Tulsa Advocates For The Rights Of Citizens With Developmental

THE ARC OF OKLAHOMA, INC. IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, SUPPORT, AND ADVOCACY.

THE OK AIM PROGRAM RECRUITED, TRAINED AND SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT STATE-FUNDED RESIDENCES OPERATED BY PRIVATE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LIVED TO EVALUATE THE SAFETY, LIVING CONDITIONS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE PROVIDED. DUE TO COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES, OUR SERVICES CONTINUED IN A VIRTUAL SETTING THROUGHOUT 2021. FINDINGS WERE REPORTED TO THE STATE SO THAT CONCERNS IDENTIFIED COULD BE REMEDIATED AND THE SERVICE DELIVERY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IMPROVED. THE PROGRAMS VOLUNTEERS VISITED 400 PEOPLE IN 2021.

THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS AND ADVOCACY FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. IN 2021, PROGRAM STAFF ASSISTED 3,712 FAMILIES TO OBTAIN NEEDED SERVICES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 3,554 CHILDREN. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SERVING CLIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR SERVICES WERE OFFERED BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY IN 2021. STAFF ALSO PROVIDED SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO HAVE A MORE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, HELPED PARENTS FEEL SUPPORTED AND LESS ISOLATED THROUGH PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, AND ASSISTED CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM TO INCREASE THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS THROUGH SUPPORT GROUPS.

THE SELF-ADVOCACY PROGRAM PROVIDES ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS IN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE FULFILLING, SELF-DIRECTED LIVES AS CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: SELF-ADVOCACY SUPPORT GROUPS INCLUDING TULSA PEOPLE FIRST AND BROKEN ARROW PEOPLE FIRST; DAYMAKERS, A WEEKLY ACTIVITY GROUP HELD AT TWO LOCATION IN TULSA AND BROKEN ARROW; ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP IDENTIFYING, ACCESSING, AND OR MAINTAINING SPECIALIZED OR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES; AND LINKS, A SOCIAL SKILLS SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULTS WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.THE GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COPE WITH THE EMOTIONAL TURMOIL AND IMPACT THAT LOSS AND GRIEVING CAN HAVE ON THEIR LIVES, WHILE ALSO ASSISTING CLIENTS IN MOVING THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROCESS. EXAMPLES OF LOSS INCLUDE THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND OR ROOMMATE, AND/OR ISSUES EVOLVING FROM PERSONAL ILLNESS AND THE END OF ONES OWN LIFE. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ARC OF OKLAHOMAS GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAMMING IS THE GRIEF RECOVER MODEL THAT IS WIDELY USED BY TRADITIONAL GRIEF COUNSELING PROGRAMS. THE METHODS SPECIFIED IN THE MODEL, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN ADAPTED FOR USE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.THE HEALTH MATTERS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN THE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND EXERCISE EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN TULSA. IT IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM THAT SPECIFICALLY SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS. IT IMPROVES THE PERSONAL HEALTH, RESILIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN TULSA BY CHALLENGING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WITH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. IT WAS PILOTED IN 2021 AND OFFERED BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON, SERVING 32 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IT INCLUDES OVER TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH AND MEETS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVINGS CRITERIA FOR EVIDENCED-BASED PROGRAMS UNDER TITLE III-D HIGHEST TIER EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.