Pacific Basin University Center for Excellence for Developmental Disabilities (PBUCE-DD)
The purpose of the Pacific Basin UCE project is to support, enhance and improve the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. This is accomplished through cooperation, coordination and collaboration across the jurisdictions to develop programs that promote self-determination, integration, full inclusion and person-centered planning with family involvement and family advocacy. Pacific Basin UCE activities reflect cultural relevance and sensitivity within a multicultural context. Among the leadership is CNMI Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council (GDDC) provides a voice within local government for people with developmental disabilities, speaking for positive values and advocating change. The Council is funded by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
The Council is unique, bringing together members appointed by our governor: people with developmental disabilities and their families, representative of local agencies and service providers, and other interested people. Our mission is to work for improvements in the lives of people with developmental disabilities in public policy and in society.
The Pacific Basin UCE was funded as a supplemental program of the Hawaii UCE for a second, three-year cycle in 1997 with sites at Northern Marianas College (NMC) and American Samoa Community College (ASCC). Each sites features unique approaches to community development and cultural diversity for improved practices and programs for families and persons with disabilities. Similarities in the sites included the response of the entire community working together to develop interagency linkages, to build local capacity and to use outside technical assistance effectively. Differences between cultures and languages in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands create unique circumstances and approaches for the development of qualified staff and outreach services for families, individuals and providers. One of Hawaii UCEís managerial role has been the fiscal concerns of the project and to assume a direct role in guiding programmatic directions.
Among the PBUCE goals is to strengthen the PBUCE governance within and across sites through regional and national partnerships, while building local capacity for interdisciplinary preservice and community outreach training to include consumers and family members. Both sites work to provide service that is based on demonstrated culturally competent practices tin order to support individuals with disabilities who are unserved and underserved at PBUCE sites and across the region. The aim is to provide people with disabilities access supports and services that will increased community inclusion.
Finally, the site staff research, evaluate their work in order to disseminate effective practices. The goal is to build leadership in local colleges and community training programs to increase productivity and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Pacific Basin region and U.S. mainland.
Funded by
- Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)
