Workshops and Seminars
Voice and Self-Determination on Pacific Islands
In this Pacific Voices’ digital storytelling workshop we share photo and video stories from across the Pacific region promoting inclusion using “technologies for voice.” Affordable, simple, accessible techniques of digital storytelling are illustrated based upon the lived experiences of the presenters, including their hands-on trainings with teachers, children and youth in Micronesia and Polynesia. Learn more about this workshop
Whole Community Preparedness: Mitigating Emergencies through Community Investment, Altered Perceptions, and Personal Preparedness
Emergency situations can occur anywhere and anytime to anyone. They can come in all forms and can be personal or widespread. Our resilience and possibly survival is determined by our preparedness and ability to respond regardless of the source of the emergency.
Individuals with a disability and other vulnerable populations need to be more prepared but often are less prepared than others. This workshop will explore current preparedness of individuals with disabilities here in Hawai‘i, perceptions of preparedness and personal potential for individuals and their families, and personal and community strategies to build strong, resilient, prepared people and mitigate emergencies of all kinds. Learn more about this workshop
It’s all About Babies
Babies are the 1st Wonder of the World! They come in different colors, sizes, and personalities—let’s discover the Art of being a Baby is all about what they do when they watch, listen, smell, taste, touch and feel. By “readin” their needs, we as a community know how to serve them. A Mix Plate Of learning experiences include: community services available, Neonate/Newborn cues, death/dying/bereavement, breastfeeding, literacy, simple hula and song to share with your agency or families and more. Learn more about this workshop
Seminar—Geeking Inclusive: Supportive Gadgetry in Higher Education
Participants in this seminar will uncover ways in which mobile technology (e.g. tablets, smartphones) is being used to reduce barriers to communication, academic content, social connection, and independence into the college experience for students with disabilities. Leaders from three TPSID (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities) programs will share their experiences and best practices in using mobile devices with students and staff. Learn more about this workshop
Embracing Harmony: Culturally Competent Systems of Care as Best Practices
The availability and provision of systems of care in working with children, adults and older adults with different disabilities and diverse cultural backgrounds are essential. An inherent underlying value is that all services and programs infuse, integrate and embed culture and cultural competence throughout delivery. Core principles of wellness, recovery, voice with choice, and social inclusion must be followed. While these values may seem obvious, there are often potential barriers and challenges. In this dynamic, engaging and moving workshop for advocates, consumers, practitioners, and leaders there will be a presentation of core principles as well as active skill building. Learn more about this workshop
Projects of National Significance and the U.S. Territories: What Does It Mean?
Beginning in October of 2012, four of the AIDD funded Projects of National Significance have been charged with inclusion of the US Territories in data collection and analysis efforts. This seminar aims to introduce the Projects and discuss collaboration strategies. Learn more about this workshop
Partnerships Build Our Movement-Coalition Building Advocacy Movement
Coalition Building Advocacy: A model of statewide advocacy leadership directed by people with disabilities emphasizing the value of building relationships and broad based partnerships. A statewide alliance of peer advocates initiated a mechanism for building coalitions of common cause around human rights advocacy and policy making. Learn more about this workshop
Pono Life Skills
The Growing Pono Schools curriculum will be presented and available for the participants. During this seminar students from various schools will co-facilitate activities from the curriculum. Learn how to incorporate the Native Hawaiian guiding principle of pono—in everything you think, feel and do. Life’s lessons are discovered in the doing and being. Learn more about this workshop
Experiential Counseling Strategies for Developmentally Delayed / Mentally Ill Youth & Adults
The experiential therapeutic play therapy seminar is an interactive way of introducing participants to an array of therapeutic tools that can be adapted to all ages regardless of the person’s cognitive abilities. Participants will actively play the games and discuss the various life skill strategies they experienced. Learn more about this workshop
Empowerment through Technology for Untapped Talent
Want to be inspired? This unprecedented vocational training program provides the opportunity for individuals with physical disabilities, such as visual impairment, deafness, hearing difficulties, autism and Asperger’s syndrome, to acquire gainful employment, with serious growth potential in the emerging high tech design and manufacturing market. Learn more about this workshop
D.I.R./Floor Time: A Developmental/Relational Approach Toward the Treatment of Autism in Children and Adolescents
This workshop offers a theoretical, conceptual, and practical approach to the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children with developmental delays such as autism spectrum through a developmental relationship based form of play therapy known as D.I.R./Floor Time. Floor Time takes into consideration the actual level of the child’s current state of development, while supporting any underlying individual neurological differences that may be impeding the child’s development and utilizes the child’s relationships to his/her world to assist in boosting that individual’s level of functional emotional growth. Learn more about this workshop
Revving Up Inclusion of Diversity and Disability—Considering the Emerging Science on Implicit Bias
Progress toward full inclusion of the disabled and other diverse communities can be enhanced by understanding the emerging science on implicit bias and using that knowledge to make us more mindful, more open, more and present in our communities. Three experienced experts show the way to building this path. Learn more about this workshop
Meet to LEAP for ELL Workshop
Free to pacific rim attendees. Registration is highly recommended! This down-to-earth discussion and presentation forum provides Hawai‘i and Pacific Island K-12 teachers the opportunity to share knowledge about their English language learners (ELLs) and literacy-improvement practices to build capacity for solutions. Learn about best practices, teaching strategies, and technology to enhance learning. The hosting ELL-ACE and NB-ELL Projects (Center on Disability Studies, COE, UHM) provide professional development (PD) courses focused on improving K-12 ELLs’ literacy skills in math, science, and language arts to teachers in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, and the Marshall Islands free of charge with U.S. D.O.E. grants. Learn more about this workshop
Seminar: Reinventing Special Education
Approximately 6 million students with disabilities currently receive Special Education across the United States. Most of these students are NOT disabled and do NOT need Special Education. When they receive Special Education, they often do not receive specially designed instruction, and outcomes and results for most Students with Disabilities (SWDs) are unacceptable and poor. Learn more about this seminar
Community of Constituents
In this workshop, a panel of experts will highlight national and state approaches, such as the California Community of Constituents, for building an infrastructure for advocacy that bridges organizations representing these groups. Included in this interactive workshop will be a discussion about best practices, identifying and overcoming obstacles, and developing unified language and messaging for engaging diverse communities in this work. Learn more about this workshop
Embracing Harmony: Culturally Competent Systems of Care as Best Practices
In this dynamic, engaging and moving workshop for advocates, consumers, practitioners, and leaders there will be a presentation of core principles as well as active skill building. Examples will be given of less than optimal situations, some constructed by attendees, followed by consultation and discussion leading to understanding of optimizing an effective system of care with a culturally responsive lens. Learn more about this workshop
Talk WITH Me: Communication Strategies for Students with Significant Disabilities
This skill-building workshop will present practical, evidence-based strategies that can be used to enhance the meaningful communication skills and interpersonal interactions of students with significant disabilities (SD), including those with intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities. Diverse procedures for communicating information and expectations to these students will be highlighted, along with tools and tactics for facilitating reciprocal, give-and-take conversations between these students and others. A wide array of low tech instructional supports and assistive devices that can be constructed from “items at hand” will be illustrated. Learn more about this workshop
The Art of D.A.R.T (Disability Abuse Response Teams)
This interactive workshop will discuss how a coordinated community approach called D.A.R.T. (Disability Abuse Response Teams) can be implemented in any community to address the needs of victims who experience disabilities. D.A.R.T. ensures services are person-centered, appropriate, and timely, and also benefits community agencies who participate in the team. Learn more
An Empathetic Approach to Trauma: The Dynamic Duo!
In our work we encounter people who have their own unknown and sometimes secret stories. We cannot tell what those stories are by looking at that person. Working with people who “challenge” us requires looking beyond what we see. In this workshop we will explore how layers of trauma become integrated into a person’s way of thinking, feeling, and doing. We will work with a way of empathetically understanding why people do the things they do, which we can put into every day action. Learn more
Diversity in the Workplace: A New Perspective
It is the reality that the workforce is changing to meet the growing needs of an aging population and people with disabilities. This session will be an informative and enlightening discussing how we frame people with disabilities in the context of the workplace. The Abilities in Mind (AIM) program will demonstrate how we engage with other businesses in the approaches to attract, hire and retain persons with disabilities in the workplace. Learn more
Resiliency and Native Hawaiian Culture
Kaipo‘i will discuss the importance of positive words and actions and will share his passion for teaching the Hawaiian language and culture. Learn more
Illness, Aging, Healing, Death and Dying and Transformation—A literary pilgrimage with Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard and Susan Schultz
The Pacific Rim team is proud to present two outstanding local writers and scholars who will grace the conference with their wisdom, influence, authentic power and creativity. Be prepared to go deep within, to discover grace, healing, sadness and joy. Learn more
