Pathways to productivity

Editor’s note: This is the second story in a two-part series about the challenges people with special needs have getting help in Hawaii County.

Life after high school is not always an easy transition for students with special needs, but some programs on the Big Island are giving students an avenue to a brighter future.

Jo Ann Nishimoto has worked as a special education teacher at Hilo High for over 35 years and has spent much of her career finding ways to help students harness skills that will benefit them in a future job, so they have somewhere to go after high school.

“When they see their friends working outside of school, many (special needs) students want to do the same thing,” Nishimoto said. “They have disabilities, but they know they are just average teens. Many students want to feel a sense of accomplishment and to feel normal.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the jobs students with special needs can do at school, such as working in the cafeteria, Nishimoto and her education assistants have developed new ways to enhance students’ skills so they are more prepared to move on after high school.

“My staff and I got together to come up with creative ways to teach skills like teamwork and collaboration in the classroom,” Nishimoto said. “We recycle for the whole school, there is a greenhouse for them to work in, and many other jobs that help them develop skills that could be used in a job.”

Last summer, Robert Efford, the new chief executive officer of The Arc of Hilo, expanded its Career Exploration Program for people with special needs and is now offering it to high school students.

Some of Nishimoto’s students have the opportunity to visit The Arc every Tuesday and Thursday to explore different job paths while building up the self-esteem needed to work full time.

“The Arc has given us the opportunity to use this connection post high school and serve as a transition piece for students,” Nishimoto said. “If they have a program to go to after four years, that’s great, and they don’t have to stay in school until 22.”

Many students with special needs in Hawaii County stay in high school until 22 because there are not many safe options for care and to help parents and guardians who need to work during the day.

“We just needed a place like The Arc to not only to train students, but to take further interest and invest time into these kids,” Nishimoto said. “They take them in to be part of the program and eventually find them gainful employment. It’s a win-win situation.”

The Arc gives people a chance to try jobs in landscaping, laundry and janitorial services.

There are three landscaping crews, six teams of janitorial staff, and a team of laundry workers that works for more than 100 sites, which include private, county, state and federal properties across the island.

With time and experience, many participants have blossomed in their jobs and have become more confident in their everyday lives.

FINDING SUCCESS

Kassy Okinaka, 24, joined the career program at The Arc last summer after a recommendation from her special education teacher from Waiakea High School.

Okinaka spent three years after high school wanting to find a job and waiting for the best opportunity. She and her family worked with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or DVR, but were never given what they expected from the state program.

DVR is designed to assist job seekers with disabilities prepare, secure and retain competitive employment in an integrated work setting. The Tribune-Herald reached out to DVR for an interview, but did not receive a response.

“After some time, we didn’t trust the system, and were frustrated with the state programs in general,” said Kassy’s father, Darwin Okinaka. “We didn’t qualify for some things and after high school; Kassy didn’t have the support needed to find a job and feel like a normal person.”

Kassy participated in Special Olympics while in high school, which gave her the opportunity to be physical with bocce ball and track while also competing with her peers. After she graduated when she was 21, those opportunities to be a part of something were few and far between.

“If there was a way to start the career program at The Arc during high school, she would not have had to go through a stagnant period in her life,” Darwin said. “She was just waiting for her time to work, and we’re so glad she’s been able to go out in the world and do that.”

Kassy started the career program working in the laundry division for some time. After she found herself getting bored, she wanted to try janitorial work.

Kassy was placed in janitorial position at the Hilo Police Station and has found a permanent job for herself where she feels comfortable and supported.

“She gets up early and is always so excited to go to work,” Darwin said. “We’re happy she has somewhere to go, somewhere she feels like she’s part of normal life. Kassy feels accomplished, and we are so proud of her.”

Darwin also is happy with how much individualized time and effort was given to Kassy so quickly by the staff at The Arc. It made the transition to employment much easier since the staff is so approachable.

“Everybody is different. They learn differently and have different techniques, so our job coaches work with each person individually,” said Shaley Figueroa, director of commercial services. “Just seeing them grow and develop with repetition and giving them the opportunity to learn new stuff is rewarding. So many want to continue to do better and want to do more.”

While there are many adult participants working at sites across Hilo, high school student participants can only work on The Arc’s campus.

“When a student is under 18, the Department of Education limits what they can do for safety reasons,” Efford said. “We want to be a robust transition program, and it’s hard when you’re limited to certain job conditions. There can be a lot of guardrails for opportunities.”

MORE COLLABORATION NEEDED

Efford believes that more collaboration between county and state resources could help efficiency and give more people with special needs and disabilities a faster route to gainful employment.

“Everyone who works in this field is well-intentioned, and everyone wants the best for the people we serve,” Efford said. “There is a lack of collaboration, and I think it comes down to all of us getting around the table to ask what is the fastest way from A to Z.”

Efford has large goals for The Arc and hopes that more people with special needs can find jobs without feeling uncomfortable and while having consistent support, so that no one needs to feel insecure in their job in the first place.

“There has been a lot of progress in the past 20 years, and that is reflective of the fact that we have people with disabilities in the workforce, out in the community and visible,” Efford said. “A program like this helps people over six months, three months, or a year, build skills and confidence that will allow them to go out into the competitive work environment and do fabulously. That’s our goal.”

Hawaii County ultimately will benefit from seeing more people with special needs working and contributing to the community, according to Efford. Families can also rest easier knowing their children have a path to a future.

“A real fear for parents is that their kids won’t have a real future, so when there is a path that looks possible, it’s exciting for everyone,” Efford said. “We are setting up kids and their family members for success, because that is the best thing for the entire community.”

Nishimoto said that she could not retire until she ensured that her class was in The Arc’s program and had a path to employment. With this new collaboration, she plans to retire next fall.

“I am ready to retire, so it’s great to see this happen in front of my eyes,” Nishimoto said. “All of my students have a place to go and something for them to transition to after high school, and I’m excited to see where they are going to go.”

LOOKING FORWARD

Since inception in September 2021, the Arc of Hilo’s Career Exploration Program has accepted 13 referrals of youth with developmental disabilities and is in process of accepting two more.

Of the 13, four have successfully transitioned to paid employment, and a job offer made to a student who is graduating in May. Five students were referred from Hilo High and three were referred from Waiakea High School.

“We are especially thrilled that four students referred to us that have exited school during the pandemic, and were unemployed and hopeless, are now employed and doing well,” Efford said.

The Arc employs 50 adults with disabilities, serving over 100 worksites in east Hawai’i County. Almost half a million dollars in wages was paid last year that helps them contribute economically to the community, and increases their independence.

There are 135 kids in the Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area ages 9-21 with autism and other disabilities that could be served by The Arc in the near future.

“The vision is to partner with the generosity of the community and give people options for all sorts of jobs, to allow them to do anything they want just like everyone else,” Efford said. “If there is a will, there is a way.”

Those interested in learning more about The Arc and its programs can reach out to Efford at reefford@hiloarc.org and Figueroa at sfigueroa@hiloarc.org.

Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com