Kay Boas And Jonathon Wilfong Win State Awards

(INDIANAPOLIS) – Kay Boas of Columbus and Jonathon Wilfong of Sullivan received prestigious awards from the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities on March 13th in Indianapolis.


The awards were presented during the 2019 Annual Awards Luncheon, part of the INARF “Untying the (K)Nots that Hold Us Back” Annual Conference in Indianapolis for professionals serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award presentation coincides with Disability Awareness Month in Indiana.
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From left to right Jim Allbaugh, INARF Board Chairman, Kay Boas, DSI Director Facility and Community Programs, Brandon Boas, and Suzanne Crouch, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
Boas, Director of Facility and Community Programs at Developmental Services, Inc., has received the INARF Pinnacle Award, an honor given to an outstanding professional level staff member in the human service industry.
Boas was recognized for 47 years of helping individuals with disabilities in many capacities including her career at DSI as well as serving on many community boards and advocacy groups.
“Through it all, Kay Boa’s insight and leadership ensures that our consumers, as well as children and adults with disabilities in the community at large, have the opportunity to achieve what we all want – a place to call home, a chance to work and earn a paycheck, and the platform to be heard so that we can earn respect and dignity,” says Shane Burton, Chief Executive Officer, Developmental Services, Inc.
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From left to right Jim Allbaugh, INARF Board Chairman, Jonathon Wilfong, and Suzanne Crouch, Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.
Jonathon Wilfong, an Individual Waiver Participant at DSI, received the Justin Dart Personal Achievement Award, an annual honor presented to an individual who has participated in services through an INARF member agency and who has maximized higher skills and abilities to achieve chosen goals.
Among Wilfong’s many personal goals while at DSI he obtained his drivers’ license, lead self-advocacy groups, and became a volunteer fireman.
“He leads the local Self-Advocates group and is on the Self-Advocates of Indiana State Board, and he started college courses last fall at Ivy Tech,” says Sherri Tredway, DSI Development Director and long-time friend of Wilfong.
“Many doors have opened for Jonathon, and he is taking advantage of all of the opportunities afforded to him. He also continues to encourage and help others who may be trying to realize their dreams.”
In 2011 Kay Boas’ son, Brandon Boas, also received the Justin Dart Award.
Developmental Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1975 and dedicated to serving children and adults with disabilities in over 50 counties in Indiana. DSI services include early intervention, job training and placement, residential living options, respite, music therapy, computer literacy, creative arts, personal enhancement, community networking, and advocacy. For more information visit www.dsiservices.org.
INARF is the principal membership organization in Indiana representing providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Our members serve over 50,000 Indiana citizens annually and employ over 14,500 full-time employees. For more than 45 years, INARF has maintained positive work relationships with governmental agencies responsible for human service programs, promoted networking and professional development opportunities for members, and provided leadership and support in the promotion of quality programs for persons with I/DD. INARF is committed to strengthening the system of services and supports for Hoosiers with disabilities. For more information, please visit www.inarf.org.

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