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TA Team Visits American Samoa UCEDD

January 15, 2007

(Left to Right) Dotty Kelly, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Maggie Nygren, AUCD; Gordon Richins, Utah State University; Roy Fua, Chair, ASCC Department of Education; Seth Galeai, UCEDD Director and ASCC Vice President
(Left to Right) Dotty Kelly, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Maggie Nygren, AUCD; Gordon Richins, Utah State University; Roy Fua, Chair, ASCC Department of Education; Seth Galeai, UCEDD Director and ASCC Vice President

The mission of the American Samoa University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research and Service (AS-UCEDD) is to build and enhance the local capacity to improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages in American Samoa with developmental disabilities. Through its activities, the AS-UCEDD strives to maintain and enhance cultural integrity as it addresses the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.

The AS-UCEDD, located at American Samoa Community College (ASCC), is one of two Pacific Basin satellite sites of the University of Hawaii UCEDD. ASCC, established in 1970, is located on the island of Tutuila, roughly nine miles west of the village of Pago Pago.

Recently, the AS-UCEDD hosted a technical assistance visit, supported by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) under its TA contract with AUCD, with a goal of enhancing the AS-UCEDD's partnerships with individuals with developmental disabilities. Over the course of the TA visit, the AS-UCEDD explored strategies to provide adequate supports to its Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) to enable the CAC to fulfill its roles and responsibilities and to build the UCEDD's capacity to engage in research, including participatory action research.

Participants in the visit included members of the CAC who came in from the island of Manu'a as well as Tutuila, members of the college's Coordinating Council (which consists of ASCC faculty and administrators). The TA team consisted of Gordon Richins (Utah State University), Dotty Kelly (University of Hawaii at Manoa), and Maggie Nygren (AUCD). The visit was organized by UCEDD Coordinator Tafa Mamea and Seth Galeai, UCEDD Director and Vice President, ASCC.

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