Center on Disability Studies

05/07/2026

Learn about the upcoming "Pono in Practice: A Reflection on Balance in Higher Education" with Kenika Lorenzo-Elarco, Esben Borsting, & Lesley Fukushima at https://go.hawaii.edu/S3i!!

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This presentation focuses on the Nā ʻIke ʻEhā component pono (sense of belonging), emphasizing its vital role in developing self-efficacy and balancing personal wellness, academic and professional pursuits, and family and community roles. The frameworkʻs approach is to cultivate a culture of belonging, engagement, and efficacy as will be demonstrated in the presentation. Since students are influenced by many individuals in a variety of roles, this workshop will be beneficial for educators as well as anyone in the specific, diverse communities related to educational success. Nā Hokua utilizes high-leverage practices as exemplified by the Nā ʻIke ʻEhā framework, and in this presentation participants will explore and engage with the framework, engaging in storytelling and reflective exercises designed to deepen their understanding of pono and its application in both educational and cultural contexts...

Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/S3i!!
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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX
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05/05/2026

Learn about the upcoming "Social Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Insights from the National Core Indicators Data" with Dr. Nicole Schlaack at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3c!!

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This project explores how social and community inclusion—key components of holistic health and well-being—are experienced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the United States, with a focus on Hawaiʻi. Social inclusion extends beyond physical presence to encompass meaningful participation, relationships, and a sense of belonging, and is shaped by individual, organizational, and systemic factors (Boland et al., 2025; Rodriguez et al., 2022; Brand et al., 2024). Using publicly available data from the Core Indicators®-IDD In-Person Survey (2015–2023), we examine patterns of inclusion over time and how different living arrangements, such as residing with parents/relatives versus in foster or host homes, influence opportunities for engagement, community connection, and participation in recreation, leisure, and adapted physical activity programs. NCI data provide three inclusion-related scales: everyday choices, life decisions, and community inclusion. Across all three scales, the Hawaii sample consistently underperforms relative to the national averages, with the largest gaps observed in everyday choices and life decisions. In addition, differences of 10 to 20% also emerge across living arrangements, with individuals in a foster and host home reporting lower levels of inclusion. This study aims to inform policies and programs that advance holistic community well-being and meaningful participation for people with disabilities..

Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/i3c!!

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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX
Center on Disability Studies, Association of University Centers on Disabilities

05/04/2026

Ready to kickstart your employment journey but not sure where to begin? Start by attending our FREE WISE webinar. Whether you’re searching for a job or aiming to grow in your career, we’re here to provide the support you need to succeed!

Join us on May 27 at 3 p.m. ET for our FREE WISE webinar, “Ticket to Work: Support on Your Employment Journey.” Hear from experts and discover how Ticket to Work service providers can help you achieve financial independence and meaningful employment.

📅 Register now: https://choosework.ssa.gov/wise/

05/04/2026

Learn about the upcoming " Talk Story: Writing and Filmmaking for Deep Cultural Connection and Sense of Place" with Dr. Holly Manaseri, Dr. Raphael Raphael, Adrianne Hill, & Valerie Crabbe at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3R!!

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Kakau Mea Nui 2.0 (KMN 2.0), a culturally responsive writing project supported by the U.S. Department of Education Native Hawaiian Education grant, invites participants to consider inclusive practices offering students accessible and meaningful writing/filmmaking experiences that both (1) deepen place-based & community-/family-based knowledge and (2) increase their confidence in writing. This presentation is based on a model implemented in Summer 2024 with students in grades 6th through 8th grade who conducted oral history interviews of kupuna to move their writing through the writing process and created a short, A.I.-assisted films. This project has expanded to student films by 53 students showcased at the Modern Museum in Honolulu, the continued training of over 43 teachers through a partnership with the Hawaii Writing Fellows project and 19 student oral history interviews with kupuna in collaboration with Like, inc, a Native Hawaiian serving non-profit organization and the dissemination of 28 digital film kits to teachers across the state of Hawaii for their own projects..
Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/i3R!!

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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX

05/02/2026

Learn about the upcoming "Building Relations: Learning Disability Allyship in the Outdoors" with Dr. Jason Naranjo & Dr. Tyson Marsh at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3D!!

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This presentation shares the stories of university students who are part of community engaged learning through outdoor recreation with people with disabilities. These stories show how allyship grows through relationships of mutual trust and support. The stories come from a multiyear project that is centered on a partnership between the university and a community-based organization for people with disabilities. The community-based organization provides adaptive and supported access to four-seasons outdoor learning and sport for people ages 5-95. University students become part of the organization's work through a course that is focused on disability, sport, and the outdoors. Implications for access, disability justice, and community-engaged learning will be discussed.

Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/i3D!!

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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX
UWB SES, Center on Disability Studies, Association of University Centers on Disabilities

04/30/2026

It's that time of the year!! Check out the "Preview Presenter Schedule" to get the latest updates for at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3x.

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41st Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability
May 27-30, 2026
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi (in person with virtual options) pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu
email listserv: http://eepurl.com/g79LAX

Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability

04/29/2026

On January 23, 2026, the four ambassadors and sixteen HKNU students met at the College of Education to engage in structured, interactive activities fostering conversations and idea-sharing, culminating in concrete, student-informed recommendations for improving accessibility in learning environments....

Learn more at https://go.hawaii.edu/2TD!!

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Spring 2026 Newsletter Center on Disability Studies , College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Sign-up for the newsletter at https://go.hawaii.edu/yVn
Center on Disability Studies Association of University Centers on Disabilities

04/23/2026

04/23/2026

We were pleased to gather faculty, staff, and students from CDS, the Department of Special Education, and the LEND Program https://go.hawaii.edu/2TD!!

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Dr. Landa is the founder and executive director of the Center for Autism Services, Science, and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger Institute and a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her research, clinical, and community-based work has focused on identifying the earliest markers and developmental trajectories associated with autism, and translating that knowledge into scalable interventions...

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Spring 2026 Newsletter Center on Disability Studies , College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Sign-up for the newsletter at https://go.hawaii.edu/yVn
Center on Disability Studies Association of University Centers on Disabilities Kennedy Krieger Institute

04/21/2026

04/21/2026

Download the book, Kakau Mea Nui 2.0: Writing Matters, a professional development (PD) model designed to help K-8 teachers improve student writing through culturally responsive instruction https://go.hawaii.edu/2TD!!

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Whether you're a classroom teacher or providing professional development for others, this guide offers meaningful, easy-to-use resources that can be adapted for online, in-person, or hybrid use in schools. Amazon Kindle...

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Spring 2026 Newsletter Center on Disability Studies , College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Sign-up for the newsletter at https://go.hawaii.edu/yVn
Center on Disability Studies College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa