State Letters of Recommendation
Dept of Health & Human Services
State of Washington Dept of Labor and Industries
Department Of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Dear Mr. Foxx:
On behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), I thank you for participating in the recent 2003 National Customer Service Conference - Service First: Catch the Spirit! in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The information from your presentation “Disabled - Not Dysfunctional” and plenary session will be an ongoing benefit to CMS and our many partners as we strive to provide premier customer service to our Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The conference planners and I greatly appreciate your contribution to the success of the conference, and we look forward to partnering with you in the future to improve the health care quality of those we serve.
Sincerely,
Linda A. Ruiz
Regional Administrator, Seattle
Western Consortium Administrator
Department of Veteran Affairs
Puget Sound Health Care System
To Whom It May Concern:
In Reply Refer To: 663IS-OO-EEC
Re: Letter of Recommendation, Al Foxx, Winners Don’t Quit
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I recommend Al Foxx as a speaker for an organization or agency. Mr. Foxx recently spoke at our October 2005 Disability Employment Awareness Month diversity program at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, sponsored by the Equal Employment Opportunity Office, and hosted by our People with Disabilities Special Emphasis Program.
Employees and patients at our Seattle division had the opportunity to attend Al’s performance, and each group of attendees found useful and inspirational information in Al’s presentation. Since the program, I have received an overwhelming number of positive comments about Al, and specifically about his ability to address his situation with humor and grace.
Although many of the employees in attendance are health-care providers, and daily work with disabled veteran patients; they expressed a new appreciation of their patients’ experiences, frustrations and triumphs.
Many patients (and specifically those enrolled in our alcohol and drug dependency programs) informed me that they now realized that their own problems seemed minor, when compared to Al’s challenge and successful rehabilitation. These patients mentioned that they planned to chant Al’s mantra “Winners don’t quit, winners don’t quit, winners don’t quit,” if and when they encountered obstacles during their own treatment process.
Most importantly, Al’s message served to remind us of the purpose of our event: that we recognize the intellect, skills, abilities and contributions of people with disabilities; and our commitment to helping them achieve their full inclusion in our workforce.
Sincerely,
Diane B. Anderson, J.D.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Manager
Department of Veteran Affairs
Puget Sound Health Care System
State of Washington - Dept. of Labor & Industries
Dear Al,
I want to thank you for your recent humorous and informational talk on Disability Awareness to the Department of Labor and Industries. Over 220 people attended and their reviews were excellent. The story of your perseverance in your recovery was wonderfully told and I believe demonstrates what an amazing person you are.
While you are very funny guy and your personal story was fascinating, your straightforward behavioral recommendations about how to relate with respect to individuals with disabilities were most important. Agency staff with disabilities and parents and relatives of folks who are disabled said they thought they knew it all but you taught them and made them laugh at the same time.
As a Special Events Chairperson, my plan for Disability Awareness month was to offer a unique event that could educate and entertain, a large number of our staff.
While my recommendation that a comedian could educate and change behavior was at first questioned as an effective agency wide training program, all those that attended felt that the disability awareness training and the humor break in the workday was a wonderful and educational experience. Increased awareness of diversity helps our staff in their work with customers, with their families, and with their community. It is an excellent service that you offer and one any organization wishing to educate themselves on disability awareness would greatly benefit from.
Thank you again,
Pat Delaney
Special Events Committee
Click Video Clips to see clips from Al Foxx's Presentation at the Department of Labor and Industries.