ʻIke Insider

41st Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability

Unbreakable Threads: Communities of Resilience and Continuity

Aloha kākou,

As October brings a season of change, reflection, and renewal across many cultures, we’re excited to share key updates for the 2026 Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability, set in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. With the theme “Unbreakable Threads: Communities of Resilience and Continuity,” the conference honors the enduring connections that strengthen our communities.

The Call for Proposals is now open! We welcome your contributions—stories, research, and innovations that reflect resilience, continuity, and the power of collective knowledge. Join us in weaving a future rooted in aloha, strength, and shared purpose.

Mahalo,
Jared Galeai, Conference Chair

Call for Presenters & Scholarship

Call for Presentations

Interest in qualifying for a scholarship and receiving an earlier accept/decline for #PacRim2026? If so, the deadline has been extended till October 5, 2025, submit your proposal a https://go.hawaii.edu/hUr.

Call for Presentations: Open
First Deadline (scholarships): October 1, 2025
Final Deadline: November 14, 2025

Call for Scholarship Applications

The Pacific Rim 2026 team strives to ensure increased accessibility to the conference. We recognize that financial concerns can be a significant consideration for many attendees. If you wish to be considered, please complete the application by Sunday, 10/5/2025 at https://go.hawaii.edu/4cr.

Strands for Pac Rim

Disability Studies in Education (DSE) centers understanding of disability in a social model and draws on a wide range of disciplinary perspectives to critique and unsettle medical, colonial, and psychological models that historically and currently guide educational practices in schools and communities. Read more at go.hawaii.edu/r5v.

Adapted Physical Activity (APA) continues to evolve as a dynamic field intersecting health, community development, and disability rights. As we advance into an era that emphasizes equity, inclusion, and co-designed practices, it is critical to explore how APA can move beyond accessibility to truly reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of disabled individuals. Read more at go.hawaii.edu/Vom.

This strand will bring together TPSID and non-TPSID programs, researchers, advocates, and students to reflect on the field’s growth, share effective models, and plan for the future. We’ll explore how to protect gains made, deepen inclusion, and ensure that inclusive higher education remains a growing and viable option for all. Read more at go.hawaii.edu/xom.

We will bring together a dynamic community of educators, researchers, service providers, and employers to collaboratively strengthen the unbreakable threads that connect us in the professional world. By moving beyond traditional compliance models, we will explore how a focused effort on including people with disabilities can lead to a more resilient, innovative, and successful workforce for everyone. Read more at go.hawaii.edu/mo2.

This strand explores how disabled creators are transforming media landscapes and building online communities through the media arts, including filmmaking, video production, blogging, podcasting, live streaming, and illustration. Read more at go.hawaii.edu/kom.