A treasure chest will be open at the Oklahoma School for the Blind next week, treasure that could be invaluable for people with disabilities.

“A treasure chest of knowledge” is the theme for a two-day community outreach and education expo sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. The expo will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the Muskogee campus. The event begins at 9 a.m. Admission is free.

Jody Harlan, public information administrator for DRS, said that navigating the maze of agencies and offices that serve the disabled can be daunting and discouraging.

“The problem is there’s more than one agency for the disabled,” Harlan said. “We are the big agency.

“This will be a one-stop shop — a mall of disability services. It will be really nice for someone worn out from trying to find information to get it at one place.”

Larry Hawkins is superintendent of the School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, which are divisions of DRS. He gave examples of the information and services that will be highlighted at the expo.

“We have a hearing aid program for senior citizens,” Hawkins said. “Any senior citizen would probably qualify for a hearing aid from us, either free or at a discount.”

Hawkins said applications for hearing aids and more information about the program will be available at the expo.

A similar program exists for young children who are hearing impaired.

And DRS also offers other equipment to senior citizens with poor hearing.

“If they can’t hear the door bell, we can fix them up with a flasher that lets you know someone is ringing the door bell,” Hawkins said.

Telephone amplifiers also are available to qualified senior citizens.

Other programs exist for the blind and visually impaired and for those with other disabilities, such as severe arthritis.

The expo will also offer more than 25 workshops, on such topics as math classes for blind students, an introduction to sign language, and new technology for the disabled.

One workshop will focus on dog guides — a term the disability community prefers to guide dogs, Harlan said.

More than 30 exhibition booths will be on hand at the expo, which begins both days at 9 a.m. On Wednesday the event wraps up at 4:30; on Thursday, an hour earlier.

Harlan said the expo’s Thursday session is also intended to serve as an informal reunion for retired DRS employees.

“It allows them to get an update on what we’re doing, and to see each other,” said Harlan.

Harlan hopes the expo will raise the profile of the School for the Blind.

“It’s a chance to showcase the school,” she said. “We hope this event will be a reason for people to stop by.”

The expo will provide continuing education credits for occupational and physical therapists.

DRS has vocational rehabilitation offices that help adults and high school students receive training and find jobs.

Another division of DRS determines the eligibility of those who apply for Social Security disability.

Reach Kirk Kramer on 684-2901 or kkramer @muskogeephoenix.com.

If you go



WHAT: Community outreach and education expo sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

WHEN: 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: Oklahoma School for the Blind, 3300 Gibson St.

COST: Free.

INFORMATION: www.okdrs.gov