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Ka Leo Kako`o
VOLUME 7
2
What a Day at the Capitol!
(continued)
Navigating Life
Building Bridges—Traveling
Mini-Conference 2015
Rosie Rowe, Education & Training Coordinator
1
From Our Executive Director
Due Process Complaint
3
4
The Hawaii State Council on
Developmental Disabilities held its 15th
Annual Day at the Capitol on Thursday,
March 12th in the State Capitol
Auditorium. The event was a partnership
with the Hilopa`a Family to Family Health
Information Center (Hilopa`a) and the
Hawaii Waiver Providers Association
Arm in Arm for Our Keiki
Where We’ll Be
The Voice of Support
MAY 2015
What a Day at the Capitol!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What a Day at the Capitol!
ISSUE 1
5
Aubrey McKenzie, a 16-year-old junior at
Pearl City High School and recently
crowned Miss Hawaii Princess United
States 2015, made an appearance at the
Capitol. Sporting her beautiful tiara and
glimmering blue dress, accompanied by
her mother, Desi McKenzie, Aubrey’s
presence impressed upon us all that
people with disabilities need
opportunities. You see, Aubrey was
born with Down Syndrome, Autism and
has been hearing impaired since birth.
In the Spotlight!
Donna Do-Rite
6
`Ohana Corner
7
Cyberbullying
8
While mingling with other participants
who have similar disabilities, Aubrey and
many more were recognized in both the
House and Senate Chambers for their
dedication to equality and the celebration
of disabilities in the State of Hawaii.
Governor David Ige signed a
proclamation recognizing March 12th as
Disability Awareness Day.
LDAH Board of Directors
Sam K. Yee
President
Tayne Sekimura
Vice President
Paul Singer
Secretary-Treasurer
Directors
Neal Aoki, Esq.
Steven Nagata, Esq.
Natalie Nimmer
Leslie Novosel, PhD
Frederick W. Tucher
Catha Combs
Michael K. Moore
Executive Director
Aubrey McKenzie and Rosie Rowe,
LDAH Education & Training
Coordinator—Chair, Hawaii State
Council on Developmental
Disabilities
(HWPA). This year, 547 participants
registered to attend, sixty-seven of whom
flew in from the neighbor islands. LDAHPTI staff were among 40+ volunteers
helping to ensure the day ran smoothly.
In addition to the many participants,
Aubrey and her peers ended their day by
visiting their Senators and
Representatives, telling them their stories
of successes and challenges. They also
thanked legislators for their dedication,
service and support for people with
disabilities.
Mahalo to the staff of the State Council
on Developmental Disabilities, Hilopa`a
and HWPA for making this day possible.
(continued on page 3)
PAGE 2
From Our Executive Director ___________Michael K. Moore
My staff will be the first to agree I tend to let my imagination
run wild in terms of what I would like to see us accomplish
as an organization. They would agree I talk too much, especially when excited about an idea that might extend our
reach to new families in need. I cannot help myself though!
Whether the idea comes from me, one of our team members
or anyone else committed to meeting the needs of children
with, or at risk of disabilities, it is going to be considered.
I say yes to innovation; I say yes to collaboration. I believe
this thinking has produced measurable dividends.
People and relationships are the true catalyst for change
and the realization of dreams.
I am happy to report the dream of mobilizing our early
childhood screening services has come true in its entirety.
Special thanks for our fully operational and decorated Mobile
Screening Unit go to: Jack Dwyer, Judy Lind, Erik Soderholm, Norm Baker, Al Castle; and to the Kukui Center, Aloha
United Way, Soderholm Sales and Leasing Inc., and the
Samuel N. & Mary Castle Foundation.
We had a dream during the first year of our School Readiness Project to make its services mobile. With the right
vehicle, we knew we could screen children anywhere on
Oahu. But alas, no money! In 2009, many for-profit and nonprofit agencies were operating with great financial caution.
I am a firm believer, however, that good ideas should not be
squashed due to a lack of funds. So… we kept dreaming.
We kept talking to our partners and we shared our dreams
with them.
LDAH Mobile Screening Unit
The “Ice Cream Truck” for Early Childhood Screenings!
Due Process Complaint
_____________________________________________Rosie Rowe, Education & Training Coordinator
A Due Process Complaint is a written document used to
request a due process hearing related to the identification,
evaluation or educational placement of a child with a
disability, or the provision of a Free Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE) for a child with a disability.

The complaint may be filed by a parent or public agency
(such as your child’s school district). This starts a process
that may lead to a formal hearing where a hearing officer
decides the outcome of the issue addressed in the
complaint.

Why Due Process?
 You disagree with the results of your child’s special
education regarding his or her eligibility for special
education and related services.


You think that the Individualized Education Program
(IEP) developed by your child’s IEP team does not
meet his or her special education and related service
needs.
You believe the school is not providing the services
included in your child’s IEP.
You disagree with the school district’s placement
decision for your child.
You have tried Alternative Dispute Resolution
measures with unsatisfactory results.
Need Help?
Contact any of our Parent Consultants to review your
individual needs and determine if you or someone you
know may need to exercise your right to submit a Due
Process Complaint. Modified from the parent guide of CADRE.
VOLUME 7
ISSUE 1
What a Day
at the Capitol!
(continued from page 1)
PAGE 3
Navigating Life
_________________Tara Hasegawa, Parent Consultant
One thing all humans have in
common is we are all trying
to navigate through life.
There are intricate life details
we experience from birth to
adulthood, and for the most
part as adults, we are able to
successfully navigate
through them.
needs of children with
disabilities. There is no
“one size fits all!”
The strategies and
adaptations a child learns will
be what she uses in
adulthood. They can be used
in the workplace, at home, in
college, and in other places.
...There is no one size fits all...
Children can learn the
nuances of life with support,
guidance, and teaching from
parents, other family
members, teachers and
other providers. But for
children with disabilities, it
can be far more difficult to
learn the details.
When things are explained
and taught in a systematic
way, it is easier to learn skills
and strategies needed to
navigate the world. We write
goals & objectives into a
child’s Individualized
Education Program (IEP) to
teach him what he needs to
know to face life’s
challenges. It takes time and
patience to find the best
accommodations and
approaches to meet unique
Top: Breanna Fetters, Deb Krekel with a consumer from SECOH
Middle: Governor David Ige and Aubrey McKenzie
Below: House of Representatives Chambers
A great resource to find
accommodations is “Job
Accommodation
Network” (JAN): website:
askjan.org. JAN is a service
of the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Office of Disability
Employment Policy. There
are accommodation
suggestions for different
disability categories. The
accommodations found on
the website can be used in a
child’s IEP.
Technology presents many
accommodation possibilities.
Smart phones and tablets
have pre-installed Apps,
such as Calendar,
Reminders, and Voice
Memos. Some companies
have free and pay versions
of an app. Try the free app
before buying the pay
version. Depending on how
your child will use the app,
the free one may sufficiently
meet your child’s needs.
Invest the time now for their
future, and ours.
BUILDING BRIDGES
PAGE 4
8th Annual
Traveling Mini-Conference
2015
“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” — Sir Isaac Newton
8th Annual Traveling Mini-Conference Schedule
Lanai:
August 13, 2015 at Lanai Community Center: 2:30-5:00pm
Molokai:
August 27, 2015 at Molokai Community Center: 3:00-7:00pm
Hilo:
September 11, 2015 at Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, 3:00-7:00pm
Kona:
September 12, 2015 at Kano O`ka Aina Learning Center: 9:30am-4:00pm
Maui:
September 16, 2015 at Maui Beach Hotel: 6:00-8:00pm
Kauai:
October 2, 2015 at King Kaumualii Elementary School: 9:00am-2:00pm
Oahu:
October 10, 2015 at University of Hawaii, East-West Center, Hawaii Imin
International Conference Center: 9:00am-2:00pm
Register to attend our Traveling Mini-Conference for the island of your choice by visiting our
website at www.ldahawaii.org; email us at [email protected] or call 1-800-533-9684.
We are also accepting proposals to present on all islands.
If you would like to present, contact us now and we will send you details!
VOLUME 7
ISSUE 1
PAGE 5
Arm in Arm for Our Keiki
Recently, the LDAH School Readiness Project (SRP) was
spotlighted in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, page 1 of the
Local Section! The article highlighted project changes and
made it known to the public that SRP is ready to go “on
the road” offering developmental, social-emotional,
hearing, and vision screenings across Oahu using our
Mobile Screening Unit.
Being SRP’s newest Community Care Worker, I was one
of the first to feel the effects of our Oahu-wide expansion of
SRP after receiving a phone call from Paul Mahuka, a very
Gregrey Kim, Community Care Worker
daughter, Gabby, was recently found eligible for an
Individual Education Program (IEP). I referred Paul to our
Parent Training & Information Center staff at the LDAH
Honolulu office for help understanding his daughter’s IEP
process. Paul was very excited and grateful to learn LDAH
could help both his son and his daughter. He told me he
would was share our information with other families in
need.
Greg Kim—
LDAH
Community
Care Worker
screening
Elias and
Gabby
Mahuka
Paul was very excited and grateful...
involved and concerned father from Ewa Beach. Paul
expressed concerns about his son’s and daughter’s rates
of development. Sensing urgency, I immediately scheduled
screening appointments for his children.
Paul’s son, Elias, passed all screenings, putting Dad’s
mind at ease. During the process, we learned Paul’s
WHERE WE’LL BE
May
June
July
May 9: 9:00am-2:00pm
Marathon Law Series @
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Kukui
Center
June 12: 9:00am-1:00pm
MSU Outreach @ Ala Moana Beach
Park and Kapiolani Beach Park
July 10: 9:00am-1:00pm
MSU Outreach @ Ewa Beach Park
May 12: 8:00am-12 noon
Mobile Screening Unit (MSU) Outreach
@ Kaena Point, Nanakuli
May 14: 9:00am-12 noon
Molokai Senior Fair @
Hale Mahaolu, Molokai
May 19: 8:15am-12 noon
50th Anniversary Celebration-HCAP @
Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena
May 22: 1:00pm-5:00pm
MSU Outreach @ Nanakuli Beach Park,
Pokai Bay, Waianae Boat Harbor
June 13: 8:30am-2:30pm
Marathon Law Series @ Inspire Church
June 15-19: 10:00am-11:30am
IEP BLITZ WEEK
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Kukui
Center
June 18: 5:00pm-6:00pm
Transfer of Rights/Transitions @
Home Pumehana, Molokai
June 26: 9:00am-1:00pm
MSU Outreach @ Waimanalo Beach
Park and Windward Mall Area
July 13-17: 10:00am-11:30am
DISABILITY BLITZ WEEK
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Kukui
Center
July 24: 9:00am-1:00pm
MSU Outreach @ Kaena Point and
Nanakuli
July 25: 9:00am-2:00pm
Marathon Law Series @
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Kukui
Center
PAGE 6
In the Spotlight!
Rosie Rowe, Education & Training Coordinator
She is known for her tenacity and genuineness in the work
she does here at LDAH. Parent Consultant, Deb Krekel
enjoys working with families; that’s for certain. In fact, she
has a great passion for and commitment to advocating for
children with disabilities and their families.
When Deb arrived at LDAH one year ago, she brought
with her a wealth of knowledge and experience as a
former employee of the Hawaii Department of Education
and as a parent of a child with autism. I knew right away
Deb would be a fantastic human resource for families
across our State and for LDAH as an organization.
I quickly noticed Deb loved to conduct workshops and
teach people what she knows. Her approach to teaching
parents, professionals and community members looks like
a well-orchestrated episode of CSI. She is so very
organized and demonstrates perfect timing in her delivery
of detailed information and materials, no matter the
audience. Deb’s a keeper, and we are so glad to have her
at Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii!
Please help us welcome Deb Krekel to the LDAH family!
Deb’s professional experience allows her to easily and
accurately answer questions families ask her about
developing behavior modification plans for students, the
process it takes; what is involved in writing a 504 plan,
who is responsible for counseling goals and objectives,
and how they are written.
Donna Do-Rite _______________Rosie Rowe, Education & Training Coordinator
Dear Donna:
Dear Support for Dyslexia,
My granddaughter has
problems with reading and I
suspect she may have
dyslexia. I would like some
help and guidance with the
process of putting in
supports for her in school.
Because you suspect your granddaughter is dyslexic, it
would be important for you to have her tested for a reading
disorder through the Hawaii Department of Education
(DOE). Under special education law, the DOE is obligated
to evaluate children suspected of a disability.
Thank you,
Support for
Dyslexia
If you do not want her to be evaluated through the DOE
and choose to seek a private evaluation instead, it may be
an out-of-pocket expense for you. Either way, once you
know for sure she has a reading disorder like dyslexia, you
will then know what type of supports to ask for of the
school.
Sincerely,
Donna Do-Rite
VOLUME 7
ISSUE 1
`Ohana Corner
2015 has been an eventful year for the Learning Disabilities
Association of Hawaii’s School Readiness Project (SRP).
We relocated our Waianae office to one of two state-of-theart buildings at the brand new Kamehameha Schools
Community Learning Center at Mā`ili (CLC-M). This move
has had an amazing effect on our work as it has allowed
families easier access to our services. Our number of walkin families has increased dramatically allowing SRP to
provide more developmental, social-emotional, hearing,
and vision screenings for keiki on the Waianae Coast. Our
previous 2nd story office was pretty run down, in a
questionable neighborhood and had no elevator. Being at
the CLC-M is like heaven, in comparison.
Our early childhood screenings are integral for
professionals with whom we work as they provide
preliminary data on areas of concern in children served.
Follow-up care from our Case Managers ensures keiki
receive the early intervention services, therapies and
medical attention they need to resolve concerns prior to
entering kindergarten. Our ultimate goal is that all children
are successful in school. This starts early!
Evidence that early childhood screenings are critical is
found in stories like that of one little girl we served. A mom
and her daughter came in to our office after hearing about
PAGE 7
____Marisa Rayos, Community Care Worker
the free developmental screening services we offer through
the daughter’s school. As we completed the child’s
screenings, Otoacoustic Emissions test revealed an area of
concern. Alerted, the Mom immediately called and
scheduled an appointment with her daughter’s pediatrician;
an action our SRP case managers encourage for all
children as part of our goal to help families establish
Medical Homes.
The following day, Mom returned to our office and thanked
us for screening her daughter. She told us what the little
girl’s pediatrician had found. According to Mom, a
significant earwax buildup had been impacting both of the
girl’s eardrums. A little flushing later… problem solved!
Now, imagine if months or years passed before this
treatment need was discovered. This little girl would have
endured increasing pain and a far greater chance of
prolonged hearing difficulties.
Being part of the CLC-M paves the way for families to more
comfortably access our services, and come back to share
their stories. We are thankful for our new home and new
neighboring service agencies. This collaborative setting is
a new family – focused on the needs of small children – a
winning formula in which families may flourish.
Left to Right:
Alex Zarella (Waianae Early Education Center)
Nicole Souza (Kamehameha Schools)
Marsha Robinson (LDAH)
Judith Saranchock (Read to Me International)
Darlene Robertson (Assets School)
Momi Akana (Keiki `O Ka Aina)
Kanoe Naone (INPEACE)
Kahu Cordell Kekoa (Kamehameha Schools)
PAGE 8
Cyberbullying
What Parents can do to protect their children –
adapted from PACER Center in Minneapolis, MN.
If the word “bullying” makes you think of one child picking
on another on the playground name calling or pinching
and smacking, etc., it is time to update your image of
how students bully. While face-to-face harassment still
exists, new ways of bullying have emerged that can be
harmful to any children and particularly
to children with disabilities.
Rosie Rowe, Education & Training Coordinator
● Know what your children are doing online. As a
parent, you have a responsibility to know what
your children are doing online. Establish rules
allowing your access to your children’s cell
phones, text history, social networking sites and
other computer accounts. Keep your child’s
computer in an open spot and monitor it often.
Easy access to cell phones, instant
messaging, other mobile devices, social
networking websites, and other
technologies, bullying has found its way
into cyberspace. Because of its high
cyber-presence, it is important parents
of children with disabilities learn what
cyberbullying is and how to respond to it.
WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?
It is the use of technology to harass,
hurt, embarrass, humiliate, and
intimidate another person.
It can be done anonymously or not.
Today’s children are the first generation to use technology
to be mean to each other. Today’s parents are the first
who have needed to learn how to address this issue with
their children.
These steps are a guide for exploring this topic with your
child with a disability:
● Have the “cyberbullying” conversation. What it is
and what it will look like for your child while online
or if they have a cell phone and are using social
media.
● Set cyber safety rules. Use some simple
guidelines such as, don’t do or say anything
online that you wouldn’t do or say in person.
Don’t reveal anything that you wouldn’t tell a
stranger.
Technology offers children with disabilities many
advantages and benefits and, occasionally some risks.
The solution is not to remove their access to technology
but rather to plan ahead to ensure your child is safe. You
can do that by being aware of your child’s cyber-activities,
learning about new technologies, and adding “cyberparenting” to your list of talents.
To schedule a detailed training on “Bullying”
or for technical support from one of our Parent
Consultants on this topic,
visit our website at: www.ldahawaii.org.
Or, call us at 536-9684
Call from Neighbor Islands toll free at:
1-800-533-9684