20 ANNUAL 26 REPORT
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS We are pleased to share the OSU Center for Developmental Disabilities’ Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report, reflecting another great year of meaningful progress, collaboration, and impact. Guided by our commitment to improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, our work continues to bridge research, practice, and community engagement at OSU, in Stillwater, across Oklahoma and beyond. This year, we expanded interdisciplinary partnerships, strengthened communitybased programs, and advanced research initiatives that inform policy and practice. Our team remained focused on increasing access to effective supports and services, elevating family voices, and supporting systems that promote inclusion, independence, and quality of life. We are grateful to our partners, stakeholders, and the families we serve for their continued trust and collaboration, and to our incredible OSUCDD faculty and staff, whose dedication, expertise, and passion make this work possible and continue to drive our mission forward. Together, we are building a more inclusive future grounded in evidence, innovation, and shared purpose. With gratitude,
Jennifer L. Jones, Ph.D., FAAIDD Director
Kami L. Gallus, Ph.D., LMFT Associate Director
MISSION, VISION, & VALUES MISSION The OSU Center for Developmental Disabilities (OSUCDD) elevates the land-grant mission by learning from and working alongside individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and supporters to enhance the quality of life for all.
VISION Live in a world that supports everyone to pursue and experience their best life.
VALUES Centering the voice of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a RESPONSIBILITY embedded in our work to empower persons with disabilities and assure accessible and inclusive processes and outcomes. Modeling acceptance, dignity, and respect through our work leads to BELONGING AND COMMUNITY. Creating equitable opportunities and support for individuals to experience their best life is the passion and purpose that drives our DETERMINATION. Working alongside individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities creates opportunities for lifelong GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT for all. Achieving EXCELLENCE can only be accomplished through our teamwork and collaboration.
OBJECTIVES Provide education and training to students, professionals, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and family members. Promote social and community inclusion by increasing opportunities for mutually beneficial relationships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the inherent value, complexities, and diversity of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their family members.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE COWBOY WAY OSU UNIFIED OSU Unified continued to expand as a thriving community engagement program in FY26, with 50 athletes and 40 partners participating in at least one sporting event. The program earned designation as a Special Olympics National Banner Unified Champion School® by meeting the national standards for Unified Champion Schools. A major FY26 highlight was the selection of the OSU Unified all-star flag football team to represent Team Oklahoma at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. Athletes and partners also demonstrated their commitment to inclusion and service by participating in the Cowboy Country Polar Plunge, raising funds to support Special Olympics Oklahoma.
BOOK CLUBS Thanks to a dedicated team of community volunteers, OSUCDD continued to organize and host Next Chapter Book Clubs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and community members. Clubs met online weekly throughout FY26, creating an inclusive space for participants to read, learn, and build meaningful relationships.
RESEARCH POWERING DISCOVERY FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD OKLAHOMA NATIONAL CORE INDICATORS FY26 marked the 14th consecutive year partnering with Oklahoma Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services (OKDHS DDS) to implement the National Core Indicators–Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI-IDD®) project. Our OSUCDD research team—led by Erica Still, OSUCDD Program Coordinator, and Emma Buchanan, OSUCDD Research Program Coordinator, and composed of Garrett Jones, OSUCDD Community Specialist and 7 undergraduate and graduate student research assistants— conducted data collection statewide, administering the In-Person Survey, Adult Family Survey, and State of the Workforce Survey. Data provide critical insights that inform decision-making, strengthen service systems, and improve outcomes for Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
FUTURE READY: EMPOWERING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT THROUGH TECH In FY26, OSUCDD launched Future Ready, a three-year intervention study funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and implemented in partnership with DDS and Oklahoma Able Tech. This project aims to support transition-age youth ages 14–24 with intellectual disability by matching them with enabling technology (e.g., tablets, smartwatches, software, apps, speech-to-text tools) to help them work toward their employment goals.
RESEARCH ENHANCING FAMILY CAREGIVER WELL-BEING OSU UNIFIED: EXPLORING FAMILY CAREGIVER EXPERIENCES OSUCDD broadened evaluation of OSU Unified in FY26 by initiating a qualitative study to better understand the experiences and perceived impact among family caregivers of OSU Unified athletes. Thematic analysis of interviews with 15 caregivers indicated that the benefits of OSU Unified extend well beyond the athletes, offering caregivers meaningful respite from daily responsibilities as well as increased opportunities for social connection and peer support (Hall et al., under review).
OSUCDD RESPITE CONCIERGE PILOT Grant funding from the Oklahoma Caregivers Coalition (OKCares) supported the implementation and evaluation of the OSUCDD Respite Concierge Program, a person-centered pilot designed to reduce barriers to respite care and improve caregiver well-being. The program provided individualized support to help family caregivers identify, coordinate, and access respite. Of 13 OSU Unified families invited, 10 completed respite experiences involving 20 caregivers. Results showed the program reduced financial and logistical barriers to respite while increasing caregiver confidence and satisfaction. Caregivers reported less stress planning respite, better access to trusted providers, and experiences that met their family's needs. Many described using respite to rest, reconnect with spouses, and focus on their own well-being. The pilot suggests that a concierge-style respite model is a promising approach to improving access to respite and supporting family caregivers of adults with intellectual disabilities (Gallus et al., under review).
OPPORTUNITY ORANGE SCHOLARS CREATING LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITY ORANGE SCHOLARS Opportunity Orange Scholars (OOS) is a full-time, university-recognized on-campus certificate program for students with intellectual disability. Building on the land-grant mission to make college education more accessible and inclusive, this academic program provides learning opportunities and individualized supports across four program cornerstones: 1) academic coursework, 2) interdependent living, 3) community engagement and belonging, and 4) career exploration and preparation. Graduates of the program earn an OSU certificate in Career and Community Studies.
FY26 marked several significant milestones for OOS: On May 9, 2026, the program celebrated its third graduating cohort as four OOS students participated in the Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences commencement ceremony and became the program’s newest alumni. OOS strengthened career-development opportunities during the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. The program has partnered with 32 local businesses to provide job-shadowing experiences and career introductions. To date, students have completed internships at 11 Stillwater businesses. Five additional internship sites are planned for Fall 2026, further expanding opportunities for students to build practical skills, professional connections, and confidence. After reviewing applications and interviewing an impressive slate of prospective students, OOS admitted its fifth cohort in Spring 2026. Six new students began the program in Fall 2026.
In recognition of community leadership in fostering inclusive communities, OOS received the 2025 Earl and Bernice Mitchell Inclusive Excellence Award. Presented annually by the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, this award honors organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community service.
WE ARE LAND-GRANT ANSWERING THE CALL TRANSFORMING THE OSU STUDENT EXPERIENCE OSUCDD is Answering the Call, preparing students for lives of integrity, service, and impact through meaningful experiential learning opportunities. Through internships and research practicum placements, undergraduate and graduate students gain hands-on experience in a missiondriven environment under the direct supervision of OSUCDD leadership, strengthening their professional preparedness, ethical leadership, engaged citizenship, and personal responsibility. In FY26, OSUCDD trained 20 student employees in best practices for the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping students apply classroom learning in real-world settings while developing the knowledge, skills, and values that support both career readiness and service to others. OSUCDD faculty also provided scholarly mentoring for graduate students on grant writing and technical research report writing for external partners.
OSU PUBLIC IMPACT RESEARCH AWARD Dr. Jennifer Jones and Dr. Kami Gallus received the 2025 OSU Public Impact Research Award in recognition of more than a decade of collaborative, communityengaged research that laid the foundation for OSUCDD. Their work consistently centers the voices and perspectives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and community partners. Today, OSUCDD serves as a statewide resource advancing inclusion, opportunity, and belonging for Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
WE ARE LAND-GRANT ANSWERING THE CALL POWERING PROGRESS In FY26, OSUCDD advanced OSU’s strategic priorities by expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and improving services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Grounded in the Cowboy Code and OSU’s land-grant mission, OSUCDD’s work reflects a commitment to integrity, innovation, service, and community impact. Through research, training, and collaboration, the Center helps translate the university’s strategic goals into practical support for people and communities across Oklahoma. In FY26, OSUCDD team members: Advanced financial supports for students attending inclusive postsecondary education programs in Oklahoma. Provided expert consultation for the development and launch of The Equipped to Engage Toolkit, an online resource designed to strengthen the engagement of adults with intellectual disabilities in research. Served on city, state, and national working groups advocating for health care equity and improved quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers. Co-authored two book chapters in Critical Issues in Health for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Contemporary Research, Practice, and Policy, published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Authored a Handbook Chapter equipping therapists, social workers, educators, and mental health professionals with effective clinical interventions for supporting disabled clients and their families. Delivered the keynote address at the OKAMFT Student and New Professional Conference, focused on providing inclusive mental health services for clients with intellectual disabilities. Represented OSU at Capitol Cowboys, an annual OSU Alumni Association event that connects the Cowboy family with state legislators and raises awareness of university initiatives. Participated in a panel on research involving young adults with disabilities at the biennial international conference of the Society for Research on Adolescence.
FINANCIALS GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS The impactful work of OSUCDD—in community engagement, inclusive post-secondary education, and research—is made possible through the generous support and collaboration of our valued community partners, funders, and donors.
FY26 Funding: $1,086,537
Opportunity Orange Scholars 40.2% Research 50.4%
Community Engagement 9.4%
GIVING THE COWBOY WAY In addition to grants and contracts, the work of OSUCDD is strengthened and expanded by the generosity of our dedicated donors. In FY26, donors contributed a total of $51,629 to OSUCDD programs through the OSU Foundation. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support and commitment of our donors, whose generosity makes our work possible.
LEGACY OF INCLUSION A FAMILY’S TRIBUTE: CELEBRATING MICHELE FRUITS When Alex Fruits was born, his parents, Michele and Terry Fruits, knew that supporting their son would require dedication and advocacy. They embraced that role immediately, believing Alex should never be limited by the world’s expectations. They worked tirelessly to create a life filled with opportunity and inclusion. As Alex grew older, finding those opportunities became more challenging. Eventually, the search lead to OSU Unified. Michele was consistent in her belief in the importance of participation in family and community groups. When she came in contact with OSU Unified, she knew that she had found exactly what she was looking for. She immediately threw herself in as a dedicated parent and volunteer. She was so grateful for the friendships and opportunities that were gained for Alex and for our entire family as a whole. When Michele passed away suddenly this year, it left the whole family reeling. There are so many impossible decisions to make after losing a loved one. The one decision that was very easy for us, was where donations on her behalf should go. Michele spent much of her life dreaming and advocating for inclusion in our community for Alex, and truly felt that she found a wonderful model in OSU Unified. We were amazed by the number of friends and family that donated in her honor, and we know that she would have been thrilled to see how much support was shown for this little community that she enjoyed so much. Michele’s legacy will remain an important part of OSU Unified’s history. In her memory, gifts supporting the program may be made through the OSU Foundation to the OSU Unified Excellence Fund.
-Terry Fruits and Paige Fruits
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All programs and projects of OSU Center for Developmental Disabilities are united by a common theme fostering families and communities where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience true belonging.