Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability

🎬 SUPERFEST Disability Film Festival is happening TOMORROW! 🎬

Join us for the world’s #1 most inclusive film festival — featuring 6 incredible short films from around the globe 🌍✨

🎟 FREE TICKETS — Everyone Welcome!

📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕓 4:15–5:00 PM Reception
🎥 5:00–6:30 PM Film Festival
📍 ART Auditorium (ART 132)
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Films include:
🌊 Rising Tides, Raising Voices (Samoa, 2024)
💼 (Un)fit to Work (UK, 2022)
🏡 Take Me Home (USA, 2022)
👾 Les Monstres (France, 2024)
🤟 Friendly Signs (USA, 2023)
🎤 Whose Voice Is It Anyway (UK, 2022)

Accessibility provided:

✔ Open Captions
✔ Open Audio Description
✔ ASL Interpretation
✔ Accessible Seating, Bathrooms & Parking

Presented as part of the Pacific Rim International Conference — the premier global gathering on disability — in cooperation with the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center.

Learn more: pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu

The HandiVan is Hawaiʻi’s #1 accessible transportation system!

If you are an international/out-of-state attendee, here are 3 easy steps to book the HandiVan during the PacRim conference:

1️⃣ Confirm Your Eligibility

If you have paratransit eligibility – Contact your local transit provider and ask them to fax your
eligibility documents to TheHandi-Van Eligibility Center.

If you DO NOT have paratransit eligibility - Get a medical document from your healthcare provider with your: full name, birthday, home address, phone number, mobility devices, and the intended address in O'ahu.

2️⃣ Fax Your Documentation to the HandiVan Eligibility Center
Fax: (808) 538-0055
Phone: (808) 538-0033

3️⃣Schedule Your Ride
Try to call (808) 538-0033 at least 1-3 days before your trip to ensure availability.

⭐️Helpful Tip Make sure you have:

Your Travel dates and times
Your Address in O'ahu
The PacRim Conference Address: 2465 Campus Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822

❓Questions?
Call The HandiVan: (808) 538-0033 or
Email Frank Jumawan: [email protected]

TODAY 5/5 is the "Last Call for Registration at Pre-Conference Event" https://pacrim.coe.hawaii.edu/ucedd-trainee-sessions-pre-conference-pac-rim-2026/!!!

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UCEDD Pre-Conference at Pac Rim 2026
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
9:00 AM to 2:30 PM HST
Campus Center Ballroom
University of Hawaii Mānoa Campus

Join us at the 2026 International Pacific Rim Conference for a dedicated UCEDD trainee Pre-Conference on Wednesday, hosted by the Center on Disability Studies (CDS) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. As one of 68 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) nationwide, CDS is committed to advancing the UCEDD mission of promoting independence, productivity, and full community participation for people with disabilities. For 35 years, CDS has played a vital role in research, training, and community partnerships that strengthen services and opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Through this pre-conference, we invite you to engage with UCEDD trainees and leaders in discussions that drive progress and innovation in disability inclusion.

✔️ Learn about our current programs at CDS () to build leadership capacity for more inclusive and empowered communities.
✔️ Aligning with the conference theme “Unbreakable Threads,” we want to weave our work together. We invite members of other UCEDDs in the US and the Pacific Basin (PBUCE) to share their work and learn with us at this pre-conference.
✔️ Imagine how our collective efforts can form unbreakable threads that support inclusive, thriving communities.

The UCEDD Trainee Pre-Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026. It will take place from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM in the Campus Center Ballroom at the University of Hawaii Mānoa Campus

Space is limited, and we will confirm your participation by May 5, 2026.

"Aloha kākou from Hawaiʻi!

The conference is finally here, and we are so excited to welcome everyone to Honolulu for the 41st Annual Rim International Conference on Disability.

From May 27–30, 2026, we’ll gather at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Campus Center to connect, learn, share, and celebrate together. This year’s theme, “Unbreakable Threads: Communities of Resilience and Continuity,” reminds us of the strong connections that bring our global ʻohana together.

Whether you are joining us as an attendee, presenter, volunteer, exhibitor, sponsor, or friend of the conference, we are grateful you are here. Your presence adds to the spirit of this gathering and helps create a space of belonging, learning, and meaningful connection.

As you arrive in Hawaiʻi, we invite you to slow down, enjoy the aloha spirit, and take in the warmth of our island community. This conference is more than a series of sessions—it’s a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new friends, exchange ideas, and strengthen the relationships that continue to move our work forward.

Be sure to check the Whova app for schedules, updates, and ways to connect with fellow attendees throughout the week.

We can’t wait to see everyone, talk story, share manaʻo, and spend these special days together.

Me ke aloha and mahalo nui loa,
Pacific Rim Conference Team."

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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

May2026 'Ike Insider is available at https://go.hawaii.edu/iDH !!

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This month's updates include:
☀️ REGISTER - Is closed, but check out the Whova app for the lasted updates https://whova.com/portal/webapp/yXDHGs3KKniDvWDIKfin/.
☀️ PRESENTERS - Watch the second set of recorded videos and PREVIEW SCHEDULE at ENTER.

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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

Learn about the upcoming "What Netflix's Documentary "The Remarkable Life of Ibelin" Gets Wrong: Lessons Learned from Level Up Mānoa Esports Camp" with Dr. Moshe Karabelnik, Dr. Nyle Sky Kauweloa, & Masako Imanishi at https://go.hawaii.edu/48i!!

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Video games are often portrayed in film as either a substitute world for individuals with disabilities a space where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) excel because their disabilities seem to harmonize with the computer environment or as a pathway to competitive online gaming (esports).

In reality, people with disabilities still face major barriers: limited access to technology, harassment, and inaccessible game design. Because present-day video games can demand rapid response times or overload players with sensory information, gamers with disabilities benefit from mediated and structured support to strengthen social connections, engage in meaningful play, and develop transferable soft skills. This presentation explores “Level Up Mānoa” an inclusive esports summer intensive developed by the Post-Secondary Support Project at the Center on Disability Studies with UH Esports.

Following the environmental model of disability studies, we used adaptive controllers, clear rules, and dedicated coaches to foster inclusion. Using principles of self-determination, activities were designed to teach transferable soft skills. This structured environment helped students overcome gaming barriers and build a foundation for academic and workplace success.

The presentation uses film clips to examine representation vs. reality in gaming for people with disabilities and highlights how “Level Up Mānoa” and related programs could advance inclusive postsecondary education. Learn more at https://go.hawaii.edu/48i!!

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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

Learn about the upcoming "The Power of Us: Cohort Poster Presentations" with Meriah Nichols at https://go.hawaii.edu/w3i!!

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As higher education institutions increasingly recognize the importance of supporting their students’ mental health, some are creating sensory-friendly spaces that support sensory regulation, stress relief, and overall well-being. Such spaces have been instrumental in reducing stigma and creating supportive environments for all learners, including those with disabilities. This study presents a case of a sensory room initiative at a public university in collaboration with the office for faculty development, as a model for inclusion and well-being. The room was open to the entire campus community for an academic year. We collected attendance data (N = 477) and survey responses (N = 127) to understand visitors’ usage patterns and experiences. Survey results indicated high engagement and satisfaction. Motivations included curiosity, the chance to explore a new campus resource, and the desire to experience sensory benefits. Most visitors used the space for sensory regulation and stress relief. Students perceived it as a safe, playful, and restorative space. Emotional scale comparisons of visitors’ pre- and post-visit states showed significant improvements. Reports of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, tiredness, nervousness, frustration, and feeling upset dropped substantially, while feelings of irritability and exhaustion were completely alleviated. We show how incorporating sensory-friendly spaces in postsecondary campuses is a promising model for supporting inclusion and well-being.....

Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/i3M!!

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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, Meriah Nichols: Unpacking Disability

Our first set of recorded videos for is ready to be watched!! Login into the conference app, Whova, today at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3N.

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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

Learn about the upcoming "The Keys to Self Determination: A Practical and Flexible Training for Advancing Self Determination and Inclusive Futures" with Kari Furoyama, Eric Folk, TK Do, Dana Katsura, & Cérya Cruz at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3t!!

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The "Keys to Self Determination" curriculum was originally developed to train staff in the Postsecondary Support Project (PSP), a four-time TPSID grantee and inclusive postsecondary education initiative (IPSE) based at the University of Hawai‘i. Since then, the team identified a widespread lack of awareness of Self Determination concepts and has continually expanded the curriculum to other support professionals, families, and people with disabilities.

As a demonstration of the model, participants will be trained in the four essential Keys (Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Advocacy) to unlock an individual’s capacity to live a self determined life. PSP team members, including a student presenter, will discuss how "The Keys" are applied within the IPSE and PSP’s on-campus summer intensive trainings, esports program, and summer employment initiative.

The presentation will also showcase the partnership between the Center on Disability Studies (Hawai‘i UCEDD) and the State of Hawai‘i Developmental Disabilities Division, which has made Self Determination training accessible to a wide range of stakeholders. Since 2020, the team has trained over 250 professionals, families, and individuals with disabilities in 77 trainings statewide and beyond. Participants will receive a durable Self Determination training aid and are encouraged to explore its applicability to their contexts. Learn more at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3Y!!

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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

Learn about the upcoming "Gaming Seriously: How Esports Support STEM Readiness in Inclusive Postsecondary Education" with Dr. Moshe Karabelnik, Masako Imanishi, Dr. Nyle Sky Kauweloa, & Justice Routon at https://go.hawaii.edu/i3h!!

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In recent years, colleges and universities have increasingly used esports as a tool for recruiting and retaining students, particularly in STEM fields. Esports have become a gateway for postsecondary students who may not have had prior access to STEM education, offering new ways to build soft skills essential for future success.

Despite the growth of inclusive postsecondary programs and advances in game accessibility, individuals with disabilities still face barriers that limit full participation in digital gaming communities, including esports teams. This highlights the need for initiatives that go beyond access, focusing on skill development and building resilient gaming communities where students can strengthen social connections and develop self-determination skills.

This panel presents “Level Up Mānoa,” an inclusive summer camp developed by the Post-Secondary Support Project at the Center on Disability Studies in collaboration with UH Esports. The camp incorporated STEM-focused activities structured to promote independence, self-advocacy, and goal-setting, creating continuity between experiential learning, personal growth, and future academic or career pathways.

The panel will explore the concept of serious gaming, emphasizing career skills developed through esports and the environmental model of disability studies, highlighting how a structured, supportive environment of resilience and opportunity can foster long-term success for students with disabilities.
Learn more https://go.hawaii.edu/i3h!!

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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