Program offers workers with disabilities a chance to shine Published July 8, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen 15th Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- In January 2009, the headquarters staff at the Air Force Equal Opportunity Office at the Pentagon began boosting efforts to build Air Force participation in the Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities. This year, Hickam is beginning to see some of the long lasting fruit of that labor. Last Summer, Ryan Takaesu was a student at the University of Hawai'i in the Interdisciplinary Studies program. As a student with a learning disability, he became a member of the "Kokua" program -- a campus unit responsible for providing academic access services to students with disabilities. Kokua provided Ryan with note-taking assistance and helped negotiate time extensions for examinations. Takaesu learned of the WRP through the university's human resource department. "The Workforce Recruitment Program serves as a resource for employers nationwide to hire qualified temporary and permanent employees from a variety of fields," said Michelle Siples, the Air Force Disability Program manager at Randolph Air Force Base, Tex. According to Takaesu, he worked hard to make an impression on his superiors while working over the summer. "Coming in to work every day doing the work my supervisor told me to do...if I didn't have anything to do, I would go around and ask everyone else if they needed help with anything," he said. Chief Master Sgt. Alton Blalock, Pacific Air Forces Postal Squadron chief enlisted manager and Takaesu's supervisor, said the mindful work ethic he displayed during his summer internship was a key factor in landing a full-time job. "He worked here during the summer months last year, and we found during that time that he was a very conscientious person who did a very good job for us," he said. "We looked at possible opportunities for him to work here permanently, and civilian personnel presented [the WRP] for his particular disability and we were able to hire him under that." Since being hired as a full time employee, Chief Blalock says Takaesu has thrived with the added responsibilities attached with such a promotion. "Since he's been working here permanently, he's proved to be a big asset for us. Everything we've given him so far, he's shown the motivation to do things almost perfectly. Adding extra responsibility has proven beneficial to us and him because he's truly shined." According to Ms. Joyce Willy, 647th Air Base Group civilian personnel flight employee development manager, the Air Force got 25 slots they were allowed to fill through the WRP this year. "I think it's awesome to provide opportunities to those who might be lost in the mix of the applicant pool," she said. "To give them that shot it's tremendously beneficial to the student and the Air Force." Ms. Willy agreed that the program is meant to allow employers to see beyond a person's disability. "You see the potential and you try to set aside whatever disability they have. This program is meant to show that anyone can succeed if employers can see their potential." Takaesu recognizes the opportunity he's received through the Air Force and the WRP and said his path to success is a simple one to follow. "Do your best day in and day out. Be helpful and supportive of both civilian and military personnel. That will allow people around you to see how valuable you are." According to Takaesu, the way the military has adopted him into their workforce has been nothing short of a family affair. "The military has been a big help to me," Mr. Takaesu said. "They're just like an ohana. They all help each and every person whether civilian or military. They're helping to make the military force a lot stronger everyday by taking care of each other."