Wheelchair Equipment Van Needed

Don's Story

First, I am happy to call Don Sirois and his wife Irene my friends for many years. Second, I am honored for the chance to tell his story.  He has given me permission, then we will add his own perspective, too.

Don is a happy, well-adjusted and very bright adult who works extremely hard and is reticent to ask for ANYTHING OTHER THAN a chance for a job.

He graduated high school in 1980, and one year later while in Vocational College hoping to learn auto mechanics, an auto accident left him a paraplegic.  His major focus of study then shifted to general office skills.  He has always worked every chance he has, and he does NOT feel comfortable when unemployed.  A year after his accident, he worked on an assembly line and then was laid off.  He stayed busy volunteering at his old school until he could find work again.  Don holds an Associates Degreein Occupational Studies from Rochester Institute of Technology where he majored in Electronic Publishing and Printing Technology.  After graduating in February of 1998, he moved to Florida and landed his first FL job in June 1998 at Pencil & Pixel Inc of Deerfield Beach. 

Even though on the Dean's list, you can easily imagine how this degree from 1998 does not serve him today in terms of specifics; he does retain, however, a strong transferrable skill set in generalized office skills.  His work experience includes printing specialist and color specialist in the 1990's and early 2000s for graphic arts companies in digital pre-press as well as advertising and catalog production.  In his most recent job, a decade long run at Rinker Materials which became CEMEX, he won numerous awards as top producer in Invoice Processing. He was the go-to man for getting the entire department caught up from work volume back-logs due to his attention to detail and ability to clear 400-500 invoices daily for internal/external customers worldwide.

Don prides himself on his independence, buying a single-family home in 2006. He found his true love in Irene Guerra and they were married in 2007.

All that to say DON is a worker!  He'd be JUST AS HAPPY if you have a job to offer him so he can REPLACE HIS 19-year old special-accessibility van himself.  BUT in the interim, as he has been laid off 3 1/2 years now, I think we should all PITCH IN toward the $35,000 needed to get him a van. That's the type and year model that BEST FITS his wheelchair and hand-control needs.  It doesn't really matter whether you can skip lunch or 1 day at Starbucks and give $10 or $20, or if you're able to donate $1,000 or more.....everyone pitching in together is what matters!  Don's wife Irene works very hard at a CILO (Coalition for Independent Living) location here in southeast Florida.  Don stays very active and involved, volunteering with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. He is also an avid hand-cyclist, participating in a variety of half- and full-marathons at counties throughout Florida.  He enjoys the support and comeraderie of his fellow hand-cyclists, mostly other paraplegics who are hearing and do not know American Sign Language.

Don and his wife are, simply put, terrific human beings who could really use a hand at this time in their lives.  I am going to be the FIRST to make a donation, so my money is where my mouth is, so to speak!  Also I am making a special shout-out to other sign language interpreters, teachers of the Deaf/HH, counselors, Deaf/HH organizations, NAD, RID, Achilles (hand-cycling club), FSDB, Palm Beach County Association of the Deaf (Deaf Club), Quota International, and Cemex:
THANK YOU for considering a donation, large or small--there is no wrong amount--in helping Don enjoy a newer van with the special accommodations he needs to "keep moving."  Next is his story, and you'll see pics of his genuine smile and sparkling eyes are a testament to his ebullient spirit. He is one of the most POSITIVE people I know.  A bright Deaf man, in a wheelchair, and unable to locate gainful employment, YET POSITIVE.  It makes me rethink those days when the dry cleaners loses my favorite black slacks!  Right-sizing our thinking and doing a privilege check--most of us have PLENTY to be thankful for--may help you "just do it".....let's get DON a van SOON!  Thanks for reading--much appreciated!

Deborah Wesson Gibson, BA, CI/CT
Signs of Excellence, LLC

 



IN DON'S OWN WORDS: (Remember he is a native user of a foreign language: AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE; his English is a second language with NO PHONICS --sound-based learning-- available).....

My van is 19 years old, already over 242,000 mileages.  It’s exterior is looked good shapes, but interior are going worn out, I am keeping to repair inside like home making on the special equipment’s parts and cracks. Sometime I have a hard time with driver’s seat, sometime a difficult with a wheelchair lift, too. It isn't easy with my paralysis. 

I was expecting to trade in my current van and purchase a newer van, but I was laid off. And still can't find a job since .. I am really disappointing, but staying my positive myself.

I really need a new full size Ford Van Cargo with new special equipment with remote control for wheelchair accessible.  Need $35,000+ for both van and equipment. 

I am continuing to drive in my van to different places for volunteers,  Achilles team, athletes events and work. I usually place my handcycle and also one of my friend who was in Veteran, his handcycle in my van and go to Marathons’ places and training in Southern Florida. 

Since I am volunteered  and worked as sub teacher with disability students at their mid-school. I am encouraging them to learn more in educate and activities. My vision, I will bring some of them to involve in the recreation & sport and also improve their education too.  Thank you for considering to help me buy a new special van that I need.