The Aloha State Association of the Deaf (ASAD) and Hawaii Deaf Surfriders Association sent representatives to the Opening Day of the 28th Hawaii State Legislature on January 21, 2015.  The representatives attended the ceremony to learn more about the legislative process and to advocate for improved services for the deaf and hard of hearing community in Hawaii.

Opening Day ceremony occurs every third Wednesday in January at 10:00 a.m. and serves as the official start of the annual regular session of the Legislature.  The ceremony included the administration of the oath of office for all members, the election of officers and key note speeches from the Senate President, the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader's remarks.  Local entertainment was also provided.

After the Opening Day Order of Business, the legislators had an opportunity to meet with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing representatives where information was shared about the legislative process and issues important to the deaf community. 

Many people with hearing disabilities who could not attend the celebration in person were disappointed that the public access community television stations, Olelo on Oahu and Kauai's Hoike, did not have live web stream captioning.  Maui's Akaku and the Big Island's Na Leo O Hawaii community television stations were web streamed however with no captioning.  The ASAD would like your feedback, especially from neighbor islands if you were able to view captions via web stream or television.

If you have experienced any type of inaccessible communication, please contact the Aloha State Association of the Deaf by email, asad808president@gmail.com.

The Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), has contracted with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Center on Disabilities Studies (CDS) to develop a short term Comprehensive Services Center study for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind.

A free workshop "People with Vision/Hearing Loss and Support Service Providers Working Together" provided by Paul Deeming, M.S., C.I. on strategies for improving Support Service Provider (SSP) services for adults who are deaf-blind will be held on February 14, 15 and 16.  For more information about the workshop, contact Roderick Macdonald at rjmacdonald@hawaiiantel.net or Megan Conway at mconway@hawaii.edu or phone, (808) 956-6166.

For more information about the contract services, please contact the CDS Facilitator, Eric Folk by phone (808) 284-4382 or email, efolk@hawaii.edu.

The Disability and Communication Access Board is currently beta testing the new online Hawaii Quality Assurance System (HQAS) Continuing Education Program (CEP) as part of DCAB's effort to create a paper-free and secured website for HQAS interpreters to log their continuing education units (CEUs) with his/her laptop, computer or handheld device.   

 

A small group of current HQAS interpreters who are participating in the program will have an opportunity to provide feedback during the beta-testing period before it is officially operational on February 1, 2015. 

 

The Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Comprehensive Services Center (CSC) for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind 2015 Session III schedule, for January 12 to March 7, offers eight (8) classes for DVR clients and the general public.  Classes are held at 200 N. Vineyard Blvd, 5th floor Honolulu, Hawaii except for two classes at Shingon Shu Temple, 915 Sheridan Street, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The classes are American Sign Language, Social Skills, Cooking, Cosmetics, English, Fitness and Health, Math, and Technology. 

American Sign Language/Social Skills meets Mondays at 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Cooking classes will be held on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Shingon Shu Temple.

Cosmetics classes meets Thursdays at 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Basic English classes will be held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Advanced English classes meets on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Health and Fitness classes meets Mondays at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shingon Shu Temple and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Math classes will be held on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Technology classes meets Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to register for the classes, please contact Karl Mikasa by email, CSCKARL@gmail.com.

The Disability and Communication Access Board is distributing an online survey to state and county agencies that procure communication access providers for their meetings.  The purpose of the survey is to gather information about the number of agencies that utilizes communication access providers such as sign language interpreters, real-time captioners and computer assisted notetakers and the costs associated with that service.

If your state or county agency have not filled out the survey and would like to participate or for more information,    please contact Kristine Pagano by email, kristine.pagano@doh.hawaii.gov or phone, (808) 447-1397.

Island of Oahu
Rebekah Hoopii, Level IV
Susie Kahl, Level V