Tulsa Sheila Johnson Honored With an Award of Excellence and Best of the Best Award 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 The Bridges Foundations’ Client Services Supervisor Sheila Johnson of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with an “Award of Excellence” and a “Best of the Best Award” in direct support services.

Johnson was nominated by Cindy Cook, vocational program coordinator with The Bridges Foundation in Tulsa. Cook describes Johnson as an amazing woman who is always looking out for her clients and what is best for them.

“She wants her clients with developmental disabilities to have the opportunity to work at a place like the Navistar IC Bus Plant in Tulsa,” Cook said. “It’s a unique place to work and it affords our clients with a lot of different experiences and a salary. Sheila has a passion for helping our individuals to get and keep jobs and she wants them to be able to be as independent as possible and be proud of what they do.”

Johnson was just 21 when she started working at DHS at the Hissom Memorial Center in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, She worked there for more than six years until the center closed in 1994. She began working at the bus plant in 2005 and she’s been instrumental in expanding job opportunities for dozens of individuals, as well as supervising nine job coaches.

“I’ve seen the history of the individuals that I serve,” Johnson said. “I worked with some of them at Hissom and I now work with them at the bus plant. When they were at Hissom they couldn’t do anything, but now when you meet up with them at the bus plant and you see the stuff that they can do, they are transformed. It’s amazing.”

 Cook agrees and said that Johnson’s extensive experience helps her to bring a high level of compassion and understanding when working with individuals with developmental disabilities.

“Coming from a facility where a lot of times people are told they’ll never do this or that and to be able to come back and see that person do above and beyond what they were told they would never do is a big deal for her,” she said. “It means a lot to Sheila to be able to see their successes. I think she takes pride in being a part of their progress and she gives each person the confidence and the strength needed to be able to come to work every day and be proud of it.”

Johnson said solid teamwork and good communications with the individuals she serves and her job coaches is vital to successfully managing her busy job.

“I think sometimes I’m tough, but they know that when I talk to them about things, I’m only meaning the best for them because I’m not trying to steer them in the wrong direction,” she said. “I’m determined that our clients can do anything if they set their minds to it. Anything!

“Whatever job it is, they can do it and with our help, we’ll make sure they can get it done,”  Johnson said.

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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Sheila Johnson receives a “Best of the Best Award” and “Award of Excellence” from DHS Director Ed Lake