LIHU‘E — Monday was more than raising awareness about Developmental Disabilities, and the observance of March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day the day before at Rice Street fronting the historic County Building.
“Today is Anthony Garma’s birthday,” said Stacy Aquino-Bagain of the Waimea Easter Seals program, sharing duty holding a Hawai‘i Self-Advocacy and Advisory Council banner. “Anthony is 66 years old today.”
The announcement broke Mayor Derek Kawakami from the line of more than a dozen sign-wavers to personally bestow birthday greetings to the client of the Waimea Easter Seals.
“The Easter Seals and Bayada Habilitation are two of the service providers on Kaua‘i,” said Amelia Kyewich-Kaneholani, the program specialist with the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities whose office is located in the state building. “They are working through the Department of Health Medicaid Waiver Program.”
A proclamation presented by Kawakami states there are an estimated 22,600 people in Hawai‘i who live with a developmental disability. These include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism and muscular dystrophy.
The proclamation also shares March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness, with Sunday, March 21 being observed as World Down Syndrome Day, the United Nations General Assembly setting the date after estimating the incidence of Down Syndrome, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, affecting between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide.
Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome discover that affects a person’s growth and/or cognition, the proclamation states.
“We have around 300 people from children to adults on Kaua‘i that have a developmental disability,” Kyewich-Kaneholani said. “One of the most effective ways to increase awareness is through everyone’s active participation in community activities, and the openness to learn and acknowledge each individual’s contribution to the community.”
Josh Iloreta who waved his sign with help from Kawakami, is one of those developmental disabilities people who is prominent in the community, most notably in the athletic arena where, with the help of his brother, has accomplished feats that include finishing The Kaua‘i Marathon, and other athletic events.
“All Hawai‘i citizens are urged to learn from someone who has a developmental disability,” Kawakami said through the proclamation. “Ask them what they would like to do for their community. By asking, we are welcoming engagement that will spread throughout our neighborhoods, workplaces, houses of worship, schools, and more. We all can contribute to making our island a better place to live by including someone with a developmental disability into our lives.”
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was started in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan called on Americans to provide encouragement and opportunities necessary for people with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.
