AAPI Conferences
2002
CIRRIE Conference
May 6-8 at the Wyndham City Center Hotel, Washington, DC
“Providing Culturally Competent Disability Services to Persons Born in Other Countries”
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are one of the fastest growing minorities in the U.S. As the population of the U.S. shifts toward greater numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse persons, Congress has expressed concern over the higher prevalence of minority persons with disability and documented patterns of inequitable treatment of such persons within the vocational rehabilitation process.
Responding to congressional concerns, the mission of the National Technical Assistance Center is to increase employment opportunities for AAPI with disabilities by building technical assistance capacity through the participation of partners formalized within a National Advisory Board and four Networks nationwide. The NTAC-AAPI is a five-year $2.5 million grant project awarded from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education to the Center on Disability Studies-UCE, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Attendees included: Representatives from universities; policy makers; administrators from private and governmental organizations; vocational rehabilitation professionals; leaders and consumers from Independent Living Centers; industry organizations and business; representatives from cultural and religious groups; and individuals with specific interest on issues affecting the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities.
Outcomes Achieved: Participants had the opportunity to:
- Increase understanding of issues surrounding the provision of supports to AAPI individuals with disabilities as they seek employment;
- Contribute directly to the strategic planning process for the Center's outreach, technical assistance, training, dissemination, and youth leadership development as well as the development of policy recommendations on increasing employment opportunities for AAPIs;
- Interact before, during, and after the workshop with national leaders.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Center on Disability Studies: University Center for Excellence in Education, Research, and Service
1776 University Avenue . UA 4-6 . Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 956-5048 . Fax: (808) 956-5713