Doctors thought Steven "Bubba" Sasaki of Kona would spend the rest of his life in an institution after he received crippling injuries in a 1995 car accident on the Big Island. Success stories bring tears
at vocational rehab awards
By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.comSasaki suffered severe head and bodily injuries after a drunken driver crashed into the pickup truck in which he was riding.
But he never gave up. Today, Sasaki is a greeter in the garden section of Wal-Mart, thanks to state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind.
Last week, Sasaki said his motto has been: "Try to get better every day in every way, even if it's in small baby steps. Never give up. I'm just happy to be alive."
Sasaki was one of nine Rehabilitant of the Year who were honored at the Vocational Rehabilitation Division's awards ceremony last week.
Also honored was Blaine Takai, of Hilo, who was wearing his Kentucky Fried Chicken uniform. Takai, who has congenital heart disease and speech impairment, completed his food service training at the Hawaii Community College but could not find a job.
He took Vocational Rehabilitation classes in job-seeking skills and found a job under supervisor Jackie Baltero, who said that she wishes she had more employees like Takai.
Takai said that "when I finish my job (as a dishwasher and kitchen helper), I help other workers when they need help. My goal is to become full time there so I can get medical and retirement benefits."
Ella Radke, who could not attend the ceremony, suffered physical and mental disabilities but managed to complete a master's degree program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa while suffering chronic severe pain. The Kauai resident now teaches a preschool program at King Kaumualii School for children with developmental disabilities.
Department of Human Services
