Sen. Kirt named DRS ‘Senator of the Year’

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, was named “Senator of the Year” during the 2024 People with Disabilities Awareness Day, held at the Oklahoma History Center on March 5. According to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), Kirt was honored for her “ongoing, unwavering support for serving the needs of Oklahomans with disabilities.”

“Many people might be surprised to learn that one out of six Oklahomans lives with a disability. The issues that impact those individuals impact families and communities in every part of our state,” Kirt said. “I am proud to advocate for solutions that help people with disabilities fulfill their full potential in their communities and careers and help people improve their quality of life.”

2022 data calculated by Cornell University using the U.S Census Bureau’s American Community Survey showed some of those challenges faced by Oklahomans with disabilities, including lower employment rates, higher poverty rates and lower rates for attaining a bachelor’s degree, compared to those without disabilities.

“Certainly, there is more to be done, but People with Disabilities Awareness Day gives our citizens an opportunity to celebrate successes, advocate for themselves, and inform their elected officials and fellow Oklahomans about the challenges and opportunities for those with disabilities,” Kirt said. “I’m grateful to be able to assist here in the Senate and honored by this recognition.”

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CUTLINE:  Oklahoma State Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, was named Senator of the Year on March 5 during the awards ceremony at the 2024 People with Disability Awareness Day. The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and was held at the Oklahoma History Center. Pictured From left, DRS Commissioner Theresa Flannery, Kirt, DRS Commissioner Janet Barresi, and DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt.

For more information, contact:  Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov