Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

What Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services does

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is a state government agency established in 1993 that provides rehabilitation, educational, and disability-determination services to Oklahomans with disabilities. Operating from its Oklahoma City headquarters (relocated July 2026 to 7301 NW Expressway), DRS runs a multi-division structure spanning vocational rehabilitation (VR), Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI), Disability Determination Services, the Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Center, the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and two state-run residential schools: the Oklahoma School for the Deaf (OSD) in Sulphur and the Oklahoma School for the Blind (OSB) in Muskogee. The agency serves four primary persona segments — job seekers with disabilities, students with sensory disabilities, individuals seeking independence, and Oklahoma employers — via specialized programs including Employment VIBE, DeafBlind awareness services, and assistive technology provision.

DRS is a public-sector entity funded through Oklahoma state appropriations combined with federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act (RSA Title IV) grants, delivering all services at no cost to eligible individuals; pricing is therefore non-commercial and no revenue figures are disclosed. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, relying on a self-referral portal, a statewide field-office locator, the two state schools, email/text subscriptions through GovDelivery, and community events such as DeafBlind Awareness Day. The underlying technology is a state-government services platform hosted on Oklahoma.gov with no proprietary features, AI/ML components, or third-party integrations disclosed. Governance is provided by a seven-member commission (expanded April 2026), and the agency is currently led by interim executive director Sterling Zearley, appointed June 2026.

Name

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

Legal name

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services

Website

https://okdrs.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is a state government agency providing vocational rehabilitation, state-run schools for the deaf and blind, and independent living and disability determination services to Oklahomans with disabilities, funded by state and federal appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Disability Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAC), Rehabilitation Support (PT/OT Aide) (EDAOAJAI)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Disability employment services
• Special education schools
• Blind and deaf services
• Independent living support

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services operates as a state government agency funded through state and federal appropriations to provide free and reduced-cost rehabilitation services to eligible Oklahomans with disabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services provides vocational rehabilitation, employment, and educational services to Oklahomans with disabilities through its statewide field office network, two state-run schools (Oklahoma School for the Deaf and Oklahoma School for the Blind), specialized blind/visually impaired services, Disability Determination Services for Social Security eligibility, and independent living programs. All services are delivered directly by trained rehabilitation counselors at no cost to eligible individuals with disabilities.

Product overview

Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services operates as a unified state agency providing multiple interconnected programs for individuals with disabilities. The agency offers two main educational institutions (Oklahoma School for the Deaf and Oklahoma School for the Blind), vocational rehabilitation and employment services through its VR and SBVI divisions, Disability Determination Services for Social Security eligibility, and specialized programs like Employment VIBE and the AIM Center. The Self-Referral Portal serves as the primary digital entry point for individuals to access services across all divisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Employment VIBE: Employment training program for visually impaired clients ages 18 and up, part of the Visually Impaired and Blindness Empowerment program.
• VIBE (Visually Impaired and Blindness Empowerment)

Products and services

• Vocational Rehabilitation

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Metro TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI) partnered with Metro Tech to host the 2026 DeafBlind Awareness Day event on July 1 at Metro Tech's Springlake Drive campus in Oklahoma City.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: Florida's state VR agency under the Department of Education providing employment-related rehabilitation services to Floridians with disabilities. Direct comparable offering of vocational rehabilitation, counseling, and job placement.
• National Industries for the Blind: National nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people who are blind through AbilityOne government contracts. Comparable mission to DRS's SBVI and Employment VIBE employment programs for visually impaired clients.
• Texas Workforce Commission — Vocational Rehabilitation Division: Texas's state-designated vocational rehabilitation agency offering employment, independent living, and disability determination services to Texans with disabilities. Operates as the most direct functional peer to DRS given similar scope across VR, blind services, and benefits administration.
• Texas School for the Deaf: State-funded residential and day school in Austin serving deaf and hard of hearing students — the Texas equivalent of DRS's Oklahoma School for the Deaf. Highly comparable educational institution for sensory disabilities.
• California Department of Rehabilitation: California's state vocational rehabilitation agency serving individuals with disabilities through employment services, independent living, and blindness services. Highly comparable mission and service structure to DRS, though operating at much larger scale.
• Michigan Rehabilitation Services: Michigan's designated state vocational rehabilitation agency within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Comparable to DRS in providing employment services, training, and independent living support to people with disabilities.
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Texas's state school for blind and visually impaired students, analogous to DRS's Oklahoma School for the Blind. Provides specialized educational services and accessible instructional materials statewide.
• Helen Keller National Center: National rehabilitation center serving individuals who are DeafBlind and their families, with regional offices including one serving Oklahoma. Directly comparable to DRS's DeafBlind awareness services and SBVI programming.

Broad incumbents

• Gallaudet University: Federally chartered university for deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington, D.C. Referenced in DRS's own content regarding the football huddle's Deaf community origins. Operates at a higher-education tier but serves the same deaf and hard of hearing population.
• American Foundation for the Blind: National nonprofit expanding possibilities for people with blindness and visual impairment through advocacy, research, and service delivery. Broader in scope than DRS but addresses the same visually impaired client population served by SBVI and OSB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/okdrs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services