Pryor Lisa Houston Honored with a DHS Award of Excellence and Best of the Best Award

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Sometimes it is a gentle voice that can speak volumes when it comes to ensuring that people with developmental disabilities have the same rights as everyone else. Such is the case involving a woman named Tracy of Pryor, Okla., and her longtime friend and direct support personnel supervisor at Central State Community Services (CSCS), Lisa Houston.

Although Tracy is nonverbal, she was insistent that she wanted to live independently in Pryor, despite the fact it went against the wishes of a well-meaning foster family member. The foster family member wanted Tracy to continue living with her foster brother and be closer to family in a new home in Inola, Okla. Houston quietly advocated that Tracy’s choices be respected.

“Although Tracy loves her foster brother, she was very adamant through the use of assistive technology that she wanted her own house in Pryor,” Houston said. “There was kind of a heated debate for a while and we had to split staff, but Tracy was really adamant no matter who asked her. I just felt like I had to help her fight for what she wanted.”

As a result, Tracy’s life is much more fulfilling. She has her own home in Pryor, attends church and runs a vending business with Houston’s help named Tracy’s Tidbits. Her help and advocacy are just a few of the reasons Houston was recognized with an “Award of Excellence’ and “Best of the Best” award in direct support services during the recent 29th Annual Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities in Norman.

Leanne Hill, a senior support coordinator for CSCS in Pryor, nominated Houston for the honors.

“Lisa has basically been Tracy’s interpreter for the last 13 years,” Hill said. “She was able to let the team know in her own soft spoken way what Tracy wanted and she did a really good job of advocating for Tracy to be independent.”

Houston and Tracy also collect cans for recycling and the proceeds benefit the Oklahoma People First Green Country Chapter, a nonprofit self-advocacy group for people with developmental disabilities. Houston said Tracy is a member of the organization and served as an officer for two years.

“For Tracy, that was kind of a ‘Hey, this is my life and I can do what I want to do with it,’ she said. “It helped her self-esteem to be built up more, to and make her own choices and let herself be known.”

Houston said Tracy’s fearless spirit has led to some unexpected discoveries, including the fact that Tracy loves the roller coasters and spinning rides at Frontier City.

“Tracy’s willing to try anything,” she said. “Somebody asked her the other day if she wanted to go sky-diving and Tracy nodded! I said, ‘OK, there’s the line, Tracy. I’m not skydiving!’ but I know she’d probably give it a try … she’s pretty fearless.”

###