National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Workers Enjoy Second Chance
Automotive supervisor crusades for disabled workers
Released on: October 24, 2011, 4:10 pm
Author:
PMLA Press
Industry:
Automotive
KNOXVILLE, TN – October 24, 2011 – The economic downturn
continues to hurt nonprofit organizations that are assisting
disadvantaged individuals. An automotive supervisor led a crusade to
assist disabled workers during National Disability Employment Awareness
Month and shares her book proceeds with a nonprofit organization.
With millions of individuals out of worker, many people forget that disabled
individuals are dealing with higher unemployment rates. October marks National
Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which is a national campaign to raise
awareness about disability employment issues. In most circles, the plight of this
group is forgotten.
Noriko Iwanaga Chapman, who is a production control supervisor for DENSO
Manufacturing (TN), helped to restore $75K of government funding to the Tennessee
Vocational Rehabilitation Center (TRC’s), located in Maryville. In 2009, the
Maryville TRC was ranked at eighth in contract sales in Tennessee. Its mission is to
provide services that help lead individuals who have a physical and/or mental
disability to employment and are designed to meet individual needs.
As a result of a college project, Chapman became connected to this organization.
She observed, “I was inspired by the staff and by individuals with disabilities who
were trying very hard to learn work skills and seek permanent employment.” DENSO
Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global
automotive supplier with customers that include all the world's major carmakers.
With more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 35 countries and regions
(including Japan), DENSO had worked to assist the nonprofit organization with a
contract that allowed disabled workers to earn income. In reality, DENSO was
offering these workers a second chance.
Chapman was sympathetic about second chance opportunities anyway. Chapman, a mother
of two, with over 16 years’ experience in the automobile industry, and is also a
cancer survivor. Chapman notes, “In 2009, when I was diagnosed with cancer, it was
devastating to think about the disease and an unknown future. A year later, I
survived and gained my health back and was given a second chance to live.” She
regained her strength and managed to attend Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) and
enrolled in its MBA Program. It was the start of her quest to help nonprofit
organizations.
Her research was the main inspiration for her new book, Second Chance: An In-depth
Case Study on Nonprofit Organization's Resource Allocation and Operational
Maximization. It is co-authored by her LMU professor Dr. Daryl D. Green. The authors
pledged 30 percent of the proceeds to a local nonprofit, assisting disabled adults.
Chapman states, “It was a perfect project that God prepared with the perfect timing,
a convenient location, hard-working people….It was a “Second Chance” for me to go
back to school and resume my career after surviving cancer.”
Chapman’s personal story inspires others including disabled workers to face their
circumstances with courage. If organizations and savvy media personalities want
someone who can encourage people during National Disability Employment Awareness
Month, Chapman would be an excellent selection.
For more information about the book or the author, please contact Noriko Chapman
directly at 865-379-6455 or Chance2.Noriko@gmail.com. Ms. Chapman is available for
media interviews.
About the Author
Noriko Chapman is an international traveler and a role model to millions of women
looking to overcome extreme obstacles in life. Noriko is also a Lincoln Memorial
University student. She has been noted and quoted in such media outlets as Knoxville
News Sentinel, Live at 5 (NBC affiliate), Black Pearls Magazine, What’s Going On?
Talk show, and The Daily Times.
2025
