The Hidden Workforce Weekly Update

This Week's Show, Episode 219!

Author

The Hidden Workforce
March 05, 2026

We are a Radio Show that airs on Groovy 105.7FM every Saturday at 9:00am and Sunday at 4:00pm. After it airs live on the radio, we release the full show onto our Podcast platforms at the beginning of every week. We’re currently on Spotify, Apple, and iHeart Radio Podcasts!

“The Hidden Workforce” is about the positive impact that people who live with different abilities make to the workforce and the world around them.

On our show, you will hear:

  • Stories from people who live with a massive variety of different abilities who are breaking stigmas and shattering the glass ceilings placed over them. We have had CEOs, business owners, actors, actresses, authors, community contributors, survivors, and more who live with disabilities of all types and severities on our show sharing their stories and how they are where they are today.

  • Leaders from nonprofits all over the state of Oklahoma, Nationwide, and Worldwide who are serving people who live with disabilities.

  • Representatives from State agencies such as DRS, DDS, and more on the programs and services they offer to serve people with disabilities.

  • Service Providers and Provider Agencies.

  • Inclusive Employers and Employees Ready to Work for Inclusive Employers

  • and so much more!

What Did We Hear Last Week?

Last week, we heard from Natasha McDaniel and Hailey Sharp from the University of Oklahoma’s Pre-Employment Transition Services through the National Center for Disability Education and Training about their OU Pre-ETS programs and the incredible stories of impact their programs are providing for SPED students all over Oklahoma.

OU Pre-ETS collaborates with schools and community employers/partners with both their school-year and summer programs including: In-School Services, Hybrid services, Work Skills Trainers, Peer mentoring, and BEST/STEP. OU Pre-ETS “specialists provide direct services to students within their schools, delivering comprehensive transition programming across all five core Pre-ETS categories [(Self-Advocacy, Work-based Learning, Post Secondary Education Counseling, Job Exploration Counseling, and Workplace Readiness Training)]. Their specialists work directly with students, teachers, and school staff to integrate transition services seamlessly into the school environment, ensuring consistent support and skill development.” (https://transitionok.org).

Check out this episode on Spotify, Apple, or iHeart Radio to listen to it anytime you need a podcast fix!

Alt Text: The OU Pre-ETS symbol is shown. A black solid color book at the bottom of the picture is open. Out of the book hovering over it is the Pre-ETS symbol. Five oblong half oval sections form a pentagon shape. There is a red section, dark blue section, light blue section, orange section, and yellow section with symbols inside each. Surrounding these colorful sections are black solid color pictures of gears, lines, arrows, and other shapes in different patterns. Inside the colorful section pentagon displays the words, “Pre-ETS.”

What is Slated for This Week’s Show?

This week, we welcome 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate and current Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond!

Gentner joins us to share about his journey to running for Governor of the State of Oklahoma. With questions inspired by the Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma’s candidate questionnaire, we explore specifically how Gentner will address helping and serving constituents of Oklahoma who live with disabilities.

You don’t want to miss this show!

Tune in this weekend on Groovy 105.7 Saturday at 9:00am or Sunday at 4:00pm, or tune in to hear the show on Spotify, Apple, or iHeart Radio.

Alt Text: The Seal of Oklahoma is displayed. A Gold Circle border displays the words, “The Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma.” This border surrounds a Navy Circle. The Navy circle is filled with a large white star- each point of the star goes entirely to the border creating 5 sections outside of the star, of navy with small gold stars filling each section- perfectly lined into 3 rows- so each section contains 9 small gold stars. Inside the large white star in the middle is a picture in gold of three people standing together with symbols that represent who they are which are a pioneer farmer, Native American, and a person symbolizing Justice. There is a circle of green feathers that surround this picture in the middle of the large white star. In each ray of the large white star there is one emblem that represents one of the 5 tribes: The top ray of the star is Chickasaw, upper right ray is Choctaw, lower right ray is Seminole, lower left ray is Muscogee (Creek), and the upper left ray is Cherokee.

Open Ears Open Opportunities, Inc.

Open Ears Open Opportunities, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit offering a customized approach to giving people with disabilities a voice and skill-building opportunity through various disciplines of media education training, enabling and empowering them to learn how to manage their social media, create content, and share their stories through radio, video, social media, professional production experiences, podcasting, and more. 

Open Ears Open Opportunities, Inc.’s Mission is to transform perceptions of people with different abilities through media representation.

OEOO’s Vision is to see a community and world where people with different abilities’ stories are heard, equitable opportunity and access are given to them in media and the workforce, and for inclusion to be a first response, not a last resort.

The Hidden Workforce is produced by members of OEOO, so we are advocating for inclusion in the workforce while an inclusive workforce makes our radio show and podcast happen!

To learn more about OEOO’s programs visit: https://openearsopenopportunities.org/

If you or someone you know would like to get involved with OEOO, please email [email protected].

If you would like to donate, click the button below!

Our Podcast is a Resource!

If you are searching for answers on a resource to help serve you, your child, or loved one who lives with a different ability- if you are a parent or caregiver- if you are a service provider or provider agency- if you need community… Chances are, there is an answer in one of our shows!!