Ketchikan Disability Advocates
and Supporters Honored
January 25, 2010
Monday
Ketchikan, Alaska - The Ketchikan disability community gathered
with family, friends, and supporters on Friday, January 15, to
honor advocates for disability issues and businesses that support
employment of people with disabilities while enjoying keynote
speakers Jessi Chapman and Jos Govaars, Sr.
Jos Govaars shares
his thoughts on independent living with a brain injury at the
SAIL Community Appreciation Dinner on January 15, 2010.
Photograph courtesy SAIL
"People who experience a brain injury are still your loved
one, neighbor, or friend. They may not talk the same or respond
exactly the same, but we are still the person you knew before,"
Chapman told the audience.
Jessi Chapman shares
her thoughts on independent living with a brain injury at the
SAIL Community Appreciation Dinner on January 15, 2010.
Photograph courtesy SAIL
Three awards were presented during the evening, and First Bank
representatives made a surprise donation of $10,000 to expand
Southeast Alaska Independent Living's (SAIL) HomeMAP program
to Ketchikan. The HomeMAP program in Juneau has helped many senior
citizens live independently in their homes, by installing grab
bars or widening doorways where needed.
For the Jerry Kainulainen Disability
Advocate of the Year award, Bess Clark, Community Connections
Executive Director, was chosen by last year's award winners for
her efforts beyond the scope of her work to advocate for independence
for people with disabilities. Community members Ed Zastrow and
Rebecca Valentine were also nominated for the award for their
advocacy efforts during the past year.
2008 Disability Advocacy
Award Winner Taylor Gregg (left) and SAIL Board Member Mary Gregg
(right) sit with 2009 Disability Advocate of the Year Award Winner
Bess Clark, Community Connections Executive Director, at the
SAIL Community Appreciation Dinner on January 15, 2010.
Photograph courtesy SAIL
Last year's winners also chose Shaub-Ellison Tire Company as
Disability-Friendly Employer of the Year in memory of Alice Rocke
for their efforts to create a natural support system for a new
employee, relying on job coaches to assist him in learning new
skills. Ketchikan Pioneer Home, Ketchikan General Hospital, and
the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show were also nominated for the
award.
Kody Rhodes presents
the Alice Rocke Disability-Friendly Employer of the Year Award
to Ernie Corona of Shaub-Ellison Tire Company on January 15,
2010. SAIL honored the company's commitment to create natural
work supports for Rhodes to learn work skills, rather than relying
on job coaches or personal assistants.
Photograph courtesy SAIL
Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) also recognized KJ's
Raven's Roost as Small Business Donor of the Year Award. Pam
Roth, of the Ketchikan Homebuilders' Association announced that
proceeds of this year's raffle of a sauna built by Kayhi students
will be donated to SAIL.
Approximately 120 people attended
the free spaghetti dinner at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. The
event was primarily educational, but more than $2,000 was raised
from a silent auction to benefit Southeast Alaska Independent
Living (SAIL) programs. "We're hearing from a lot of folks
that the event was great fun. I think it even surpassed our own
expectations," said Kevin Gadsey, SAIL Ketchikan Program
Director.
Source of News & Photographs:
Southeast Alaska Independent
Living (SAIL)
www.sailinc.org
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