APPLAUD Partners
Michael Tada, Applaud Partner
Giving back to the community and wanting to make a difference is what motivates Michael Tada to volunteer in the Honolulu community. Tada, a person with cerebral palsy and uses a scooter to get him from place to place in order to volunteer.
Tada served in AmeriCorps for a year in 2001 at Goodwill Industries as a mentor. Serving in AmeriCorps gave him an opportunity to let people know that just because he has a disability does not mean that he that he cannot do it. “I can do anything any one else can do! I want to give back to the community that has given me so much” explains Tada. Serving in national service was also a stepping stone to gainful part-time employment.
Since October 2006, Tada has worked part-time at the Hawaii Center for Independent Living as an advocate and is president of the Self-Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC). He is currently the SAAC liaison to the APPLAUD project, a National Service Inclusion Project. Tada also helps out with fundraising needs at Easter Seals on an on-going basis.
Mitch Stuart, Applaud Partner
At age nine, Mitch Stuart began a volunteer job for the Special Olympics in California and caught the volunteer fever. Decades later he is a very active volunteer for a number of organizations in Hawaii. “I love to learn new things, meet new people and have fun at the same time,” said Mitch. At age 40, Mitch is currently the president of the Self-Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC), is very active at Goodwill Industries in the job supports arena and an Art Enabled Festival volunteer. He is employed part-time as the SAAC liaison to the APPLAUD project, a national service inclusion project at the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
In the 1980’s Mitch was an Easter Seals Day Camp counselor and in the 1990’s he was a volunteer for the Coast Guard Saturday Program in the Park project. Mitch has multiple disabilities including psychiatric, developmental, sensory and physical. He takes pride in his work and engages others by being courteous, helpful and interested. In 2003, Mitch was hit by a car and suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major multiple injuries. Despite this challenge, Mitch overcame his injuries and did not view this event as a set-back. In 2007, he continues to volunteer devoting countless hours to helping others in the greater Honolulu community.
Gerry Yahata, Applaud Partner
Gerry Yahata is the Senior Program Officer at the Hawaii Commission on the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS/AmeriCorps Programs). Born and raised in Hawaii, Gerry is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He is a training and developmental professional with 32 years experience creating, developing, delivering and evaluating training and development programs and twenty plus years of supervisory experience in large and small organizations.
Working in partnership with APPLAUD and SAAC has given Gerry an opportunity to become more aware of the challenges facing individuals with disabilities. Being responsible for writing and implementing a large financial institution’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy in 1991 brought Gerry an awareness from a business perspective, but now sees this law from the consumer’s perspective with all its challenges and barriers. He would like to see more inclusion in employment, education and volunteerism.
Susan Rocco, Applaud Partner
When Susan Rocco’s son Jason brought home a flyer from his special education preschool teacher about a new parent-to-parent information project, Susan jumped at the chance to be a volunteer for the Special Parent Information Network “warm”-line. Little did she suspect that 22 years later she would still be answering the phone at SPIN. Being SPIN’s first (and only) Coordinator allowed Susan to grow up with Jason awash in valuable information about family support, special education and community resources. She also was privileged to be mentored by other parents, professionals and adults with disabilities who taught her that Jason wasn’t broken and didn’t need fixing. As a result, Susan is a rabid advocate for self-determination, inclusive education and positive behavioral support.
Much of Susan’s knowledge of best practice came from the Center on Disability Studies, so it was natural for her to gravitate to the Community Advisory Council where she and other key stakeholders help cheer and steer the direction of the Center.
