Kyle Graham of Tulsa receives commendation from Governor Mary Fallin

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Oklahoma City – Kyle Graham of Tulsa received a commendation from Governor Mary Fallin on October 10 during the Governor’s Disability Employment Awards at the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City.

Kyle Graham is a valued employee with the Developmental Disabilities Services Division and enjoys telling people where he works. As a Clerical trainee in the Archives department at OKDHS, Kyle isn't afraid of learning new job tasks. In fact, he recently took on new job responsibilities at work when a co-worker resigned and always asks if there is anything else he can do to help.

He has been active in the community serving as a volunteer at the Jenks Aquarium, St. John's Hospital and with the Down Syndrome Association. He also has served in leadership positions with People First. Kyle regularly attends the Governor's Conference, OKAPSE conferences, Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol and loves to attend the Special Olympics. Kyle gets his work done well and has evolved into a very independent person with a positive attitude. He is a great example of what people with disabilities can achieve. Kyle is a true leader.

The Governor’s Disability Employment Awards are co-sponsored by the Office of the Governor; 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.

Rep. Jason Nelson of Oklahoma City offered welcoming remarks at the awards ceremony and announced that October is national Disability Employment  Awareness Month. “It is employees and businesses like these that have put Oklahoma at the forefront in the nation for helping people with disabilities find jobs and become working taxpayers,” said Nelson who serves as chairman of the House Human Services Sub-Committee on Appropriations and Budget.

“In Oklahoma, 60% of individuals with developmental disabilities served by the OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division participate in supported employment services as compared to the national average of 20.1%.”

Rep. Nelson added that it was important to recognize the skills that people with disabilities bring to our workforce. “Their talents and contributions are vital to the strength of our state, our nation's workforce and our future prosperity,” said Nelson.

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Editors Note: Go to http://www.statedata.info/ (Link opens in new window) 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). This website 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.

Kyle Graham (left) receives a Governor’s Commendation for his outstanding achievements in employment from Rep. Jason Nelson. The award was presented during the Governor’s Disability Employment Awards of Excellence at the Governor’s Mansion on October 10.