Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities April 2010

I have attended the PAC RIM conference twice in years past.  First time was when I was a student in the Center for Disability Studies (UH) Disability and Diversity post master's certificate program.  The field of disability culture and studies was yet new to me in 2000 and attending the conference was helpful to me to gain a broader understanding of the field.  I attended again after several years working in the field and further education and found that I was disappointed in the conference. The caliber of the conference seemed less than it deserved and less than Hawaii should be able to provide.  


It was therefore with a somewhat critical outlook that I attended the PAC RIM conference this year, April 16 and 17, 2010 at the Hawaii Convention Center.  I can say unequivocally, the conference far exceeded my expectations and was equal in diversity of information presented, quality of presenters, and professionalism of the overall exhibition to the national conferences I attended in Chicago (NASP) and Washington DC (AMHCP).


I will work to bring members of my staff to the conference next year.  The six months professional leave I have been on has strongly convinced me of the great need we in Hawaii have to keep ourselves informed and updated on trends and movements in education.  There is far too much excellent work and exciting changes going on that we will lag far behind on unless we increase our exposure to the field.  


Please read my other new posts on five specific topics presented that I attended:  The University of Arizona's SALT Center (secondary educational support for kids with special needs),  Including Students with Low Cognitive Ability (DD) in regular education,  Human Sexuality and CSHCN,  Self - Determination to improve transition outcomes, Project Search on Transition Outcomes, and  Online Autism Solutions.