 From left, DRS Executive Director Melinda Fruendt, award winner Ursela Hill and Deborah Shropshire, secretary of Human Services. Hill, who was from Oklahoma City, was nominated for the honor by DRS' Vivien Adeleye.
Winners honored at Governor's Mansion event on Oct. 19
OKLAHOMA CITY - Seven individuals from across the state, three employers, two media companies and one support staff member were honored on Oct. 19 during the annual “Governor’s Disability Employment Awards of Excellence” held at the Phillips Pavilion on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City. News 9’s Meteorologist Jed Castles served as emcee of the event.
Originally created by former Gov. George Nigh and former First Lady Donna Nigh, the awards recognize individuals with disabilities with a Governor’s commendation for “Outstanding Achievements in Employment.”
Individuals honored with Employee awards included:
Ursela Hill of Oklahoma City
Nominated by DRS’ Viviene Adeleye
Hill worked with DRS to obtain her GED to obtain a better position at a day care where she worked. She also obtained her child-care certification. However, when COVID pandemic shutdown the day-care, she found herself out of a job. Hill knew there was still a great need for day care providers and decided to start her own business. With help from her family and DRS, Hill became the owner and director of Star Ship Academy. Hill was honored for her determination.
Roy Lucius of Tulsa
Nominated by James Cavanaugh, The Bridges Foundation.
Lucius works for ABM Business at the Tulsa international Airport as a baggage agent. He assists travelers with their baggage from curbside to the ticket counter. He shows up for work on time and ready to work. He engages customers and makes it his goal to have travelers enjoy their time in line.
Scotty Burns of Wayne
Nominated by Sheree Powell of Sequoyah Enterprises Inc.
Burns has worked at a Braums store in Purcell since March 2021. He started as a lobby attendant but has worked his way up to stocking shelves and keeping the stock room and lobby clean. He is also able to take on other tasks with minimum direction. His increased self-confidence and personal growth at work has translated to the same at home. His both praises his work ethic.
Kristen Hill-Dorman of Mustang
Nominated by Stephanie Hull of Allied Community Services
Hill-Dorman began as a teacher at Lil Broncos Kids Klub in December of 2021. At first, she was uncertain if the job was right for her. But she persevered by asking questions, continuing to learn and gain confidence. She was promoted from assistant teacher to teacher. Her growth has continued and no longer requires another staff member to check in on her. She coordinates the daily activities of her students, and the students adore her.
Kara Patterson of Luther
Nominated by Katherine Cooper of Public Strategies
She works at Public Strategies as a PossABLE brand ambassador. As Developmental Disabilities Services began their effort to clear waitlists, Patterson stood out as a great advocate and representative of what is truly possible. Sher began working for Public Strategies in December 2022. Her charisma, dedication and work ethic have caught the eye of DDS leadership. Her enthusiasm and engagement in the program made her a key candidate for her current role as a PossABLE brand ambassador. She has traveled across the state with the DDS team to help support activities and energizes crowds of up to 700 people.
Sherry Winston of Tulsa
Nominated by Lisa Toth of Rise Staffing
Winston is great self-advocate. She worked with Rise staffing to secure her first job in 2018. A COVID vaccine requirement at her job led her end her tenure there. She immediately set out to find another job, landing a job at Auto Zone on in Tulsa in 2022. At first, she was worried about making deliveries on time, but now, she does it with ease.
Bryce Smith of Oklahoma City
Nominated by Raynisha Drake of Dawning Careers, Inc.
Smith is a leader and started working at Not Your Average Joe in January 2023. He quickly learned to make all of the coffee specialty drinks as well as all of the duties of the barista position. He carries out his job duties to the best of his ability. He has shown great integrity. He let his trainer know he was not signing off on any work he did not do and wanted to be included in on every detail of the job. He was promoted from barista to being a team lead. In July, he became a trainer. Smith views any challenges and setback as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Groups honored with Business awards included:
ABM Industries of Tulsa
Nominated by Vicky Halladay
ABM Industries is the hiring company for the Tulsa International Airport. ABM has a proven track records of hiring Oklahomans with disabilities.
ABM provides each employee with individualized training and accommodations as needed.
Auto Zone of Tulsa
Nominated by Lisa Toth of Rise staffing
Dewayne Hubble, Auto Zone district manager, has gone the extra mile for Sherry Winston, who is one of this year’s employee winners. He recognized her unique needs and tailored the job to her abilities. He made sure that she had all the time she needed to learn the job.
Little Broncos Kids Klub of Mustang
Nominated by Lisa Toth of Rise staffing
Little Broncos Kids Klub has made hiring employees with support needs a part of their recruitment strategy. They employ Kristen Hill-Dorman of Mustang who is one this year’s employee award winners. They provide training to new hires including one-on-one mentoring.
Person honored with Support Staff award:
Vicky Halladay of The Bridges Foundation of Jenks.
Halladay has worked for many years with people with special needs and advocating on their behalf. She is diligent and encourages self-advocacy. Halladay is described as having a servant’s heart.
Businesses honored with media award:
Bo Wright, Bonus Creative of Oklahoma City
Nominated by James Helm of DRTC
Wright and Bonus Creative worked on a series of videos that highlighted the capabilities of people with disabilities. Wright is described as a consummate professional who approached the people and the topics of the videos with the utmost respect.
The Duncan Banner of Duncan
Nominated by Robin Arter of Think Ability
The Duncan Banner has a long history of providing positive coverage of events at Think Ability, Inc. Each employee at the Duncan Banner is helpful and eager to learn what’s new. The use social media and traditional publications to portray Think Ability and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a positive light.
Additional photos from the 2023 Governor's Disability Awards of Excellence Program.
 Fruendt congratulates the hardwork of the award winners.
 DRS' Melinda Bunch talks to attendees.
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is excited to announce Project Coordinator Tonya Garman has been selected for the 2023 Staff Academy for Governmental Excellence Class.
SAGE is the nation’s only regionally focused leadership development program for state government staff. It is rooted in the Council of State Governments South’s proud legacy of providing exemplary leadership training to elected and appointed state officials.
In addition to developing their personal and professional leadership skills, participants can build a network of peers across the Southern region. By shaping staff leaders, SAGE ultimately aims to provide the public with more effective state governments.
Congratulations, Tonya.
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The next time you are at the State Office, you may notice an addition right outside the elevator doors.
The DRS 30th Anniversary committee provided a “Hope Tree” for employees to leave a message of hope or add their signature to at the celebration.
While the celebration is over, our hope that the future can be better and brighter than today. We have the power to make it so, lives on.
Why not leave an inspirational message of hope on DRS’ Hope Tree the next time you find yourself in the fifth floor lobby.
One area of the ADA that has become a major focus for me over the past few years concerns the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. I’m often called to come and evaluate, review and give recommendations on the physical accessibility of a building or facility. Physical accessibility is commonly referred to as architectural accessibility among those of us working in that field.
However, the physical accessibility of a building relies on the knowledge and actions of a lot more people than only architects. Interior designers, landscape designers, building contractors and even the occupants of a building can all impact accessibility, usually negatively because of their ignorance of the needs of people with disabilities.
I often find trash cans placed inappropriately in places where they can become a barrier to individuals in opening doors, reaching elevator call buttons, or simply being able to travel freely throughout the facility. Other types of hazards can also be found where displays or televisions on walls, dispensers inside restrooms and even interior art objects protrude outward at a low enough height to be a hazard to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Furniture and its placement can also present challenges for people with disabilities. Are people considering how individuals who use mobility devices can easily navigate through seating areas or even have an opportunity to join groups sitting around and having conversations?
In an attempt to educate individuals about how they might be able to better include everybody in the usability of buildings and facilities, a group in which I’m a member, the Accessibility Professionals Association, has partnered with the Great Plains ADA Center, one of 10 regional centers, which comprise the federally funded ADA National Network, have initiated discussions with various Schools of Design and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation to institute required trainings and testing for accessibility in their curricula and certification requirements.
The CIDA, in one of its core values states; ‘‘…diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to the human experience.’’ Certainly, access for all is an integral part of this core value. Any attempts to provide greater knowledge to those working in the field of design will inevitably take time and effort, but it will certainly yield better accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
If you or any of the businesses and organizations with which you are involved have any questions about how they can provide better access, don’t hesitate to contact me about doing training or evaluations to provide them with some valuable information.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently published an article on people with hidden disabilities and the challenges they face in the workplace.
Read SHRM's article on hidden disabilities.
 DRS' Kim Lohr shared a photo of five of her grandchildren dressed up for Halloween. They wore some great costumes for trick or treating. Thanks for sharing Kim.
Here are some of the new people you may meet soon at an upcoming event. Take some time to welcome the following to their new positions and see who's retired.
New hires or new jobs:
MSD – Administrative Programs Officer Natalie Marek began the new job on Oct. 1.
MSD – Human Resources Programs Manager Toyna Holman began the new job on Oct. 1.
DDS – Disability Medical Consultant Kristi Self began the new job on Oct. 2.
OSD – Recreational Activities Specialist Christopher Reagle began the new job on Oct. 2.
OSD – Food Service Specialist Sara Keller began the new job on Oct. 9.
OSD – LPN Jaime Brown began the new job on Oct. 16.
OSD – Housekeeping/Custodial Worker Camryn Thomason began the new job on Oct. 2.
OSD – Direct Care Specialist Adrian Chebultz began the new job on Oct. 2.
VR – Programs Field Representative Tracy Keeley began the new job on Oct. 16.
VR – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist LuCretia Austin began the new job on Oct. 2.
VR – Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Heike Fuller began the new job on Oct. 2.
From a submitted DRS client success story.
Purcell’s Travis Smith has a cognitive disability and turned to DRS for services.
Smith said DRS staff helped him in several ways, including assisting him in improving his grades.
“They (DRS Counselor) gave me the opportunity to make something out of myself and gave me a leg up in a career I can make a living with,” Smith wrote.
Do you have a former client that is building a life of independence?
We want to share their stories with DRS Commissioners and in the DRS Annual Report.
Email Brett Jones at bjones@okdrs.gov, and tell us their story.
From the DRS Communications team
Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving
From the DRS Communications team
From the DRS News Archives
Dated: November 4, 2011
Courtesy of the Muskogee Phoenix
Students at the Oklahoma School for the Blind recently received a tech boost thanks to the George Kaiser Family Foundation,
The foundation presented the school with a $20,000 open grant to be used at the school's discretion.
OSB Principal Carolyn Sheppard said the school often needs specialized technology in large-print, audio or Braille for Its blind or visually impaired students.
"The grant gives us a wonderful opportunity to make some purchases we could not afford,” Sheppard said. “This will help us be able to provide not just technology but curriculum enhancements and readers.”
State Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, said officials with the foundation were looking for a project in the area and had called him for a recommendation.
The foundation was founded by Tulsa businessman George Kaiser. Kaiser is president, CEO and primary owner of GBK Corporation, chair and majority shareholder of BOK Financial Corporation and a major shareholder in several energy, oil and gas, mining and technology companies.
Kaiser was third on BusinessWeek's list of the top 50 American philanthropists in 2008.
It's great to see a lifelong Oklahoman help out his fellow state citizens.
The students at OSB will be able to get specialized technology the school otherwise could not afford because of the foundation's generosity.
This edition's question:
Which of the Thanksgiving beverages is considered to be sad?
Answer:
???
Last edition's question:
I protect, I stand tall. My purpose is to strike fear in all. What am I?
Answer
A scarecrow
Those getting it right included:
1. Tammy Randles
2. Marqueta Culver
3. Renee Skocdopole
4. Laura C. Prater
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