In the News

Press Release, June 19, 2007
Conference on South Asians Living with Disabilities

For more information:
Shazia Anam, SAH Project, shazia@southasianhealth.org, 917-406-2937
Aruna Rao, SAMHAJ, arao@naminj.com, 732-940-0991

New Brunswick, NJ—On June 15, 2007, the South Asian Health Project (SAH Project) and South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey (SAMHAJ) were pleased to support the first conference, South Asian Community and Disabilities: Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources, in partnership with five leading disability advocacy groups, the Elizabeth M. Boggs Centre on Developmental Disabilities, New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, and UMDNJ-Office of Academic and Clinical Initiatives.

“There’s little information on the South Asian community and their health needs. The conference has provided an opportunity to connect and become informed,” says Ms. Shazia Anam, Ms. Shazia Naz Anam, Founder of South Asian Health Project (SAH Project). “Disabilities are often accompanied by complex issues, especially for immigrant and minority communities, such as the experience of being in a new country, often without extended family support or understanding of the complex US health care system.”

Held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, NJ, the conference was well attended, with over 150 participants, from a wide range of backgrounds—members of the South Asian community, individuals living with disabilities and their families, community leaders, and providers of disability and social services. The conference opened with welcome remarks from the sponsor agencies, Dr. Deborah Spitalnik, Executive Director, The Boggs Center/UMNDJ-RWJMS and Ms. Celia Abalos, VP, UMDNJ Office of Academic and Clinical Initiatives. Invited keynote presenter, Pramila Balasundaram, Founder/Director of Samadhan, a non-governmental agency, spoke of her innovative work addressing disabilities in India.

Ms. Jennifer Velez, Esq., Acting Commissioner, NJ Department of Human Services and Honorable Upendra Chivukula, Assemblyman (D-17) – New Jersey were among the invited guest speakers. “As New Jersey’s diversity grows, so does our responsibility as government leaders. It is our duty to be sure our constituents are served in their native language and with cultural sensitivity. I am so proud to be a part of an event that celebrates this important public and social awareness,” said Acting Commissioner Velez.

The conference continued in the afternoon with panel discussions. One panel focused on providing information on resources available to affected families and individuals. The second panel featured community leaders presenting cultural issues and perspectives on disability to service providers who work with families and individuals to better inform culturally competent services.

An important aspect of the conference was the presence of family members, caregivers, and individuals living with disabilities who spoke on the morning panel, sharing their success stories with courage. Ms. Aruna Rao, Director of Educational Programs at National Alliance on Mental Illness of New Jersey, and founder of SAMHAJ, said, “The families panel underscored the importance of noting that disabilities include various challenges and can be related to physical, developmental, and mental illnesses. It’s not always visible.”

One of the panelists, Mr. Sekhar Subramani, had advice for caregivers. “Often, [South Asian] family members and caregivers may feel love, compassion, guilt, fear. They push themselves and sacrifice their lives to take care of their loved one who has a disability. But it often becomes counterproductive. It’s important that families help patients attain independence, the opportunity to stumble and fall, to get up on our own feet.” Mr. Subramani is active in outreach for people affected by mental illness and has been living with bipolar disorder for over 20 years.

Another highlight of the day was the instrumental recitals performed by Mr. Sujeet Desai. "See me for who I am. I am a person who has feelings, who also happens to have Down's Syndrome," said Mr. Desai, a young musician.

SAH Project will coordinate follow up from the conference. For more information, visit http://www.southasianhealth.org/.

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The South Asian Health Project (SAH Project)
Since 2003, SAH Project is shifting dialogue away from disease and treatment to healthy lifestyles and prevention; beyond needs and deficits to strengthening community assets. As an emerging community-based group, its mission aims to achieve health equity for South Asians through individual and community empowerment, recognizing that health does not occur in a void; multiple factors (social, environmental, cultural, economic) impact health outcomes. SAH Project program activities in New Jersey and New York include building partnerships and raising awareness among the community, health and social service providers, and policymakers. SAH Project strives for innovative solutions through “out-of-the-box” strategies in community health, with programs that promote cultural, linguistic, and faith understanding. For more information contact info@southasianhealth.org.

South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey (SAMHAJ)
SAMHAJ (South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey) was founded in 2001 to provide support to South Asian immigrants affected by serious mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. The program is coordinated out of NAMI NEW JERSEY, the leading mental health advocacy organization in New Jersey. SAMHAJ offers support groups for family members who are caregivers for someone with a mental illness, and also for consumers of mental health services. In addition, SAMHAJ provides educational opportunities for the South Asian community to learn more about mental health issues and resources through a variety of outreach initiatives. SAMHAJ also provides training for mental health agencies and other service agencies to learn more about the needs of South Asian families and individuals who seek help. To learn more about SAMHAJ call 732 940 0991,
e-mail samhaj@naminj.org, or visit http://www.naminj.org/.

The Boggs Center is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The Boggs Center, since its inception in 1983, has emphasized a community based, life span approach to the needs of individuals with the full range of developmental disabilities and their families. The Boggs Center provides community and student training and technical assistance, conducts research and model demonstrations, disseminates educational materials, and responds to requests for information. Activities of The Boggs Center are guided by our Consumer Advisory Council and partnerships with people with disabilities, families, state and community agencies, and policy makers. This South Asians and Disabilities Conference is part of a series of cultural awareness and cultural competence events developed in collaboration with New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc., the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, and UMDNJ.

The federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities originally designated the center as the University Affiliated Program of New Jersey; the center was renamed in memory of Elizabeth M. Boggs, Ph.D., in 1997. The Boggs Center's present designation as a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service reflects the evolution of the federal Developmental Disabilities Act, and also recognizes the unique role of The Boggs Center in New Jersey. The Boggs Center serves as a source of innovation and capacity building for supports and services to people with disabilities and their families. For more information, contact Bill Gaventa at gaventwi@umdnj.edu.