The Rehabilitation Institute Celebrates Honorees Accomplishments

Oscar Nelson Award Honoree 2006
RiteMade Paper Converters, Inc.

Todd Whitaker, RiteMade Paper Converter Inc, gives an acceptance speech.

RiteMade, headquartered in Kansas City, manufactures roll paper products for businesses ranging from Taco Bell and Pizza Hut to Hallmark Cards and Payless Shoe Source. For the past 15 years, RiteMade has provided short-term work experiences for thousands of Institute clients with the desire to become competitively employed.

Clients like Bill Ocrey and Ron Robinson-Haynes. As a teenager, Bill was shot six times, leaving his spinal cord crushed, his body paralyzed from the waist down. Ron rolled onto a vaporizer when he was six months old. It takes special individuals and businesses to see past his severely burned face and body. To give people like Bill and Ron the chance to earn a living and self-esteem. RiteMade is giving them that chance.

"It's good for the company," says Todd Whitaker, RiteMade?s director of manufacturing, "first because we have a need and second because we think it?s important to give back to the community."

The affiliation with RiteMade enables The Institute to assess clients' work capabilities before helping them launch their job search. For patients who — but for a stroke or traumatic brain injury — would still be employed, RiteMade offers temporary employment. The chance to learn new jobs given new circumstances. The chance to discover what they can be.

Eugene O. Livingston Award
Honoree 2006
David Van Dyke

The Rehabilitation Institute President & CEO, Donald Harkins, congratulates David Van Dyke.

David Van Dyke has been a client-worker at RI Industries since 1988. R.I. Industries provides full-time employment and supportive services to more than 260 adults with developmental and other disabilities who are unable to work in the competitive labor market. Clients handle most jobs in one of three Rehabilitation Industries facilities. But last January, when a customer in Grandview needed 18,000 boxes relabeled fast, Rehabilitation Industries brought 14 client workers, including David, to the customer.

"The clients worked so efficiently that we couldn't get the labels ready quickly enough for them to complete more boxes," said the customer's logistics coordinator. "They were courteous and professional, and I was impressed with how they conducted themselves."

David has handled just about every job at Rehabilitation Industries, from packing and sorting to soldering vehicle taillights, so he was certainly up to the challenge.

"It's helped me a lot by giving me a paycheck," he says. "I work pretty hard and get to laugh and joke with my friends. I get to see the boxes coming in from all over the world and think I've been somewhere or know something about somewhere else. I have a good positive attitude now, thanks to the workshop."

Community Partner Award Honoree 2006
Oretha Hunt

Kay Elam, Director of Business Enterprises, Sybil Hunt, client worker, and Oretha Hunt

For 12 years, Mrs. Oretha Hunt has hosted a holiday celebration for nearly 100 clients of the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City's extended work adjustment program (also known as RI Industries.) located at 12th & Troost.

Mrs. Hunt became involved with the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City and RI Industries when her daughter, Sybil, entered the program in 1986. She soon found that RI Industries was more than a place for her daughter to earn a wage, it was a place where her daughter would be valued, accepted and productive. In short order, Sybil became a part of the RI Industries extended family and her coworkers at RI Industries became a part of hers.

For six years, Mrs. Hunt's holiday activities were informal with small gifts for clients and a visit from Santa at their work place. Then, in 1993, Mrs. Hunt decided it was time to formalize her efforts and organize a full-blown holiday celebration.

"I wanted Sybil?s coworkers to know that each one of them is special," said Mrs. Hunt.

With the help of Janice Kelly (from the Mayors Council on Disabilities), Hunt held her first formal client holiday party at an offsite location and the tradition began. Now, Mrs. Hunt spends an entire year planning the holiday party, collecting trinkets for each client's goodie bag and garnering support from her family and friends.

"Mrs. Hunt's party is something that our clients look forward to all year," said Dana Chatlin, director of external affairs for the Institute, "For some clients, Mrs. Hunt's party is their primary holiday celebration. It is very heart warming to see the joy Mrs. Hunt's efforts bring to our clients."

Jane Froman Award Honoree 2006
Donald Madison

Tyrone Flowers, Curt Stokes and Bill Schlosberg pose with this year's winner, Donald Madison.

Donald Madison was a senior engineering technician for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, when he noticed at work one day in October 2004 that something wasn't right.

By the time his brother drove him to the hospital, Don was paralyzed on his left side. He needed help bathing, dressing and grooming. His ability to organize, plan and follow a schedule — critical not only to work but to manage his diabetes — was seriously impaired.

At 39, the future looked bleak. Given several options for therapy, Don chose the Rehabilitation Institute. He liked knowing it was a place that exists solely to help people with his kinds of challenges get better.

Don spent several hours a day, three to five days a week from November to January at the Institute. First in the day hospital. Then in the SAILS program — Successful Independent Living Skills. Neuropsychology. Learning how to drive again. And, finally, the Institute's Employment Placement Program to help with that big step of returning to work.

"What's special about Don is his attitude," says occupational therapist Micah Downing. "Once he started to make progress, he took off. He was one of the few patients I've had who understood that it's not going to come back as fast as you want. That you have to work at it at home and have a support system."

Don says he was never discouraged for one simple reason: He wanted his freedom back. Don fought the good fight. And now he has it!

Ameristar Star Award Honoree 2006 Tabor Oliver

Mecah Oliver, mother, Tabor Oliver, honoree and physical therapist Michele Ahern.

Tabor Oliver is a smart and funny third grader at Bethel Elementary School. Like most boys his age, he revels in running and jumping. His ability to be a kid was challenged when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre, a rare disorder that attacks the nervous system. Initially, Tabor exhibited symptoms of fatigue which progressed to paralysis.

After a setback and a five-week hospital stay, Tabor entered our Pediatric and Adolescent Program, receiving intensive therapy for nearly six months. Not only did Tabor receive rehabilitation services, he was able to keep up with his schoolwork. In fact, according to Tabor?s mother, he became a better reader thanks to our classroom services.

"When Tabor first came here, he was very anxious and experiencing a lot of discomfort. He was completely dependent and needed a wheelchair. After his pain was brought under control, his true character came out. He's a good kid and was always very welcoming towards the other children," said therapist Michele Ahern.

"The services provided were really great. The therapsist are very committed and explained everything that was going on. While progress was slow at first, it made me feel good to see the small improvements that happened every day," said Meka.

Tabor started therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute in a wheelchair; he left with a hop, skip and a jump.

2003 Annual Meeting Each year The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City presents awards which recognize the accomplishments of former patients and clients and honor the contributions and support provided by friends in the community. 2002 Annual Report(.pdf) | 2002 Annual Report(.doc)| About Our Awards

Our 2002 – 2003 Honorees

2002-2003 Eugene Livingston Award Recipient James “Jimmy” Gunn Jimmy (left) has worked in The Institute’s Extended Work Adjustment Program for 26 years. He is pictured receiving his award with his guardian, Rev. Martin Juarez. The Eugene Livingston Award is presented annually to a client of one of our three vocational workshops who has demonstrated the motivation, determination and commitment to excellence required to achieve his or her highest potential.

2002 – 2003 Business Partner Award Delta Systems, Inc. Terry Buckley, president of Delta Systems, Inc. (left) accepts the award from Institute Employee Dennis Marquardt. Terry and his company were very instrumental in helping us launch our new business venture, Accessible Images.A newly created honor, this award recognizes a corporation that has helped advance The Institute’s mission through a business relationship.

2002- 2003 Community Partner Award Michael Siedel, Mobile Med Care, Inc. Michael Siedel (center) is pictured with his award and Institute therapists, Linda Klaiber (left) and Shannon Lepper (right). Michael consistently goes the extra mile to see that the needs of our patients are met. The Community Partner Award recognizes an individual, public entity or organization that has collaborated with us to improve services opportunities and outcomes for persons with disabilities.

2002-2003 Jane Froman Award Pete Williams Pete Williams (right) received his award from his Institute therapist, Lisa Koch, OTR. Pete has made remarkable progress toward resuming his life following a car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. The Jane Froman Award recognizes a former or current patient of The Rehabilitation Institute who has demonstrated remarkable courage and perseverance throughout the rehabilitation process.

2002 – 2003 Oscar Nelson Award Jackson County Board of Services Jackson County Board of Services represented by agency directors Dr. Dwayne Hensley and Nadine Gordon. The Oscar Nelson Award is our highest honor. It is given in memory of the late Oscar Nelson who dedicated his life to improving the lives of children and adults whose lives were significantly challenged. The award is given to an individual, business or organization that has most faithfully emulated Mr. Nelson’s compassion and deeds.