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Show Lassen fights back after accident ity Employment Awareness Month. Sponsored by the U.S. Department De-partment of Labor, local efforts at helping handicapped find gainful employment are spearheaded by agencies including Clearfield Job Service, Davis County Employment Employ-ment and Training and State Divi- ' " X ' K' ' ' ft An amusement park accident changed the life of a 16-year-old girl. Shauna Bingham Lassen doesn't really remember the details of that accident that severed her arm. By the same token, she hasn't let that event turn her life into a constant reminder of that tragic accident. In fact, spunk and determination seem to be hallmarks for Shauna, now married, 21 years of age, and working as a receptionist-typist for Layton attorneys Scott Holt, Stephen Oda and Don Redd. Just as she spent only nine days in the hospital vs. the anticipated two-three months immediately following fol-lowing the accident, Shauna hasn't let life pass her by. As editor of the Clearfield High School yearbook just months after the accident, she re-taught herself how to type, re-learned re-learned whatever it took to succeed. suc-ceed. Perhaps that's the reason she's being featured as a positive example exam-ple and success story during October, Octo-ber, observed as National Disabil- sion of Rehabilitative Services, along with the Maurice Warshaw Foundation. After graduation from high school, Shauna attended Weber State College and has worked at a variety of jobs in the Ogden area since. But it hasn't always been easy finding that job. "A lot of people turned me down, because they looked at me before knowing whether 1 was qualified" and made their decision, she explained. "You just have to carry yourself with a positive attitude, atti-tude, with the feeling you can do it, or you can learn." Through the federal Job Training Partnership Act administered by Davis County Employment and Training, Shauna's employer receives re-ceives the equivalent of half her salary during the first 10 weeks she's on the job. If she were to attend school and study areas related re-lated to her job, there would be funding assistance, as well, said Continued on page 3 mmmil - PHOTO BY GARY BLODGETT A large, hairy spider, resembling a tarantula, was captured by Bryan McRae, 1 1 , and several members of his Hawk Patrol, Troop 734, of the Bountiful 41 st Ward. The long-legged creature, crea-ture, with a body measurement of about one by two inches and a leg span of nearly five inches, was found near the Stone Creek overflow below the "B" east of Bountiful. "We found a cup and used a piece of cardboard as a lid to bring the spider home," said Bryan. Assisting in the find were Don Christiansen, Blazer Scout leader; and Scouts Jeff Ranson, Brandon White, Raphael Sam, Ben Mortensen, Kyle Rands, and David Newman. PHOTO BY ROGER TUTTLE These young soccer players are taking advantage of one of the last long, warm autumn afternoons. The weathermen are forecasting cooler days ahead. li -?' . ::::: i Handicap is no handicap Continued from page 2 Elaine Palmer, JTPA coordinator. After that 10 weeks, a followup continues between the employer and JTPA and other involved agencies, agen-cies, noted Becky Wiggill of Clearfield Clear-field Job Service. Shauna can type 40 words-a-minute with one hand, is somewhat familiar with computer functions, answers telephone calls, serves as a notary and receptionist, and looks forward to rounding out her skills in her present job. "The better your attitude, the better your chances for success will be," said Barbara Vakilian, who works closely with the disability disabil-ity employment program for Job Service. She has had to overcome the handicap of a deformed hand. "The more you try, the better your chances are of landing ajob," Shauna emphasized. A positive attitude is the key, agreed the three women. Through it all, Shauna has had her sense of humor, keeping the staples from her original operation in a scrapbook, for example. And Qshe tries to do whatever she can for herself painting her fingernails Shauna Bingham Lassen doesn't let the loss of an arm stop her from performing typing duties. She lists her typing speed at 40 words a minute one-handed! with her teeth, for one thing, or offering comfort and support to a Weber County man who just suffered suf-fered a severe arm injury. She's going places in her life, gaining new skills, not letting a handicap become a disability on her road to success. If you or someone some-one you know has a smiliar situation, situa-tion, needs ajob or wants to obtain some training for a better job, call Job Service at 773-8380. a Members of the Layton High School String Quintet played for the dedication of the Central Branch Library. Their selections included excerpts from Broadway musicals and classical chamber music. Members of the group are (left to right) Janel Wilsey, bass; David Simpson, cello; Eric Palumbo, violin; Pam Overdiek, violin and Charlotte Richey, viola. |