SHEP’s Connection Corner - August Newsletter

SHEP’s Connection Corner

August 2025

It Got us Again!

The storm that is! It got us. We had to move our July social from Scissortail Park to Starbucks due to the rainstorm. Oh, but it didn’t rain on our parade! We still had quite a time with Iamdb with cafe drinks as our companions.

Vicky, our operation’s manager, got in a lot of sign language practice. When the tables turned and Vicky was in the spotlight, it turned the heat up a few notches. Haha! This was a beautiful merge with the hearing world and DeafBlind culture.

Each person took turns signing phrases for Vicky to learn and sign back. There were the phrases: I need help, How are you?, found eggs, You work good, you are trouble, and where’s your SSP?

No worries! They took it easy on her! Bring your friends and family to the events! We are all part of the community! We love opportunities to spread awarenEss and communication.

August is the month the kids are getting ready for school! Do you have a back to school routine? How about those expenses?

We’d like to take a poll and post the results in next month’s newsletter. Some public schools require uniforms. What is your vote; Yes, i prefer uniforms or No, I’m against making students where uniforms to school? Email us your answer at humanresources@shep-ok.org. We can’t wait to receive your responses!

Well to the adult learners out there, we haven’t forgotten about you! It’s “back to school for everyone” time! Let us know how we can support you in your needs for shopping, appointments; really anything that is necessary for the running of your household. If we aren’t able to provide an ssp for you , we could definitely help you find these resources.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesAugust 23, 2025shep, deafblind, okc, sign language, ssps, part time, asl, scripture, deaf, tulsaComment

SHEP’s Connection Corner - July Newsletter

SHEP’s Connection Corner

July 2025

Give me the scoop!

Celebrating Independence Through Accessibility

As we gather to celebrate Independence Day this month, we're reminded that freedom means something unique to each person. For the DeafBlind community, independence is deeply tied to connection—through touch, through trust, and through thoughtful access to communication. We're proud to stand alongside our community members, advocating for inclusive spaces and empowering individuals to live with dignity and confidence.

You may have your days where you just want to curl up with a book and just stay to yourself. That’s okay! Self care and resetting with some much needed rest and relaxation is always recommended. On those days you may feel like you are out here all by yourself, know that you have a community to connect with. for those with a social media presence, we will be hosting Facebook page Message us for the invite to be added so you can be social with others without having to give out your phone number.

Being connected is so important. Look at what the bible says on this.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesAugust 23, 2025deafblind, CLEET, training, ssp, bible, okc, tulsa, advocateComment

SHEP’s Connection Corner - May Newsletter

SHEP’s Connection Corner

May 2025

What's the scoop?!

May the force be with you!
You just gotta love spring rain. One thing to prepare for are the return of the six legged creatures. Gulp! Bugs.
Spring is in full effect!
Parents, The school year and proms are wrapping up and graduation is in the air for many. Perhaps you, reader, are the one graduating! We for sure have some staff families with high school graduates, ceremonies, and gatherings rolling around the corner.
May has quite a bit to celebrate!
Cinco De Mayo is coming in hot and we will surely be celebrating that, too!
Honoring a mom or motherly figure in your life on Mother’s Day? There are so many creative ideas out there. Our president and founder, Cassandra Oakes, has four adult children. and eleven grandchildren. Needless to say, Mother’s Day is a big deal!
In April we showed up and showed out at the resource fair and the deaf nation expo. Oh what a time we had! We met so many new people and linked up with our own active community members.

We want that for all of you! to be able to enjoy each day to the fullest in your independence and socializing and coming together in the community. We are open to ideas and even a nudge or heads up to upcoming events we may not have been informed of. Send us an email and let’s get together! We love your ideas.
Let’s do a bible dig, shall we?
Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers to meet together and encourage one another, while
1Corinthians12:25-27 highlights the body of Christ as a diverse group where each part is essential and interdependent.
Speaking of coming together...
May day! May day! We need ssps! Join the team! You may think you need to already know what a ssp is. Nope! Just have a heart to help and transportation and we will train you. Know your abcs in sign language? That’s a big help for some of our clients and...we will teach you!
We have sign language classes coming up. Donations are welcome. We will be posting our summer signing class soon!

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesAugust 23, 2025may, newsletter, spring, okc, deafblind, mothers day, deaf, tulsaComment

SHEP’s Connection Corner - January Newsletter

SHEP’s Connection Corner

January 2024

GIVE ME THE SCOOP

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

God doesn’t give us resolutions. We get revelations. Something to think about... What have you reflected on and how are you taking that and moving forward? Greatness is in you and with you, And we are blessed to be a part of your circle.

Here is our prayer for you to kick off the year.

Lord,

We pray love, wellness, prosperity, and love over each and every reader of this newsletter and any connections they have with anyone. We pray for the hands, minds, and hearts of everyone, from the leader of the country, authorities,and loved ones, debt collectors, and anyone that runs across our minds. Lord, we come to you with thankfulness in our hearts for the gifts you bestow on us daily. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Let’s get this year started on the right foot. I heard a joke that right before the clock strikes midnight on New Years, if you lift your left leg and only stand on your right leg, then you’re guaranteed to start the year off on the right foot. Either way, we’re in it to win it, and on the right foot at that!

We “sleighed” December! Our annual Christmas party was nothing short of fun and laughter. Congratulations to the winners of the Musical Popcorn game! It was a game where when the music stopped and you were the one holding the wrapped gift (kind of passed around like hot potato) then you were the one that had 3 seconds to blurt out a holiday themed word that no one else has already said. You can imagine the hilarity. You just had to have Been there!

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesJanuary 12, 2025shep, deafblind, db, okc, tulsa, december, christmas, party, osu, library, yukon, giftsComment

SHEP Connection Corner - October Newsletter

SHEP’s Connection Corner

Give Me The Scoop!

SHEP Connection Corner - October Newsletter

It’s Officially Fall!

Okay, okay... so we have still had some hot days but at least the three digit weather is gone.

Did you make it to the September IamDB? Get there! Fun is a given but we have also been learning braille. Thanks to our very own Gene sharing your knowledge of the machines you use. Gadgets have come a looooong way!

At the very end of the September was Robin White’s birthday! It’s not too late to go on our Facebook page and wish Robin a very merry birthday. Yes, merry! It’s almost that time ya’ll! Wait... just wait! We have something fantastic planned for October. A hoedown! Have you ever been to a hoedown? Well this one is one to etch in memory lane. Come and experience the fun! Fliers have gone out, but if you have questions please reach out to us. We are inviting Tulsa participants and arranging a van to pick up at Jeri’s House.

Limited seating so jump on this quick to get transportation to the hoedown before we fill up!

Psalm 85:12: "The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." Harvest time is near! What does that mean to you? Not just gathering fruits and vegetables. The harvest of Kingdom work! What you sow will be evident in your harvest. We are thankful blessed to be able to provide for this magnificent community. Your community! Our community! We will never cease praying over you all.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesSeptember 29, 2024shep, deafblind, okc, tulsa, oklahoma, ocober, october, hope ranch, valley, connectionComment

SHEP Connection Corner - August Newsletter

SHEP's Connection Corner

Like a beanstalk…

We are growing and still hiring SSPs. We have

trainings available in Tulsa and OKC!

Did we beat the heat?

The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!” Have you

heard of that song? The next verse says, “We don’t

need no water...!” Ummm...yes, yes do. We

need lots of water. This heat has been intense! We sure do hope you are keeping cool and staying hydrated out there. The bible even tells us how to keep a cool head. Proverbs 17:27-28 The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding.

July has been a scorcher! Please be good to us, August! July did bring about some good things though. July 17th was our vice president's, Alethea’s, birthday and then July 20th was our technical operations manager Tiara’s, birthday. We had a lot to celebrate! We also had a pretty spectacular indoor game day SHEP event.

School is starting up for many this month, from elementary to college. For that reason, we are not having an

August SHEP event. We will have one next month before we head out to camp in October. This month our SSP

manager will be going on vacation. All SSP requests must be received All SSP requests must be received before

August 11 th and after August 19 th . Changes to requests that have already been made cannot be accepted during

that time either. A letter will be emailed with more details.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesAugust 11, 2024shepokc, deafblind, db, ssp, program, august, 2024, okc, tulsa, baseball, club, tickes, ticketsComment

INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IN TULSA PROVIDES FUN FOR EVERY CHILD

Tulsa has opened its first accessible playground that has something for every kid, with a disability or not.

Kids helped cut the ribbon and got to climb all over the new equipment at last.

Whether you’re soaring on the swing, zipping down the slides, or perhaps going for a drive, this is a playground for everyone.

COVID an extra challenge for blind: 'A handshake and a hug is almost like giving me 20/20'

Oklahoma News, Tulsa NewsHuman ResourcesNovember 29, 2020jeri cooper, tulsa, news, oklahoma, city, covid, covid19, house, deafblind, db, deaf, blind, 2020, coronavirusComment

New Deaf/Hard of Hearing Car Visors in Oklahoma

Look whats new! Car visors for police interaction!! DRS partnered with OAD and also DGMU-Ok last fall to create these. These will replace the current visors.

These for Oklahoma residents, can be picked up at DRS Deaf Services in OKC and Tulsa. We thank DRS, for including us in input and also for creating and ordering these for our community.

DRS information and location pick up:
Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 51
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Office: (405) 522-7930 Email: SDHH@okdrs.gov

Raffle for Jeri's House - Enter to Win an iPad 9.7″

Drawing: April 13, 2018

Enter to win an iPad 9.7in

Wi-Fi 32GB – Space Gray
8-megapixel camera
1080p HD video recording
iPad donated by NanoPac, Inc.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

1 Ticket for $5 ~OR 5 Tickets for $20

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN! Drawing will be held on FaceBook live on the morning of April 13th at Nanopac’s office.

You can purchase tickets by contacting Jeri Cooper.

Tulsa NewsHuman ResourcesFebruary 20, 2018raffle, jeri, house, tulsa, oklahoma city, oklahoma, tickets, ipad, win, facebook, live, donate, nanopacComment

Ginnie Graham: Broken Arrow brothers honored for being pioneers in self-advocacy for people with disabilities

Going through high school, James Meadours was kept separate in special education classes from his Broken Arrow classmates, never really getting to know them.

After graduating in 1986, he was put in a 10-bedroom group home and felt isolated from the world, being at the mercy of other adults.

Joining a singles group at Christ the King Church changed that.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesDecember 6, 2017tulsa, oklahoma, deaf, deafblind, single, advocacy, self, independent, living, group, award, disability, discriminationComment

Mustang investment advisor named spokesman for Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Daniel Meek, investment advisor and accountant from Mustang, relied on assistance from Visual Services’ employment programs to adapt to his vision and hearing disabilities. Meek was asked to represent deaf-blind Oklahomans during Deaf-Blind Awareness Week by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Oklahoma NewsHuman ResourcesJuly 12, 2017deaf, blind, oklahoma, oklahoma city, okc, tulsa, helen keller, blog, news Comment

Drawing: April 13, 2018

Enter to win an iPad 9.7in

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

1 Ticket for $5 ~OR 5 Tickets for $20

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