Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with the opportunity to obtain employment and independent living through counseling, job training and other individualized services. DRS helps bridge barriers to success in the workplace, school and at home. DRS has five program divisions, Vocational Rehabilitation, Visual Services, Disability Determination, Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf. These divisions operate dozens of specialized programs that help Oklahomans lead more independent and productive lives.
DRS is governed by the Commission for Rehabilitation Services, composed of three members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Commission, in turn, appoints the Director of Rehabilitation Services to serve as the chief executive officer of the Department.
The current Director of Rehabilitation Services is Melinda Fruendt who was appointed by the Commission on November 5, 2018.
The Department was established in 1993 during the term of Governor David Walters
Leadership
The Department is led by the Oklahoma State Cabinet Secretary of Health and Human Services under Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt.Commission for Rehabilitation Services
The Commission for Rehabilitation Services is the governing board of the Department. The Commission is composed of three members, with one member appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, one member appointed by the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and one member appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. All members of the Commission serve three year terms. For more information about each commissioner, .Program Divisions
- Disability Determination Services - determines medical eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income
- Vocational Rehabilitation - employment services for people with any disability, except blindness
- Visual Services - employment and independent living services for people who are blind or visually impaired
- Oklahoma School for the Blind - provides educational programs for children who are blind or visually impaired
- Oklahoma School for the Deaf - provides educational programs for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Staffing
| Division | Number of Employees |
| Rehab and Visual Services | 374 |
| School for the Blind | 90 |
| School for the Deaf | 120 |
| Disability Determination | 329 |
| Support Services | 73 |
| Total | 986 |