Center on Disability Studies

Join “The mainstreaming of disability in policy development” with Dr. Laufey Elísabet L?ve Apr 16, 3:15-3:40p, 305A --- Following the ratification of the CRPD in 2016, the Icelandic government is currently working toward bringing the Convention in its entirety into law, with a target date of January 2025. This is a step that DPOs have called revolutionary and a game changer with regard to disability rights in Iceland. An important part of the process that the government is instituting is a new emphasis on the participation of DPOs with the establishment of a platform for the co-creation of disability policy, which focuses on facilitating inputs based on lived experience of disability, in line with the CRPD. While this approach has been applauded by Icelandic DPOs as a significant step forward, the research findings show that DPO representatives also express reservations, due in particular to the lack of effective participation to date in policy development beyond core disability and service focused legislation. They highlight the need for authorities to recognize disability and disability rights as a cross-cutting issue that must be addressed by the systematic mainstreaming of disability into policymaking processes on all levels, in line with the CRPD. This research focuses on the progress made in bringing the Convention into Iceland law and in involving DPOs as co-producers of policy, as perceived by DPOs themselves, and the concerns they have raised with regard to the process moving forward. The research draws on qualitative data that includes 21 semi-structured in-depth interviews with DPO representatives, both from umbrella and grass roots organizations, as well as interviews with ministerial and other government representatives who are participating in the process. Interviews were conducted between 2021 and 2024. In addition, relevant legislative and policy documents, both official documents published by Altingi (the national parliament) and DPO memoranda, were part of the data analysis that supported the research findings. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #CRPD #DPOs #Policy #Inclusion #DisabilityRightsca #Iceland #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Check out sessions for the “Mai Pa?a ka Leo: Elevating Voices Advancing Trauma-Informed Health Justice and Health Equity” conference strand, with Danielle Delise & Jenna Waipa, from Center on Disability Studies, & UHHilo --- This strand explores opportunities to advance trauma-informed health justice for people with disabilities – within the fields of public health, social work, healthcare, and the health professions. We especially welcome solution-focused and trauma-informed proposals that promote access and fairness for all. Guiding Questions: How can we promote systems of care that value all humans equally?? How can we center community voices and build community engagement? How can trauma-informed frameworks improve outcomes for people with disabilities in various public health, healthcare, and social service settings? How can we integrate trauma-informed care principles in our work? --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #TraumaInformed #HealthJustice #PublicHealth #SocialWork #Healthcare #HealthProfessions #SolutionFocused #Voices #CommunityEngagement #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join “Disability and Leadership: The Story of Locust” with Sandra Yellowhorse, PhD, The University of Auckland Tue Apr 15, 2025, 11:30 AM - 11:55 AM, 305B --- This presentation shares the Story of Locust to learn about the teachings of ‘disability’ framed by Diné (Navajo) worldview. Indigenous communities have always had stories that have shaped our understandings of ‘disability’. Although there is no word for ‘disability’ in our Diné language, our ancestors taught us how to care for all diverse ways of being. These? stories are about relationships. Most importantly, these teachings are about the immense power of drawing on relationships to know ourselves and one another, oriented always towards the? pursuit of positive outcomes. When empowered by right relations, both one’s inner and outer worlds carry to potential to cultivate harmony, balance, and nurture our communities. These are Diné teachings of ‘disability’. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #IndigenousEpistemology #Indigeneity #Disability #Storytelling #ReframingDisabiltiy #IndigenousDisabilityJustice #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join “Eia au lā ?o Keaka, ?o ka Leo Kapu o nā Lani: Perspectives on Mutism & Communication in Traditional Hawai?i” with? Jacob (Hau'oli) Lorenzo-Elarco & L.G. Mahi La Pierre, Honolulu Community College Wed Apr 16, 2025, 11- 11AM, 306A --- Keakaokū—son of Kahelekūlani, descendant of demi-gods, and ancestor of Kamapua?a, the infamous pig-god—sat on the Ko?olau cliffs, gazing seaward towards Mōkapu, pu?a niu (coconut nose whistle) held fast in his hands. He was overcome with a sudden gust of emotion like a wind sweeping the bluff. He could not see his mother, but he knew she could hear him. He pressed the pu?a niu against his nostril and began blowing a melodious song, “Ua la?i ē! Ua la?i ke kaha o Ko?olau.” As he continued, his song reverberated down the cliff and struck Kahelekūlani near the shore. This exchange continued with 18 different songs between mother and son, an intricate dialogue woven in melody. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #HawaiianLanguage #HawaiianArchivalResearch #IndigenousCultureRevitalization #IndigenousTradition #NativeHawaiianPerspectives #IndigenousEpistemology #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join Dr. Whitnee Coy, Oglala Lakota College for upcoming session in Indigenous Epistemology Strand ?? Culturally Sustaining Student Engagement: Lessons from a Tribal College Tue Apr 15, 2025, 3:15 PM - 3:40 PM, 305B Culturally sustaining pedagogy is a critical approach for engaging students in a way that honors and preserves their cultural identities while promoting academic success. This workshop explores how tribal colleges, with their deep commitment to Indigenous knowledge systems and practices, provide powerful models for culturally sustaining student engagement. Drawing from my experience within tribal college systems, this session will delve into the strategies and practices that effectively engage Indigenous students by connecting their learning to their cultural heritage. Participants will gain insights into how these methods can be adapted and implemented in various educational settings to support the academic and cultural development of all students. ?? Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in English and Communications: A 25-Minute Toolkit for Tribal Educators Tue Apr 15, 2025, 1:30 PM - 1:55 PM, 305B This focused training workshop offers tribal college educators practical tools for integrating culturally sustaining pedagogy into English and Communications courses. In just 25 minutes, participants will learn key strategies to enhance their teaching practices by embedding Indigenous knowledge, oral traditions, and cultural perspectives into their curriculum. The session is designed to equip educators with actionable insights that they can immediately apply in their classrooms to better engage Indigenous students and support their academic and cultural success. ?? Empowering Leadership: Culturally Sustaining Education Administration Tools Tue Apr 15, 2025, 2:45 PM - 3:10 PM, 305B This interactive workshop is designed for graduate-level educators and administrators who aim to implement culturally sustaining practices in education administration. In just 25 minutes, participants will engage with hands-on tools and strategies that support the development of inclusive, culturally responsive administrative practices. Drawing on my experience teaching Indigenous education graduate students, this session will provide actionable insights into how culturally sustaining principles can be effectively integrated into educational leadership and administration. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #CulturalPractice #GraduateStudents #Education #English #Communication #OralTradition #KnowledgeSystem #Adapted #Implemented? #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join “He Manawa Piharau. Enhancing access and support for whānau and tamariki whaikaha Māori during the period of transition within the education system” with Dr. Kiri Fortune & Nicola Ngarewa from Te Rarama ?Tue Apr 15, 2025, 2:00 PM?-?2:25 PM, 306A --- He Manawa Piharau is a project that aims to create a foundation for understanding and addressing the specific challenges faced by whānau (family) Māori and children in accessing Whaikaha (disability) support during the period of transition within the education system (early childhood to primary, primary to secondary and beyond), ultimately leading to the development of a strategic plan that fosters equitable opportunities for all students. We also hope to develop an ongoing plan for change and establish ongoing strategic support to implement. ? ?He Manawa Piharau is a three staged project:? ? ?? Stage one of this project aims to create a foundation for understanding and addressing the specific challenges faced by whānau Māori and their tamariki in accessing whaikaha support during the important transition phases within the education system and beyond.? ? ?? The aim of stage two would be data collection through a kaupapa Māori (indigenous Māori research approach) to gain insight into the real life experiences of our whānau whaikaha Māori in Taranaki (located on the west coast of the North Island, Aotearoa New Zealand) who have experience in the area of transition and an in depth analysis and reporting of these findings.? ? ?? Stage three would focus on the development of a regional plan that fosters equitable opportunities for all students during the transition phase. We also hope to develop an ongoing plan for change and establish ongoing strategic support to implement. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #Whanau #Whaikaha #Education #Equitable #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Check out sessions for the “Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing, Being, and Succeeding” with Lisa Uyehara & Kenika Lorenzo-Elarco, from Center on Disability Studies --- Kānaka ?ōiwi (Native Hawaiians), like many other Indigenous peoples, remain disproportionately underrepresented in institutions of postsecondary education and other career trajectories. This underrepresentation often results in Indigenous student populations being omitted from institutional data, research, curriculum, and pathways to showcase their talents. Additionally, the prevailing western hegemony fails to recognize the value of ancestral knowledge and the brilliance of traditional Indigenous methodologies in sustainability, healthcare, economic development, environmental management, and social justice. The scarce data that does exist validates that Indigenous students enroll, persist, and succeed in postsecondary education at rates lower than the general student population; and data also indicates that indigenous peoples experience a variety of problems in low income, homelessness, incarceration, and poor health under the current paradigm. The Indigenous focus area for the 40th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity introduces an innovative approach to immerse Pac Rim participants in the preservation, revitalization, and application of Indigenous practices. It explores the unique educational practices and challenges faced by Indigenous students; in addition to talent in film, business, traditional and cultural values in sustainability, wellbeing, and healthcare. Additionally, this focus area will also showcase local community-based organizations and cultural practitioners to highlight Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being. These elements aim to inform and guide educational and social approaches, not only to inspire but also to empower Indigenous peoples to succeed and thrive in their endeavors… --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #AncestralKnowledge #IndigenousMethodologies #Sustainability #Healthcare #EconomicDevelopment #EnvironmentalManagement #SocialJustice #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join "Equipping Medical Professionals with Strategies to Support Patients with Autism" with Jill Hudson, Autism (independent presenter and consultant) Tue Apr 15, 2025, 11:00 AM - 11:25 AM, 306B --- “Adjustments for autism-specific needs are as necessary as ramps for wheelchair users.” (Doherty, et al., 2022) This quote from a recent research study investigating the experience of individuals with autism in a healthcare setting underscores the importance of increasing our professional development and training with medical and healthcare professionals in both pediatric and adult medical settings. This session seeks to outline the need for and strategies to equip staff with knowledge about characteristics of autism, the importance of supports prior to and through the appointment, and how to create environments of radical inclusion for individuals with autism to receive medical care. There is a systemic need for increased understanding, development of skills, and implementation of strategies. By equipping cross stakeholder teams to utilize universal design as a basis for foundational supports, then next layering with individualized tailored supports and strategies, medical teams can provide wholistic, well-supported, empathic, effective, timely, and safe care resulting in individuals with autism receiving patient-centered care that respects their dignity, uniqueness, humanity, and right to equitable care. This session will share perspectives and voices of individuals with lived experience and their desire for the medical community to be well-trained to better care for individuals in the pediatric setting through the transition into adult care. --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #medicalappointment #HealthcareEquity #HealthcareSupport #EquippingProvider #UniversalDesign #CrossStakeholderTeam #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Join “Building a CVI Community of Practice Informed by Educator and Community Needs” by Nicole H.omerinn at CVI Now at Perkins School for the Blind Watch: https://lnkd.in/gWKNqKTX — Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a brain-based visual impairment and the leading cause of blindness and low-vision for children. However, CVI is significantly underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leading to individuals with CVI lacking the critical supports and accommodations they need to thrive. Furthermore, supporting students with CVI can be tricky to navigate due to the complex nature of CVI. Many teacher preparation programs do not include information about CVI in teacher education, making access to practitioners knowledgeable in the field variable. Communities of practice can help educators develop skills to further students’ access to curriculum and independence. Communities of practice are also essential to advancing equity in professional development, as opportunities for professional development can vary across localities and are often costly. In order to build an effective community of practice for educators, it’s critical to understand what knowledge educators already possess and what they are looking to gain from the community. Surveys and focus groups can help reach a wide audience of educators in order to understand what the needs of different communities are. Communities of practice also must take into account the living experience of individuals with CVI in order to ensure that professional development aligns with disability advocacy and disability justice principles. User research and interviews of individuals with CVI can help to inform what individuals themselves feel is most important for educators to know and understand about working with students with CVI and other co-occurring low incidence disabilities. Through educator surveys, focus groups, and feedback from individuals with CVI, we identified key priority components of an educator community of practice. Educators are looking for more opportunities to hear first-hand experiences from individuals with CVI, gain access to current research in the field, develop strategies for multidisciplinary collaboration, gain access to thorough training on CVI, and identify different tools for assessment and intervention.... --- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #CerebralVisualImpairment #CorticalVisualImpairment #Blind #LowVision #Education #CommunitiesOfPractice #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships

Check out sessions for the "Incidence Disabilities / Significant Support Needs" strand with Mellanie Lee and Jennifer Tarnay, Center on Disability Studies --- The Low Incidence Disabilities / Significant Support Needs strand for the 2025 Pacific Rim Conference will concentrate on interests and issues, of and for, the individuals with low incidence disabilities/significant needs including but not limited to: Deaf / Hard of Hearing; Blindness /Low Vision; Autism; Deaf-Blindness; Traumatic Brain Injury; Multiple Disabilities; Severe Orthopedic Impairments; Significant Developmental Delay; Complex Health Concerns; Significant Cognitive Impairment; and Other Health Disabilities. Recognizing the diversity of these communities, this gathering is an opportunity for educators, researchers, families, service providers, community members, allies, and other stakeholders from a wide range of backgrounds to come together to share experiences, research, and pedagogical practices pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the area of Low Incidence Disabilities/Extensive Support Needs. We invite topics on advocacy, communication access, curriculum access, vocation, language and culture, independent living, legal rights and issues, inclusion and intersectionality, and family support. -- 40th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability Tuesday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 16, 2024, HST Honolulu, Hawai?i [in-person with virtual options] #PacRim2025 is organized by the Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Contact: https://lnkd.in/gxZ6hUd6 #UniversalDesign #CurriculumPractices #InstructionPractices #FamilySupport #AccesstoCommunication #AccesstoTechnology #Policy #Legislation #Resources #SocialConcerns #Conference #Disability #Hawaii #uhmanoa #Exhibitor #Volunteers #Attendees #Scholarships