How does an octopus provide jobs for people with disabilities? Learn more about Dale Rogers Training Center’s newest business venture offering more choices for individuals in OKC.
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History on display
A new piece of Oklahoma’s storied history is on display at the Oklahoma History Center, thanks in part to people with disabilities at Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC).
A replica of Oklahoma’s first flag (adopted in 1911) is now encased in a 5’6” by 8’6” picture frame, manufactured at Wyman Frame – DRTC’s custom picture framing division. It is the largest frame ever assembled at Wyman Frame.
“The sheer size of this frame presented challenges,” said Carla Folks, Certified Picture Framer at Wyman Frame. “We assembled it with an inner and outer frame to provide more support, and had to special order other materials to finish the project.”
The completed frame, weighing approximately 100 pounds, required special care and multiple people to transport throughout the process. It is now on display in a classroom connected to the Research Center at the Oklahoma History Center.
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and DRTC is proud to honor the accomplishments of individuals served through its various programs. Each year, DRTC provides training or employment to approximately 1,000 people with disabilities. Last year, participants in DRTC’s programs earned $5.2 million in wages.
In addition to operating Wyman Frame, DRTC also manufactures awards and trophies, as well as produces custom-branded promotional items. The nonprofit agency holds federal contracts at Tinker Air Force Base, FAA and federal buildings in downtown OKC providing custodial and food service.
Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) is the oldest and largest community vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities in Oklahoma. With multiple locations in Oklahoma, DRTC trains or employs approximately 1,000 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.
Hey, buddy! #pwdad2019
An overcast and drizzly day outside turned into warm, bright greetings in the Oklahoma Capitol on People with Disabilities Awareness Day 2019.
Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) gathered a team of individuals involved in its various programs to participate in the annual event put on by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Debbie Ladd, Mobile Workforce Coordinator, assembled the team of nine prior to the six-mile trip down Northwest 23rd Street to go over the game plan. They reviewed lawmakers to visit, including those located within DRTC’s district, as well as other key legislators. In addition, Ladd also provided handouts from Oklahoma Community Providers regarding legislation that impact people with disabilities to supply to lawmakers and their staff.
Once at the Capitol, DRTC clients visited the offices of approximately 20 lawmakers. However, most were conducting state business and were unavailable. Individuals did a fantastic job speaking with their assistants, introducing themselves and Dale Rogers Training Center, as well as talking about legislation that could impact people with disabilities statewide.
Chris, who has gained agency-wide fame for his famous “Hey, buddy!” greetings, used his signature call on just about everyone throughout the Capitol, including Majority Leader Jon Echols who was on his way to a colleague’s office. The two spoke briefly about DRTC’s visit before taking a picture together.
Well-known work
Dale Rogers Training Center is well known throughout the Capitol. Not only is DRTC Oklahoma’s oldest and largest vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities, but the nonprofit agency also manufactures products used throughout the Capitol building.
“We order plaques from Dale Rogers (Training Center),” said Gracie Monson with Senator Kevin Matthews’ office.
Sonya Barker, Legislative Assistant to Representatives Mark Lawson and Kyle Hilbert told us they have picture frames produced at Wyman Frame, a division of DRTC, in their office.
Dale Rogers Training Center participates in the State Use program, which facilitates contracted work between state agencies and nonprofit agencies providing work for people with disabilities. DRTC currently holds contracts for awards, trophies, plaques, name plates, badges, holders (through Prism Place), picture frames (Wyman Frame) and even delineators.
Bills to watch
Dale Rogers Training Center is paying attention to a couple of bills this session:
HB 1290 – Would impact the State Use program by eliminating the 14c Department of Labor Certificate as a condition for participation in the program.
SB 202 – Would affect group home reimbursement from bed capacity to bed occupancy.
Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) is the oldest and largest community vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities in Oklahoma. With multiple locations in Oklahoma, DRTC trains or employs approximately 1,000 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.
Holiday Gratitude
As we begin to close out 2018, we would like to express our profound appreciation to all of you who have chosen Wyman Frame, a division of Dale Rogers Training Center, to manufacture custom picture frames, while providing jobs for people with disabilities.
We know everything you decide to frame has significance—that you worked in some meaningful way to create it, collect it, show it and share it. Thank you for choosing our work to support yours.
As we look forward to 2019, we promise to keep providing great customer service, high-quality products, artist-approved services and resources to help you follow your artistic passions. As always, we’ll keep working together and having fun along the way.
Happy Holidays!
Carla Folks, Mark Woods, Greg Rice—The Wyman Crew
Carla Folks works at Dale Rogers Training Center Custom Framing. Carla has been a Certified Picture Framer since 1989 and has framed for DRTC since 2013 where she trains/supervises people with disabilities on various projects.
DRTC is the oldest and largest community vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities in Oklahoma. With multiple locations in Oklahoma, DRTC trains or employs more than 1,100 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.
