PROGRAMS
WAYS TO HELP
MISSION
PRESS
BLOG
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Carrie Inouye
Posted Dec 19, 2018 by Jacquie Robison
In 2017, our nonprofit has given away 321 WAWOS Wear walker capes to kiddos who use an assistive device. That's almost 1 per day, and demand is growing. Keeping up with these requests is possible because of the generous, talented members of our sewing Guild.

I'm delighted to shine a light on one of these volunteers in this Spotlight feature.

Carrie is a proud Bay Area native. She earned her BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. She balances providing pediatric OT in the Tri-Valley through California Children's Services with being a wife and mother of 2 lovely girls.

In her role as mom, Carrie has always felt strongly about instilling a love of charity and paying it forward, which she does through example. Recently, she and her daughters -- a long with their Grammie -- worked together to make walker capes for the WAWOS Wear program. Her daughters even created trinkets to place in the pockets as a little surprise for the child who receives the cape.

Meet Carrie.

Q: Apart from the walker capes, what was the last thing you sewed?
A: The very last thing I sewed was my daughter's Cookie Monster costume in October.

Q: What's something you do to unwind and relax after work or on weekends?
A: YOGA! That's a huge release for me. I also enjoy being outside hiking and enjoying nature. Since I live in wine country, I love exploring the wineries around me.

Q: Name a song you absolutely MUST sing along with whenever it comes on.
A: (no hesitation) Happy! By Pharrell Williams

Q: When you have time for TV, what's a guilty pleasure show? Or one you've binge-watched?
A: There are so many great options, but the ones I've really enjoyed are The Crown, Stranger Things, The Great British Baking Show and Atyplical.

Q: We're all about working to be our best selves -- what's something you're working on?
A: I'm really working on being more mindful in every aspect of my life. It can be hard to 'turn off and unplug' from little distractions so I can really be present, but it's also really rewarding.

Q: In your work as an OT, what is the biggest misconception you see towards children with physical or intellectual differences?
A: I see children and adults being afraid to engage with children who have these differences. They want someone to interact with them, play with them and talk to them. They are just kids? And as my girls would say, "They are Wonders!"

Q: What is the one piece of advice you'd like to give families with a child who has a difference?
A: Without question, I would say to treat them like any other child and accept their differences as an attribute to who they are.

This entry was posted in volunteer