're supporting others or customizing your own device, this session will help you unlock powerful tools you may not even know exist. Registration is required to attend this event. To register for Empowering Ability with Apple Accessibility, visit https://bit.ly/4cYAmrj.

05/13/2026

Celebrate your loved ones with assistive technology (AT) for birthdays!

The Device Loan Program has some switch-adapted AT devices available for loan to make someone's day special! The Switch Adapted Birthday Bear plays the Happy Birthday song and holds a light-up cupcake. The Switch Adapted Birthday Cake is a pretend party cake toy that plays the Happy Birthday song and features light-up candles.

For those who may need support to blow out their birthday candles, check out any of our switches, switch-adapted fans, or the PowerLink 4! The PowerLink 4 allows users to turn any traditional plug-in fan into a switch-adapted fan.

To learn how to borrow any of these AT devices for up to six weeks, visit the Device Loan Program webpage at https://bit.ly/3G2g3bu.

05/12/2026

Don Paul and his family worked with Bethany Children's Health Center to trial speech-generating devices (SGDs). “We wanted to trial an eye gaze device for Don Paul to have access to an alternative form of communication,” said McKenzie, Don Paul's speech-language pathologist (SLP).

Don Paul borrowed an Accent 1400 equipped with the Look eye tracking module. The device comes with pre-loaded apps to make communication fast and easy. “Don Paul communicated his basic needs with the help of the device,” said McKenzie. “He could stand up for himself when his sister was playing with his toys to tell her to stop.”

“Don Paul loves interacting with others and having a communication method he can access allows him to better shine his personality and participate in communication with others,” McKenzie added.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech collaborates with organizations across the state that support and promote awareness, access, and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) devices and services. To learn more about our partners, visit our Core Programs Partnerships webpage at https://bit.ly/43SraO5. We are so grateful to Bethany Children’s Health Center for being a partner of our Device Demonstration, Device Loan, and Device Reutilization programs!

05/11/2026

Oklahoma ABLE Tech's Device Reutilization Program has an Electric Patient Transfer Lift available! If you are a caregiver who needs help moving your loved one from one space to another, this lift could be a solution!

The multifunctional transfer wheelchair features folding armrests, a built-in push/pull bedpan, a durable steel frame, and more. It can be controlled via remote or by pressing the button on the motor.

Please note: The user must have steady trunk control. The lift must be used with supervision; it is not meant for solo use. Doorways must be 24 inches or wider. The device's weight capacity is 290 lbs. The wheels are small and not suitable for rough terrain. If the lift is used to transfer the user into the shower, the motor must be removed.

If you are interested in this electric patient transfer lift, complete the Device Reutilization Program's online application for durable medical equipment on their webpage at https://bit.ly/3N3dUA1.

The device pictured is a stock image. Actual inventory may vary slightly.

05/08/2026

Oklahoma ABLE Tech's AT Respite Kits provide assistive technology (AT) to help people with disabilities, mobility, or cognitive decline complete tasks more independently. Any caregiver can apply and receive a kit to borrow for up to six weeks. The kits are loaned out after an intake conversation with Oklahoma ABLE Tech staff.

Respite gives primary caregivers a break, so they can rest, travel, or spend time with family and friends. The break can last from a few hours to several weeks. A primary caregiver is someone who provides day-to-day care to another person, such as a parent caring for a child or an adult caring for an elderly family member.

This week's featured kit is the Daily Medication Organization Kit. The Daily Medication Organization Kit is designed to help individuals and caregivers safely and consistently organize, track, and manage medications.

The kit combines visual supports, physical organization tools, and reminder systems to reduce confusion, missed doses, and double dosing. It supports independence while promoting medication safety across home, travel, and shared caregiving environments. The Daily Medication Organization Kit includes the PillMap, a Portable Pill Taker, a PillTracker, the LiveFine Automatic Pill Dispenser, 3x/Day Medication Tracker, and two pill cutters.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech is proud to partner with the Oklahoma Human Services Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services division to make the AT Respite Kit project possible! To learn more about the Medication Organization & Adherence Support Kit or other available AT for respite, visit our AT Respite Kits webpage at www.okabletech.org/respite-at.

What is Respite? Respite care gives primary caregivers a break so they can rest, travel, or spend time with family and friends. Respite can last from a few hours to several weeks. A primary caregiver is the person who takes on most of the everyday responsibilities of caring for someone else. Using a...

05/08/2026

Join us in congratulating one of our student employees, Alexis, who graduates from Oklahoma State University this Saturday with her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Alexis was also recently recognized as an OSU Top 5 Student Employee finalist! From working with families to supporting major events like the Special Olympics, Alexis has played a major role in keeping us organized and moving forward!

"I’m grateful for Alexis, whose kindness, thoroughness, and efficiency shine in everything she does," said Amy, her supervisor. "In her work with the SDE team and SoonerStart, she is highly detail‑oriented and consistently gives her best effort on every task, making a positive impact on our work together. I am truly thankful for all she contributes."

Congratulations, Alexis! We're so proud of you.