Senator champions scholarships for students with disabilities

May 25—Sen. Allie Seifried, Claremore, along with constituent and educational advocate Julie Lackey, Owasso, celebrated a victory this week for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

On Tuesday, Seifried and Lackey noted a significant step forward as the Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3792 into law.

Seifried said she was proud to be able to see this constituent-driven bill all the way to the Governor's desk.

"Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams and achieve their fullest potential," Seifried said in a Senate Communications statement.

The legislation, authored by Seifried, establishes the Oklahoma Access and Achievement Program. OAAP will provide scholarships to eligible students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are engaged in the pursuit of higher education through comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs, CTPs.

Seifried said OAAP will open doors for students, ensuring they have the financial support and resources necessary to succeed in higher education and become valuable members of Oklahoma's workforce.

The scholarships will be funded through the Oklahoma Higher Access Learning Trust Fund, covering resident tuition costs for all eligible applicants.

The program will begin accepting applications for the upcoming academic year, with details available through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. (Learn more at https://okhighered.org/)

Seifried first met Lackey while knocking on doors during her campaign for the Senate seat. She learned Lackey, now a constituent, had been advocating for this level of legislative support at the State Capitol for several years at that time.

Lackey serves as director of the Oklahoma Inclusive Post Secondary Education Alliance and is executive director, founder of LeadLearnLive.

"Looking back to 2016 when we began legislative discussions, the recent signing of S.B. 1624, and now H.B. 3792, it is amazing how far we have come," Lackey said. She noted working relationships with Senate and House legislators, those with the State Regents for Higher Education office, Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services, and others who helped "bring this dream to reality" for Oklahoma students.

According to the Lackey's LeadLearnLive website, she is already engaged with several school systems to implement social skills programs for students with Asperger's Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder beginning at the sixth grade through high school.

Lackey has also served, for several years, as co-leader of a support group for mothers of kids with Asperger's/High Functioning Autism in the greater Tulsa area, as well as writing for the support groups blog.

"By providing these scholarships, we are not only investing in the education of our students but also in the future of our state," Seifried said. "I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation, and thankful to Gov. Stitt for signing this into law."

Seifried offered a special thanks to Lackey.

"She's a true champion. I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our students," she said.

A student enrolled at a university with a CTP program will typically take traditional classes with appropriate supports, in addition to specialized classes. Students will have trained peer mentors and participate in campus activities of their choice, including internships. Upon completion of the program, these students receive social, career, and academic skills that will help lead them to life success after college.

In 2016, Oklahoma House Resolution 1065 was adopted, urging the collaboration of all parties to begin addressing postsecondary education needs for Oklahoma students with intellectual disabilities.

The state's first program for students with intellectual disabilities began in 2018, and today, Oklahoma boasts three CTP-designated programs: the RiverHawk Scholars Program at Northeastern State University, Sooner Works at the University of Oklahoma, and Opportunity Orange Scholars at Oklahoma State University. These programs are part of a growing national movement, with over 300 inclusive post-secondary education programs listed on the Think College website. (See https://thinkcollege.net/)