OADHome

Mission Statement

The mission of the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf (OAD) is to promote, protect and preserve the civil rights and quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Oklahoma.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Oklahoma Association of the Deaf (OAD) is that every deaf and hard of hearing individual can and will obtain maximum potential through increased independence, productivity and integration without barriers.

OAD is pleased to welcome to the news to your home!

OAD Board Meeting Highlights-August 30,2009

At the OAD Meeting on Sunday, August 30, the new OAD board has been hard at work to kick off the Year 2009-2011 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Best Western Hotel in Stroud, Oklahoma

The board has been very exciting to roll out many new exciting projects. We had developed several categories to ensure we are able to get OAD to move forward to continue with its advocacy, awareness and outreach.

OAD Board have recognized that OAD have reached its 100 year anniversaary and is gearing up to host a statewide gala banquet to celebrate the 100 year of OAD's work in Oklahoma City area during Fall 2010. Once the hotel has been secured and the event's agenda has been established, the announcement will be released to the public.

In the area of advocacy, OAD Board has debated the issue of ongoing discrimination which has continued haunt the deaf community on a daily basis which has not improved the communication access that it has gotten worse in the last few years. OAD Board made a very difficult decision to proceed to become extremely aggressive to develop several statewide formal complaints against several private. public and government entitlies for failure to comply with state and federal laws in communication access and exploring thepossible of hiring an advocacy attorney to assist with the complaints.

Outreach/Public Relations:

Reviewed the membership list to ensure all members'email addresses are correct so can send out the OAD E-news and E-announcement with updates.Review the conference's motion to appoint OAD histories and chair of the history committee in preparation for the 100th year gala event. Prepare to have OAD booth at state fair, deaf expo, DRS'16th birthday event, with OAD volunteers to assist. Will be working to update and revised new website. Appointed Loretta Flowers as Public Relation Director, Currently working on the E-news template, Developing a new survey/membership form to included more information on the website and distribution, Will be developing OAD advertising template to be ready in advance for all ads requests. Developing a new volunteer program keeping track of hours contributed to OAD by working at OAD booth and all OAD events. finalizied the new Twitter/facebook on OAD and adding icon on OAD website. Currently reviewing contracts with OKOAD vender to expand the program/services

Training/Events:

Preparing for the 100 years Gala event coming soon during fall 2010 in Oklahoma City area currently exploring hotel site. Prepare for the road tours coming to Sulphur, Bartlesville, Tulsa, Lawton and Oklahoma City, Preparing for OAD presentation at the Deaf Expo event, Appoint Jimmy Mitchell and Johnny Reinger to represent Oklahoma at the national Leadership Training in Columbus on October 29-31. They are committed to provide workship in their area to ensure they can provide new tools and ideas from the NLTC.

Advocacy:

Reviewing for a possible hiring an advocacy attorney to assist in filing formal complaints with Department of Justice against several ventures and businesses in violation of the state and federal laws with communication barriers/discrimination, currently investigate of complaints on three local schools for hiring uncertificated signers to interpret for deaf students-OAD will report to Department of Education and Attorney General for violation of state law the complain of interpreters not in compliance of the code of professional and conduct at the public schools-will be reporting to DRS's QAST coordinator, complaints on all concerts, theater, sporting events with communication barrers issue-will report to DOJ with assistance from the ADA attorney, Pending ongoing communication with two large entertainment ventures to ensure they revise their policy for the deaf patrons. If there is no agreement or solution-OAD will proceed to make formal complaint to DOJ on behalf of all deaf patrons. On all the schools for refusing to provide interpreters for the deaf parents of hearing/deaf children at all school activities-will put this on hold until we complete the first 4 complaints before moving forward with this area. Currently discussing to provide car visors for all deaf drivers to ensure law enforcement to recognize deaf drivers to reduce miscommunication and injury-Appointed Roger Camerson to represent OAD at all DRS deaf-related advisory committee meeting, Appointed KaAnn Varner and Ron Lawer to represent OAD at the OSDFEE meetings.

Legislative:

Appointed John Reinger as the chair and KaAnn as the c0-chair, Rene Ryan as treasurer/secretary of the coalation, appointed Lynn Null to continue her role with OKRID on the License Bill on OAD's behalf, appoint KaAnn Varner as chair of the task force on mental health

MDO:

made the decison to setup MDO candidate's application deadline to be October 31, 2009. If less than three girls, will proceed with panel in December 2009, if more than four girls, proceed with the pageant in January 2010. MDO Director will be visiting all schools to encourage more MDO candidates to apply before October 31,2009. Announcing "adopt a MDO girl" by all deaf churches, deaf clubs and individuals

Senior Citizens:

Appointed Chuck Helm as the new Senior Citizen Director

Youth/Leadership:

John Reinger have been appointed as the youth director in OKlahoma City area along with Candy as youth director for Sulphur area. OAD Board is currently looking to appint youth director for Tulsa area-they are hoping to establish Junior OAD/NAD chapters. will be developing a new youth OAD brochure, reviewing and developing high school scholarship programs for high schhol seniors.

Others:

Wrapping up the 2009 conference financial report wtih possitive results. KaAnn Varner is working to update the bylaw from the recent convention and will post it on the website. Glenna Cooper and Loretta Flowers will work on updating and improve the OAD website soon. Auditor team have reviewed and approved the financial reports from January 2009 to July 2009

OAD Web Mistress Loretta Flowers

January 8-9

Oklahoma School f/t Deaf

Basketball Games and HC

Sulphur, Oklahoma

Cancelled dued to the weather, will info asap..

January 15

SLRS Silent Dinner

Penn Square Mall-Food Court

6pm at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

January 25

TSHA Silent Dinner

Woodland Hills Mall-Food Court

6pm, 71st and Memorial at Tulsa, Oklahoma

Have any events u want this to be added on this site, Please e-mail to me on

Share |

Come join OAD Team!

Gala planning Committee

Task force on Deaf Child's Bill of Rights

Youth Program

High School Scholarship development committee

Senior Citizen Committee

Bylaw Committee

OKOAD team(get pay)

MDO Committee

Membership Committee

Task Force on mental health

History of OAD Committee

Booth Volunteers

Legal Advocacy Committee

Financial Committee

Upcoming Events

Got OAD?

If you would like to become a OAD member, please visit the website to fill out the membership form and mail the completed membership form with a check or money order to the OAD Treasurer, Ron Lawer or to any of the board members.

Oklahoma Association of the Deaf