AUCD's Andy Imparato Visits the Pacific

February 27, 2017

  https://storify.com/AUCD/aucd-executive-director-andy-imparato-visits-the-p

Andy met with President Rosevonne Pato and Vice President Lina Scanlan and Tafaimamao Lefu Tua Tupuola, UCEDD Director at American Samoa Community College.

For the past ten days, AUCD Executive Director Andy Imparato has been visiting disability organizations and meetings in the South Pacific, hosted by Tafaimamao Lefu Tua Tupuola and Kiriko Takahashi of the American Samoa UCEDD (Ucedd Ascc). He has met with people with disabilities, families, and numerous staff working on disability issues throughout the South Pacific.

Andy also participated in the Pacific Women with Disabilities Regional Forum, spoke at the 5th Pacific Regional Conference on Disability (#PRDC2017), heard from international speakers including the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, learned about the Incheon Strategy outlining 10 goals for the Asia-Pacific region related to people with disabilities, and met with leaders from agencies throughout American Samoa to learn and plan how we can all work together to create a strong and inclusive future for all people.

The trip has fostered stronger relationships among the South Pacific disability community and AUCD as well as providing AUCD leadership with extensive knowledge of the needs of or UCEDD in American Samoa.