GOTVaccine: Hawaii’s Advocate-Driven Success

By Daintry Bartoldus, Executive Administrator, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Hawaii is the home of ALOHA and OHANA. A place where living in harmony, compassion and mutual understanding of respect is the essence of our culture. So, when the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) debuted the Get Out The Vaccine (GOTVaccine) website and called upon people to be informed and learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines – The Council was ready.

Yet in their “talk story” sessions with caregivers, paid support staff, friends, family members and the community they learned there was a lot of fear and concern over taking the vaccine. People saw in the media the severe side effects of the vaccine in the Philippines and other countries. Caregivers were worried about the individuals who resided in their homes. They felt a great sense of responsibility to care, protect and keep them safe and healthy.

Not deterring from their charge, the Council got to work! They turned to their dedicated staff and community partners including Hawaii’s largest advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) - the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC).

“It’s our role as the advocacy agency for our State to help our community to understand and be informed in decision that affect the lives of individuals with I/DD,” said Daintry Bartoldus, Executive Administrator of the DD Council. “Having information presented in a way that helps people understand and use the information to make informed decisions is how we help each self-advocate exercise their right to choose.”

As more SAAC members shared their stories and the desire to have the life they once had back, the Council heard their voices and acted!

They assigned a staff to research and compile information on the vaccines that were being used in other countries versus the vaccines coming to Hawaii. They began an awareness campaign by offering informational webinars to help people make informed decisions based on the facts not fears.

In time, caregivers were advocating for and supporting the vaccine movement while the advocates continued to Lead by Example and pave the way as community leaders.

Bathey Fong, SAAC President stated, “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take the vaccine, but I thought about all the important things in my life. I learned about the vaccine from the DD Council and the people who care about me. I decided to take the vaccine and feel happy I did.”

The Council worked on an infographics campaign about taking the vaccine called “This Is My Why”. This has led self-advocates to share their experience in exercising their right to have a voice, choice, and stay healthy.