The Pacific Rim International 2010 Conference on Disabilities Highlights
What do a member of the Screen Actors Guild, a deaf Salsa dancer, a famous pediatrician, a Harvard lawyer, and a doctor-nutritionist-turned-radio show host with recipes for low-fat chili, have in common? They were all a part of the 2010 The Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities, an annual conference sponsored by the University of Hawaii’s College of Education, Center on Disability Studies.
The conference was host to over 1,000 participants from countries as diverse as Mongolia, the Netherlands, Japan, Kazakhstan, Trinidad, and Tobago. The Pacific Rim International Forum on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, co-sponsored by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the William S. Richardson School of Law and the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution kicked off the 2010 event. The rock stars of the rights world—Michael Stein, executive director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability and Akiko Ito, Chief of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations, captivated 120 participants with a vision for a just and inclusive world. Energized by the speakers and numerous participatory breakouts, forum participants created the first ever Forum Declaration on Disability and the Millennium Development Goals.
With over 240 presentations, breakouts, workshops and poster presentations, pre- and post institutes, The Hawai’i Convention Center was a hub of activity. Participants focused on one of 15 topic areas, spending two days in workshops or mixing and matching their passions in the diverse field of disabilities. Margaret from Pahoa quipped, “The world view of this conference is incredible in scope and focus and only brings people closer together.”
Attendees had the opportunity to participate in twenty-two instructional workshops, including, “Making Cooperative Teaching Work” by CDS faculty Jeanne Bauwens and Norma Jean Stodden, which focused on instructional strategies for applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Workshops led by some of our nation’s leaders in disability forged new thinking on women’s health, education, accessibility, art and advocacy. Using Popular Education pedagogies, self-advocates trained women in Breast Health. Ari Ne’eman and other autistic advocates led an in-depth symposium on advocacy, policy and self-determination. There was something for everyone!
Harnessing our Brilliance, Spirit and Knowledge—Advocacy and Action for Collaborative Early Childhood Development: A Focus on Children with Special Needs held its First Annual Congress, with T. Berry Brazelton, one of the foremost authorities on pediatrics and child development. With Dr. Brazelton’s facilitation, professionals, and families came together to inspire change for Hawai‘i’s children.
Lunchtime speakers included Akiko Ito and Jocelyn Ng, spoken word artist, of Youth Speaks Hawai‘i, who performed her poetry, via voice and America Sign Language. Susan Rocco, Coordinator of the Special Parent Information Network (SPIN), and Charmaine Crockett, Special Projects Coordinator, received this year’s CDS service awards.
Post-conference hits included a Capacity Building Institute: Transition to Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism.
