Moore Resident Receives Commendation from Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Moore resident Lona Anders received a commendation from Governor Mary Fallin on Nov. 10 during the Governor's Disability Employment Awards at the Governor's Mansion in Oklahoma City.

Anders was recognized for her outstanding work at Tinker Air Force Base through the Dale Rogers Training Center. Her independence has grown by leaps and bounds since she was hired as a custodian five years ago and she has become a self-motivated individual who does whatever is needed to get the job done. She has won perfect attendance awards and the Employee of the Quarter award at the Dale Rogers Training Center which is based on attendance, work performance and quality. She has also received a multitude of customer letters complimenting her work at Tinker.

Despite the challenges of having a hearing impairment, Anders has learned to effectively communicate with her peers who do not use sign language. She now has confidence in her ability to make herself known and communicate in all situations. Some of her co-workers also use sign language and she enjoys the sense of community at work. Using her ability to sign, Anders is an American Sign Language teacher one night a week. She really likes teaching individuals how to communicate with a person who has a hearing impairment and enjoys giving individuals insight into the deaf community.

"Employees and businesses like these place Oklahoma at the forefront as leaders for employing people with disabilities," said Howard Hendrick, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

"Oklahoma is committed to assisting people with developmental disabilities 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 Fallin along with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), 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 number of persons with developmental disabilities in competitive jobs (supported employment), go to www.statedata.info (Link opens in new window).

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Lona Anders receives a Governor's Commendation from OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick for her outstanding work at Tinker Air Force Base. The award was presented during the Governor's Disability Employment Awards of Excellence at the Governor's Mansion on Nov. 10, 2011.