Focus facts on community living, 02/2010

              CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
FEBRUARY 2010
Campaign to End the “R-word”
March 3, 2010 will mark the second Spread the Word to End the Word Day of Awareness. The campaign
to end the “R-word” was started in Oklahoma by Wanda and Rick Felty in April of 2007. Its purpose is to
make people aware of the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)”. Since that time, the
campaign to end the “R-word” has gone global and Best Buddies International and Special Olympics have
taken on the cause. Spread the Word supporters are encouraging people to stop using the “R-word” and to
pledge their support at www.r-word.org. Their goal is to reach 100,000 pledges. For Information about the
campaign in Oklahoma, visit http://therword.org/.
Free Conferences
Oklahoma Areawide Services Information System (OASIS) will offer two, free conferences
this spring. The On the Road Family Perspective Conferences are free, one-day conferences
featuring representatives from social service and advocacy agencies. Conference speakers
share information about accessing services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Lunch is pro-vided
at no cost, but registration is required. For more information about the conferences or to register, call
Sally Selvidge with OASIS at 1-800-426-2747 or via e-mail at sally-selvidge@ouhsc.edu. Conferences
scheduled in March are listed below.
Tuesday, March–Norman, OK–8:30 a.m –3:30 p.m.
Moore-Norman Technology Center, 4701 12th Avenue
Registration deadline is February 26th
Tuesday, March 23–Idabel, OK-8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Museum of the Red River, 812 Lincoln Road
Work Incentives Seminars
The Oklahoma Work Incentives Planning Assistance (OWIPA) project is hosting seminars for Social Secu-rity
beneficiaries who may be considering going to work. The seminars provide information about work
incentives available from the Social Security Administration. Community Work Incentives Coordinators
from OWIPA and representatives from Employment Networks will be available to answer questions. Three
seminars are scheduled for the spring. All events are held from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. on the following
dates: March 24th – Muskogee, OK; March 31–Tulsa, OK; and April 7–Enid, OK. For more information
contact Jill Burgess at 405-325-8130 or jburgess@ou.edu.
Metro Disability Resource Fair
The fourth annual Metro Disability Resource Fair will be held at Shepherd Mall, N.W.23rd and Villa, Okla-homa
City, OK on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Information from various public
and private agencies will be available. For more information about the event, contact Nancy Abraham at
405-235-4990.
Free E-Learning Courses
Partners in Policy Making (PIP) offers five free E-learning courses for individuals with disabilities, their fam-ily
members, friends and service providers. The courses offer learners the chance to work at their own
pace and cover a variety of topics including self-determination, family support, education, employment and
advocacy. One of the modules, Partners in Time, is a historical overview of the treatment of people with
developmental disabilities throughout history. The course outlines the history of discrimination, segrega-tion,
abuse, ignorance and even good intentions that have affected the lives of people with disabilities and
their families. This course is a resource for anyone interested in understanding disability issues from a
historical perspective. For more information or to start a course, go to www.partnersinpolicymaking.com.
Future focus facts issues will highlight other PIP E-Learning courses.