Rota families with disabilities get CDD attention

As part of the celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities staff conducted a two-day mini-conference and training on Rota on March 11 and 12.

On March 11, a mini-conference was held at the As Paris Restaurant for the community of Rota from 8:30am to 4pm. The theme of the conference was “Creating Communities of the Future.” Ray Diaz, program Officer of CNMI Council on Disabilities, and Lynn Corella of the CNMI Public School System held presentations on “Traumatic Brain Injury,” “Serving Customers with Disabilities: Train Hospitality Industry Workers” and “Behaviorlist: Questions and Answers.”

A total of 17 participants ranging from parents, employers, and staff to government and private sector employees were in attendance for the training and workshops.

In addition, the Council on Developmental Disabilities staff visited 10 government and private businesses establishments to provide a brief training on “Sensitivity Training: People First Language.” The training is a part of the CDD State Plan to meet its goals and objectives to “provide training on developmental disabilities for the staff and management of local housing authority, private realtors, and landlords” and “provide training on developmental disabilities for the transportation services providers of people with developmental disabilities.”

Diaz conducted the training with the assistance of Pam Sablan, executive director, and Lillian Ada, program coordinator, CDD FS360.

The staff of Family Hope Center of FS360 under NMPASI Dorene Camacho was also on Rota to provide services to underserved and underprivileged families. Camacho visited families on Rota and gathered information needed for assistance.

“The workshop, training, and services were a success and the families, government, and private business sectors of Rota were thankful for CDD in making this event available for them,” said the Council in a statement issued yesterday.

Events are also scheduled for the island of Tinian on March 21-22 with a presentation by Dr. Kent Logan, who is specializes in areas of developmental disabilities. He will be on Tinian to meet with families and teachers.

On Saipan, the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities will be holding a conference at the Saipan World Resort slated for March 24-27, with a variety of presentations and sessions scheduled throughout the week.

The event was sponsored by the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities, Family Hope Center FS360, CNMI Public School System, NMPASI, and UCEDD.

For more information, contact the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities Office at 664-7000/7002/7003.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]