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Disability <br /> v Rights <br /> Hawaii P.O. Box 5575, Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 961-3862 <br /> w~odong together far access <br /> 2/5/2007 <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Dear Councilmembers, <br /> I am writing as Secretary of Disability Rights Hawaii, anon-profit grassroots disability <br /> rights advocacy organization based in Hilo since 1992. We have a membership of approximately <br /> 100 and a Board of Directors of 7. This letter is on behalf of the Board of Directors, written in <br /> response to a discussion of 15 members of DRH and 5 visitors who attended our January 23rd <br /> <br /> meeting. <br /> We write in support of Bill 345. This bill will increase the number of available locations <br /> for community care in Hawaii County for people with disabilities. We understand that there is a <br /> significant demand for additional community care beds for members of our community, and this <br /> bill will increase the number. <br /> The Supreme Court Oldstead Decision is the most important decision for people with <br /> <br /> disabilities since the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Olmstead guaranteed <br /> <br /> that people with disabilites cannot be forced, by governmental agencies, to live in institutions as <br /> a condition of obtaining the support they need to live. They must be allowed to live in the <br /> community if their conditions make it possible for them to do so. <br /> But if there are not enough beds in the community to support the number of people who <br /> need them, then our brothers and sisters will be forced into institutions, or else forced to live on <br /> other islands than their Hawaii Island home. Olmstead is meaningless if we don't have enough <br /> beds to care for our citizens. The present rules regarding what counts as "a family" are the cause <br /> of this restriction. <br /> We recognize that one group homes has been singled out as having become a nuisance in <br /> its neighborhood. We certainly do not condone such group homes. But nuisances are far in the <br /> minority, and there are other ways of dealing with neighborhood nuisances than forcing the <br /> individuals who live there into institutions. Police assistance and Department of Health oversight <br /> can relieve these problems without the extreme step of forcing individuals into institutions. <br /> We are talking about our ohana here. People with disabilities belong in their <br /> communities. Please pass Bill 345. <br /> On behalf of the Board of Directors, <br /> ~ <br /> Ron Amundson <br /> Secretary, Disability Rights Hawaii. <br /> Disability Rights Hawati is atax-exempt nonprofrt corporation <br /> <br />