Oklahoma City Michelle Thomas-Wyatt Honored With an Award of Excellence in Direct Support Services

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) held its 28th Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities recently in Norman. During the awards ceremony, DHS recognized Michelle Thomas-Watt of Oklahoma City with an “Award of Excellence” in direct support services.

Thomas-Watt is a direct support professional for State Community Services Oklahoma, Inc. (CSCSO) was nominated by Afia Wright, her coordinator and supervisor at CSCSO. Wright said Thomas-Watt has remarkable and unbreakable ties with the three men with developmental disabilities that she supports and the same is true with their families.

“The families continuously rave about the supreme level of care and knowledge that Michelle continuously displays,” Wright said. “She has always provided remarkable leadership and advocacy when it comes to the people she supports and she has the ‘treat people the way you want to be treated’ attitude. She’s constantly thinking of ways to better equip the people she supports with the tools they need and works to make sure that the three men she cares for are a thriving, positive and recognizable force in the community in which they live.”

Wright said Thomas-Watt often takes the men she supports to places where they can gain access to a wide variety of experiences, including the mall, parks, church, foundations and concerts.

“Everywhere they go, people recognize them and communicate freely with them,” Wright said. “This makes their time in the community even more special than it was before because the men are gaining new friendships. They seem to enjoy every moment they spend in the community.”

Thomas-Watt has also increased the independence of the men she cares for by taking them to church. Wright said that the men understand what type of behavior is expected at church and are now comfortable enough to quickly grab a complete stranger’s hand and pray in church.

“They are so well acclimated to the church they clap when the choir is singing and interact with the congregation,” she said.

Wright said Thomas-Watt’s devotion to the men she serves is reflected in the fact that when one of her gentlemen is sick or in the hospital, she will stay right by their side until she feels they are safe.

“Michelle truly and genuinely loves the people that she supports as her own and she will not rest until she knows that the hospital staff are doing what she knows her individuals are accustomed to,” she said. “She has become the best house manager that I have had the pleasure of supervising.”

A direct support service professional is someone who works as a direct care worker for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. These workers can include habilitation training specialists, job coaches and group home staff, as well as habilitation aides, workshop staff, and agency companions or as specialized foster parents.

The criteria for winning an Award of Excellence focuses on a nominee’s tenure, experience, relationship to the individual(s) and the families they support, leadership, advocacy and their success in supporting people to be included in the community. “Our award winners say they absolutely cherish the people they serve,” said JoAnne Goin, director, DDS. “They’re practical, determined and compassionate folk who treat their individuals like dear friends and family, all the while encouraging and teaching them how to become more independent members in the communities where they work and live.

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Michelle Thomas-Wyatt accepts an “Award of Excellence” from DHS Director Ed Lake.