Settlement allows interpreter for deaf Kauai baseball player
11 year old Justin "Pono" Tokioka can bat from either side of the plate.
And like other kids he has a favorite major league player - Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees.
However when he enters the batter's box or takes the field as a second baseman, Pono can't hear the crack of the bat or the ball hitting a glove. That's because Pono is deaf.
"He's pretty athletic," says his father James Tokioka. "He likes all the sports but baseball was a passion the he had."
It's a passion that was almost cut short.
Last year PONY league officials barred a sign language interpreter, usually Pono's mom Beth or his dad, from the dugout during an all-star game in Hilo on the Big Island.
"He just needed to understand the motivational strategies that the coaches were telling him," said his dad while speaking to reporters in Honolulu. "Without an interpreter there was no why he could have done that."
Pono almost gave-up baseball because of the controversy.
That all changed on Thursday when PONY league officials agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department.
Through his father who speaks sign language Pono said he feels "pretty happy that [he'll] be able to have an interpreter at the dugout."
However it's not just Pono.
The settlement means all deaf players in the Pony league can now use an interpreter. The league must also modify rules, giving disabled players an equal opportunity to play.
Pono's family received hundreds of positive letters and e-mails during their legal battle, but one in particular stood out. It was from the "Iron Man" -- Cal Ripken, one of the best shortstops to ever play the game.
"He said he supported me... [and said to] play hard and practice hard."
The Tokioka's say the case was never about money, but Pono's family received $30,000 dollars in damages. They were hoping for a letter of apology instead.
Although the letter never came Pono's father doesn't hold any hard feelings toward the league.
"We still are part of PONY baseball and we're proud of Pony baseball."
And like other kids he has a favorite major league player - Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees.
However when he enters the batter's box or takes the field as a second baseman, Pono can't hear the crack of the bat or the ball hitting a glove. That's because Pono is deaf.
"He's pretty athletic," says his father James Tokioka. "He likes all the sports but baseball was a passion the he had."
It's a passion that was almost cut short.
Last year PONY league officials barred a sign language interpreter, usually Pono's mom Beth or his dad, from the dugout during an all-star game in Hilo on the Big Island.
"He just needed to understand the motivational strategies that the coaches were telling him," said his dad while speaking to reporters in Honolulu. "Without an interpreter there was no why he could have done that."
Pono almost gave-up baseball because of the controversy.
That all changed on Thursday when PONY league officials agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department.
Through his father who speaks sign language Pono said he feels "pretty happy that [he'll] be able to have an interpreter at the dugout."
However it's not just Pono.
The settlement means all deaf players in the Pony league can now use an interpreter. The league must also modify rules, giving disabled players an equal opportunity to play.
Pono's family received hundreds of positive letters and e-mails during their legal battle, but one in particular stood out. It was from the "Iron Man" -- Cal Ripken, one of the best shortstops to ever play the game.
"He said he supported me... [and said to] play hard and practice hard."
The Tokioka's say the case was never about money, but Pono's family received $30,000 dollars in damages. They were hoping for a letter of apology instead.
Although the letter never came Pono's father doesn't hold any hard feelings toward the league.
"We still are part of PONY baseball and we're proud of Pony baseball."
posted by ams at 1:32 PM
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