PUHI – Delroy Thompson was nervous. His motorized wheelchair whirred quietly in the morning stillness enhanced by the testing taking place at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Monday. His tiny office in Building I couldn’t contain his nervousness so
PUHI – Delroy Thompson was nervous.
His motorized wheelchair whirred quietly in the morning stillness enhanced by the testing taking place at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Monday.
His tiny office in Building I couldn’t contain his nervousness so he wheeled his chair to the neighboring Administrative Building.
Today, his wife Christine was coming to visit him at his workplace at school, and everything had to be just right.
Along with Christine, state representative Mina Morita would be here; the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation director Neil Shim was winging over from O’ahu to see how he was doing in his job as a Data Entry Clerk at the Puhi campus.
Thompson is one of 526 individuals in the state who were successfully placed in competitive jobs through the efforts of the work of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the visit was to celebrate Thompson for being honored as Kaua’i’s Rehabilitant of the Year.
Thompson has muscular dystrophy, and according to his VR counselor Debra Matsumoto, by the time he found his way to VR, he could no longer move around independently.
Matsumoto said he required the use of a wheelchair and a personal assistant to navigate inclines.
VR provided Thompson with a motorized wheelchair, a tool he uses in his current position at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. The campus has gentle inclines throughout its grounds.
Thompson also received physical restoration, AT devices for home and job site, education, training, Dragon Dictate software, and clothing to prepare him for work.
Matsumoto explained that the assistance of Island Skill Gathering and Network Industries, Inc. was obtained, and many interviews later, Thompson was hired at his current position.
“Delroy persevered against great odds,” Matsumoto said. “He never wavered from his goals and dreams.”
Thompson, along with his wife, was honored by representative Morita, VR director and staff Shim, Matsumoto, and Kaua’i branch administrator Brenda Kaauwai Viado, and the school’s staff including principal Maggie Cox, vice principal Cynthia Matsuoka, and Thompson’s immediate supervisor Heidi Chong.
“He (Thompson) is a positive person with an excellent work ethic,” pointed out Chong, whose statement was also reinforced by vice principal Deidre Glennon who shares a neighboring office.
“Delroy is the epitome of a participant who exemplifies the VR process in motion,” said Matsumoto as a special state House of Representatives certificate was awarded Thompson by Morita.
Thompson was modest and shy in the acceptance of the accolades being awarded him. He said quietly, “anyone with motivation to succeed, and with the help of VR’s advice and funds, can reach a reasonable goal.”
At the Lihue Airport, state senator Jonathan Chun rushed into the already-bustling HMS Host restaurant to join the VR delegation including VR counselor Christine Bare to present a special state senate plaque to HMS Host manager Lynn Hiranaka applauding the restaurant as the VR Employer of the Year for Kaua’i.
Viado explained that HMS Host has hired over six VR participants over the past several years.
Hiranaka continues to inform VR and the Network of openings and opportunities, and continues her support of hiring persons with disabilities. She does this despite not all participants are successful or reliable, Viado said.
“She (Hiranaka) offers full-time positions, and provides medical benefits after only 30 days probation,” Viado pointed out.
Viado noted that Hiranaka hired a quiet Hawaiian man this year, who at 50 years of age, had never worked anywhere outside of his family’s taro farm.
“Lynn hired him full-time, and provided the medical benefits he needed to help overcome his health problems,” Viado said.
Hiranaka replied that this worker has been with her restaurant for over a year, and she would like to have more like him.
As the plaque of commendation was presented and handshakes were exchanged, the employee who was being discussed, quietly and efficiently cleared the tables, his pace pausing only briefly after being overcome with the pride of his accomplishment.
The VR program received 1,912 new referrals in 2001 to bring the number of clients serving to 6,619 individuals throughout the state. VR notes that 233 of these clients were individuals with severe disabilities.
Five hundred sixty-six clients achieved employment outcomes in 2001, with 526 people successfully placed in competitive jobs.
Funding for this program comes from federal and state government sources.
Staff Photographer Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext.253).
