Area business and residents receive Governor's Commendations

Oklahoma Capitol -- SCC Cleaning Co., Addam Chenault and Allan Workman of Lawton, and Denise Chrisner from Elgin received commendations from Governor Mary Fallin on Nov.10 during the Governor’s Disability Employment Awards at the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City.

Since being hired as a general utility employee at the Davis Student Union at Cameron University in Lawton, Addam Chenault has won the hearts of his co-workers and supervisors. After graduating from Lawton High School more than seven years ago, the supported employment specialist agency, Apex, Inc., helped Chenault connect with the university and find just the right job. Since being employed, he has become self reliant in his work tasks and more verbal. He stays on task and his work ethic is to be envied. If he sees something that needs to be done, he gets it done before anyone else. He takes great joy in greeting customers and co-workers and his attitude is a constant reminder how pleasant it is to work with someone who loves his job.

Denise Chrisner has grown in her job as an office manager at Swanson Services in Ft. Sill over the last year and a half. Chrisner was somewhat timid at the beginning of her employment. Over time she has advanced to giving orientation sessions for groups of individuals, maintains an office and supervises an individual with a disability. Now she is fully involved with her community, confident in her ability to maintain her employment independently and has expressed that she no longer feels she needs the support of Apex, Inc. She is continually teaching herself new job tasks.

Allan Workman is a devoted employee for Professional Systems, who contract janitorial services for the Sears store in Lawton. Because of speech barriers, Workman was initially very withdrawn, easily discouraged and rarely talked to people outside of the staff who worked with him. A picture guide of items needed for cleaning was developed by the employment training specialist through the Lawton Dale Rogers Training Center, as part of the initial training process. In addition to providing prompts for training, he used this as a communication tool. Since then, he has made friends on the job and they are able to understand his gestures and comments, which makes communication much easier. Now, Workman is able to do his job independently, performs on-call duties and even covers vacations for the other janitorial staff.

SCC Cleaning Company ensures that their two employees with disabilities feel welcome, are respected and are an integral part of the team. As a business service contractor in Lawton providing cleaning services to Central Mall, the SCC staff demonstrates job tasks and instructions in a clear and brief manner and all employees are considered part of a team. SCC Cleaning integrates employees with disabilities through a yearly cookout and hold a Christmas luncheon. These employees are given the same opportunity to become employee of the month as all other employees and the winner has lunch with the mall manager.

“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% 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 Mary Fallin 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.)

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Addam Chenault (left) receives a Governor’s Commendation from OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick for his outstanding work.

Denise Chrisner (left) receives a Governor’s Commendation from OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick for her outstanding work.

Allan Workman (left) receives a Governor’s Commendation from OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick for his outstanding work.

Representing SCC Cleaning Co. – Tammy Wright and Gwendolyn Love receive a Governor’s Commendation from OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick.