Broken Arrow William Billy Fleming Honored with Oklahoma Governor Disability Employment Awards of Excellence

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Sixteen individuals from across the state, five employers and two prominent media outlets were honored during the annual “Governor’s Disability Employment Awards of Excellence” recently held at the Phillips Pavilion on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City. KOCO-TV Channel 5 Anchor Paul Folger emceed the event.

Originally created by former Governor and First Lady George and Donna Nigh 29 years ago, the awards recognize individuals with disabilities with a Governor’s commendation for “Outstanding Achievements in Employment.” One of this year’s winners included Broken Arrow’s William “Billy” Fleming, who received his award from Oklahoma Secretary of State Chris Benge and Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Ed Lake.

During the past 16 years, Fleming has worked his way up from working with a job coach and toasting buns in the back of a Wendy’s in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to his manager instructing him, and now flying solo as the restaurant’s “fry man” after mastering the art of deep-frying Wendy’s chicken nuggets.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Case Manager II Michelle Brinkley-Jones said she nominated Fleming for the award because Wendy’s management chooses to have Billy remain within the mainstream of the restaurant’s operations. He’s also in close proximity to his co-workers as he develops more job-related tasks and increases his interpersonal and positive social skills.

“Before working for Wendy’s, Billy depended on his mother and other family members to assist him in self-care; he basically just followed instructions,” Brinkley-Jones said. “Now, he is very much a driving force in the home, making sure that all daily chores have been completed on schedule. He makes sure that all of the tasks necessary to care for the therapy dogs used in his mother’s business, and the farm animals, are performed.

“Billy is also eager to initiate conversations with others, discuss his job and demonstrate how he performs certain tasks.”

Brinkley-Jones said Fleming’s ability to learn and master a task means that he can teach the task to others, and his boss said he’s diligent in attending to his job-related responsibilities. In the community, he is very involved in the therapy-dog association in Broken Arrow known as CHAMPS, where Fleming acts as the head mentor to other individuals with disabilities.

“He demonstrates proper dog-training skills, and shows others how to interact with the dogs and how to gently offer a dog a treat for appropriate behavior,” Brinkley-Jones said. “He often assists with multimedia efforts, including videos and setting up photo shoots to educate others about the CHAMPS program.”

Fleming has been honored by his Wendy’s restaurant as the “Employee of the Month” approximately 30 times over the 16 years he has been employed. He also has numerous awards, pins and pictures that he is more than willing to show to anyone who asks. When Brinkley-Jones asked Billy what makes him such a good employee, he replied, “Because when the boss tells me what to do, I do it!”

The Governor’s Disability Employment Awards of Excellence competition and program is co-sponsored by the Governor’s Office, the Oklahoma DHS Developmental Disabilities Services, the Oklahoma DRS and the Oklahoma Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst. Award winners are annually selected by a panel of public servants and volunteers who either serve people with disabilities or represent organizations that provide direct care for them daily.

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