Judy Moxon, left, a habilitation training specialist with People Inc. who works with a 10-year-old boy living in his grandparents’ home in Sallisaw, receives the Award of Excellence from James Nicholson, director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Division.
Submitted Photo
Fred Davis, left, a habilitation training specialist at a boys’ group home operated by People Inc. in Sallisaw, receives the Award of Excellence from James Nicholson, director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division.
Submitted Photo
Fred Davis and Judy Moxon received Awards of Excellence in Direct Support Services from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Division.
Davis is a habilitation training specialist at a boys’ group home run by People Inc. in Sallisaw. He helps with all the aspects of the boys’ daily lives from hygiene to cooking. Davis was nominated for the award because he is tough when needed, encouraging, and always fair and respectful to the boys he serves, his supervisors said. Davis has worked in this group home for the past 10 years and has turned down other opportunities to stay and work with the boys in the home.
Moxon is a habilitation training specialist with People Inc. and works with a 10-year-old boy living in his grandparents’ home in Sallisaw. Since Moxon started working with this boy a little more than a year ago, he has become a different child, her supervisors said. His speech and social skills have improved and he no longer has difficult behaviors. The boy’s grandmother said that, thanks to Moxon, her grandson is now a loving, bright well-adjusted boy who is able to go to school, make friends and live life as normal as possible.
James M. Nicholson, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Division director, said, “It is direct support professionals like these that are the heart of our community service system.”
He said, “These professionals provide not only direct care but they serve as teachers, helping people learn how to do things for themselves and to become as independent as possible. Although people are trained for this job, you can’t train people to be loving, empathetic and work with integrity. That is what these award recipients’ posses and that is why we honor them.”
Services to people with developmental disabilities are provided through a partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services Division and community provider agencies that contract with the department.
