(OKLAHOMA CITY)– Dale Rogers Training Center recently served as a pit stop of sorts for New York-based “Guys Group” with nonprofit People, Inc.

The group, comprised of 4 people with disabilities and 2 mentors, began their journey from Buffalo, New York, in May 2015.  Their mission: make a documentary to show that anyone can pack up and hit the road making their own memories.  Other stops in the 6,000 mile journey included Estes National Park, Colorado, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Hollywood and the Grand Canyon.  The trip also served educational purposes.  Individuals practiced and learned planning, budgeting, safety and social skills before and during their expedition.

DRTC took notice of the group’s “blazing trails” and reached out to People, Inc.  Through the magic of social media and a little bit of phone tag, Guys Group was able to fit DRTC in on the trip back home.

The group was able to speak with and answer questions from individuals in Dale Rogers Training Center’s Vocational Services program.  One of the highlights was when Eric sang, “Oklahoma!” for those in attendance.  Hearing the story of their trip may have sparked dreams of cross-country travel originating from OKC.  When asked if they wanted to come to New York and visit People, Inc., DRTC’s folks gave a resounding, “YES!”

DRTC staff members mic’ed up for the documentary and took Guys Group on a tour of the main campus at 2501 N. Utah Ave. in OKC, showing various programs (Wyman Frame, Prism Place, Special Needs Program and Vocational Services among others).

After the brief stop, the guys loaded back up and began their journey back to Buffalo.  DRTC wishes them safe travels the rest of the way!

People, Inc. offers services to people with developmental disabilites, special needs and seniors to live independent, productive lives.  The organization, founded in 1970, serves 12,000 people a year.

We’ll have more details on the documentary as it becomes available.

To follow Guys Group’s journey from Buffalo and back, Crossing Borders WNY Facebook page.

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 more than 1,100 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.

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(OKLAHOMA CITY)– Dale Rogers Training Center recently served as a pit stop of sorts for New York-based “Guys Group” with nonprofit People, Inc.

The group, comprised of 4 people with disabilities and 2 mentors, began their journey from Buffalo, New York, in May 2015.  Their mission: make a documentary to show that anyone can pack up and hit the road making their own memories.  Other stops in the 6,000 mile journey included Estes National Park, Colorado, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Hollywood and the Grand Canyon.  The trip also served educational purposes.  Individuals practiced and learned planning, budgeting, safety and social skills before and during their expedition.

DRTC took notice of the group’s “blazing trails” and reached out to People, Inc.  Through the magic of social media and a little bit of phone tag, Guys Group was able to fit DRTC in on the trip back home.

The group was able to speak with and answer questions from individuals in Dale Rogers Training Center’s Vocational Services program.  One of the highlights was when Eric sang, “Oklahoma!” for those in attendance.  Hearing the story of their trip may have sparked dreams of cross-country travel originating from OKC.  When asked if they wanted to come to New York and visit People, Inc., DRTC’s folks gave a resounding, “YES!”

DRTC staff members mic’ed up for the documentary and took Guys Group on a tour of the main campus at 2501 N. Utah Ave. in OKC, showing various programs (Wyman Frame, Prism Place, Special Needs Program and Vocational Services among others).

After the brief stop, the guys loaded back up and began their journey back to Buffalo.  DRTC wishes them safe travels the rest of the way!

People, Inc. offers services to people with developmental disabilites, special needs and seniors to live independent, productive lives.  The organization, founded in 1970, serves 12,000 people a year.

We’ll have more details on the documentary as it becomes available.

To follow Guys Group’s journey from Buffalo and back, Crossing Borders WNY Facebook page.

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 more than 1,100 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.

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(OKLAHOMA CITY)– Papa Murphy’s was a bright spot for our Transitions Program this school year!

About 50 students from Oklahoma City and Moore participated in job site training with Dale Rogers Training Center’s newest division. Students went through a mock new employee orientation—similar to what a Papa Murphy’s employee could experience.

Then they learned skills relating to the job: food handling sanitation (properly washing hands, putting on gloves and replacing gloves), weighing & cutting dough, making dough balls, shredding cheese, prepping all items needed for the day and making pizzas & salads. Students also learned valuable, and transferable, customer service skills.

We had even a student able to work the cashier register and take orders and complete the order with the money with no assistance.

The program was a big success! Several schools called the Transition Coordinator and said the students came back excited and talking about all the “cool” things they did at DRTC/Papa Murphy’s.

In May, our Transitions program recognized this year’s class for all their hard work!

Pix 2 Treasurers provided a photo booth for students and their families to take fun pictures, and students made cotton candy for the event.

Our Transition Coordinator compiled a highlight video of all the places and things students did over the year—from learning city bus routes, to trips to DRTC’s Papa Murphy’s, OSU-OKC and more.

Each student received an “Excellent Job Performance Award” made at Prism Place and was recognized for her/his outstanding work during the 2014-2015 school year.

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 more than 1,100 people with disabilities per year. Visit us online: DRTC.org.

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OKLAHOMA CITY– The team at Wyman Frame saw their finished work on display during a recent airing of Discover Oklahoma.

Among other areas highlighted, the show featured renovations at the Lodge at Sequoyah State Park near Fort Gibson Lake.  From the Lodge itself, to the 104 renovated guest rooms and 44 cottages, Wyman Frame made and assembled 294 custom picture frames from 20″ X 30″ to 46″ X 80″ seen throughout the video.

The large order, which used more than 5,000 feet of molding, provided more job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Wyman Frame is State Approved and provides high quality framing products and services for both retail and wholesale customers.

Wyman Frame has been in business since 1996, but Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) became the new owners in 2010.  The venture furthers the nonprofit’s entrepreneurial goal by providing jobs for people with disabilities.

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 more than 1,100 people with disabilities per year. For more information about DRTC, go to our website, http://drtc.org.

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DRTC sponsors fundraiser for My Heart’s Appeal

Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC) is helping make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities half a world away.  On Thursday night, DRTC sponsored My Heart’s Appeal, Inc. (MHA) for its 3rd annual benefit dinner to raise money in an effort to train teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities to work in the West African nation of Liberia.

MHA Founder and CEO Lovetie Major, M. Ed., started MHA in 1996 following a desire to help her sister, Titema, who has Down syndrome, live her life to the fullest.

Around 120 people were at the event, held at Church of the Servant, taking part in a silent auction, interactive cultural exchanges and a gallery walk.

MHA raised more than $10,000 as part of its goal to buy 100 acres of land in Liberia to provide a safe campus for those living with intellectual disabilities to receive special education and vocational training. This includes a gift facilitated through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

But the giving didn’t stop there.  DRTC Board President Cheryl Moore and board member Bob Hale surprised the crowd by announcing DRTC had donated two pre-owned box trucks for MHA’s use in Liberia and will soon do the same with two vans.

Moore stated, “Part of the Dale Rogers’ mission is to help educate the public about people with disabilities in the U.S. and around the world.”

People at the event watched a video of the work currently being done in Liberia, and heard how ebola is still affecting the country.  While the virus is largely contained in the United States, it has shut down some schools and businesses in West Africa.

DRTC Executive Director Connie Thrash McGoodwin also addressed attendees.  She said, “No special child anywhere should be taunted with name calling and have to dodge rocks thrown by children without disabilities,” adding, “We need advocates… to help spread the word for My Heart’s Appeal.”

The Shepherd’s Staff Award was given to Allen and Nancy Williams.  The award was designed and created at DRTC-owned Prism Place.  Several others received awards for their contributions and work with MHA.

DRTC had a major presence at the event:

• Prism Place clients assembled and disassembled awards to demonstrate the skill needed to complete such tasks.

  

• Wyman Frame was on site installing MHA portraits into frames built by DRTC clients.

  

• Freshly baked pizzas were provided by DRTC-owned Papa Murphy’s near NW 23rd and Pennsylvania in Oklahoma City.

For more information on My Heart’s Appeal, click here.

To learn more about Dale Roger’s Training Center, click here.