Center for Learning and Leadership Welcomes New Staff The

CENTER
FOR
LEARNING
OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN
AND
LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
Center for Learning and Leadership Welcomes New Staff
The Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL) recently hired Brian Smith as the SelfAdvocacy Partners Coordinator. Brian is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where
he majored in Strategic Communications. Brian will have primary responsibility for
coordinating the Oklahoma Self-Advocacy Network, which was formed after the
regional self-advocacy summit hosted by the U.S. Administration on Developmental
Disabilities in Kansas City, MO in April 2011.
Crisann Hanes joins CLL staff as the Instructional Delivery Coordinator. Crisann recently
graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she studied English Writing, and has
worked for LL since 2009 as a Student !ssistant; risann’s new position will primarily
involve managing and developing web-based media and coursework.
TARC Parent Advocate Award
Wanda Felty, Community Leadership and Advocacy Coordinator for the Center for
Learning and Leadership, was recently honored as the Parent Advocate of the Year
at the 21st Annual TARC Advocacy Awards and Volunteer Recognition ceremony in
Tulsa, OK. TARC is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Oklahomans with
developmental disabilities and their families throughout their lifetimes.
Wanda serves as the Oklahoma LEND Core Faculty for Family/Parent Issues and is a
commissioner with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth. Wanda has
worked as an advocate for many years through her support of other families and her interface with
legislators and policy makers in efforts to improve services. She leads the state developmental
disability agency’s waiting list meetings so families can have a voice and easy access to policy makers;
She and her husband also started the first “r” Word campaign website in 2007 to raise awareness of
people first language at both a state and national level. Wanda has three daughters; her middle
daughter has developmental disabilities and lives at home with her family.
Student Aid for Students with Disabilities
The 2012-13 Guide to Federal Student Aid is now available at studentaid.ed.gov/guide and includes
information specifically for students with intellectual disabilities on page 6. For more information,
visit the websites below:
● For federal student aid eligibility information specifically for students with
intellectual disabilities, go to studentaid.ed.gov/eligible.
● For information about scholarships and other types of aid for students with a
variety of disabilities, visit disability.gov/education.
● For information about scholarship opportunities for Oklahoma students with
physical or learning disabilities, go to dreaminstitute.org.
focus facts is supported by grant
#90DD0543 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration on Developmental
Disabilities. Additional support is
provided by Oklahoma co-sponsors:
OU College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center, and project partners: East
Central University, The University of
Tulsa, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The University of Oklahoma publishes this
newsletter in compliance with Titles
VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Executive Order 11246 as
amended, Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, and
other federal laws and regulations.
The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all Federal and State
applicable laws and regulations,
does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, age,
religion, disability, or status as a
veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes
but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.
 February 27: Senior Day at the Capitol, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, visit
okseniorday.com or call the Senior Info-Line at 1-800-211-2116.
 March 2: Oklahoma Parents Center Conference, Sheraton Midwest City Hotel, 5750
Will Rogers Rd., Midwest City. For more information or to register, visit
oklahomaparentscenter.org or call 1-877-553-4332.
 March 4-7: hildren’s Mental Health Research and Policy onference, Tampa, FL;
Visit cmhtampaconference.usf.edu for details.
 March 6: On the Road Family Perspective Conference, 8:45 a.m-3 p.m., First United
Methodist Church, 202 W. Oklahoma, Anadarko. For more information or to
register, call OASIS at 1-800-426-4727 or visit oasis.ouhsc.edu.
 March 22: Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) Waiting List meeting,
1:30 p.m., Sequoyah Office Building Room C-47, Capitol Complex, Oklahoma City.
Call 405-271-4500, ext. 41004 or visit okwaitinglist.org for more information.
 March 27: Transition Resource Fair, 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p;m;, Nancy O’rian enter for
Performing Arts, Norman North High School, 1809 Stubbeman Ave., Norman.
Contact Marcie Stickney at [email protected] for more information.
 April 23-25: Disability Policy Seminar, Washington D.C. For more information, visit
disabilitypolicyseminar.org.
 April 25-26: Governor’s onference on Developmental Disabilities, Embassy Suites,
2501 Conference Dr., Norman. Registration is available at okgovconfdd.com.
focus facts
Email:
[email protected]
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Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
If you would like to submit information to be published in the newsletter, please e-mail or mail our Editor.
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submitting.
“Health Reform Hits Main Street,” an animation that explains what
changes the Affordable Care Act makes to our health care system, is
now available in Spanish. The animation is produced by the Kaiser
Family Foundation and is available at healthreform.kff.org. This
website also provides research, analysis and other informational
resources about health care reform.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
the Center for Learning and Leadership, Oklahoma’s University Center
for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities (UCEDD). It is mailed to
a statewide and national network of
over 1,300 people interested in
developmental disabilities.
Health Reform Animation Available in Spanish
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220