LIVING Life with Cerebral Palsy
We are proud to introduce our series of people LIVING their lives with cerebral palsy. We hope to highlight the diversity and complexity of “lives lived” and show that having cerebral palsy does not mean that you or your child cannot live a happy and successful life; no matter how mild or severe the disability.
We are honored to showcase Brian Kajiyama, M.Ed., in our first profile. Brian is an instructor at the University of Hawai’i at Mano’a in the Special Education Department. He is also a familiar face at our Duckie Races along with his students lending a hand. The “Heart of a Warrior” Scholarship was established in his name from the June Jones Foundation and provides aid to Hawai’i high school seniors who have triumphed over personal challenges. Brian is also on our research team as we learn more about the needs of people as they age with cerebral palsy. Sadly, his service dog and dear friend Zeus left our world in 2021.
NEW BLOG POST: In honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, we’re elevating voices in the CP Community!
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy in childhood, Dr. Stephen Dantzig has dedicated his career to working with individuals with disabilities, beginning as a volunteer with children with severe autism. A school psychologist for nearly four decades in New York, New Jersey, California and Hawai’i, today he works as the education and outreach program manager at United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i and serves on its board of directors.
UCP National sat down with Dr. Dantzig to learn more about his journey and what he hopes to accomplish in his role at UCP Association of Hawai’i. He opens up about his life with cerebral palsy, sharing what independence, accessibility and inclusion mean to him. From navigating daily challenges to finding professional fulfillment and community support, his story highlights both the progress made and the barriers that still exist for people with disabilities.
“Sixty years ago, I was a patient at a UCP clinic,” he said. “Now, I’m working to expand the organization’s reach in Hawai’i and maybe even across the entire UCP network.”
Read the story at https://ucpahawaii.org/get-up-your-bus-is-here-dr-stephen-dantzig-on-life-with-cerebral-palsy/.
We are extremely proud and honored to feature our own Michael Lee!
Michael is a special education teacher at the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i. “I did not choose to be born with cerebral palsy and/or disabilities; however, I do have the ability to rewrite what happens in my life and how I respond to others while having cerebral palsy and other disabilities. I will be an advocate and a voice for individuals with cerebral palsy.” Read his story and other insights here!
I had many honors and great moments in my almost 40-years as a school psychologist. One of them was working with Jessica Trinidad. Jessica has worked as an educational assistant with children on the autism spectrum. I can still remember our conversations at the “break” table in her classroom many years ago. She was always a very dedicated educator for kids with autism. Now, for the first time, she opens up and shares her experience living with cerebral palsy. Her comments are truly a gift our community of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. I asked her: “What does cerebral palsy mean to you?” Her response was: “Cerebral palsy is strength!” That is, perhaps, my favorite quote about cerebral palsy. Read more insights from Jessica HERE! Mahalo Jessica!
The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawai’i is honored to feature Ms. Judith Rogers, a true pioneer in the world of women’s care and disability in our LIVING Life with Cerebral Palsy section. Her life, contributions to women’s health, health of people with disabilities and society in general are simply amazing. She remains a trailblazer and world traveler. Ms. Rogers, it was my absolute pleasure to spend a few hours chatting with you. Her official bio follows:
Judith Rogers is an internationally recognized expert on parenting and disability. Born with cerebral palsy, Rogers always wanted to be a mother but had few female role models to help guide her through her own pregnancy, labor and being a mother navigating the physical changes to her body brought on by pregnancy while simultaneously caring for small children.
Rogers pioneering research into the different signals that women with disabilities must recognize during pregnancy and going into labor — targeted to help both women and their doctors — was developed into the ground-breaking 1990 book “Disabled Women’s Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.” Ms. Rogers, who holds a degree in occupational therapy, interviewed 35 women with a variety of disabilities for this volume, which remains the signature book on disability and pregnancy 21 years after its original publication. An updated 2nd edition with 55 additional interviews was published in 2005 (Edit: https://www.amazon.com/Disabled-Womans-Guide-Pregnancy-Birth/dp/1932603085/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VFV5F27RGDYO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aDaQSFOB-8tgjABUnMHVWpU10ryuI1GlNwxbh5_ygfsI4D4GCTm8LWNd6XtVvKe3NIbuhfAi5gOH4cEF3RH6mw.FkSraUe1LX-5Daa4buLWN52PSNiYhwWs5s0OyoLDr2I&dib_tag=se&keywords=Disabled+Women%E2%80%99s+Guide+to+Pregnancy+and+Birth&qid=1760577566&sprefix=disabled+women+s+guide+to+pregnancy+and+birth%2Caps%2C407&sr=8-1).
Rogers also has also authored numerous chapters on disability and pregnancy, birthing, breast feeding and baby care over the last three decades.
In 2002, Rogers received the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Award; she was cited by the selection committee for her outstanding leadership on parenting and disability and her clinical insight and activism into how mammogram facilities could facilitate more comfortable and accessible techniques to provide women with disabilities lifesaving mammograms.
Ms Rogers joined The Looking Glass (TLG) in 1990 in Berkeley, CA. As part of TLG, she helped expanded awareness of the ability of parenting with disability. In addition she helped design adaptive baby equipment in more than her three decades at The Looking Glass.
Rogers also served on the steering committee of Bright Futures for Women’s Health and Wellness for the Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.