Duncan resident receives commendation from Governor

DUNCAN, OKLA. -- Duncan resident Paul Lawson received a commendation from Governor Brad Henry and Lt. Governor Jari Askins Oct. 22 during the Governor’s Disability Employment Awards at the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City. October is national Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Lawson was recognized for outstanding work at three jobs and for living independently.  Lawson performs custodial and maintenance work for Jerry’s Janitorial and the Green’s Apartments.  When he is not working at one of those two companies, Lawson serves as a sales clerk at the Re-Run Junction.  Lawson works very hard and is eager to do all of his jobs to the best of his abilities. He has twice been voted employee of the month by Big Five Community Services. In addition to work, Lawson’s social life has also become very busy. He has established a great relationship with his neighbors. Whenever they need help with something, Lawson is right there to lend a hand. In turn, Lawson’s neighbors take him with them whenever they make trips into town. He now attends church every week and enjoys participating in Special Olympics.

“It is employees and businesses like these that have put Oklahoma ahead of every state in the nation at employing people with disabilities,” said Howard Hendrick, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

“For the past three years, Oklahoma has led the nation in assisting people with developmental disabilities to find competitive jobs and become working taxpayers, “said Hendrick. “Today, 60 percent of individuals with developmental disabilities served by the OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division participate in supported employment services.”

The Governor’s Disability Employment Awards are co sponsored by Governor Brad Henry and Lt. Governor Jari Askins, along with OKDHS/DDSD, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and the Oklahoma Association of Persons in Supported Employment.

Editors Note: To see Oklahoma’s ranking as compared to other states in regard to the numbers of persons with developmental disabilities in competitive jobs (supported employment) go to, www.statedata.info (Link opens in new window). This Web site is a project of the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, supported in part by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under cooperative agreement with additional support from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education.

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