United Way Week Spotlight: How Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled Supports Adults With Developmental Disabilities

Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled Supports Adults With Disabilities

United Way Week is shining a spotlight on nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma that provide critical services to people and families in their communities. Among those organizations is the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled (OKFD), which provides adult day health services and lifelong learning opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

During United Way Week, OKFD Executive Director Steve Ross discussed the organization’s mission and the importance of community support in helping adults with disabilities remain active, engaged and connected.

Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled Provides Lifelong Support

The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled operates an adult day health program designed to serve adults with developmental disabilities. According to Ross, participants attend the program five days a week, giving them opportunities for socialization, interaction, recreation and continued learning.

The organization focuses on helping participants develop different skills while creating opportunities to experience activities outside the home. Field trips, recreational activities and educational opportunities are among the ways OKFD works to improve the daily lives of the adults it serves.

The program also provides an important benefit for caregivers. While participants spend the day at OKFD, their primary caregivers receive valuable respite time.

Ross emphasized that continued support is important because learning and personal development do not end when someone reaches adulthood.

Adults With Disabilities Can Be Overlooked After High School

One of the key issues highlighted during the discussion was the lack of services available to many adults with developmental disabilities after they finish high school.

Ross noted that children and younger people with disabilities often receive significant attention and support through educational programs. However, once high school ends, families can face fewer options.

For many adults with developmental disabilities, traditional pathways such as college, military service or competitive employment may not be available. This creates a need for organizations that can provide meaningful activities, social interaction and lifelong learning.

The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled aims to help fill that gap by providing a structured environment where adults can continue developing their minds and bodies while participating in community-based activities.

United Way Funding Helps Keep Services Accessible

While the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled receives significant funding through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS), Ross explained that DHS funding does not cover all of the organization’s expenses.

That is where United Way plays an important role.

United Way funding helps OKFD maintain its day-to-day operations and continue providing services to adults with developmental disabilities. Ross said the additional financial support is particularly important because the organization does not turn people away because they lack the ability to pay.

For nonprofit organizations, community funding can make a major difference in maintaining programs and ensuring services remain accessible to the people who need them.

United Way Supports Communities Across Oklahoma

United Way Week also provides an opportunity to highlight the wide range of programs supported by United Way.

Ross pointed out that United Way funding extends beyond disability services. The organization supports initiatives addressing homelessness, mental health, women and children, and other community needs.

That broad reach means a donation to United Way can support multiple areas of need throughout the community.

Ross described United Way as having a large umbrella of services across Oklahoma City, emphasizing how its support reaches people facing a variety of challenges.

How to Support the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled

People interested in learning more about the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled can visit okfd.org, where information about the organization, its mission and opportunities to get involved is available.

United Way Week serves as a reminder that community support can help nonprofit organizations continue their work. For OKFD, that support helps provide adults with developmental disabilities opportunities for socialization, recreation, skill development and lifelong learning.

As communities across Oklahoma recognize United Way Week, organizations such as the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled demonstrate why continued nonprofit funding and volunteer involvement remain important. Supporting these programs can help ensure that adults with developmental disabilities continue to have opportunities to learn, participate and remain connected to their communities.

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