DR. JAMES OGAWA SELF-DETERMINATION RECOGNITION
Written by LeAnn Lujan
Dr. James Ogawa, founder of EOTP believed that blind people could benefit from the use of guide dogs and worked towards making this possible for Hawaii's blind residents.
When one thinks of a person who is blind or visually impaired, they often think of the limitations and hardships the person must endure. They fail to realize that through determination and hard work, they can lead fulfilling and successful lives. Betsy Whitney is living proof of this. Although totally blind, she has led a life full of dreams, aspirations, achievements and purpose
When Betsy sustained an injury due to an automobile accident in 1984 that forbade her from going to work at AT&T for a year, the company retired her. She then began volunteering at such agencies as the non-profit Big Island AIDS Project. After several years she began to look for ways to provide an income. She had learned at a young age the importance and necessity of Braille to a person with a visual impairment. She was also aware of how much of a demand there was for it as well as other alternative means of communication such as large print and audio. Having access to these materials would greatly increase the ability for the person with the visual impairment to participate equally and productively. She began researching ways to provide them out of her home. When she discovered that she may qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation services, she went to obtain more information and see if they would be able to help her achieve her goal of starting her own business. She was instructed to take Small Business Administration courses to ensure that starting her own business was the right decision. Betsy decided it was a good idea and in 1996 she began pursuing her dream. In 1997 she started her company named Dolphin Press.
Dolphin Press is a small company and has no employees. Rather, it consists of independent contractors working out of various areas. “This is because the work is not steady and some of them are not able to work for long periods of time due to disability issues,” Betsy explained. Two contractors are located in Hilo, one in California and one in Honolulu, and Betsy is also located in Hilo. “Our Dolphin Press team works to get the jobs done, and each of us knows that we may need to step up to the plate if someone isn't available to do their usual jobs.” When asked if she enjoys performing her job, Betsy simply exclaimed, “I love it!”
Aside from being a successful business entrepreneur, Betsy has also travelled a lot. “When I was 12, I went across the United States visiting thirty-two states and parts of Canada in ten weeks. There are only approximately 10 states in the United States that I have not been to.” She has also travelled to places such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal.
Betsy was trained with her first guide dog at the age of 18 from International Guiding Eyes in Hollywood, California. Her last dog died at the age of 15, when Betsy was 48. The public transportation options are very limited for all of the people in Hilo, so has chosen not to get another dog at this time.
Betsy has been a volunteer board member for Hawaii Centers for Independent Living (HCIL) on and off since 1996 and in her spare time enjoys reading mystery and detective novels as well as books on animals as a means to escape and can read five novels a week! She also loves to knit and cook as she sees them as therapeutic.
Betsy’s sister and parents live in the mainland and has two children from her husband's previous marriage. Only her husband lives here with her in Hilo, as her daughter passed away in 1991.
When asked what she would say to a child who is blind to encourage independence and confidence her answer was simple: “Try everything. Ask yourself a question: How can I participate in this activity?” Follow this advice and you too, can lead a life of perfect freedom.
To learn more about Dolphin Press visit www.dolphinpress.biz.