Special Needs Resources

Education and Rights

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 3, 2004. As the nation's special education law, IDEA serves approximately 6.8 million children and youth with disabilities. CLICK HERE to visit the IDEA website and learn more.

Local Advocacy Group: TARC

Developmental Difficulties Advocacy Network

Additional Resources

• TherapyWorks - Outpatient pediatric clinic for physical, occupational, speech and nutrition therapy
• American Therapeutic Riding Center - Year-round, therapeutic horseback riding
• Tulsa Sunshine Center for Kids - Speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nutrition
• Gene McCormick Cosmetic Dentistry -
• Tulsa Developmental Pediatrics and Center for Family Psychology - Devoted to a true multidisciplinary approach for helping children and families with special needs from all around Oklahoma and surrounding states.
• Dr. Thomas Gilbert, DDS -
  
  Mended Little Hearts of Tulsa - Offers support to family members and other caregivers of children affected with heart defects/heart disease
  
  

  Special Education Services, Department of Education
  
  2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599
  (405) 521-3351
  E-mail: darla_griffin@mail.sde.state.ok.us
  
  PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES:
  AGES 3 THROUGH 5
  Amber Hackney, Coordinator
  Special Education Section, Department of Education
  2500 North Lincoln Blvd., Room 411
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105
  (405) 521-3351
  
  PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH
  DISABILITIES: AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2
  Cathy Perri, Associate Director
  Sooner Start
  Special Education Section, Department of Education
  2500 North Lincoln Blvd., Room 411
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599
  (405) 521-4880
  E-mail: cathy_perri@mail.sde.state.ok.us
  Web: www.sde.state.ok.us/pro/ei.html
  
  STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY
  inda S. Parker, Director
  Department of Rehabilitation Services
  3535 NW 58th, Suite 500
  Oklahoma City, OK 73112
  (405) 951-3400
  
  OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
  Melanie Eick, Disabilities Specialist
  Department of Vocational Technical Education
  1500 West 7th Avenue
  Stillwater, OK 74074
  (405) 377-2000 (Ext. 138); (405) 743-5138
  (800) 522-5810, ext. 138
  E-mail: meick@okvotech.org
  
  STATE MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY
  Sharron Boehler, Commissioner
  Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Svcs.
  P.O. Box 53277
  Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3277
  (405) 522-3877
  Web: www.state.ok.us/~dmhsas
  
  STATE MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
  Beverly Smallwood, Director
  Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
  P.O. Box 53277
  Oklahoma City, OK 73152
  (405) 522-3839
  E-mail: Beverly_Smallwood@oklaosf.state.ok.us
  
  STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROGRAM
  Jim Nicholson, Division Administrator
  Developmental Disabilities Services
  Department of Human Services
  P.O. Box 25352
  Oklahoma City, OK 73125
  Phone: (405) 521-3646 / Fax: (405) 522-3037
  
  STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL
  Ann Trudgeon, Director
  OK Developmental Disabilities Council
  3033 N. Walnut, Suite 105E
  P.O. Box 25352
  Oklahoma City, OK 73125
  (405) 528-4984 or 4985; (800) 836-4470
  E-mail: OPCDD@AOL.com
  
  PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY
  Kayla A. Bower, Executive Director
  OK Disability Law Center, Inc
  2828 E. 51st Street, Suite 302
  Tulsa, OK 74105
  (918) 743-6220 (V/TTY); (800) 226-5883 (V/TTY, in OK only)
  Kayla A. Bower, Executive Director
  Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc.
  2915 Classen Blvd.
  300 Cameron Building
  Oklahoma City, OK 73106
  (405) 525-7755 (V/TTY); (800) 880-7755 (V/TTY, in OK)
  E-mail: kbower1@flash.net
  Web: www.flash.net/~odlcokc
  
  CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
  Helen Kutz, Director
  OK Client Assistance Program
  Office of Handicapped Concerns
  2712 Villa Prom Street
  Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2423
  (405) 521-3756; (800) 522-8224
  
  PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
  Howard Hendrix, Director
  Family Support Services
  Department of Human Services
  P.O. Box 25352
  Oklahoma City, OK 73125
  (405) 521-3076
  
  REGIONAL ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY
  Southwest DBTAC
  Independent Living Research Utilization
  2323 South Shepard Boulevard, Suite 1000
  Houston TX 77019
  (713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
  Web: www.ilru.org/ilru-swdbtac.html
  
  DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS
  
  Attention Deficit Disorder
  To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:
  Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
  (CH.A.D.D)
  8181 Professional Place, Suite 201
  Landover, MD 20785
  (301) 306-7070
  (800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
  E-mail: national@chadd.org
  Web: www.chadd.org
  
  National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
  9930 Johnnycake Ridge Rd., Suite 3E
  Mentor, OH 44060
  (440) 350-9595
  (800) 487-2282 (Voice mail to request information packet)
  E-mail: NatlADDA@AOL.com
  Web: www.add.org
  
  Autism
  To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
  Autism Society of America
  7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
  Bethesda, MD 20814
  (301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
  Web: www.autism-society.org
  
  Brain Injury
  Charlotte Bowen, Executive Director, Community and Family Resources
  Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma, Inc.
  P.O. Box 88
  Hillsdale, OK 73743
  (580) 635-2237; (800) 765-6809 (in OK)
  E-mail: biaok@ionet.net
  Web: www.ionet.net/~rxot/
  
  Cerebral Palsy
  Jim Rankin, Executive Director
  United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma
  1917 South Harvard Drive
  Oklahoma City, OK 73128
  (405) 681-9611; (800) UCP-2289
  E-mail: oklahoma@ucp.org
  Web: www.ucp.org
  
  Epilepsy
  Laura E. Neece-Baltaro, President
  Epilepsy Association of the Sooner State
  711 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Suite 550
  Oklahoma City, OK 73104
  (405) 271-3232
  E-mail: brainwav@mci2000.com or kbower1@flash.net
  Web: www.oklahoman.net/connections/epilepsy
  
  Learning Disabilities
  
  Barbara Greggs, President
  Learning Disabilities Association of OK
  P.O. Box 2315
  Stillwater, OK 74076
  (405) 743-1366; (800) 532-6365 (in OK)
  E-mail: ldao@fullnet.net or Barbaragreggs@hotmail.com
  
  Joe Greggs, President
  OKC Metropolitan Parent Support Group
  for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities
  5920 N. MacArthur
  Oklahoma City, OK 73122
  (405) 721-3144
  E-mail: jwgreggs@hotmail.com
  
  Mental Health
  
  Annette Murphy, Execuive Director
  Mental Health Association in OK County
  (Shartel Shopping Center)
  5104 North Francis, Suite B
  Oklahoma City, OK 73118
  (405) 843-9900
  
  Steven Buck, Executive Director
  NAMI Oklahoma
  5131 Classen Blvd.
  Suite 110
  Oklahoma City, OK 73118
  (405) 840-4746; (800) 645-5437
  E-mail: namiok@oklahoma.net
  Web: www.nami.org/~amiok
  
  Special Health Care Needs
  
  Lyn Thoreson, State Coordinator
  Family Voices
  P.O. Box 32255
  Oklahoma City, OK 73123
  (800) 766-2223 (in OK); (405) 271-6617
  E-mail: LynT@health.state.ok.us
  Web: www.health.state.ok.us
  
  Speech and Hearing
  Debbie Barker, President
  OK Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  P.O. Box 53217
  Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3217
  (405) 769-7329
  E-mail: oslha@AOL.com
  
  Spina Bifida
  Quincy Kaufman, President
  Spina Bifida Association of Oklahoma
  P.O. Box 2117
  Oklahoma City, OK 73101-2117
  (405) 789-7056
  
  Visual Impairments
  Judy Scott
  American Foundation for the Blind-Southwest
  260 Treadway Plaza, Exchange Park
  Dallas, TX 75235
  (214) 352-7222
  E-mail: afbdallas@afb.org
  
  UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAM
  Valerie N. Williams, Director
  UAP of Oklahoma
  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  P.O. Box 26901, ROB 316
  Oklahoma City, OK 73190-3042
  (405) 271-2688
  E-mail: valerie-williams@ouhsc.edu
  
  TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE
  Linda Jaco, Project Manager
  Oklahoma ABLE Tech
  Oklahoma State University
  Wellness Center
  1514 W. Hall of Fame
  Stillwater, OK 74078-2026
  (405) 744-9864; (800) 257-1705 (V/TTY)
  (888) 885-5588 (ABLE Tech Info-line)
  E-mail: mljwell@okway.okstate.edu
  Web: www.okstate.edu/wellness/at-home.htm
  
  PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROJECT
  Sharon Bishop, Director
  Parents Reaching Out in OK (PRO-Oklahoma)
  1917 South Harvard Avenue
  Oklahoma City, OK 73128
  (405) 681-9710; (800) PL94-142 (V/TTY)
  E-mail: prook1@AOL.com
  Web: www.ucp.org/probase.htm
  
  PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
  Patty Neuwirth, President
  Oklahoma Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
  1601 S.W. 89th Street, Building B, Suite 200
  Oklahoma City, OK 73159
  (405) 681-0750
  E-mail: ok_office@pta.org
  
  STATE INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICE
  Madalyn McCollom, Director
  OK Areawide Service Information System (OASIS)
  4545 N. Lincoln, Suite 281
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105
  (405) 271-6302 (V/TTY; 800-42-OASIS (V/TTY)
  E-mail: oasisok@juno.com
  Web: oasis.ouhsc.edu
  
  OTHER DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS
  Patricia Filer, President
  Easter Seals Oklahoma
  2100 N.W. 63rd Street
  Oklahoma City, OK 73116
  (405) 848-2525
  E-mail: SibleyF@MSN.com
  
  Palma Bucher, Director
  The Child & Adolescent Network (for Emotional, Behavioral,
  or Mentally Unique Children and Their Families)
  5131 Classen Boulevard, Suite 110
  Oklahoma City, OK 73118
  (405) 840-4746; (800) 645-5437 (in OK)
  E-mail: namiok@oklahoma.net
  Web: www.nami.org/amiok
  
  Curt Peters, Director
  J.D. McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities
  1125 E. Alameda
  Norman, OK 73071
  (405) 321-4830
  E-mail: curt@jdmc.org
  Web: www.jdmc.org
  
  Cindy Hoke-Blackburn, Executive Director
  VSA (Very Special Arts) Oklahoma
  3022 Paseo
  Oklahoma City, OK 73103
  (405) 525-2787
  E-mail: vsaok@swbell.net