6th Annual CGHH. 9-10 October 2015. Galludat University. Washington, D.C., USA.

9-10 October 2015
Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.

Abstract Details

10/09/2015 | 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM | Andrew Foster Auditorium

The Månha Project: Resilient Enabling Community-based Initiatives

Developing countries and low-resource communities face many systemic challenges. Overcoming issues within a community can be overwhelming, yet families and advocates are at the forefront of coping with and circumventing adversities. On the platform of resilience theory and empirical work, this presentation will discuss the Månha Project, a case study on a culturally responsive resiliency community based initiative in a Pacific Island territory. On a shoestring budget, the project works with deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) children/youth, DHH adults, and hearing family members and friends in order to enhance the community’s health and wellbeing. With the Månha Project as a backdrop, the presentation will foster collaborative discussion on how participants can foster indigenous health-wellbeing promoting projects in their communities.

Raise awareness of best-practices in promoting resilience in low-resource areas
Raise awareness of resilience theory
Support families and advocates in their ability to identify problems and create collaborative solutions

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Heather Zimmerman (POC,Primary Presenter), Gallaudet University, heather.zimmerman@gallaudet.edu;
Heather Zimmerman M.A., has bachelors in ASL/English interpreting and masters in International Development with a focus on People with Disabilities in Small Island Developing States. As a doctoral candidate in the Critical Studies of the Education of Deaf Learners program, Zimmerman's research focuses on resilient deaf children and youth. She is particularly interested in individual-ecological resiliency in developing countries. Zimmerman has presented and published on topics related to resilience and transformative research & evaluation. In 2011, Zimmerman founded the Månha Project—an intergenerational, intercultural community based initiatives that aim at enhancing the wellbeing of Guam’s sign language community.

ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial - Has a Personal,Professional,Institutional (My family founded Oasis) (I am the director of Oasis' Månha Project) (I serve Oasis in other capacities) relationship for Volunteer teaching and speaking,Volunteer consulting,Other volunteer activities.

AAA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - Receives support from Oasis Empowerment Center.