Charity Winn of Tulsa receives commendation from Governor Mary Fallin

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Oklahoma City – Charity Winn 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.

The first thing you notice about Charity Winn is her award winning smile. As Charity approaches her one year anniversary working for Dollar General her co-workers and staff are still dazzled by the beautiful spirit she brings to life. Even while searching for a job, Charity remained optimistic and hopeful. Her positive attitude grew tremendously when she was hired and helped her ability to ensure her basic needs are met without relying on others. As a tax payer, she is contributing to the success of other people with a disability.

Her confidence in life was evident when she rode along with our staff on a parade float for an event that celebrated equality. Charity has been an ambassador in opening the door for other people with disabilities at her work... and for this her life has touched so many.

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.

Charity Winn (left) receives a Governor’s Commendation for her 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.