Lisa Knopp, Vision Therapist at Hope Clinic Bellevue, interviews Dr. Ted Kadet at Hope Clinic about “Giving Back”
LK: What got you interested in volunteering in the first place?
Dr K: I look at it this way….You take, and you give back. You offer service to a
community, and invite others to participate. We all take from the community:
we use the roads, government services, fire and police protection. We become
stronger when we give back to counterbalance what we take. We adopt an
ATTITUDE of giving and taking.
LK: What are the first experiences you remember as a volunteer?
Dr K: I volunteered in community service in my high school, through clubs like the
Honor Society and Student Government projects. The biggest early step was when
I opened my practice in 1967 in Issaquah. What better way to become acquainted
with the community than to volunteer? I worked with the Jaycees which offers
leadership training programs, planning and executing; the Lions Club, which has
always been involved in supporting vision through their eye bank for corneal
transplants, and collecting old eyeglasses for re-using in 3rd world countries.
When you have your own kids, you volunteer in their activities, like when my son was in Boy Scouts, and coaching sports.
LK: You have a long history with the Boy Scouts. What have you done with them?
Dr K: I was an active parent with my son. When he quit scouting I let it go. I came back
in when my wife’s Special Needs son came along. A Special Needs troop was set up,
and I have been the Scoutmaster for 13 years. I am also an old Summer Camp counselor,
so I play ukulele and sing at Boy Scout Camp.
LK: What is the role of the Scoutmaster?
Dr K: Scouts is about Leadership Training. Often a boy enters at 11 and stays until 18,
working up the ranks through service. By 15-17, boys lead the troop as Senior Patrol
Leaders. They get experience providing leadership and motivating the troop. With the
Special Needs troop, adults run the meetings. Our troop has men in their 40’s and our
youngest is 13. The focus is on providing fellowship, socialization, being successful
with projects and getting rewarded. Just like with Special Olympics, it allows those with
continued Special Needs to be successful at something and get rewarded.
Dr. Kadet and Lisa Knopp educate about 3-D Vision Issues and Vision Therapy at the Christian Heritage Homeschool Educators’ conference. Young children particularly enjoy the 3-D displays and wearing 3-D glasses.
Lead Vision Therapist Lisa Knopp has created informative presentations including what is involved with 3-D viewing. Hands-on demonstrations explain how the eyes and brain create 3-D visual responses. Lisa is also available to give talks & power point presentations related to general understanding of Vision Therapy Bene ts, and Prevention of Visual Dysfunctions.
These presentations are available at no charge to PTA’s, Teacher Workshops, Homeschool Parent Groups, MOPS and other interested organizations.
Call or email Lisa
425-462-7800 –
lknopp@hopecliniconline.com
to set up your group’s
presentation.
LK: What have you done with Special Olympics?
Dr K: It started with our son. I had gotten away from skiing much when I lived on
Whidbey Island. Moving back to Seattle, I could get back into skiing. I signed
him up for ski lessons through “Outdoors for All”, offering programs for those
with Special Needs and Physical Challenges. They offer skiing, rock climbing,
camping, boating, cycling, and other outdoor programs. That led to joining the
Skihawks Ski Team, affiliated with Special Olympics. I am a coach to an athlete
about 25 years old on the autism spectrum, and my son is an athlete. We compete
with other Special Olympics ski teams.
LK: Special Olympics has Winter and Summer Games, right?
Dr K: Yes. We participate in the Winter Games and do the same races as the
pros do: Giant Slalom, Slalom and Downhill Skiing. We don’t care about
winning or losing. The athletes want to do their best, want to win, but if they
don’t they are happy for who wins. During the Summer Games, I work with the
Healthy Eyes Program sponsored by the Lions Club and Special Olympics.
Two hundred athletes are given Vision Exams, and receive free glasses if
needed that day, made on site. I also help with a Track and Field team through
West Seattle High School.
LK: Do you have a favorite memory of your volunteering experiences?
Dr K: One would have to be the Special Olympics dances, held in an airplane
hangar at Joint Base Lewis McChord AFB. There have been as many as 25,000
people attending (parents, family and friends), and they bring in Hair, Nails and
Makeup specialists to help the athletes get “gussied up”. Athletes are brought in
by bus, and you can imagine the interactions that are so fun to watch. It’s fun to
be part of ‘em……it’s really a hoot!
LK: What would you say to people who want to “give back” but don’t know where
to start?
Dr K: Adopt the ATTITUDE of taking and giving back. Give up on the idea
that you will get back from the same people you give to. No “tit for tat”.
People have made a major shift in my life that I can never repay. Maybe I can
be an influence or instrumental in making positive change in someone else’s
life to balance that. Everyone has something to give. When you find a group or
activity that you connect with to volunteer in some way, go for it!
LK: Thank you Dr. Kadet, I will join you at the next Special
Olympics dance!