Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is recognized as a time to honor the contributions and talents that workers with disabilities bring to the nation's workforce and economy. The Department of Labor has made this year's theme: "Access to Good Jobs for All." 

Alison Barkoff, Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, recently announced that she will be leaving the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in early October. Since joining ACL on the first day of the Biden-Harris Administration, Barkoff has led the agency with a strong commitment to disability and aging advocacy, working closely with advocates and federal partners to enhance civil rights protections and improve access to essential services and supports to people with disabilities.

At the Center for Learning and Leadership | UCEDD, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Alison Barkoff for her leadership of the federal organization that plays such a crucial role in funding our work in Oklahoma through the UCEDD grant. Her dedication to advancing the rights and well-being of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities has made a profound impact, and we are thankful for her support.

September is recognized as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, and Oklahoma offers numerous resources for those facing a mental health crisis. One such resource is 988, a three-digit hotline connecting Oklahomans with trained behavioral health professionals, available around the clock. NAMI Oklahoma, a statewide network of families, members, and partners, is at the forefront of advocating for mental health. Additionally, the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma is also raising awareness and providing statistics and resources regarding suicide within the autism community.

Congratulations to our esteemed colleague, Dr. Megan Roberts, for being selected as one of three US Department of State Professional Fellows Outbound Awardees! Dr. Roberts will join Fellow Eva Chuwa to train educators in Tanzania to develop classroom activities and instructional strategies that accommodate the diverse learning needs of children with disabilities.

Are you ready to return to school? The Oklahoma State Department of Health has created a resource page to make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork ready and know where to go if you need to get a document for registration. Need support for your child on an IEP or 504? Check out Oklahoma Parent’s Center special education support for people with disabilities from birth to age 26 and their families.  

The Center for Learning and Leadership’s federal funding was renewed for the fiscal year 2025 (July 1^st – June 30^th, 2025). We thank all the faculty, staff, and partners who continue work on systems change, building capacity, and advocating for and with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, caregivers, professionals, and decision makers. Click here to learn more about the center’s faculty and staff.  

Miranda Hooper, the Community Education Coordinator at the Center for Learning and Leadership | UCEDD, has been chosen to participate in the prestigious national leadership training program, the AUCD Leadership Academy.

Governor Kevin Stitt has signed a new law called the Access and Achievement Act. This law will give college scholarships to high school graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Director, Dr. Megan Roberts, was recently awarded the University of Oklahoma 2024 Interprofessional Educators and Practitioners Association (IEPA) Leader of the Year award. Dr. Roberts is a dynamic force in disability advocacy and education. Through her leadership of the OKLEND program,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 988 Oklahoma, Oklahoma’s mental health crisis line, is offering daily affirmations via text for those who sign up throughout the month of May. 

Jeanette O'Hara, OKLEND 2022 graduate, is Founder/Executive Director of the nonprofit, Will's House, located just outside Tulsa in Jenks. Recently, Will's House was honored by the ARCH (Access to Respite Care and Help) National Respite Network and Resource Center. Learn more about Will’s House.

The Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) has updated Alphabet Soup, their dictionary of disability-related abbreviations, acronyms, and terms in a new English/Spanish bilingual edition. In addition to updates to the publication, there are videos in Spanish and in English walking you through the product. 

The Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) has updated their most popular product, Guide to Community Services in Oklahoma. The Guide provides detailed information and resources for individuals with disabilities and their families across the lifespan. In addition to updates to the publication, there is now a video walking you through the guide available in English and Spanish.   

Oklahoma Human Services has launched a new campaign to address the statewide shortage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) by rewarding them for their loyalty and tenure called DSP+. In Oklahoma, DSPs are typically referred to as Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) or Habilitation Training Specialists (HTSs). Eligible professionals for this new financial incentive include HTS staff who work through traditional agencies or self-directed services (and utilize Acumen as their employer). PCAs will receive the incentive through their agency of employment. DSP must apply to receive the incentive payment.  Learn more through this report by KOCO.