Bidding Farewell and Welcoming New Standing Committee on Facility Access Members         

Ronald Awa AIA concluded his term on the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) at the end of June 2011.  Ron, Principal of Awa & Associates, served on the DCAB's Standing Committee on Facility Access for eight years and chaired the Committee for four of those years.  He also served on the Architectural Access Committee before it merged into the Disability and Communication Access Board in 2000.  During his many years of service to DCAB, he played a key role in developing our state law and rules on disability access for the architectural community.  We wish to thank Ron for his time, energy, and guidance while on the Committee, he will be sorely missed.

Remaining on the Committee are Lance Kaneshiro, Architect, of Yamasato Fujiwara Higa & Associates and Anthony Riecke-Gonzales, AIA, of Riecke Sunnland Kono Architects.

Joining Lance and Anthony on the Committee is new DCAB Board Member Robin Inaba, AIA.  Robin is the owner of Inaba Architecture, LLC.  A graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, she has been in practice on the Island of Hawaii since 1995.  She is active in the Hawaii Island Section of the AIA, serving previously as the Continuing Education Committee Chair, Vice President, and President.  She also served as the past Director of the AIA Honolulu and is currently on the Hawaii State Council.  We would like to extend a warm welcome to Robin and look forward to working with her on issues relating to facility access.

On July 26, the U.S. Access Board released for public comment proposed guidelines for accessible public rights-of-way.  The guidelines provide design criteria for public streets and sidewalks, including pedestrian access routes, street crossings, curb ramps and blended transitions, on-street parking, street furniture, and other elements.  The U.S. Access Board is seeking public input about impact on transportation departments, unintended positive and negative consequences of the proposed guidelines, curb ramps, detectable warnings, accessible pedestrian signals, signs, tabling newly constructed intersections, and other topics.  The deadline for comments is November 23, 2011.  The guidelines, are available at http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/nprm.htm.

DCAB will be reviewing the proposed guidelines and submitting comments to the U.S. Access Board.  For more information about DCAB's comments, feel free to contact Curtis Motoyama, Facility Access Coordinator, by e-mail at curtis.motoyama@doh.hawaii.gov or phone at (808) 586-8121.

Honolulu Curb Ramp Request  

Persons with mobility disabilities wishing to request curb ramp installations/improvements on City and County of Honolulu streets to access specific destinations may now download a request form at: http://www1.honolulu.gov/csd/satellite/curbramprequestform.pdf.   

To initiate a request, qualified persons must download a copy of the form and submit the completed form to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction.  The form should be mailed or faxed with the requestor's name and phone number.  Requestors needing help to complete or submit a form may call 768-8801.

For more information, contact Tanya Dote, City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction, at 768-8801. 

HUD Resumes Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST Program