Sonia Rosa

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Sonia Rosa has been a Senior Medical Assistant with Premier Healthcare for 9 years.  Sonia takes time to explain medical visits to patients while alleviating their anxiety through playing games or singing songs. By helping people feel comfortable, Sonia enables doctors to give quality care to their patients. Sonia is devoted to providing optimum healthcare for developmentally disabled individuals. In addition to her superior clinical skills, she possesses an admirable talent to work compassionately with those served.

Sonia is a strong advocate for her patients as well as her community. She is a dedicated and accomplished member of the Premiere Healthcare team. Sonia’s ability to speak Spanish has afforded Premiere Healthcare with the capability to connect with a multitude of ethnic families who experience great difficulty accessing medical, dental, mental health and rehabilitation services due to language barriers. Furthermore, Sonia volunteers at the Annual Latino Conference to bring awareness of individuals with disabilities to the Latino Population. 

Sonia’s desire to help others motivates her to grow professionally.  She is currently pursuing a career in nursing. Her ambitious qualities exemplify what a Direct Support Professional is. Sonia’s dedication and knowledge have earned her the respect of her colleagues and all served.

“My job is not easy, but I love what I do and it is very satisfying to me. Working as a direct care worker means you will be able to help others in need and at the end of the day it’s such a great feeling-so why not consider being a direct care health professional.” – Sonia Rosa

 

Felix Macias

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Felix Macias of RISE Services Inc creates a passionately supportive and warm environment that fosters both creativity and independence for those he serves.  Felix is able to motivate and empower consumers in his program with woodworking skills that astound family and friends.  Felix is dedicated to both his consumers and the team he works with.  He is known for going above and beyond his daily duties and willingly jumps in anytime he can help a fellow co-worker.  Felix was recently awarded the employee of the month award for his hard work and dedication.

While Felix spends most of his day teaching and helping consumers in the wood room, he is often found sitting and talking with an individual that needs a little extra “TLC”.  Due to his enthusiasm Felix is able to reach consumers in a special way, creating a higher level of success for each person.  Felix is often observed beaming with pride when individuals proudly display a bird house or picnic table they have constructed or assisted in painting, sanding or assembling. 

Felix is one of a kind with a heard of gold.  The love and care he shows for the people at RISE is unsurpassed.  For more than a decade, Felix has exceeded the expectations as a Direct Support Professional.  His service to consumers and his support for his co-workers has been a huge contribution to the program.  Felix has touched many lives with his kindness, willingness to help, and his love for all.

“It makes me proud and happy to see the consumers get involved when working on projects that we made.  They gain a lot of knowledge in carpentry.  A couple of the consumers even can work on their own, with some supervision.  That makes me very proud and happy to see that accomplishment.  It is also nice to have a great staff to work with…I am going to miss the consumers very much when I retire.” – Felix Macias

 

Ruth Swainston

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Ruth Swainston has been a job coach for Cache Employment & Training Center Inc. in Utah for 15 years. As a job coach she is required to teach and train each client in their duties.  She also supports them in appropriately interacting with their co-workers in the community.   Through her creative teaching styles she is able to provide clients with a successful work environment.  Ruth is a dedicated advocate for those she serves, and is able to provide positive redirection in the workplace while enhancing their self esteem.

In order to advance each individual’s strengths, Ruth varies her method of instruction and customizes her approach while training.  Understanding that outside factors can affect an individual’s ability to be productive in their work environment; Ruth is attentive to these concerns and offers solutions. She assists in the client’s decision making process by teaching about the natural consequences that occur in every situation. Ruth is willing to work through an individual’s inappropriate behavior and turns the experience into a teachable moment.

Ruth leads by example for both her consumers and her co workers.  No matter the job, she always meets the quality requirements of the company.   She also takes advantage of additional training courses in order to amplify her skills as a Job Coach.  Throughout her years as a Direct support Professional Ruth has enriched the lives of all served.

“I was told it takes someone special to work with people that have disabilities. I told them that I was the one who is blessed.” – Ruth Swainston

 

 

Steve Gagas

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Stamatios “Steve” Gagas, of Developmental Disabilities Institute, values his role as a teacher, advocate, coach, role model and friend to those he serves.  During the past two years, he has afforded individuals with unique opportunities such as, developing a nature trail, and the completion of a grant application for a woodworking club.  Both developments have been a tremendous benefit to those he serves.
 
Steve collaborated with other agencies in order to form a basketball league.  DDI’s basketball team, the “tigers” won many games.  Steve used this event as an opportunity to teach individuals the value of sportsmanship and to enhance socialization.  Through his hard work and research he was able to develop a sensory room.  This room has proven to be successful in calming individuals, and its positive outcome has made each day more enjoyable for those served.
           
Steve’s contributions to the program have truly enriched the lives of the individuals he supports. His enthusiasm is contagious, and inspires everyone to get more involved as he brings a new excitement to everything he does.  Steve always goes above and beyond the expectations of his job, and tries to create new and exciting ways for everyone to enjoy their day at DDI.

“Direct Support Professionals give hope to many of the individuals they serve, the hope of someday getting a job, the hope of someday driving a car, the hope of someday getting that last second basket in the final quarter of a playoff game.  I love my job, I love being a Direct Support Professional, and I love being their hope”. – Steve Gagas

 

Sheila Robinette

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Seeing beyond the present with a vision for the future, Sheila Robinette has positively impacted the lives of those she serves, especially Nancy.

Sheila first met Nancy eight years ago at the Leon Advocacy & Resources Center through a program called In-Home Supports. This program provides 24 hour residential support  for independent individuals. Due to Nancy’s obsessive-compulsive nature, any variations from her schedule resulted in violent tantrums and injurious behavior.

Despite Nancy’s aggressive tendencies, Sheila strived to anticipate warning signs, and taught Nancy appropriate coping skills.  This has eased Nancy’s disruptive behaviors and Sheila has used each situation to help Nancy find laughter.  Sheila also involved Nancy in numerous activities that enhance her quality of life, such as horse back riding, skating, volunteering, and learning computer skills. Sheila has made sure that all staff continues with these efforts to ensure Nancy’s program is consistent, and to provide her with a full and meaningful life.

Sheila’s positive nature and diligent work ethic have led her beyond obligation.  She spoke on Nancy’s behalf at a due process hearing that offset funding cuts which would have affected critical services. Sheila took a training course to become a certified behavioral assistant.  In addition to expanding her knowledge of autism, this course has strengthened the foundation of support that she provides for Nancy. Each summer, Sheila uses unpaid time to accompany Nancy and her elderly mother on vacation.

Sheila is continually leading, monitoring, and mentoring the rest of her team to ensure they see possibilities inside every person and find ways to maximize that potential.

“The rewards I get from the job are truly a special gift. It has made me who I am as a person and I thank Nancy for giving me that.” – Sheila Robinette