INSIDE OKDHS - JOYFUL SOUND CHOIR 

No Audio: Shannon, Singer and DDSD client

Shannon (singing): When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me. 

Shannon: I started singing ever since I was one. It took me awhile to recognize that I can actually sing. I don't want people thinking that I'm "all that" but I'm not. I'm just giving back what God gave me. 

Shannon (singing): I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; 

No Audio: Shouna Olson, Director Joyful Sound Choir Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Shouna Olson: Shannon is a very uniquely talented young woman. With all of our individuals we try to find what their ability is, and whether it's a great musical ability or whether it's no musical ability at all but they just love music, we invite all kinds to be in our choir. 

However, when we find someone who has a very special musical ability we try to develop that. And Shannon has been gifted by God with a beautiful voice. And so, we love working with her to help her you know, learn her words, and that's kind of a struggle for Shannon. 

She doesn't struggle with notes. She doesn't struggle with performance presence; she struggles a little bit with words. So, that's the area that we work with her on. And every time that she performs it's a challenge for her. And it's a great blessing for her and a great blessing for everyone who hears her. 

Shannon: All these kids are special needs, disability, special needs. So am I. I'm the one with disability. I met Shouna when I was at another church. I went to a Christmas program with her and she asked me to be in the choir. I was in shock because I wasn't really sure she heard my voice before or knew me. So, she sort of popped up and said, "Do you want to be in the choir?" And, I've been in the choir ever since. 

Shannon (singing): You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;  

Shouna: The Joyful Sound Choir is made up of individuals who have developmental disabilities of all kinds, and there's about 80 regular members in our choir. We perform at nursing homes. We perform at churches. We especially love performing for churches that desire to start a ministry for individuals who have special needs because not all churches have that. 

And we've performed at the State Special Olympics, and we've performed for the Pastor's Conference of Oklahoma, the Baptist General Convention. We do a lot of different kinds of performances. 

No Audio: Becky Deck, Friend and Volunteer Advocate

Becky: She was in the choir before I was in the choir and so, I had heard her sing and when the choir did specials at church. And then, she sang a couple of times at our Sunday School class for us. So, it was obvious she could sing. 

Shannon (singing): Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, 

No Audio: Malindi Sultuska, Case Manager III DDSD

Malindi: One day she just invited me, you know, "Come watch us sing. I have a solo." It was out at an assisted living center. Oh, I was so tired from work and I was like, "No, I promised Shannon I would be there." And so, I came and oh, my gosh! I filmed the whole thing and I was like, "No, way!" (laughs) 

Shannon: Lindi - I can talk to. I can actually lean on when I actually need a friend. And, Lindi was my first friend that I could actually really trust. Becky was my second one, and then the choir director was my third. It's just, I'm glad that God put me in the system to do it. 

Becky: I think I started seeing that she had a need when we had Sunday School parties and she needed transportation, and then I could see that she had other needs in her life, and I just had the ability to help meet those needs and the time that it took. It kind of just formed a little friendship that worked. 

Shannon: She's a part of my whole life. We go places everywhere. I trust her with my life. I mean, she's my heart. She's my best friend. 

Shannon (singing): You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, 

Shouna: It provides something that's a challenge for them that so many times they are not challenged. You know, not a whole lot is expected, sometimes, and they get that with this choir. 

Shannon: It took me out of the shell. It taught me how to not be afraid to learn about God and if I didn't been in the choir, I wouldn't know where I'd be right now. 

Shouna: They set a very good example for others to follow, and then they are also ambassadors for all individuals who have special needs because the choir gives them a voice. You know, when there's 80 of them, they can't really be ignored. And, it's a very strong statement. 

The songs that they sing about, "What Love Really Means," or "Free To Be Me." You know that God created them in a very special way, and they are uniquely made, and they are wonderful. Those are important messages and we love to share that. 

Shannon (singing): I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; 

Malindi: She talks about how blessed she is. And I think that level of gratitude... she has gratitude. The level of gratitude that she carries affects her attitude, and that is something to learn from. 

Becky: It just gives them such a belief in themselves that they can stand up and do something in front of a group, and the group enjoys it. It just lets them know that they've got talent, and they've got abilities, and other people want to see those talents and abilities. It just encourages them. We all liked to be encouraged. We all like to see that we can make an impact, and they are making an impact. 

Shannon: I'd rather show you what God can do, and then you go from there. 

(Applause) 

No Audio: Choir performance to benefit Wings, an organization that serves adults with disabilities.