UH Manoa's Center on Disability Studies to host May 4-5 gathering

25th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Charmain Crockett, (808) 956-7539
Center for Disabilities Studies
Posted: Apr 20, 2009

The Center for Disability Studies (CDS), College of Education at UH Mānoa, will host its 25th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, "Working Toward A Brighter Future," on Monday and Tuesday, May 4-5, 2009, at the Hawaii Convention Center.

International, national and Hawaii-based leaders and experts will participate in more than 200 sessions over the course of two days. Topics include autism, deaf and hard of hearing, transition to adulthood, independent living, hidden disabilities, disability rights, veterans, girls and women, family supports, indigenous and native issues, culture-based education, universal design for living, youth advocacy, and future technologies.

Featured thematic keynote speakers will be Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi; Andrew J. Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD); Loretta Scott, an expert on human rights, women's issues, diversity issues, hate groups and right-wing organizations; and Lee Grossman, who leads the Autism Society of America. Other noted speakers, workshop leaders and presenters include Puanani Burgess, Colin Kippen, Dr. Peter Hanohano and Kaʻoi Kaʻimikaua.

New to this year‘s conference is a free film festival running May 4 at 7:30 p.m. and May 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The opening-night feature documentary, "The Glass House," was shown at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and follows the lives of five teen girls in an Iranian rehabilitation center.

A pre-conference event, The 2009 Pacific Rim International Forum, will be held May 1-2, 2009 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and will focus on the convention on rights of persons with disabilities, with special attention to eradicating poverty.

For more information, visit: http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu