Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
James M. Henry, Commissioner

Betty Freeman | Carol Grimes | Dave Burchfield | Joy Waldschmidt | Kyle Henson | Marie Turnmyre | Mary Freeman | Metrio Robinson | Renea Johnson | ShaRhonda Lester | Temeka Bond | Judy Hughes

Betty Freeman

Betty Freeman, Direct Support Professional from Progress Inc. in Middle Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from the Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

The companionship and care that Ms. Freeman provides are definitely centered on the likes and interests of the two individuals she serves.  Her focus is always on quality of life, day in and out. She has helped these two individuals see why changes she encourages have been in their best interest, and their steady improvements demonstrate their understanding of Betty’s efforts on their behalf.  One of the individuals she serves is highly compromised medically and the other is dually diagnosed with intellectual disability and serious mental illness. Ms. Freeman’s common sense, matter of fact approach has helped both of these individuals to grow, resulting in new opportunities and richer lives. It is clear that the compassion and encouraging care that Ms. Freeman provides is done out of respect for these two individuals, and because she believes that they can and are entitled to a better quality of life.

Carol Grimes

Carol Grimes, Direct Support Professional from Developmental Services of Dickson County in Middle Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from the Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Grimes carries a smile and a positive outlook with her wherever she goes. She has a heart of gold. Ms. Grimes speaks from the heart and is able to draw the best from individuals, a model for treating people with dignity and respect. Challenges on the job have not gone away, but Ms. Grimes remains steadfast and positive, she exemplifies professionalism. She provides quality supports every day. Ms. Grimes supports an individual with some trying issues, but she never spoke negatively about that individual and always commented on the positive things this individuals was doing. It is obvious that the individual she supports thinks a lot of her as this individual smiles a lot when he sees her and walks closely with her when out in the community.

Dave Burchfield

Dave Burchfield, Direct Support Professional from Middle Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from the Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Mr. Burchfield is the first Public Partner Above and Beyond winner. He felt the need to encourage his daughter to regain her strength mobility and as much independence as she possibly could. He set up a therapy room in the home and worked with her several times a day to build strength and endurance to stand and walk again. Previously it seemed her helplessness was encouraged rather than embracing her willingness to regain her mobility. It would have been much easier for Mr. Burchfield to push her in her wheelchair everywhere they went in the community, but he was more interested in promoting her physical independence and emotional well being. She is now walking with a walker, climbing in and out of vehicles on her own and she has even taken a few steps on her own. She has not spent one minute in the wheel chair for over eighteen months. Mr. Burchfield has created a safe environment and personal relationship in which she feels confident enough to do what even her doctors felt was impossible. Along with her mobility she has also gained back the sixty pounds she lost during her illness.

Joy Waldschmidt

Joy Waldschmidt, Direct Support Professional from Step By Step, Inc. in East Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Waldschmidt's interaction and the confidence she instills as a caregiver and a companion is impressive. She brings out the best in everyone, including parents. She is also upbeat and humble. She is a certified teacher who chooses to devote her skills to the special needs community she has an amazing ability to take anything mundane and introduce it as a delightful educational experience. Ms. Waldschmidt welcomes even the most difficult and adverse problems as a chance to learn and nourish the individual(s) supported. Ms. Waldschmidt is totally unselfish in her desire to help and encourage this population. Not only has she been responsible for the growth and development for this individual, but she has enlightened the parents in the most effective ways to guide and inspire their child to be the best they can be.

Kyle Henson

Kyle Henson, Direct Support Professional from Bubba's Better Life, Inc. in West Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Mr. Henson often takes extra time to stay and speak with the next shift of staff about how the night went for the individual he supports, he also stays or comes back to assist with outings. He visits on the weekend to take this individual out to eat or to just say hello. Mr. Henson always shows the utmost integrity and responsibility when it comes to supporting his individual. He will check on this individual from time to time to gage the quality of life for this individual. Mr. Henson is always a nice person when at work, he does not let outside matters interfere with his job performance. When asked about this Mr. Henson replied, "If I come to work and let it show that I am having problems then this individual will pick up on that - kind of like if I am having a bad day so will this individual." Mr. Henson always has the utmost respect for the individual he supports.

Marie Turnmyre

Marie Turnmyre, Direct Support Professional from Cumberland Community Options in Middle Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Turnmyre has significantly changed the level of involvement for the individual she supports, as now there is more time with friends, community and family. This is no small feat considering the extensive and complicated medical needs and concerns for the individual she supports. Ms. Turnmyre has spent endless hours learning as much as she could about various medical diagnoses of the individuals she supports and has become an assertive voice and advocate with her doctors and while in the hospital. She has aided the individual she supports in countless skills, such as banking, Taekwondo classes, and the dinner club is an example of her growing social life. Ms. Turnmyre says the best validation she has in knowing she has done her job well is when the individual she supports enjoys an activity, dinner, or family party and tells her thank you Turn, I'm so happy.

Mary Freeman

Mary Freeman, Direct Support Professional from Progress Inc. in Middle Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Freeman provides supports for two distinctly different individuals, different in age, skills and needs. The physical capacities of the two individuals she supports are very different. Ms. Freeman finds ways to keep both active through walking and swimming, activities they can both enjoy, at different levels. Ms. Freeman is very careful with the privacy of these two individuals she supports, especially with regards to their medical conditions. Ms. Freeman is very quiet, unassuming, seldom heard uttering a complaint. The lives of the individual she supports are infinitely better because of the compassion, creative and care she provides.

Metrio Robinson

Metrio Robinson, Direct Support Professional from SRVS in West Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Mr. Robinson treats all the individuals he supports with a compassionate understanding of teaching them the values of life with a unique approach of getting them to understand why life is the way it is. He has also implemented a continuity of care in the home by counseling his staff on ways they can help the service recipients self esteem so that they can open up and care for others. Initially the individual he supported was alone in the home but a new roommate moved in and Mr. Robinson took the time to ensure a smooth transition and wanted the new roommate to also feel at home. Since the transition a year ago the two individuals have become the best of friends. They protect one another as if they have lived together for a very long time. These two roommates are now noticed for their neatness and overall upkeep resulting in self-esteem that has skyrocketed.

Renea Johnson

Renea Johnson, Direct Support Professional from Sunrise in East Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Johnson has made amazing progress with the individual she supports, as this individual is non-verbal and used to be destructive. She has worked patiently and the individual she supports now says simple words, has learned to be curious, and is even able to go on community outings. Ms. Johnson shows professionalism in her consistent support of this individual without frustration. Ms. Johnson has touched the lives of all the individuals she has supported. She does whatever is needed to be successful on her job and remains dedicated to the individuals she supports. Ms. Johnson is eager to encourage others by her kind words, sweet smile and compassionate heart.

ShaRhonda Lester

ShaRhonda Lester, Direct Support Professional from SRVS in West Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Lester supported two individuals and provided them uniform conformity in giving them the best quality of care. She worked with two gentlemen with challenging behaviors that stemmed from verbal, aggressive and/or physical outbursts with no complaints. She now supports two ladies and her leadership abilities in training her fellow DSPs to follow the ladies' individual support plans lead to decreased behaviors. She has a quiet voice, just above a whisper but her words are both valued and respected by the conservator, family members, and other staff. She advocates for her individuals on a daily basis. Ms. Lester is truly dedicated to the well being of those she serves; these ladies love her dearly.

Temeka Bond

Temeka Bond, Direct Support Professional from Behavioral Services of Tennessee in West Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

One individual's mother wrote that Ms. Bond's extraordinary willingness to always go the extra mile and demonstrating a genuine commitment to people with disabilities has allowed her the freedom to know that her daughter is being cared for with the utmost respect. Ms. Bond is kind, compassionate and always dedicated to the well being of the individual treating her daughter fairly and justly at all times. Ms. Bond always has a kind word or some ways of making her daughter feel good about herself and including her daughter in conversations which makes her daughter feel important, and has truly become her best friend.

Judy Hughes

Judy Hughes, Direct Support Professional from Open Arms in East Tennessee received the Above and Beyond award from Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee during the Tennessee Disability MegaConference Awards Banquet on June 4, 2010 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Ms. Hughes has an easy-going attitude and respect for clients and co-workers that make her an outstanding employee. Her experiences make her a walking reference book on the medical, social, and developmental history of individuals she supports. Since these individuals are non-verbal, her information is of great benefit to the individuals and the staff that work with them. She has a keen eye and is always the first to notice things in the home that need attention. Ms. Hughes' attention to detail and ability to communicate a need on behalf of the individuals she supports is part of what keeps these individuals' homes in excellent working order. Her dedication, spirit, and efforts are what make her so exceptional.