SECTION 612:10-13-1. Mission of the program

(a)   Purpose. This Subchapter describes the special services available from the Department of Rehabilitation Services specifically targeted to the needs of individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing and/or have other communicative disorders. These services are provided to meet the unique needs of this population and include but are not limited to:

(1)   vocational rehabilitation counseling and services provided by specialists with knowledge of the medical, functional, communicative, cultural and employment issues experienced by individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened and deaf-blind;

(2)   specialized client services including cultural mediation, information and referral for services related to hearing loss, client self-advocacy training, assistive technology devices and services for communication access, and instruction in specialized skills for independence, socialization and work adjustment;

(3)   facilitation of effective communication between persons with hearing loss and providers of planned VR services;

(4)   community outreach to educate consumers and the hearing population regarding hearing loss, communications accessibility, and rehabilitation and employment opportunities for persons with hearing loss;

(5)   sign language interpreter certification for the State of Oklahoma;

(6)   provision and coordination of interpreter services for DRS purposes including client communications; and

(7)   providing a conduit for communication between Oklahomans with hearing loss and the Department, advising the agency on current issues, needs and concerns of Oklahomans with hearing loss.

(b)   Acronyms. The following acronyms, when used in this subchapter, stand for the following:

(1)   "CDI" Certified Deaf Interpreter

(2)   "CI" Certificate of Interpretation

(3)   "CSC" Comprehensive Skills Certification

(4)   "CT" Certificate of Transliteration

(5)   "NAD" National Association of the Deaf

(6)   "RCD" Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

(7)   "RID" Registry of Interpreters

(8)   "SDHH" Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

[Source: Added at 10 Ok Reg 4633, eff 9-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2449, eff 7-1-94; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1774, eff 7-1-04; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1832, eff 7-1-11; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 2388, eff 9-12-14]