HA‘ILONO KINA

TO BRING THE NEWS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Published by the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB)

May 2008 Edition

2008 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The 2008 legislative session was a very busy time for the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) due to the many disability-related measures (bills and resolutions) introduced. A summary of disability-related legislation that passed this session is on our website at www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/. A few of the measures which DCAB took positions on or monitored are summarized below.

Senate Bill (SB) 2395, Senate Draft (SD) 2, now Act 8, of the 2008 Hawaii State Legislature expanded the Language Access Advisory Council (LAAC) of the Office of Language Access (OLA) to include representatives from each county and two (2) ex-officio members. One of the ex-officio members will represent the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) and the other will be from DCAB.

The OLA is administratively attached to the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and provides centralized oversight, coordination, and technical assistance to all State agencies and organizations regarding requirements of Hawaii’s Language Access Law.

The OLA ensures that no one is denied access to State or State-funded services because he/she is unable to speak, read, write or understand English. Although the OLA and LAAC’s primary focus is on individuals who are not native English speakers, DCAB will ensure that the use of American Sign Language interpreters (ASL) and access for foreign language speaking individuals who are also deaf are not overlooked.

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland hosted a Deaf-Blind Task Force that met regularly in 2007. The Task Force included people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, deaf-blind, as well as representatives from agencies serving this population. The Task Force initiated eight (8) bills and five (5) resolutions during the session. Topics of these measures were screening of children for hearing and vision problems, paying health insurance for hearing aids, obtaining a count of people who are deaf and hard of hearing in Hawaii, offering free internet access for persons with disabilities, providing exemptions from paying general excise tax for purchasing assistive technology, requesting the Auditor to do a study related to insurance payments for hearing aids, and requesting a study for establishing a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation center for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing. All of the measures died during the session, except Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 37, SD 1. Therefore per SCR 37, SD 1, the Legislative Reference Bureau will conduct a study with assistance from the State Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division to assess how other states provide vocational rehabilitation services to deaf and hard of hearing participants, and determine if it is feasible to establish a center with similar services in Hawaii.

For information about disability-related measures in the 2008 legislative session, contact Debbie Jackson by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at debbra.jackson@doh.hawaii.gov.

KEY TO RESOURCES UPDATED

DCAB’s “Key to Resources” has been recently updated and revised. The Key is a listing of community resources specific to people with disabilities. Generic information that had been listed in the past has been removed, so all the information in the Key is specifically geared to persons with disabilities. The categories in the “Key to Resources” haven’t changed from the previous version, only the information has been updated. The revised “Key to Resources” is now available through the internet. People are now able to access certain sections, or download the entire Key through our website at www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab/.

For more information, contact Judy Paik by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at judy.paik@doh.hawaii.gov.

DCAB REVISES TRAVELER TIPS FOR VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES

DCAB’s “Traveler Tips” is a listing of resources that visitors with disabilities should know while traveling with in the State of Hawaii. New information has been added to this brochure, including interisland ferry travel, accessible beaches and trails, accessible car rentals, and accessible taxi services. Existing categories are accessible transportation, support services, medical services, procedures for people with service animals, communication access services, air travel tips, and a travel agency that has worked with persons with disabilities.

For more information, contact Judy Paik by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at judy.paik@doh.hawaii.gov.

TRAINING FOR IOLANI PALACE CONDUCTED

The Disability and Communication Access Board was asked to provide customer service training to the docents and security staff of Iolani Palace. The Palace receives many visitors from all over the world including visitors with disabilities. Over the years many accessible features have been added to improve the physical access of the Palace grounds. The staff customer service training complemented the physical access modifications. Training focused on general etiquette, communication obligations for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing and how to respond to requests for assistance from persons with disabilities in a variety of different scenarios. The attendees were able to learn techniques that extend the aloha they provide to all visitors.

For more information, contact Charlotte Townsend by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at charlotte.townsend@doh.hawaii.gov.

2008 DISABILITY ACCESS CONFERENCE

DESIGN FOR ALL - CALL FOR ENTRIES

The Disability and Communication Access Board announces its 2008 “Accessible Design Awards.” The goal of the award program is to recognize buildings, facilities and sites that are not only accessible but are also aesthetic, functional and enhances the entire user experience.

We are currently looking for examples of creative and exemplary design from design professionals that not only comply with accessibility codes, but are ‘Designed for All.’

Award recipients will be honored and recognized at the 2008 Disability Access Conference Luncheon on October 16, 2008 at the Ala Moana Hotel.

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE:

July 30, 2008. Entries must be received by 4:00 p.m., no exceptions. Award recipients will be notified by phone no later than September 1, 2008.

For the Call for Entry form, information on eligibility and other information, contact Mona Higa by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at mona.higa@doh.hawaii.gov or Laurie Palenske by phone at (808) 586-8121 or email at laurie.palenske@doh.hawaii.gov.

SPIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE: “SPIN YOUR DAY THE CIRCUS WAY”

On Saturday, April 19, 2008, the circus came to the UH Campus Center as SPIN put on its 22nd Annual Conference, “SPIN Your Day the Circus Way.” Three hundred and sixty-one (361) parents and professionals took advantage of the fun, the interesting variety of workshops and agency displays, and the wonderful opportunity to network with other parents and caring providers. Ed Chevy took center ring as a keynote speaker celebrating ASL as a living art and entertaining the crowd using his great performing skills to get folks laughing. The audience was also impressed with an inspiring video called “Pool of Potential” about an incredibly talented student from the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind who has qualified to go to a national diving competition.

At lunch, SPIN’s Advisory Committee took the opportunity to recognize six (6) outstanding individuals who have contributed their time and talents to improve the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families:

Barbara Ioli and Jo Ann Ahuna (Parents of the Year),

Sue Brown and Lolly Romano (Professionals of the Year), and Linda Guess and Pualani Basbas (Family Choice Awards).

For more information on these individuals and their achievement, check out the May SPIN News at www.spinhawaii.org or contact Susan Rocco at (808) 586-8126 or email at susan.rocco@doh.hawaii.gov.