Miss-Delectable
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http://khon.com/khon/display.cfm?storyID=9412§ionID=1150
A deaf 10-year-old Kauai boy has grabbed the attention of a national organization, as well as many high-profile people.
It all stems from a youth baseball rule.
We shared Pono's story in October after he was denied access to his sign language interpreter during a baseball tournament. People were outraged, many with the power to make changes.
Pono Tokioka starts his school day at Wilcox Elementary earlier than most.
He's Sergeant Pono out here, a veteran JPO who knows all about his school's three rules.
"Be kind, be responsible, be safe," says Pono.
Being kind, responsible and safe - those are rules that make sense.
But it's another rule that baffles him.
"We haven't heard from anybody who doesn't feel that the stance that Pony has taken is unreasonable and unlawful," says Beth Tokioka, Pono's mother.
For five years, Pono relied on his father Jimmy to serve as an interpreter during baseball games. But that changed during a state tournament when his father was a fourth coach in the dugout -- only three are allowed. Jimmy was told to sign from outside the dugout. The family asked the Pony Organization to consider a rule change. The request was denied, which triggered many responses, including two from Washington.
"Both of our senators have contacted us. They want to supports us. We've been in contact with the National Association of the Deaf to get some legal advice. We are considering our legal options," says Beth.
"I expected more. I expected them to be a little bit aware at this national level," says Sara Ahn, educational interpreter.
Educational interpreter Sara Ahn is also outraged. She's Pono's interpreter at school and can barely keep up with him.
"You would think that they'd want to boost up a child who has so much potent ional and who is representing an entirely different people group -- the deaf community," says Ahn.
Pono even received a letter from future Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripke, Jr., who told Pono to never give up.
Pono isn't fazed much by all the attention he's receive lately. In fact, if he had it his way he'd be just another student at Wilcox Elementary.
"He's going to make a big impact for the deaf community," says Ahn.
Hawaii counties are considering requiring all organizations that use city parks to accommodate the disabled.
A deaf 10-year-old Kauai boy has grabbed the attention of a national organization, as well as many high-profile people.
It all stems from a youth baseball rule.
We shared Pono's story in October after he was denied access to his sign language interpreter during a baseball tournament. People were outraged, many with the power to make changes.
Pono Tokioka starts his school day at Wilcox Elementary earlier than most.
He's Sergeant Pono out here, a veteran JPO who knows all about his school's three rules.
"Be kind, be responsible, be safe," says Pono.
Being kind, responsible and safe - those are rules that make sense.
But it's another rule that baffles him.
"We haven't heard from anybody who doesn't feel that the stance that Pony has taken is unreasonable and unlawful," says Beth Tokioka, Pono's mother.
For five years, Pono relied on his father Jimmy to serve as an interpreter during baseball games. But that changed during a state tournament when his father was a fourth coach in the dugout -- only three are allowed. Jimmy was told to sign from outside the dugout. The family asked the Pony Organization to consider a rule change. The request was denied, which triggered many responses, including two from Washington.
"Both of our senators have contacted us. They want to supports us. We've been in contact with the National Association of the Deaf to get some legal advice. We are considering our legal options," says Beth.
"I expected more. I expected them to be a little bit aware at this national level," says Sara Ahn, educational interpreter.
Educational interpreter Sara Ahn is also outraged. She's Pono's interpreter at school and can barely keep up with him.
"You would think that they'd want to boost up a child who has so much potent ional and who is representing an entirely different people group -- the deaf community," says Ahn.
Pono even received a letter from future Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripke, Jr., who told Pono to never give up.
Pono isn't fazed much by all the attention he's receive lately. In fact, if he had it his way he'd be just another student at Wilcox Elementary.
"He's going to make a big impact for the deaf community," says Ahn.
Hawaii counties are considering requiring all organizations that use city parks to accommodate the disabled.