FY 25 ANNUAL REPORT
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS
FiscalYear25(FY25)wasayearmarkedbytremendousgrowthfortheOklahomaState UniversityCenterforDevelopmentalDisabilities(OSUCDD)!
As you will read in the following pages, the work of OSUCDD continues to further the missionofourland-grantuniversityandcontributetoacampuscommunitythatvalues and respects individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as full membersoftheCowboyfamily.
This year, we were thrilled to see two OSUCDDprogramsfeaturedintheofficial OSU Cowboy Moments video for the 2024–2025 academic year. The video captures many special moments from the past year, including the exciting contributions of our OSUCDD programs. Look for Opportunity Orange Scholars students on move-in day at 0:13, Chilly Cowboyat1:04,andtheOSUUnified5v5 BasketballChampionshipGameat1:42.
Theinclusionofthe evidence of the opp proudofthemanyw thelivesofindividua
Wearesogratefulfo workofOSUCDDand beingpartofthisim together.
Withgratitude,
JenniferL.Jones,Ph.D Director
MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
VISION
Liveinaworldthatsupportseveryonetopursueandexperiencetheirbestlife.
VALUES
Centeringthevoiceofindividualswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesis aRESPONSIBILITYembeddedinourworktoempowerpersonswithdisabilitiesand assureaccessibleandinclusiveprocessesandoutcomes.
Modelingacceptance,dignity,andrespectthroughourworkleadstoBELONGING ANDCOMMUNITY
Creatingequitableopportunitiesandsupportforindividualstoexperiencetheirbest lifeisthepassionandpurposethatdrivesourDETERMINATION.
Working alongside individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities createsopportunitiesforlifelongGROWTHANDDEVELOPMENTforall.
Achieving EXCELLENCE can only be accomplished through our teamwork and collaboration.
OBJECTIVES
Provideeducationandtrainingtostudents,professionals,individualswithintellectual anddevelopmentaldisabilities,andfamilymembers.
Promotesocialandcommunityinclusionbyincreasingopportunitiesformutually beneficial relationships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmentaldisabilities.
Contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the inherent value, complexities, and diversity of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilitiesandtheirfamilymembers.
RESEARCH
OKLAHOMA NATIONAL CORE INDICATORS
TheStateoftheWorkforceSurveyiscompletedonlinebyprovideragenciesacross Oklahoma.Thesurveygatherscriticaldataonthewages,benefitsandturnoverrates amongdirectcareprofessionalswhosupportindividualsreceivingHCBSservices.In FY25,OSUCDDreceivedresponsesfrom57outof111provideragenciesstatewide
ThroughtheOklahomaNationalCoreIndicators,OSUCDDcontinuestoelevatethevoices ofindividualswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesandtheirfamilies,driving meaningfulimprovementsinservicesandsupportsacrossOklahoma.
RESEARCH
WEARABLES FOR WELLNESS: YEAR TWO HIGHLIGHTS
toward making health technology more inclusive and helpful for everyone in our community.
Buildingonlastyear’swork,inFY25ourOSUCDDresearchteamfocusedon:
Meaningfullyengagingparticipantsandsupportingtheminsettingpersonalhealth goalsthatmatteredtothem.
Collecting information before and after participants used the wearable devices, so we could see how the technology affected their health and daily lives and helped themreachtheirpersonalhealthgoals.
The data we collected from participants this year will be analyzed by the University of Kansas. Findings from this study will help us understand how accessible and useful wearable health technology is for people with intellectual and/or developmentaldisabilities.Itwillalsoguidefuturedecisionsaboutusingthiskindof technology to support independence and well-being for Oklahomans with disabilities.
OPPORTUNITY ORANGE SCHOLARS
OPPORTUNITY ORANGE SCHOLARS
beneficialwork basedlearningopportunitiesforOOSstudentsandtheStillwater businesscommunity.Todate,OOSstudentshavejobshadowedat22different businessesandcompletedinternshipsat9Stillwaterbusinesses
WeareexcitedtowelcomeourfourthandlargestcohortyetinFall2025with7new studentsjoiningtheincomingOOScohort!
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
OSU UNIFIED
Established in Fall 2022, OSU Unified was the first Special Olympics Unified college program in Oklahoma. OSU Unified providesweeklyopportunitiesforadultSpecialOlympicAthletes to compete alongside Unified Partners who are OSU students in sporting events hosted by OSU Intramurals. OSU Unified is a collaboration between OSUCDD, OSU Unified Sports Club, and OSUDepartmentofWellness
HighlightsfromFY25:
OSUUnifiedachievedrecord-breakingparticipationwithover 90AthletesandPartnerscompetingincornholeandbocce tournaments,aswellasflagfootball,basketball,andkickball leaguesThisyearalsosawarecordnumberoffootballand basketballteams,alongwiththehighestnumberofvolunteer coaches.
We are proud to announce that our flag football team has been selected to represent Oklahoma at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The team is already practicingtwiceaweektopreparetocompeteinMinnesotanextsummer.
WecollaboratedwithOKCarestostudytheimpactofOSUUnifiedonfamiliies
OurathletesandpartnersjoinedOSUadministratorsandcoachesbravingthewater forthe4thAnnualChillyCowboy.WeappreciatethefundswereceivefromSpecial OlympicsOklahomaandChillyCowboythathelpsupportOSUUnified’sgrowthand success.
BOOK CLUBS
Thankstoateamofdedicated communityvolunteers,OSUCDD continues to organize and host Next Chapter Book Clubs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and community members In FY25, book clubs continued to meet online once a week to read, learn, and develop relationshipsamongclubmembers.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
MichaelaBishopjoinedasa bookclubfacilitatorinFall2020 Herbookclubhasbuiltstrong friendships,learningaboutone another’s hobbies and lives. Michaela is a shining example of a dedicated volunteer. She goes the extra mile to bring smiles to her group members, often dressing in costumedependingonthebookorholiday. We are grateful for Michaela and all of our volunteers!
CREATING THE IDEAL GRADUATE
Oklahoma State University’s Ideal Graduate “will exhibit an understanding of their role in positively impacting the lives of others and will graduate with knowledge, skills, values, andabilitiesthatenrichtheirlives”.OSUCDDprovidesinternshipandresearchpracticum opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain real world experience andknowledgeunderthedirectsupervisionofOSUCDDleadership.
In alignment with OSU’s Ideal Graduate competencies, OSUCDD trained 25 student employeesand9OOSstudentsacrossFY25inbestpracticesforinclusionofpeoplewith intellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities.
IDEAL GRADUATE
In May 2025, OOS Spring 2025 graduate, Gretchen Garrett, was named as a finalist for the OSU Ideal Graduate. Gretchen was recognized during the inaugural Ideal Graduate Celebration and received a $500 scholarship for her “impactful contributions and active participation in highimpactexperiencesatOSU”.
WE ARE LAND-GRANT
TRANSLATION & EDUCATION
OSUCDD embodies the land-grant mission by educating our communities, actively engaging in public policy, and sharing our experience and knowledge from working alongsideindividualswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesandtheirfamilies.
InFY25,OSUCDDteammembers:
AdvocatedforequitablefinancialopportunitiesforstudentsattendinginclusivepostsecondaryeducationprogramsinOklahoma.
Developedandpilotedatoolkittoenhanceengagementofadultswithintellectual disability in patient-centered outcomes research and comparative clinical effectivenessresearch.
PresentedalongsideSpecialOlympicsInternationalonthevalueofInclusiveSportsat the2025NorthAmericanCoachDevelopmentSummit
Authored AAIDD Issue Briefs on the 2025 National Goals on Health Equality for individualswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities.
SharedtheirlivedexperiencewithfamilycaregiversattheOKCaresConference.
Servedoncity,state,andnationalworkinggroupsadvocatingforequityinhealth careandimprovedqualityoflifeforindividualswithintellectualanddevelopmental disabilitiesandtheirfamilymembersandcaregivers.
RepresentedOSUatCapitolCowboys-anannualeventhostedbytheOSUAlumni AssociationfortheCowboyfamilytocreateawarenessandsharetheirpassionfor OSUwith
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 collaborationofourvaluedcommunitypartners,funders,anddonors.
FY25Funding:$946,178
Opportunity
Orange Scholars
Community Engagement
Research
FINANCIALS
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Inadditiontograntsandcontracts,theworkofOSUCDDisstrengthenedandexpanded by the generosity of our dedicated donors. In FY25, donors contributed a total of $33,255 toOSUCDDprogramsthroughtheOSUFoundation.Wearedeeplygratefulfor theongoingsupportandcommitmentofourdonors,whosegenerositymakesourwork possible.
Tom and Irene Garrett are the proud grandparents of Gretchen Garrett, 2025 graduate of Opportunity OrangeScholars(OOS)andfaithfuldonorstoOSU.We asked Tom and Irene to share why they give to OSUCDD…
Since most all of our family (starting with Gretchen's great grandfather) attended Oklahoma State, from a young age, Gretchen had said: “I’m going to OSU!” Well, quite honestly, until Opportunity Orange Scholars became a reality, we would look at each otherandsay“HMMM,howwegoingtodothis?”
WhenGretchenwasajuniorinHighSchool,OSU started the program. Her parents shared all the informationonOOSandwestudieditandwereso impressedthatwedecidedtogoaheadandmake OOSapartofourcharitablegiving
GretchengraduatedfromOOSinMay2025andtoseethosekidsandtheirfamily’s prideastheywalkedacrossthestageatgraduation,waspriceless.Wehopethe programthrivesandpossiblygrowstohelpmoreinyearstocome.WithGretchen,we wereabletoseefirst-handhowimportantandeffectivethiskindofprogramcanbe. WelldoneOSU!
TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF OSUCDD
MEET THE TEAM
oos.okstate.edu
@okstate.oos
ortunityOrangeScholars
AllprogramsandprojectswithintheCenterforDevelopmentalDisabilitiesareunited byacommontheme-fosteringfamiliesandcommunitieswhereindividualswith intellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesexperiencetruebelonging.
Builtonthecorebeliefthatdisabilityisanaturalpartofhumandiversityand everyonebenefitsfrominclusionandbelonging,theCenterforDevelopmental Disabilitiesequipsstudentsandprofessionalstobecomeagentsofchangealongside individualswithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitiesandtheirfamilies.