Tulsa Jon Tucker Honored as One of the Best of the Best 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 Magna Community Living Services’ Habilitation Training Specialist Jon Tucker with both an “Award of Excellence” and as one of the “Best of the Best” award winners in direct support services.

Tucker was nominated by Magna Community Living Services Assistant Director of Residential Services and Senior PC David Waits. As a “Best of the Best” award winner, Waits, Tucker and the two men Tucker cares for, Gerald Foley and Joe Whiteagle, were all featured in a video presentation during the awards ceremony. In the video, Waits said he nominated Tucker because of his extensive experience and compassion in working with individuals with developmental disabilities. He estimates Tucker has worked more than 40,000 hours as a direct support worker.

“Jon is an extreme advocate when it comes to individuals’ rights,” Waits said.  “Just because they have a disability does not mean that they need to be treated differently, that somebody needs to make decisions for them. They may need some assistance making some decisions, but on an everyday basis, if they can make their own decisions, they should be allowed to make those decisions.

“And so he fought very hard for that, both for Joe and Gerald, to make sure that no one intervenes and says ‘Hey, we need to take their rights from them’ and worked with them to understand what that meant,” Waits said.

Tucker has cared for Foley and Whiteagle for 15 years. The pair now live in an agency support home in Tulsa. He has also helped Foley become his own guardian and assisted Whiteagle in finding long lost family members.

“The people we serve are just as smart as you or I … there’s just a challenge in the communication,” Tucker said. “I really believe that’s true. Even though there may be an IQ test, or some diagnosis or some label that says that many people believe they’re not as intelligent, but really the truth is that they are.

“Many the times, I’ve said they often have better character than many people in the world today. They’re very honest, caring and compassionate people themselves,” Tucker added.

When Tucker discovered there were no Special Olympics in his area, he started one. Waits said Tucker has been able to help the men he cares for to do things they never thought they’d be able to do, including camping, traveling and deep sea fishing as well as flying lessons, NASCAR racing and riverboat rides.

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. Out of the 26 Award of Excellence winners, only six were selected as “Best of the Best.”

“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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DHS Director Ed Lake, left, presents Tulsa’s Jon Tucker of Tulsa, second from left, with an “Award of Excellence.”Here, Tucker poses with his clients Gerald Foley and Joe Whiteagle.