Co-host Marissa takes us on an audio journey to New Zealand. and speaks with American born Dr. Kate Reigle van West. Dr. Kate uses the Maori storytelling tradition of spinning poi used in Kapa Haka to improve the quality of life in seniors and those with physical and cognitive impairments. Dr. Kate spent years earning her Ph.D. at the University of Aukland conducting studies that demonstrated physical and cognitive statistically significant benefits for the elderly. She currently is teaching Poi online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and offers certification classes and poi starter kits so anyone anywhere in the world can learn this fun activity with great health benefits.

Website: spinpoi.com

Email: kate@spinpoi.com

Our cohost Mar talks with Cara Short executive director of AccesSurf. We will learn how AccesSurf is able to provide opportunities for adaptive athletes and participants to explore the ocean and meet new people. Cara discusses how creativity and ingenuity of volunteers and participants assist people with enjoying the water and getting on a surfboard. The COVID-19 global pandemic has slowed down in-person events and Cara explains the alternative programs they are offering as well as explores possibilities for future beach events. A strong call to action on AccesSurf.org for those wanting to get involved and volunteer with this amazing community.

I take a break from interviews to be more present for my family and I introduce a new addition to the Assist and Adapt Podcast team, Marissa Inhofer. We get to know our new Cohost and explore what brought her to Hawaii and how she came to be a podcaster.

Amy Smith-Wiech PhD. Founder and Executive Director of ABC Group Hawaii, a premier ABA treatment clinic for kids diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. She also co-founded Autism Training Solutions or ATS which is now part of Relias Learning.

Resources: Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis hawaiiaba.org (List of ABA agencies in Hawaii by Island)

Screening Tools: Firstsigns.org, m-chat.org

Hawaii Advocacy Groups: Disabilities Rights Center hawaiidisabilityrights.org

For our Keiki forourkeiki.com

Our guest's business information: abcgrouphawaii.com

Brian Freeman, known as @wheelchairjitsu on social media, is a disabled veteran and loving father. He found Jiu-Jitsu when taking his daughter to class, and his daughter asked him to "just try." The community he found was welcoming and supportive. He now is a purple belt in BJJ and inspires others to train and even has a community of adaptive athletes training with him. This interview is important in so many ways. In that, Jiu-Jitsu helped Brian gain mobility even after going through therapy with OT and PT. This conversation also shows how inclusive and adaptive Jiu-Jitsu can be. Even with a spinal cord injury, the techniques and concepts of Jiu-Jitsu can still be effective for an adaptive athlete.

Shane Clifton is a Professor of theology and ethics, an honorary associate at the Centre of Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, and Associate Director of Research with the Australian Royal Commission into Violence Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation against People with Disability. He incurred a spinal cord injury in 2010 and has C/5 (incomplete) quadriplegia. He is married to Elly, and together they have three adult children.

We discuss his book he and his wife wrote which chronicles his early days after his spinal cord injury. We also discuss his current work with the Australian Royal Commission and his current research. He has wonderful insights that transverse life circumstances. I loved his book and now I have had the opportunity to meet him and bring this episode to you the listeners.

Adam Lucio is an adaptive athlete and advocates for inclusion sports in his community. We talk about his social media which he uses to show what he and others like him are capable of. We also dive into his goals for the future and his non-profit the Anpassa Project.

This episode Erik Gray Ph.D. discusses his passion for social work. We discuss his dissertation topic about homelessness on Oahu. He gives us insights on adult protective services and the impact COVID-19 has had on service delivery. Dr. Gray explains the programs he has helped set up for the homeless population on Oahu. He also lets us in on some plans for the future near the end of this episode.