DON Services earns statewide award

Oct. 17--Chris Lloyd is a man on a mission whose efforts have been noted and appreciated.

The CEO of Disability Options Network on Tuesday accepted, on behalf of the agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Business Award on behalf of his agency. The award, presented by OVR district administrator Gail Steck, recognizes DON Services' efforts and named it Employer of the Year.

"Exciting things are going on at DON Services," Steck said, praising the agency for its partnership and efforts to return people to the community. "Together we are assisting Pennsylvanians with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment and independence."

Citations were also presented by Dana McQuiston on behalf of State Rep. Chris Sainato, recognizing Lloyd and DON Services as recipients of the OVR Lawrence County Employer of the Year and on behalf of the office of State Sen. Elder Vogel, recognizing DON Services and its 1,200 employees, about 50 percent of whom have disabilities,

Since its beginnings, the Disability Options Network has worked to realize its mission -- to empower people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose. Through its programs of independent living and job creation DON, has found ways and means to provide a better quality of life, achieve economic self-sufficiency to free individuals who might otherwise be confined to overcrowded institutions or nursing homes.

"Our goal has been to not see our customers as people with disabilities but to see each as a person," Lloyd said. "We have fought to help them to live independently. That requires a job, transportation, support and understanding. DON Services help by performing services for people that they can't do for themselves."

In 1997 Lloyd said, a conglomeration of five individuals applied for a grant to provide housing and service options and job opportunities for individuals with disabilities of Lawrence, Beaver, Butler and Mercer counties who were then confined to their houses or nursing homes.

They did not succeed that year, he said, but the application was re-submitted and in 2001 the fledgling agency received its first grant. A $125,000 grant was obtained in 2002-03 and there was no looking back, Lloyd said.

The Disability Options Network Services was created in 2005 to provide labor services, "and we've doubled every year since then and can now provide services to 27 counties in western Pennsylvania from Westmoreland to Erie," he said. The agency is not yet established in all of the 27 counties.

The agency is continuing to grow creating DON Management, specializing in housing and construction to build and renovate properties in New Castle. New developments have included DON Entrepreneurs, a for-profit holding company which to date, he said, has received 15 properties from the Lawrence County Land Bank. Two have been renovated, one demolished. The agency also sells insurance, Lloyd said.

Melissa Allen, director of the Center for Independent Living, noted the Disability Options Network serves its community through programs of advocacy, skill training, information and referral services, peer support and transition

One of DON Services clients, who went on to become an employee and is currently serving on the board of directors is J.C. Scialabba of Butler.

"I came in for lunch and they put me to work," he said. Scialabba is a fingerprinter, working with subcontractor IdentoGO.

He began working in May, works four days per week and can fingerprint six to nine people per hour.

"You'd be surprised how many people need to be fingerprinted," he said. "We to teachers, coaches, nurses, foster parents, sports officials, anyone who interacts with children in any way."

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