Sometimes accessibility isn’t complicated. Sometimes the printer is just too high. Brandon Andres Green sits down with Vicki Haws, Associate Director of Ability Resources in Tulsa, to talk about disability, independence, reasonable accommodations, and the resources many people don’t even realize are available until they suddenly need them. Vicki acquired her disability when she was 20 years old. Years later, while completing an internship, she walked into Ability Resources and found something she hadn’t experienced before: a workplace where people with disabilities weren’t the exception. She says it was one of the first times she felt like she was simply part of the group instead of the person who was different. That idea is built into the organization itself. As a Center for Independent Living, Ability Resources is structured so people with disabilities have a direct voice in the services being provided. Vicki explains that at least 51% of the staff, board, and management are people with disabilities. We talk about what Ability Resources actually does, including peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills, accessible transportation and housing referrals, helping people transition from nursing homes back into the community, veteran-directed care, and helping young people with disabilities prepare for higher education and meaningful employment. One misconception comes up quickly: a Center for Independent Living is not an assisted-living facility and Ability Resources does not provide housing directly. Instead, the organization helps people find the resources and support they need to live as independently as possible. Then Vicki gives one of the simplest examples of what accessibility can look like. At a previous job, her office moved and someone placed the printer too high for her to use. She had to formally ask for a reasonable accommodation just to have it lowered. Nothing expensive. Nothing complicated. Move the printer. Problem solved. We also talk about hidden disabilities, why accommodations can’t always be one-size-fits-all, and something Vicki learned firsthand about the Americans with Disabilities Act. People assumed that because she had a disability, she automatically understood the ADA and her rights under it. She didn’t. Learning what those laws actually meant for her became one of the most empowering parts of her work. And Vicki’s bigger message goes beyond disability services. Communities are stronger when people with different abilities, experiences, and perspectives are actually able to participate. Inclusion isn’t just about helping one group. It gives everybody more people, more ideas, and more opportunity to grow. If you or someone you know needs help navigating disability resources, accessible transportation, housing, independent living, the ADA, or community support in Tulsa, this episode is a good introduction to a resource you may not have known existed. Learn more about Ability Resources: AbilityResources.org Good Neighbor Podcast Tulsa: gnptulsa.com