Over the summer, InclusiveU students attended the Mānoa Summer Intensive. a four day inclusive training program offered through the University of Hawaiʻi’s Center on Disability Studies (CDS).
This intensive focuses on the concept of self determination, helping students learn how to make informed decisions and life choices through empowerment and preparation. Participants engaged in fun, hands-on activities designed to build essential skills: self awareness, self regulation, self advocacy, problem solving, goal setting, and decision making. At the end of the week, each student presents their personal self-determination vision and reflects on the goals they’ve set to pursue that vision.
Students began the week by setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timebound) goals, sharing what they hope to achieve—whether it’s a career aspiration like becoming a marine biologist or another personal ambition. For example, Will, a student from the InclusiveU program, initially expressed a goal of becoming a Marine Biologist. Through person centered planning and self-determined learning, he participated in hands-on experiences and guided reflection that helped him explore what this goal truly meant to him. Throughout the week, he worked to break the larger aspiration into actionable steps, identify meaningful ways for Will to stay connected with marine life and to shape a future that reflects his personal interests and strengths.
By the end of the program, students revisit and often revise their goals based on what they’ve learned. As InclusiveU student, Manu says “The whole camp experience was good for me, it made me feel empowered.” Through exploration and connection, students not only built key skills but also left with a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a self-determined life.