Full Life Hawai’i: Individualized and Island-wide; Celebrating 20 Years, in 2020!

Full Life believes that every person, regardless of ability, deserves to lead a happy, fulfilled and self-determined life based on their own individual strengths, preferences and dreams.

At Full Life Hawai’i, we are inspired by the people we support, and we want to share that with you the only way we know how: Through the empowered voices and passionate creativity of the people we support!

Renaissance of Inclusion Video Project is a vision of Mar Ortaleza, Full Life Director of Programs, and organizer of Abled Hawai’i Artists(AHA). As a Direct Support Worker, Mar assisted an aspiring nature photographer refine his passion and gift of taking underwater pictures into a micro-enterprise. This collaboration inspired Mar to establish an annual art festival for artists of diverse abilities to celebrate their creative expression, and provide them with opportunities to explore entrepreneurship in the arts! In 2008, Abled Hawai’i Artists(AHA) was established in 2008; an inclusive celebration of abilities and promotion of entrepreneurship in the arts! Annually occurring on the third Saturday of July, AHA is the largest celebration of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the Hawaiian Islands.

The many successes and life challenges of artists with nuanced abilities fascinated Mar, who is inspired to share their stories. Through the Renaissance of Inclusion Project, Mar and our participants collaborated with a local team of music composers, filmmakers, along with co-advocates, allies and natural supports to bring out the ideas, personal messages and life narrative of people with disabilities! The results are short video clips that share a glimpse of people who are passionate about their lives on Hawai’i Island.

“Don’t Give Up” is the first clip of our Renaissance of Inclusion video project, featuring Louie Perry, III, who was our first employment Services Program participant in 2011. Louie is the inspiration that established Abled Hawai’i Artists. In 2011, Louie also represented USA in World Special Olympics at Athens, Greece, taking home three individual gold medals and a silver in relay in cross country!  Since then, he has been a volunteer coach for Keau’au and Kamehameha boys cross country teams. Louie lives a full life continuing to run, and pursuing his nature photography microenterprise!

Full Life’s collaboration with Abled Hawai’i Artists (AHA808) and a variety of community organizations that believe communities are stronger when we empower all our members, whatever their abilities is: #renaissanceofinclusion

To support Full Life and the #renaissanceofinclusion, or for more information, please contact: Mar@ fulllifehawaii.org or ahaarts808@gmail.com

#fullifehi #ahaarts808 #renaissanceofinclusion

In September, support Full Life to continue another 20 years of “Renaissance of Inclusion” , by making a donation with the cashier at any Foodland, Sack N Save and Malama Markets across Hawai’i!