Amie

Congratulations to Amie on graduating from Hawaii Medical College on their Honor Roll as a pharmacy technician and working now as a technician!

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors available please call: (808) 538-8733 to make an appointment today.

Success Stories

L.T.H

Mr. T.H. was referred for VR services by his attorney in January 2011. He was injured while working as a Lineman for a utility company and lost his dominant right arm due to the injury. After seven grueling surgeries over a period of two years, Mr. T.H learned to type, write, and manage all of his activities of daily living with his left hand and the assistance of an advanced prosthetic arm. Through the vocational exploration process, he was able to identify Resource Planner and Trouble Dispatcher as possible return to work options with his Employer and School Counselor as an alternate job goal should return options not be available. The client returned to work with his employer in a temporary “Construction Coordinator” position via the company’s return to work program on 4/17/2012. As of 11/5/2012, he has reported that he was offered a permanent position as a Resource Planner with the company. The client is now in the follow-up phase of VR and, once he has successfully completed 60 days within his current permanent position, his VR case will close as a successful placement. He has reported that he thoroughly enjoys his work and that his transferable skills as a field person (Lineman) have helped him adapt to the Resource Planner position successfully. Mr. T.H.’s persistence and hard work at recovery and adapting to his disability, along with VR’s guidance in maintaining a smooth transition back to his employer in an alternate position vhas contributed to his success and return to work.

Toby Fisher

My name is Toby Fisher and I had the pleasure of working with Laurie Hamano and her professional staff. With their help through vocational rehabilitation I have gotten a great job and a career. Laurie and her staff have helped me learn computer skills, typing, management skills, as well as professionalism. With their help I have become a manager overseeing forty employees. I manage and do marketing for one of the largest water sports companies in the islands. Laurie's business has helped me change my life around and taught me valuable skills that I use daily. After having back surgery and.completing her vocational rehabilitation services, I've accomplished more than I ever thought I could. I now work 40-50 hr. work weeks and surf, paddle canoe, hike, cook, and live a healthyand productive lifestyle. I am very grateful for her services. Mahalo, Toby Fisher

Vocational Management Consultants 715 S. King Street, Suite 205 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph. 808-538-8733 Fax 808-538-8744

Ms. A

Ms. A had worked as a warehouse worker when she had injured her back. After consenting to receive vocational rehabilitation services, she was unfortunately unable to return to her job at the warehouse due to her current physical limitations. After about 4 months of exploring the labor market with her specialist, she had identified the vocational goal of security guard as a her goal of choice. Through the implementation of a vocational rehabilitation plan, Ms. A was provided with the ability to attend both a CPR certification and Guard card course and had proudly been registered with the State of Hawaii as a certified Security Guard. After being provided with job seeking skills training, Ms. A had received employment as a Security Guard where she is working today.

Ms. L

Ms. L had been working as a CNA for over 20 years and had dedicated much of her time and effort to assisting hospitalized patients. A work place injury to her shoulders had therefore hindered Ms. L from returning to her assigned hospital and CNA position. After receiving VR services, Ms. L was able to reapply for her CNA licensure and was provided with vocational counseling and consultation which lead to her to receive an employment offer with another hospital that was able to accommodate her physical limits, while allowing her to return to the job that she loves.

VMC Hawaii

Dick Allgire

GREAT VOCATIONAL REHAB EXPERIENCE FROM A WORKER’S COMP PATIENT I’ve had a long and wonderful relationship with Laurie Hamano, who I consider to be an angel. In 2012 I was a successful television news reporter and anchorman at KITV. You might remember me- Dick Allgire. In February of that year I sustained a serious head injury out at a dangerous location during a news event. It completely changed my life. I found myself at The Rehab Hospital Of The Pacific, trying relearn basic cognitive skills. At one point in my journey, after it was clear I could not return to the stressful demands of daily television news work, I was referred to Laurie Hamano for vocational rehab. I thought, “What can I do? I’ve been a reporter for 34 years, I’m in my late 50’s. How could I start a new career?” It took many months of work with Laurie, along with a top neuropsychologist, just to stabilize me, then assess my capabilities, and then months longer to develop a plan to get me doing something productive, and then many more months to put the plan into action. **A note to lawmakers who want to put restrictions and time limits on vocational rehab. I never would have gotten back to work without several years of hard work with Laurie. It is something that takes time for healing, adaptation, and then retraining. You can’t set a limit on this. Today, I still have permanent partial disabilities from my work accident. I’m not the same person. But thanks to Laurie, we came up a business that I can do, from home, working on a schedule that accommodates my disability. I’m currently earning my way as the host of a YouTube channel, and I’m doing reports via the Internet for subscribers who pay to hear my reports. Laurie developed a plan, the insurance company purchased the equipment (computer, camera, lights, editing software) needed for my startup. I’m now a productive, taxpaying - not just employee, but employer. We’ve had to hire 12 people. This is a worker’s comp success story, and meeting Laurie was one of the best things that ever happened to me. See me on YouTube. The Channel is called “Cryptoviewing.” My website is cryptoviewing.com. And our money-making vehicle is patreon.com/cryptoviewing. Dick Allgire Honolulu

Ku Kawelo

Michael Koerte

Mr. K began his vocational rehabilitation services after a workplace injury. Mr K was concerned about learning computer skills as he had no previous experience with computers. He gave it his "best shot" and he reported that he and his tutor "clicked" and they worked through the curriculum online in the Zoom format. He reported that his teacher was willing to teach him as much as he wanted and he enjoyed learning how to use websites and considered also opening a website online for a flower business once he was through with the vocational rehabilitation program and computer training. Mr. K had a positive attitude throughout his complex case and the training went well to Mr. K's surprise. Mr. K completed the training, completed his job seeking skills training classes through Vocational Management Consultants and found a "dream" job working as a Kumu teaching the children about Hawaiian Culture and music. Mr. K is also a Kumu in the community teaching hula. He has used all of his skills as a musician, Kumu hula master and love for the Hawaiiiana crafts. He reported that "From our first meeting she (counselor) explained every detail very well, told me my responsibilities and hers. Made me feel comfortable and assured me that we would work together to achieve my goals to find employment to benefit me". Mr. K rated his counselor "EXCELLENT! Gave me the computer training I needed that is helping me in numerous ways as my new job as Kumu"....