The University of Hawaiʻi (CDS) in the and 糖心视频 Esports teamed up to host their third annual summer training intensive. Designed for students with and without disabilities to participate together, the Esports camp hosted 11 students and four student mentors from Leeward Community College, 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and Syracuse University. For four days in July, students engaged with competitive gaming, emerging technologies, and developed their self determination and technical skills.

This year鈥檚 sessions centered around using AI in game development. Students brainstormed their own video game ideas using Google Gemini and then brought those ideas to life using a game development platform called Tesana.ai to produce working video games. Tesana sponsored pro accounts for students to use during the camp.

Moshe Karabelnik, the camp鈥檚 co-lead, describes a situation where collaborating students couldn鈥檛 choose between a racing or photography theme. “Their efforts to mold these ideas into a single prompt (for the Gemini AI generator) forced the model to be creative, and the end result was a racing game with an element of taking photos built into it.”

Lasting Impacts

Level Up 惭腻苍辞补! offers a hands-on environment for students to practice self-determination and the everyday skills of adult and college life, as well as socialize and build connections around shared interests. Esports, gaming and emerging technologies provide ways for students to build on their existing interests and passions while developing new technical skills and exploring interests in STEM-related fields.

“We have seen students join on-campus gaming clubs and create connections with the community on their campus,” camp co-lead Albert Yee said. “After Level Up 惭腻苍辞补!, one participant used the game he created during camp to apply for the Good Jobs Hawaiʻi Game Development course. He was accepted and will be working with other indie/student game developers and world-class game artists in the fall.”

“The importance comes from the unique partnership forged on campus,” said Sky Kauweloa, director of 糖心视频 Esports. “CDS and 糖心视频 Esports fulfill a mission of access and engagement through emerging technologies, video games, and creative media for students at 糖心视频.”

Kauweloa looks forward to seeing Level Up 惭腻苍辞补! continue to grow and was excited to see a Level Up 惭腻苍辞补! participant registered for his SOCS 489 Game Development class this fall.

Level Up 惭腻苍辞补! is coordinated by the Postsecondary Support Project and the Pacific Technical Assistance Center on Transition, in partnership with 糖心视频 Esports. The program is supported through the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, as well as Hawaiʻi‘s Division of Developmental Disabilities and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

This year, students from Syracuse University participated through the Inclusive Postsecondary Education Bridge, a national partnership among 糖心视频, Syracuse University鈥檚 Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, and the University of Missouri鈥揝t. Louis Office of Inclusive Higher Education.

糖心视频 the 糖心视频 Esports team鈥檚 and for more information. More stories on 糖心视频鈥檚 Esports program.

A sensory-friendly initiative that began at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has expanded to all 10 糖心视频 campuses, giving students, faculty and staff across the system access to tools designed to reduce stress, improve focus and support overall well-being.

The effort is led by the 糖心视频 project in partnership with campus offices statewide. Two years ago, CAMP+U collaborated with the to open 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’s first sensory room, providing a quiet space where members of the campus community can decompress, regulate emotions and recharge from the demands of daily campus life.

Spreading support

Building on that success, CAMP+U has partnered with every 糖心视频 campus to provide a portable sensory kit that can be used to create sensory rooms, integrated sensory spaces or pop-up experiences.

The portable kits contain more than a dozen sensory tools鈥攊ncluding a northern lights and moon projector, sunset and jellyfish lamps, fidget toys, space tent, cosmic cocoon (bean bag chair) and more鈥攖hat can be easily transported and assembled, offering campuses a low-cost, flexible way to create calming environments wherever they are needed. The kits also contain a resource hub with educational materials.

Each campus has adapted the initiative to meet its local needs, with collaborations involving disability services, student basic needs, counseling, libraries and other student support offices. Many campuses introduced the program through sensory pop-up events during high-stress times such as midterms, finals and campus study sessions.

“College can be overwhelming for anyone, and sometimes students simply need a place where they can pause, reset and return to class feeling ready to learn,” said Holly Manaseri, Center on Disability Studies faculty member and project director. “Creating spaces that acknowledge those needs sends a powerful message that every student belongs and deserves the opportunity to succeed.”

The expansion comes as colleges and universities nationwide increasingly adopt sensory-informed learning environments to support academic success and well-being. Among 糖心视频鈥檚 peer institutions, more than half offer sensory-friendly spaces, while nearly one-quarter have dedicated sensory rooms. Sensory spaces were also offered at every 2026 FIFAWorld Cup venue, and similar spaces are now found in airports, public libraries and shopping centers to help people take a break from overwhelming sights and sounds.

Feedback shows positive impact

An ongoing research study is evaluating the impact of the 糖心视频 initiative. According to Manca Sustarsic, the project鈥檚 evaluator, “Feedback from more than 500 visitors across the university system shows visitors reported feeling calmer, more relaxed and happier after using the sensory spaces. Preliminary findings also indicate significant reductions in stress, anxiety, frustration and feeling overwhelmed, while many students reported improved focus, greater motivation and a stronger sense of belonging on campus.”

CAMP+U鈥攕upported by and led by Manaseri, Sustarsic and Renz Louis T. Montano鈥攆ocuses on supporting student success throughout the college experience, with particular attention to students with learning differences and disabilities.

For sensory room contacts at each 糖心视频 campus,

The Center on Disability Studies is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

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This summer, 422 Hawaiʻi keiki learned how STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) connects with Hawaiian culture and place through hands-on activities, including programming robots, investigating local environments and building and engineering challenges.

From June 1 through July 16, (KPNH), a project of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CDS), brought its STEM program to 10 sites across Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi.

“Across grade levels, the hands-on curriculum integrates mathematics, science, engineering, computer science, reading and vocabulary while drawing upon Hawaiian and local culture to make student learning more meaningful and connected to place,” said KPNH Principal Investigator Kiriko Takahashi.

STEM learning across 10 sites

KPNH offered its 2026 summer program at ʻEwa Beach, Holualoa, Kaleiʻopuʻu, Kāneʻohe, Linapuni and Liholiho elementary schools, as well as Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi sites in Waiʻanae, N膩n膩kuli, ʻEwa Beach and Līhuʻe.

The program is organized around five grade-level bands, with lessons, materials and activities tailored to students at different developmental levels. Younger students explored STEM concepts through movement, games, plants, shapes, models and introductory robotics. Older students engaged in programming, data analysis, environmental investigations, measurement and engineering-design challenges.

“The materials, resources and lesson plans were well organized and made it easy to facilitate engaging, hands-on learning experiences,” said Kāneʻohe Elementary School teacher Jolyn Kresge.

KPNH staff worked with schools, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi personnel and other project-site partners to prepare and deliver the program across three islands.

KPNH staff worked with site personnel to register students, train staff, develop lesson guides and student workbooks, prepare instructional kits, administer pre- and post-assessments, conduct observations and facilitate focus groups.

Hawaiʻi faces a severe shortage of mental health specialists qualified to diagnose and support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, often resulting in long wait times for evaluations and delays in accessing critical services. To help address this growing need, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has appointed internationally recognized clinical psychologist and autism researcher Meghan Miller to lead its (CDS).

A leading expert in the early identification of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Miller will strengthen the center’s efforts to train more specialists, expand access to services and support, and advance research that improves outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families.

“Hawaiʻi has incredible strengths in its communities and its commitment to supporting people with disabilities. At the same time, there is also a growing need for more trained professionals and greater access to services,” said Miller, who was appointed this year. “The Center on Disability Studies is uniquely positioned to bring together research, education and community partnerships to help build that workforce and ensure individuals with disabilities and their families have the support they need throughout their lives.”

The need for that work continues to grow. Autism diagnoses have risen dramatically nationwide—. Miller said expanding Hawaiʻi‘s workforce of trained specialists and increasing access to evidence-based services are critical to advancing CDS‘s mission of improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families across the state.

July also marks and is celebrated worldwide to honor the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

Research, training and community impact

CDS was established in 1987 as Hawaiʻi‘s federally funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The center is part of a national network that conducts research, provides professional training and partners with communities to improve opportunities for people with disabilities across the lifespan.

Each year, CDS, which is part of the 糖心视频 Mānoa , collaborates with state agencies, schools, health care providers and community organizations to provide technical assistance, workforce training and community-based programs. Its initiatives focus on education, early intervention, and employment and community living, serving thousands of individuals and families throughout Hawaiʻi, including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other historically underserved communities.

Expert takes CDS helm

Under Miller’s leadership, the center is working to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand training opportunities for future educators and service providers, and pursue additional external funding to increase Hawaiʻi‘s capacity to meet the growing demand for disability services.

Miller brings nearly two decades of experience in neurodevelopmental disabilities research and practice. Her work has advanced understanding of the earliest signs of autism, developmental trajectories and early intervention, with findings published in leading scientific journals. She has also received national recognition for her research, including honors from the International Society for Autism Research and the Association for Psychological Science.

“Dr. Miller is an exceptional scholar whose research has helped shape our understanding of autism and early childhood development,” said College of Education Dean Nathan Murata. “Just as important, she shares the College of Education’s commitment to turning research into meaningful outcomes for Hawaiʻi families and communities while strengthening efforts to prepare future educators and service providers.”

糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel, who has spoken about the importance of disability inclusion in higher education, brings a personal perspective shaped in part by her experience as a parent and disability rights attorney.

“I know firsthand how critical early diagnosis and access to services can be for children and their families,” Hensel said. “Too many families in Hawaiʻi face long waits because we simply do not have enough specialists to meet the need. Dr. Miller’s leadership will help 糖心视频 expand that workforce and improve access to life-changing support. This is exactly what a public university should do, apply its expertise to address Hawaiʻi‘s greatest challenges and improve the lives of the people we serve.”

A new documentary showcasing the impact of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 and its efforts to help students navigate the transition from high school to higher education will premiere statewide on June 7.

Project Hoʻokuʻi: Finding a Path for the Future is a 30-minute sequel to the 2023 documentary The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build Our Future. The film follows students, educators and community partners connected to Project Hoʻokuʻi, a 糖心视频 Mānoa initiative, that supports students as they prepare for college, career training and future professions.

Now in its 18th year and sixth iteration, Project Hoʻokuʻi has served more than 2,000 students across Hawaiʻi, primarily in rural communities, near Native Hawaiian homesteads and at schools with high percentages of students receiving free and reduced-price lunch. Approximately 50 participants have earned associate degrees before graduating from high school.

“Our hope is that viewers see what is possible when students are given the support, opportunities and encouragement to pursue their goals,” said Project Hoʻokuʻi Director and Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara. “Through the stories shared in this documentary, we want students and families across Hawaiʻi to know that higher education and career pathways are within reach, while also showing how culture, community and a strong sense of place can help guide that journey.”

The documentary explores how financial aid, tutoring, mentoring, internships and ʻāina-based learning help students access opportunities through programs such as Running Start, Jump Start, Early Admission and Mānoa Academy. It also highlights the project鈥檚 expanding efforts to address workforce needs by supporting pathways in fields including healthcare, education and the skilled trades.

Project Hoʻokuʻi partners with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education and 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 to help students build academic skills, explore career options and strengthen connections to culture, community and place.

The documentary premieres Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. on KHON. Encore broadcasts are scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 9:30 p.m. on KHON and Sunday, June 14, at 8 p.m. on KHII.

How can you use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve how doctors process and treat patients? That is the challenge that a group of high school students from around the state tackled during a two-week summer course at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

Under the guidance of Associate Professor Mahdi Belcaid, the interns from eight Hawaiʻi high schools developed “Parrot Forms,” a system designed to automatically transcribe doctor-patient conversations, extract relevant medical information and populate the details directly into a mockup electronic medical record. This digital assistant aims to reduce paperwork and improve efficiency in medical offices.

Each session began with a short lecture on a topic relevant to the next step of the project, followed by brainstorming, prototyping, coding and debugging sessions. The interns gained valuable skills such as understanding medical processes, including how doctors structure and document patient interactions, modern data representation protocols, engineering accurate prompts, and writing and executing code with ChatGPT.

“These students have shown remarkable aptitude in applying AI to real-world problems,” said Belcaid, who holds a joint appointment in the (ICS) and (HIMB). “Their work on Parrot Forms demonstrates the potential of AI to transform healthcare documentation, and showcases the spirit of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 next generation of tech innovators.”

The students experienced the newest tech in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

One participant wrote, “This is definitely a career option I might pursue in the future, and I really enjoyed learning about how things operate behind the scenes. I think this is without a doubt the most eye-opening experience career-wise that I’ve had the opportunity to participate in.”

This internship was part of , housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , . Its goal is to support Native Hawaiian high school students statewide into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. This is the third year that Belcaid鈥檚 lab has been hosting students through Project H艒k奴lani.

“Project H艒k奴lani aims to ignite passion for STEM in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 youth,” Project H艒k奴lani Principal Investigator Hye Jin Park said. “Through hands-on projects like Parrot Forms, we鈥檙e preparing students for the tech-driven future and showcasing the innovative potential right here in our islands.”

ICS is housed in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and HIMB is housed in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 .

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 esports program launched a groundbreaking camp aimed to engage students with disabilities through video games and esports.

The four-day program in July featured nine students from Leeward Community College, Windward CC, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu. Participants learned to build PCs, create in-game avatars and practice online gaming safety.

Sky Kauweloa, director of 糖心视频 Esports, partnered with the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 to create the camp. Kauweloa鈥檚 goal has been to provide opportunities for marginalized students and communities, starting with supporting women and LGBTQ+ players through the Women of 糖心视频 Esports program, and forming the first varsity mobile esports team in North America via the game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

“Now, we have extended the core mission of 糖心视频 Esports to become a venue for students with disabilities to find a home across our system campuses,” Kauweloa said. “The esports disability camp is possibly one of the first in North America, which reinforces the core mission of 糖心视频 Esports to be inclusive of marginalized student populations on our campus when it comes to access to video games and gaming and digital technologies. I believe this camp could be a catalyst for collaborations with other universities interested in supporting their own students with disabilities.”

A key feature was the introduction of Microsoft鈥檚 adaptive controllers, which assisted individuals with physical limitations. Leeward CC is planning to purchase these controllers for their esports initiative.

Social impacts

Moshe Karabelnike, the main camp organizer and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 communication and information sciences PhD alum, highlighted the social impact.

“Many of the students we work with struggle to make friends, and it was beautiful to watch how a shared interest immediately brought the students together,” Karabelnike said. “My proudest moment in camp was seeing a student with no previous gaming experience use an adaptive controller to participate in competitive gaming, cooperate with teammates, and score for her team.”

The camp employed coaches from 糖心视频 Esports, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and Leeward CC. Kauweloa hopes the camp will continue to be offered every summer.

糖心视频 Esports receives funding from the . 糖心视频 the 糖心视频 Esports team鈥檚 and . More stories on 糖心视频鈥檚 esports program.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families recovering from the devastation of the Maui wildfires are receiving vital assistance through consisting of trauma-informed workbooks and resource cards.

A collaboration between the (CDS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (COE) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Division (DOH DDD), the toolkits are utilized in workshops designed to offer practical solutions to supporting the mental health of individuals with I/DD.

“Together with the DOH DDD, we have been conducting workshops in adult day health programs such as Easterseals and Arc of Maui,” said CDS Associate Director Maya Matheis. “Participating adults with I/DD and support staff have found these sessions immensely beneficial and cathartic.”

The toolkit was developed by Matheis based on evidence-based practices. Matheis, who is a licensed clinical psychologist, has experience treating traumatic stress in this population.

CDS and DOH DDD have also been meeting individually with families of individuals with I/DD affected by the wildfires. These personalized sessions provide tailored support, ensuring that families have access to the assistance they require during this difficult time.

The toolkit was introduced on October 25 to families, mental health professionals and more , Maui Relief: Supporting Mental Health for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. A recording of the webinar will be available on the .

The toolkit is free and to anyone in the community. Requests for printed materials can be sent to Matheis at mmatheis@hawaii.edu.

leaders explore how traditional Hawaiian knowledge, education and a stronger future are hoʻokuʻi (brought together) in a pilot documentary, The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build our Future. A product of , a support program for high school students developed by the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 鈥檚 (CDS), the film will premiere on Thursday, September 21, at 7 p.m. on KHON2.

The Power of Hoʻokuʻi: Joining Together to Build our Future premieres Thursday, September 21, at 7 p.m. on KHON2

Project Hoʻokuʻi is a U.S. Department of Education, Native Hawaiian Education Program, grant funded project that is inclusive and supports underserved students with priority given to Native Hawaiian, Native Hawaiian gifted and talented, students with disabilities and at-risk students transitioning from high school to postsecondary education and certification programs. Currently on its fifth iteration, the program has helped nearly 2,500 high school students since it first launched in 2009. Project Hoʻokuʻi provides support services including financial aid, mentoring, tutoring and internship programs.

“The documentary gives the Hawaiʻi community and students awareness and hope for the future and encourages them to pursue their goals and dreams through education,” said Project Hoʻokuʻi Principal Investigator Lisa Uyehara, an associate specialist faculty with CDS. “We can support students, but at the end of the day, it is their hard work that leads to their success and confidence building.”

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Record number of Farrington HS students walk in Honolulu CC graduation, May 18, 2023

Kea Clebsch, a student who participated in Project Hoʻokuʻi, was featured in the film, and is hopeful for viewers to see the value of place-based education and how much one opportunity can change a student鈥檚 trajectory.

“For me, all it took was one Hawaiian Studies class to finally see myself in education and feel that my identity had a place in my learning content,” said Clebsch. “It took one kumu (teacher) that created space for me to find a sense of agency in my education and realize what I have to contribute to my community.”

Featured 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 representatives include Jon Osorio, dean of ; Provost Michael Bruno; . The leaders discussed the impact Project Hoʻokuʻi has had on the Native Hawaiian student population attending and completing college. The importance of Native Hawaiian culture and ʻāina-based learning and its global impact will also be highlighted in the broadcast.

“I believe Hawaiʻi can be the beacon for the world in m膩lama honua (taking care of the planet),” added Uyehara.

Higher education opportunities for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 youth

The support and opportunities Clebsch received through Project Hoʻokuʻi allowed her to forge a new path during high school and now her higher education.

“Hoʻokuʻi created the space for me to learn about myself, experience makawalu (looking at situations in different perspectives) and develop a deepened sense of kuleana (responsibility) for the people and place I care about,” said Clebsch. “It was in these educational settings where I realized I could embrace a cross-pollination of art and research to solve problems that matter to me. Hoʻokuʻi allowed me to see a role in my community, and envision a future for myself grounded in a sense of place, belonging and kuleana.”

Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to its fullest potential, seven high school students developed a mobile app that tracks expenses—all within a two-week timeframe. Through an internship with U.S. Department of Education Native Hawaiian Education Act grant grantee, , at the (CDS) in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (COE), this second cohort of students gained a unique computer science experience that enabled them to advance their STEM skills.

During summer 2023, the student interns built a mobile application named RESHEIPT at the 糖心视频 Laboratory of Applications in Informatics and Analytics. The students were each paid a $1,000 stipend for 48 hours of work at the computer lab.

Designed to gather expenses one receipt at a time, they created the app using ChatGPT under the guidance of Assistant Professor Mahdi Belcaid (Information and Computer Sciences, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Hawaiʻi Data Science Institute) and Akib Sadmanee, a research graduate assistant with Pacific Ocean Science and Technology.

Students used ChatGPT to complete tasks that would have traditionally required much more time from machine learning experts or programmers.

“The group wanted to include artificial intelligence in their computer studies, and the app delivers just that,” said CDS Assistant Specialist Lisa Galloway. “The app allows users to scan their receipts, providing them with an itemized overview of their transactions. AI comes in when users are processing and itemizing their receipts with ChatGPT.”

They also learned how to use no-code platforms, including Amazon Web Services, to construct the features of the app, such as authentication and storage.

“This product highlights the impact of AI and specifically large language models on technology,” said Belcaid. “If high school students can develop such a complex application in just 40 hours—much of which was devoted to education rather than coding—imagine the technological possibilities that await us as ChatGPT and similar technologies continue to mature over the next two to three years.”

Helping underserved students in gifted education and STEM fields, and increasing family engagement is the focus of newly awarded $8 million in grants to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 College of Education (CDS) by the U.S. Department of Education. Over the next five years, two faculty members will work with the students and their families to find ways to address their needs.

Learning opportunities for gifted underserved students

CDS Associate Professor Hye Jin Park received $3.5 million for her project, “Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Twice-Exceptional students Achieving and Matriculating in Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (CLD TEAMS),” as part of a U.S. Department of Education Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Grant Program.

The goal of CLD TEAMS is to develop new information to identify and provide services to underserved students in gifted education and STEM fields, particularly Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Filipino high school students with or without disabilities who have potential in STEM in Hawaiʻi, American S膩moa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“This is our third award from the U.S. Department of Education, and we鈥檙e very humbled and happy to continue our efforts to broaden the understanding of giftedness and create inclusive, differentiated, and supportive learning opportunities for students who are traditionally underrepresented and underserved in gifted and talented education programs,” said Park.

CLD TEAMS will provide training in the identification and education of gifted students while promoting equity in student access to educational resources and opportunities. The project will also work to improve the mindsets, cultural competence, and attitudes toward STEM learning, leading to an increase in students entering STEM fields and leadership roles. Parents will be invited to join service-learning field trips and seminars to support their child鈥檚 learning and engagement.

Family engagement strategies

CDS Associate Specialist Chuan Chinn was awarded $4.6 million for her project, “),” by the U.S. Department of Education Parent Information and Resource Centers. The purpose of the center is to promote high impact family engagement strategies, programming and policies that build powerful partnerships among family, school and community to enhance child development and student achievement.

Chinn said, “This is the second round of the Statewide Family Engagement Center award. We are excited for the opportunity to continue expanding and strengthening partnerships with our families, schools, and community-based organizations throughout Hawaiʻi to advance family engagement practices, policies and infrastructure.”

HFEC will continue to expand and strengthen Hawaiʻi鈥檚 comprehensive and collaborative statewide infrastructure for family engagement; provide family engagement training and technical assistance that builds effective family-school partnerships in a culturally responsive manner; partner with community agencies to ensure equity of access to educational resources and opportunities; and advance systemic change through cross-agency coordination and community engagement.

Both the CLDM TEAMS and HFEC projects are aligned with the 2022 competitive grants for the , which underscores the current Biden-Harris administration鈥檚 efforts to enhance and increase parent and family engagement in local education.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 College of Education received a $700,000 boost from Oak Foundation to assist students with learning differences to succeed in college. The award funds the development of innovative online modules to help faculty, staff and administrators improve their interactions with students with learning differences, as well as Indigenous students such as Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, by reflecting on their current practices and shifting their attitudes to and awareness of their differences.

“This large donation will help our center revamp innovative, online modules, and give our future teachers, faculty, staff and administrators the foundational skills and effective strategies they need to engage and reach all individuals regardless of a students鈥� preferred learning, studying styles or cultural backgrounds,” said Interim Director of the Center on Disability Studies Kiriko Takahashi.

The award also enables faculty, staff and administrators to boost their knowledge of legal mandates and policies for accommodating such students, and aims to increase their skills to support students with learning differences from diverse cultural backgrounds. Some of the ways they may achieve this is by creating a welcoming classroom for all students, applying Universal Design for Learning principles (a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all students an equal opportunity to succeed) and utilizing technology tools and software in the classroom to reach all kinds of learners, bringing appropriate cultural relevance into teaching to reach Indigenous students and demonstrating equity and equal opportunity across all students when teaching students with diverse needs.

Students with specific learning disabilities—and other neurodiverse students such as those with attention deficits, sensory processing disorders and executive function challenges—face multiple barriers to success in higher education. Students with learning differences from underrepresented communities, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, face additional obstacles to academic success.

“This project is unique in that it will be implemented in one of the most diverse campus environments within the United States. Through this project, we hope to identify the strategies that are effective for students with learning differences who are also Indigenous, impacting their access to, retention, and completion of higher education programs of study,” said 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno. “The pandemic impacted both instructors and students in many different ways. With this generous award from Oak Foundation, we can also assess the impact of the pandemic on learning and use of technology by students with learning differences and those from Indigenous groups. Our findings will provide new insights and tools to help our students and educators succeed.”

Bethiel Girma Holton, Oak Foundation鈥檚 learning differences program officer, said, “Oak Foundation is proud to partner with the University of Hawaiʻi in its effort to think about students with learning differences, especially Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, holistically to increase their graduation rates and chances of success. By giving faculty the skills they need to teach and support these students who have been particularly affected by the challenges of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are able to respond to each student鈥檚 unique talents and potential.”

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the popular “Be a Scientist” night, providing valuable STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and activities for at-risk keiki and women, returned to the (IHS) on May 6.

The effort was led by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , in collaboration with the , 糖心视频鈥檚 , 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Assistant Researcher , 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, and Oceanit.

Students, faculty and staff from the organizations taught approximately two dozen (smaller number than previous years due to COVID-19 safety protocols) children and women about mathematics, epidemiology modeling, robotics and astronomy through many different hands-on activities. Professor Monique Chyba has been working with IHS for more than 10 years on events like this and says that proper education for keiki is important, especially during COVID-19.

“The pandemic has been extremely difficult on many families and created an even bigger gap in education for the children without permanent housing and access to computers/internet,” Chyba said. “While this is only a one time event, we are continuously in touch with IHS to provide other resources when needed (such as tutoring or summer programs). It is also a great opportunity for 糖心视频 to come together for our community.”

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students Ionica Macadangdang (biological engineering major) and Ralph Martin Adra (astrophysics major) took the lead in organizing the event, with guidance from Chyba. Both students are also involved in the COVID-19 mathematics modeling team that has provided valuable insights about the prevalence of the virus within our communities.

“Being a part of ‘Be a Scientist’ night at IHS is always a fun and worthwhile experience,” Macadangdang said. “Especially after returning to IHS with such a big turnout of both participants and 糖心视频 volunteers, you could really sense that everyone involved was eager to interact with the kids and other community members and get them excited about STEM. I鈥檓 certainly looking forward to seeing how this event will grow and continue to support our keiki!”

Adra added, “Planning this event was nonetheless difficult but worth it! Helping the keiki reminded me of how I first aspired to choose my major of astrophysics. Their bright eyes of passion and love towards science were the same ones I had back then, and this experience has really inspired me to keep going towards my goals in my future.”

Oceanit provided a catered dinner for the shelter鈥檚 population. In addition, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 math department collected approximately $800 to purchase toiletries, which was donated to IHS.

“We are so grateful to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 for putting together this amazing event for our families and women here at IHS. These past two years have been hard because we had to stop all events and classes that bring IHS together,” IHS Children鈥檚 Program Specialist Candice Moore said. “Seeing the smiles and excitement at this event is so heartwarming.”

This outreach event is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

The director of a university research center to support individuals with disabilities has been appointed to the . The Hawaiʻi Senate voted to approve Kiriko Takahashi鈥檚 appointment on March 31, 2021. Takahashi is the current director of the (CDS) in the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

Takahashi joins the 28 governor-appointed members who include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, parents, family members and representatives from public and private agencies that serve this population.

Established by state and federal law as an independent agency, the Developmental Disabilities Council has a mission to empower, advocate and support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities statewide to control their own destiny and determine the quality of life they desire.

Takahashi earned a master鈥檚 degree in learning disabilities from Northwestern University, and a doctoral degree in exceptionalities from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. Her research interests include assistive technology, culturally-based education and mathematics.

The council is CDS鈥檚 sister agency. As a council member, Takahashi hopes to be informed about the current needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to continue the CDS鈥檚 programming. She also hopes to provide input to the council鈥檚 5-year plan, help monitor their implementation, and collaborate on integrating the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at community and systems levels.

This appointment is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Faculty members at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education (CDS) were awarded $9.6 million by the (NHEP) for a three-year period to develop innovative education programs to assist Native Hawaiians.

More than $2 million each were awarded to interim CDS Associate Director Hye-Jin Park, interim CDS Director Kiriko Takahashi, CDS Assistant Specialist Lisa Uyehara and CDS Assistant Specialist Eric Folk.

Project Hōkūlani, under the direction of Park, is a culturally responsive, strength and work-based STEM enrichment and college transition project. Aiming to serve Native Hawaiian high school students with and without disabilities on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi and Molokaʻi, the project鈥檚 goal is to create a seamless and supportive STEM education pipeline for underserved youth to bolster their aspirations to enter into postsecondary STEM fields.

“Through this project, we hope to better support the career development of these underrepresented youths and increase the likelihood of their becoming future ‘shining stars’ in STEM fields,” Park said. “To achieve this goal, we will develop and implement a research-based Hōkūlani model, which includes academic enrichment, mentoring, college transition, paid internships and ʻohana engagement.”

Takahashi is the project director of Ka Pilina Noʻeau II, which is a continuation of two previous grant projects, Ka Pilina: AIM Together and Ka Pilina Noʻeau. The current version, based on community request, gives additional attention to students with disabilities and students who may be disengaged or struggling in school.

Takahashi stated, “The new award is great news to our team and our project partners, ALU LIKE, Inc. and 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 Department of Mathematics. We are delighted to be able to continue refining the activities we have developed together to better meet the needs of our students, parents and teachers. With this new iteration, we are also excited to strengthen our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaiʻi. We hope to continue building upon our network to nurture STEM outcomes of Native Hawaiian students, assisting them to ultimately contribute to our STEM workforce in Hawaiʻi.”

Project Hoʻokuʻi IV: ʻOhana Lōkahi, under the direction of Uyehara, will engage families, students and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) in cultivating a post-secondary education-bound culture within the Native Hawaiian community statewide. Based on nine years of research, supporting more than 1,000 Native Hawaiian and at-risk students, as well as students with disabilities, this new iteration of the project seeks to expand its support for students and the HIDOE by including a more active role for families.

Folk, along with CDS Junior Specialist Sean Nagamatsu and Native Hawaiian Cultural and Educational Specialist Rebecca ʻIlima Kaʻanehe, comprise the Kūlia Support Project team, currently working across the 糖心视频 Community College system to support and retain Native Hawaiian students who are at risk of school failure. This initiative will expand and adapt direct student support capacity to add an emphasis on STEM education. The project will also fund activities to increase student awareness and exploration of STEM careers and provide additional career mentoring and internship opportunities and drop-in coaching support.

“Our team is thrilled to have this opportunity to build on our existing NHEP capacity, including its many system-wide collaborations and partnerships,” Folk said. “We will work to innovate a sustainable, culture-based support approach and infrastructure that encourages students to expand their career horizons through coaching and mentoring to achieve successful career outcomes in STEM fields.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (COE) and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE) have been selected as one of only seven state teams nationwide to take part in a multi-year initiative that will address deficiencies in teacher preparation standards regarding family engagement.

COE Center on Disability Studies Associate Professor Caryl Hitchcock, COE Department of Educational Psychology Chair Katherine Ratliffe and Polly Quigley of the Community Engagement Branch of the HIDOE, represent the Hawaiʻi (NAFSCE team in the .

The COE team, along with other selected state teams, will develop a framework that will inform both state and local level policy and practice, and support teaching colleges in the development of institution-specific curricula.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the essential role families play in their children鈥檚 education is more critical than ever,” said Hitchcock. “However, the State of the States report makes it clear that educator preparation programs have to do more to train future teachers in how to effectively engage families and establish trusted relationships.” Hitchcock serves as a curriculum developer for the .

In a recent NAFSCE survey, just 43% of early childhood K鈥�12 educators indicated they were properly prepared and trained to engage families in their children’s learning during their training and preparation program.

Ratliffe added, “Pre-service teachers need more opportunities to practice communication skills as well as experience establishing relationships and working with families. Our college developed online modules to embed family engagement lessons into the COE curriculum, and we are creating a virtual tutoring program that would provide students some practical experience with children and families. Our team is also developing online case study scenarios to train future teachers in high impact family engagement strategies.”

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University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Monique Chyba, and graduate students Corrisa Heyes and Mahshid Bagheri have created explaining the contributions mathematics plays in informing decision makers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The goals were to illustrate the importance of data-driven science, articulate the value of collaboration between different fields and highlight the difficulty in predicting possible scenarios related to COVID-19,” Chyba said.

The information is based on research from Chyba, Associate Professor Yuriy Mileyko, and graduate and undergraduate students. The team is working with urban planners and Karl Kim, executive director of the at 糖心视频.

The video was created for , a 3-year research project led by Associate Specialist Kiriko Takahashi and Associate Professor Hye Jin Park and their team at the 糖心视频 . The program will kick off its virtual learning series with Chyba鈥檚 presentation “Modeling and Data Driven Prediction for COVID-19” on May 16 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Ka Pilina Noʻeau is funded by the Native Hawaiian Education Program in the U.S. Department of Education to improve mathematics and science outcomes of K–8th grade students.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 was awarded a $50,000 grant by the . Over the next two years, funding will support Turn the Tables, a (CDS) project aimed at increasing employment outcomes for youth with disabilities and breaking down employment barriers.

“In Hawaiʻi, people with disabilities are unemployed at twice the rate of the general population, and there are limited services to assist youth with disabilities to develop leadership and employment skills,” CDS Project Director Chin Lee explained. “Turn the Tables offers an alternative approach to the typical job fair.”

Using a reverse job fair model, Turn the Tables shines the spotlight on the job candidates with disabilities, rather than the usual job fair where the employer receives inquiries and applications. Job candidates set up tables with their personal skills, abilities, accomplishments and strengths on poster display. Potential employers are able to meet and spend time with the candidates who are, in turn, able to interview their potential employers.

The objectives of the project include: to improve employment opportunities of the participating youth with disabilities, to stimulate changes in attitudes and practices of employers toward youth with disabilities and to disseminate and replicate the reverse job fair concept at national conferences. The project anticipates serving more than 200 candidates and nearly 400 employers over two years.

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation grant will enable CDS to implement and expand the reverse job fair concept in the state of Hawaiʻi and nationally. Annually, CDS will organize a reverse job fair on Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Maui.

Building on the success of two reverse job fairs held at the State Capitol in the fall of 2018 and 2019, CDS will partner with American Job Centers, Developmental Disabilities Division, Hawaiʻi Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability:IN Hawaiʻi.

“CDS led the first reverse job fair in Hawaiʻi with assistance from our partners as well as the Office of the Governor, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and other state agencies and key legislators,” Lee said. “We are so grateful to the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for allowing us to continue to grow this very essential and amazing program.”

Brett Oppegaard, an associate professor in the School of Communications at University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s , has been awarded the 2019 Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Audio Description Achievement Award for Research Development from the (ACB). The award recognizes Oppegaard’s work in helping people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Research and Development is made to an individual or organization for outstanding research that leads to the advancement of audio description. Pfanstiehl was one of the pioneers in the field of audio description, developing a system for live-theater description in the early 1980s.

Oppegaard is the principal investigator of , and has been studying audio description in relation to mobile technologies and locative media since joining the university in 2014. During the past five years, he has worked with fellow 糖心视频 researchers and graduate students, ACB staff members and volunteers, and community partners throughout the country at U.S. National Park Service sites, refining and developing systems of audio description to help make public attractions more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

In addition to producing scholarship in academic journals and for conferences, Oppegaard has managed the creation of various open-source web tools and resources to support and grow audio description as a medium worldwide. The core component of this open-source site is the powerful UniD web tool, which supports efficient, effective and no-cost production and dissemination of audio description through free mobile apps, websites and other means.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Audio description app studied by field-research team at Muir Woods National Monument, May 7, 2018

The UniDescription Project website also includes the UniD Academy, which is designed to asynchronously train interested individuals in audio description best practices at no cost.
Oppegaard, his research team and collaborators have helped to make more than 60 U.S. National Park Service sites throughout the country more accessible, including Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, the Statue of Liberty, Washington Monument and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes.

Oppegaard also has initiated four hackathon-like descriptathons to date (with a fifth scheduled for late August), in which dozens of National Park Service staff members have used the system and the training to learn and practice audio description.

The 糖心视频-based UniDescription Project has been supported by more than $500,000 in grants from the U.S. National Park Service and Google.

A national organization, the , selected the program for a Maternal Child Health best practice award earlier this year. Based in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education’s , Pono Choices is a sex education curriculum for middle school students designed to reduce teen pregnancies and the spread of sexually-transmitted infections.

From 2012–13, 34 schools across the state participated in a study regarding implementation of the curriculum. An external evaluation of Pono Choices, led by IMPAQ International, found that students who learned through the 10-module program had much higher knowledge retention than students who participated in other programs.

“We鈥檇 like to send a big mahalo to the schools that participated in the Pono Choices research study,” shared Tammy Tom of the Center on Disability Studies. “We set out to provide educators and parents with tools to help students better understand and retain the sexual health lessons, which go beyond sexual health. They provide the foundation for attitudes about oneself and respect for others.”

Pono Choices was successfully developed and tested on a large scale in Hawaiʻi with participation and support from principals and teachers as well as consent from parents and students. The data showed the lessons worked, and students retained knowledge about sexual health.

“Our goal is to educate students for real-world situations. This national recognition is an example of working together to create impactful educational tools that provide students the knowledge and skills to mature academically and developmentally.” College of Education Dean Nathan Murata said.

糖心视频 co-developed Pono Choices with Planned Parenthood and ALU LIKE with funding from the federal Office of Adolescent Health. Guiding the development process was an advisory committee that included representation from the state Departments of Education and Health, and the Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network.