Family Training that builds real-world skills
ODS Family Training
- Structured curriculum created by experienced teachers, built around daily life routines.
-Teaches practical, everyday skills to help individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities to live more independently.
- Assists with learning pro-social behaviors; is not therapy or psychological services.
-Focuses on learning & using real-life routine like cooking, communication, boundaries, and personal care.
-Involves caregivers or staff to make sure progress continues outside of sessions.
- Delivered by trained coaches and specialists.
Goal: Build lasting independence through education and consistency.
Psychological Services
- Requires licensed psychologists supervision
- Includes therapy, testing, and diagnosis
- Provides clinical evaluation and therapeutic services to support emotional and behavioral health.
- Addresses barriers that affect learning or daily functioning
- Ensure that emotional, behavioral, and cognitive needs are fully understood and supported
Goal: Create a strong foundation for growth through professional assessment and guidance.
HTS/DCS (Direct Support Professionals)
- Provide daily hands-on support that helps individuals practice the skills they're learning.
- Assist with routines, hygiene, safety, and community activities - reinforcing whats being taught in family training.
- Focuses on structure, consistency, and encouragement to help each person build confidence in everyday life.
Goal: Support stability and growth through dependable, respectful care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can a client have Family Training and Psychological services?
Answer: Yes, those in DDSD services can have both. Depending on the type of funding, they sometimes utilize different sources of funding and have no effect on one another.
Question: What can Oklahoma Disability Services offer that other Family Trainers can't?
Answer: Oklahoma Disability Services (ODS) operates lessons from a non-linear curriculum created by educational professionals with over 20 years of experience. We see clients bi-weekly, and sometimes weekly depending on funding and living situations. ODS offers full transparency to caregivers and Case Managers through access to our internal software, which shows what was taught, how long each session lasted, and the client’s progress in understanding those areas. This unique level of openness allows caregivers and Case Managers to confirm that services are delivered as promised — providing accountability and trust in a field where that’s often missing.
Question: Does a caregiver need to be present for every lesson?
Answer: Participation is encouraged as it helps progress, but not required.
Question: Does Family Training operate a PIP or any other item that restricts behaviors/access?
Answer: No. A Family Training program should never operate a PIP (Programmatic Implementation Plan) or any other restrictive behavioral plan. Family Trainers are not providing services under the supervision of a psychologist, and their role is educational — not clinical or behavioral. It’s important to understand that these plans fall strictly under psychological or behavioral services, not Family Training.
Even when a psychologist is involved with a client, it would still be inappropriate for a Family Trainer to implement or manage a PIP. Family Training focuses on teaching everyday skills that reduce frustration and build independence — not on restricting or modifying behavior. When a formal PIP or behavioral plan is in place, our trainers follow those guidelines and coordinate with the behavior support professional to ensure consistency, but we do not create or implement restrictions ourselves.
Question: So Family Training cannot address behavioral issues?
Family Training can address the causes and skills connected to behavior, but it does not provide clinical behavior intervention.
Our trainers focus on teaching skills that reduce frustration and improve communication, which often leads to fewer behavioral challenges over time.
For example, a trainer might help a client learn to express needs appropriately, follow routines, or recognize emotions — all of which support better behavior.
However, if a client needs behavioral modification or a formal plan, that must come from a psychologist or behavior support specialist.
Family Trainers can support those plans by reinforcing healthy routines and communication, but they do not write or implement behavior programs.
Question: Who do I contact if I have a question or concern?
Answer: You may contact your trainer, or reach out to either the Director of Operations, Lucas Roecker (lroecker@okdisabilityservices.com) or the Clinical Director, Tim Martin (tmartin@okdisabilityservices.com
Tim Martin, LPC-S - Director of Clinical Services
tmartin@okdisabilityservices.com
Lucas Roecker, MSW - Director of Operations
lroecker@okdisabilityservices.com
General Inquires & Referrals
DDSreferral@okdisabilityservices.com
Phone
(405) 570-8824