2008-09-05 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes-attach

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ADA Coordinator’s Report August 2008 ADA - Title II & S. 504 Contacted a resident who complained about inaccessible sidewalks in Hilo to ask for more details. Resident did not contact me but did contact the state Department of Transportation’s ADA Coordinator regarding improvements to Puainako Street; Responded to an inquiry about Office of Housing and Community Development’s Residential Emergency Repair Program (this program funds access improvements to property owners’ homes); Responded to a resident who complained about the “Request for Modification Program” and funding for modifications; Followed up with a resident who asked the Parks and Recreation Department to remove boulders that were blocking an accessible route at Pohoku Park; Discussed how to resolve complaints that campsites at Pohoiki were not accessible with management of Parks and Recreation. There are accessible campsites; we decided to put up signs that mark them as such, to reserve them for people with disabilities; Conducted research on the loan of beach wheelchairs with other municipalities on the mainland and in Hawaii; Met with Water Safety Officer Supervisors for East and West Hawaii, and Recreation Specialist, Parks and Recreation, to develop procedures for use and loan of beach wheelchairs; Submitted comments to the Department of Justice regarding service animals, various motorized vehicles as assistive devices, exemptions for accessible playgrounds and captioning of emergency information in stadiums; Responded to an inquiry from ADA Coordinator, Department of Parks and Recreation regarding the removal of the plastic walkway at Kahalu’u Beach Park; Sent information on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities to the new Director of Civil Defense, Quince Mento; Asked Office of Elections if precinct official positions were open; received a reply from Oahu that all positions were filled; then received information that there were openings in South Kona and Pu’uanahulu; Assisted a service provider with a request to improve access to the office, based upon an individual’s request; Met with a resident who was facing an eviction from her residence after complaining about chickens; followed up with the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Fair Housing Officer to give her assistance; also left her information regarding some accessible rentals available from ARC of Hilo; Responded to an inquiry regarding the wording of signage in County parks to exclude animals, but not service animals; consulted with staff person at Disability and Communication Access Board who suggested, “No Pets Allowed”;