Forum solicits needs of those with developmental disabilities

A tri-agency network and the Public School System’s Special Education Program held a Consumer and Family Forum on April 17, 2006 to gather consumers and families with children with developmental disabilities and assess their needs.

Held at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center from 6pm to 9pm, the forum attracted participants that consisted of consumers, family members, and service providers. There were 104 participants who took part in the three-hour forum.

A breakdown of the participants showed that there were 20 consumers, 31 family members of consumers, 40 service providers, 11 from the tri-agency organizers, and two from government agencies.

The objective of the forum was successful due to the great number of vital information gathered from the participants.

The consumers and families were assessed based on the topical categories of Education, Transportation, Child Care, Health, Employment, Housing and Recreation. All information provided and gathered will be utilized in developing the Five Year State Plan for the Tri-Agency Network.

Besides the PSS, the other agencies that sponsored the forum were the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities; the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc., or NMPASI; and the Northern Marianas College Center on Excellence for Developmental Disabilities, or NMC/UCEDD.

Rep. Benjamin Seman, the 2006 Legislative DD Advocate of the year, kicked off the forum with words of encouragement to the audience to voice and share their needs. He committed to advocate on behalf of those needs and to use the information gathered that night to initiate bills at the Northern Marianas Legislature.

The tri-agency network’s directors—Antonio Chong of the CNMI DD Council, David Attao of NMC/UCEDD, and Juanita Malone of NMPASI—reiterated their commitment to advocate and bring about the fulfillment of the needs addressed by the participants.

Malone also shared with the audience her personal experience of advocacy on behalf of her children with developmental disabilities and as director of NMPASI.

Dotty Kelly, project director of Disability Studies of the University Center on Excellence in Honolulu, Hawaii was the primary facilitator for the Consumer and Family Forum.

The CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities, NMPASI, UCEDD, and PSS expressed its gratitude to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial for sending his representative, special assistant of disability policy and programs Tom Camacho, and those individuals who participated during the forum. (PR)