Windwardites Working For ‘Enabled’ Fair
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.us
Brian Kajiyama
Standing out from this summer’s many fairs and carnivals is Art Enabled 2006, a festival celebrating the arts, disability and inclusion from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at McCoy Pavilion.
Working behind the scenes in this, his third effort, is co-chairman Brian Kajiyama, a UH graduate student from Kailua who works for the Center on Disability Studies at Manoa. The festival grew out of a CDS class project taught by professors Norma Jean Stodden of Waimanalo and Steve Brown.
“Art Enabled is such a great vehicle for all individuals,” said Kajiyama via e-mail, “many who don’t usually have a voice that is ‘heard,’ to express themselves artistically and create a beautiful piece of art that many, many people can and will enjoy.”
Along with performances by Na Leo Pilimehana, Ed Chevy, Kaneohe’s Miss Hawaii Pilialoha Gaison and Kelly Chang, Kristian Lei and many others, the event will bring people together - with and without disabilities - to create a large canvas mural.
“It illustrates what Art Enabled is all about,” said Kajiyama,“demonstrating that great things can be achieved if everyone works together.”
The event also marks the 16th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and has the theme “Thinking Out of the Box: What Fun That Can Be!”
Kajiyama graduated from Kailua High School in 1994 after struggling through two life-threatening brain surgeries to immobilize his left arm. Born with severe cerebral palsy, he has learned to get around in a wheelchair and to communicate through a speech-augmentation device - which took far too long to obtain.
“No longer do I need others to speak on my behalf or for me,” he explained.
“No longer do people need to guess my thoughts and feelings, and no longer do I need to sit by idly while others speak of and about me.”
He’s on track to complete his master’s degree in December and is eyeing a career as a counselor and professor of special education. (There are an estimated 240,000 disabled adults in Hawaii who could use a helping hand.)
Kajiyama’s achievements have led him to a desire to give back to the community for its support, and to speak up when he sees new barriers - such as the bridge at the entrance to Kailua town, which is a 10-minute “stroll” from his family home in Pohakupu.
“The path on the side of the bridge that pedestrians walk on is about two inches too narrow for a wheelchair to navigate,” he explained.
He has pointed out the hazards to state DOT employees and they have promised to look into it, he said,“so we’ll see what happens.”
The only alternative, Kajiyama claims, is to roll into the street.
“Each trip into town and back turns into a game of Frogger, if you will, as the person using a wheelchair needs to time it just right to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic.”
For details on Art Enabled, leave a message for Kajiyama at 256-0250, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
