Wynnewood Patricia Bray 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 Renaissance Management Group Inc., Agency Companion Pat Bray with an “Award of Excellence” and “Best of the Best Award” in direct support services.

Bray worked for Oklahoma DHS’ DDS Southern Oklahoma Resource Center (SORC) providing direct care services for approximately five years. During that time, a woman was moved into her unit named Stacy. She said she immediately bonded with Stacy and soon decided that if SORC was ever closed, she wanted Stacy to come live with her.

“I told her sister during one visit that if this place ever closes, I hope you know, I’m taking your sister home with me,” Bray said. “Several years later, her sister called me and asked if I was serious and she helped me to figure out what I needed to do to have Stacy come home with me.”

Bray worked long hours at SORC while studying to become certified as an agency companion and in August 2013, Stacy moved in with her. Stacy seems happy because of her agency companion’s love and advocacy. She also has a job as a greeter, interacts often with Bray’s large family and they attend Wynnewood High sporting events and travel often.

“She’s a big part of my family,” Bray said. “My kids have just taken to her and my grandkids have taken to her. I took her to Alabama and she met my mom and my mom calls and asks about her all the time.

“My brothers and my sisters all ask about her. Everybody loves her.”

Bray said that Stacy is a little bit mischievous and loves to play games.

“She’s so sweet,” Bray said, laughing. “She’s just wonderful, that’s all I can say; she’s wonderful! There’s only 10 years difference in our age, so it’s like having a little sister to play around with.”

The pair recently moved into a new house in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Bray said she decorated Stacy’s room in a butterfly motif.

“I compare her to like a butterfly because she’s become my little butterfly,” Bray said. “She got out of her cocoon and she’s more talkative. She laughs more, plays more and interacts with a lot more people that like to interact with her.”

Bray said she believes that all individuals with developmental disabilities deserve a loving home and family. She’s happy to share her life and extended family with Stacy.

“I don’t feel like they’re treated the way they should be treated,” Bray said. “People think it doesn’t matter, well it really does matter. Everyone should have somebody who wants to take care of them and love them.”

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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From left, DHS Director Ed Lake congratulates Pat Bray, who is now an agency companion for Stacy.