According to the National Council on Disabilities, an estimated 22% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives report living with one or more disabilities. And, compared to all other races in the United States, Native Americans have the highest overall rate of disability.
In Tribal communities across Arizona, significant efforts are underway to address the needs of community members with traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. In this issue of Vistas, we focus on successes that the Hopi Tribe has achieved and initiatives to build bridges between Tribal and State disability service systems.
Located in northeastern Arizona, the Hopi Reservation encompasses more than 1.5 million acres. With its vast panorama and its breathtaking vistas, the land has been home to the Hopi people for almost 1,000 years.
Although the Hopi Tribe occupies parts of both Navajo and Coconino counties, to many Arizonans the world of the Hopis is largely unfamiliar. Recently, however, both the Tribe and the State have taken important steps to bring their disability communities closer together.
As part of this ongoing effort, the Hopi Tribe hosted representatives of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Spinal and Head Injuries, the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, the Brain Injury Association of Arizona and the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs. The group’s aim was to learn more about the services provided to individuals with disabilities on the Hopi Reservation as well as to gain a better understanding of the challenges that individuals and their families face.
Paula Seanez, a member of the Navajo Nation who serves on the Governor’s Council, facilitated the visit by providing the group with an introduction to Eva Sekayumptewa, Director of the Hopi Office of Special Needs. Ms Sekayumptewa served as host for the visit and arranged both meetings with Tribe members and access to resources.
“One highlight of the visit was attending a community meeting in the village of Kykotsmovi,” says Chrystal Snyder, Director of the Governor’s Council.
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Kykotsmovi is located at the base of Third Mesa, one of three mesas that comprise the Hopi Reservation, and has a population of 776 (2000 census data). About 30 people attended the meeting at the Veteran’s Center to discuss their perceptions of needs and resources for people with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.
“We learned that people are appreciative of the rehabilitation services and support they receive from the Hopi Office of Special Needs. They also feel that ASSIST! to Independence is an important resource for the community. It provides information, assisted living services, and a wheelchair van to transport people to doctor appointments.”
The challenges facing people on the Hopi Reservation are similar to those of people in other rural areas in Arizona. “If people have a catastrophic injury, they go to Phoenix for their acute care,” says Ms. Snyder. “That presents a challenge for families, who want to be present to provide support for the injured person.”
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