Skylar Markley and Seth Mullen are making a difference in their lives and the community
COSHOCTON ? Skylar Markley and Seth Mullen have two things in common: They have developmental disabilities and want to be productive members of the community.
The two men recently won the Individual Spotlight Award at the annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Luncheon at the Coshocton County Commissioners Community Meeting Room.
The event featured presentation of awards, a panel of speakers on the journey through life with developmental disabilities and readings of essay contest winners from local schools. There were about 180 people in attendance.
Superintendent Steve Oster said the Individual Spotlight Award recognizes people with a developmental disability who have overcome adversity to achieve a goal and go beyond it.
"The person who receives this award demonstrates a drive to be better, a desire to be more independent and wants to make a difference in their life and the lives of others," he said.
Markley went through some personal hardships, but during a tough time in his life wanted to live more independently. He got an apartment and a job as a security guard at Cleveland Cliffs. Health issues forced him quit, but he's healthy and looking for employment again.
"(Markley) has a big heart and wants the best for his friends," Oster said.
Mullen has worked at Peach Tree Poultry in Fresno for nine years and has packaged more than a million dozen eggs in that time. Management reports Mullen is the pickiest of pickers and has a respectable attendance record, work ethic and rapport with his supervisor.
"He advocates for himself and for others that have disabilities. He is confident, determined and dependable," Oster said.
Other awards:
● Coshocton Regional Medical Center received the Employer Award. The medical facility has a few employees with developmental disabilities. It works with job coaches, creates an inclusive work environment and provides opportunities for such employees to grow and be promoted.
● Maliya Williams, a senior at River View High School, earned the Local Hero Award. As part of her senior project, Williams held a homecoming dance for those with developmental disabilities and worked with the community on obtaining donations to make the dance happen. She devoted more than 200 hours to the project.
● There were two Dedication Award winners. Registered Nurse Karen Casey was recognized for her work through Horizons HealthCare Services on giving the best possible medical care to those with disabilities and providing medication administration training for other agencies and independent providers. RHDD was honored as a group for providing services in the home, employment support for those working in the community and at an alternative adult day program. Through its efforts, more than 50 DD individuals are employed in the county.
● Ridgewood Local Schools received the Community Partner Award. The district has been supportive of the Board of DD. This has included allowing the Special Olympics softball team to use school fields for practice free of charge for the past three years, use of the school gymnasium for pep rallies and charity basketball game, and making accommodations for student Cody Croy to participate in the seated shot-put track event. Croy went to state competition for the event last year and hopes to do the same this year.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton County developmental disabilities board has annual luncheon
