Pac Rim 2004 Info
Daniel K. Inouye | Dr. Patricia A. Morrissey | Mark T. Obatake | Dr. David Braddock | Tanis Doe & Michele Anderson
Keynote Speakers: Daniel K. Inouye
Monday March 29, 2004
8:00am, Maui/Molokai Ballroom
The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator
We are pleased to announce that the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, the third most senior member of the U.S. Senate, has agreed to serve as the Honorary Chairman of the 20th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, and will deliver a video message when the two-day conference opens on March 29, 2004.
Senator Inouye is known for his distinguished record as a legislative leader, and as a World War II combat veteran who earned the nation’s highest award for military valor, the Medal of Honor. On disability issues, Senator Inouye has supported landmark legislation, including serving as one of the original co-sponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that guarantees the civil rights of people with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination against anyone who has a mental or physical disability in the areas of employment, public services, transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunications. Another key measure that Senator Inouye supported was the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994, which included a provision that amended the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to offer wider support for families of children with disabilities.
Equally important as his legislative work, Senator Inouye serves as a role model for the disabled community and all Americans. He is proof that no matter what disability one may have, one can still accomplish much with hard work and perseverance. Moreover, he believes that when all people are treated with dignity and respect, everyone benefits.
In Hawaii, the Senator has served for many years as the Honorary Chairman of Winners at Work, which has won national recognition for promoting and supporting the full participation of individuals with disabilities in their communities. Among its achievements, Winners at Work established the first community-based employment program in Hawai‘i for persons with severe developmental disabilities.
