United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii

08/19/2026

It's DUCKIE season! Each duck adopted support keiki development--adopt your ducks here: www.ucpahawaii.org

08/17/2026

Amazing Monday: We offer huge mahalos to the Amazing first responders and emergency personnel for their work keeping us all as safe as possible during Lala. Our hearts go out to the family of the one person lost to the storm.

08/15/2026

View from a Wheelchair: The Buddhist Temple in Seoul is cultural and visual must-see! The full story is posted here https://ucpahawaii.org/living-life-and-traveling-with-cerebral-palsy-one-week-in-south-korea/ with comments about each step and notes on accessibility throughout the stay. [Alt text: Photos colorful and white banners along with a statue of The Buddha and a monk.]

08/13/2026

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is just around the corner! DUCKIES will once again flood the Ala Wai Canal on September 19, 2026 in a race for a trip for two to Japan (first place)! As always, all duckies are winners because they support programs for our keiki! Double your chances with our TWO FOR ONE duckie adoption promotion! August 13th from 9AM to August 16th at 11AM. Adopt your duckie here: https://ucpahawaii.org/

08/10/2026

Amazing Monday: We featured Ms. Judith Huemann a few weeks ago. It is time to recognize one of her key partners in the early disability rights movement that led to the passage of critical laws such as The Americans with Disabilities act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Ed Roberts was also a key player in the famous “Sit-in” that eventually led to the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Mr. Roberts contracted a severe case of polio two years before the Salk vaccine and became paralyzed from the neck down. He survived with the aid of an iron lung. Undeterred, he completed most of his high school career by phone and, after some discussion, was admitted to University of California, Berkeley. The University eventually acquiesced and provided him with a room large enough for his iron lung.

Mr. Roberts’ advocacy career was launched! He developed the Physically Disabled Students Program at the university. He joined the Berkeley Center for Independent Living after teaching political science at Nairobi College, recognizing the need for broader advocacy. The group was successful in advocating for curb cuts in Berkeley.

The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation declared that Mr. Robert was too disabled to hold a job. In what needs to be one of the greatest ironies of all time, he was later appointed director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation! We lost Mr. Roberts in 1995, but, like his co-activists of his time, his Amazing legacy lives on every time any of use a curb cut, either for a wheelchair or a baby stroller. His life has impacted all of us in a very positive way.

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Roberts_(activist)
2) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ed-Roberts

Ed Roberts was an American disability rights activist who is considered the founder of the independent-living movement.

08/07/2026

View from a Wheelchair: The Folk Village near the Suwon Fortress was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to South Korea. Here are three more Views of this “living museum” of life in older days. The full story is posted here https://ucpahawaii.org/living-life-and-traveling-with-cerebral-palsy-one-week-in-south-korea/ with comments about each step and notes on accessibility throughout the stay. [Alt text: Photos of different architecture and an egret flying with a bridge in the background.]

08/03/2026

Today we offer a very special Amazing Monday and big mahalos to the 44 Amazing people from 5 countries and at least 18 states who responded to our Aging with Cerebral Palsy study. Data collection is now closed and we have begun sorting through the data. Your courage in sharing your experiences will help us advocate for the issues shared. Again, many mahalos. You are all Amazing!

07/31/2026

View from a Wheelchair: Namsam Tower offers amazing views of Seoul. In fact, in the old days it was used as a lookout to warn of, and warn off intruders. Now it is known for the thousands of “wish locks” that are all over the place. The full story is posted here https://ucpahawaii.org/living-life-and-traveling-with-cerebral-palsy-one-week-in-south-korea/ with comments about each step and notes on accessibility throughout the stay. [Alt text: Photo of a reenactment of guards, a view of the city and a wall of wish locks.]

07/29/2026

Join our NEW BABY & ME WORKHOPS! Every First Wednesday of the month.

Description of Program:

Baby and Me is a program to teach parents tips and tricks for their infant, have a place to talk to professionals who service 0-3 year old (OT, PT, SLP and Educators), and meet other parents to connect with. It is akin to sitting at the park and talking to other parents all the "things" that we don't bring to the pediatricians. Simple questions like how should we position our baby when feeding? How do we start their social skills, communication skills and cognitive skills? What should a 3 month old be doing, how do I help them meet their milestones?

There will be short, guided lessons on a different topic each month, with a different specialty teaching. Starting July 8th, then every first Wednesday, we will cycle through 6 months of topics. Then time to connect and ask questions for specialists. Contact UCPA Hawai'i 808-532-6744.

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[Alt text: Flyer for Baby and Me Workhops]