2011-08-17 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes

Home

Tuesdays in Honolulu. When we’re done with this we’ll be certified planners. Jean will represent West Hawai‘i and the ROSI here. So that adds another piece to our committees that we’ll also have someone who can help with the planning since people are so afraid of losing Social Security. J. Navarro stated that this campus that we’re using has now become ROSI, Rural Outreach Services Initiative started by Director Takamine. Everyday of the week there are different groups of people here for several hours that provide services to the folks that live in Hamakua. Today is Disability Awareness Day so all of the programs that serve persons with disabilities are here. A. Parker - From the advocacy standpoint, according to this newsletter - Gretchen Lawson is part of a national group of only 14 people that are looking at Affordable Care Act, how it impacts the people. He thinks this is something that she could present, perhaps information can be disseminated at least to the committee. A. Parker stated that there is a lot of good stuff in the Affordable Care Act. Glad that they have someone from the Big Island that is part of a national small group that’s really looking at this issue J. Navarro will inform Gretchen (ARC of Kona) that the committee would like her to give a presentation and since the next meeting is in Kona, and their main office is right in Kealakekua, Gretchen would probably love to come. She will check with Gretchen. R. Schoen stated that if this committee is going to present a report or recommendation to the Mayor in December, then a report should be provided from each ad hoc committee on what was done or what is recommended so that all of that information can be compiled into one report for the December meeting. P. De Lima recommended sending it to her and Renee so it can be finalized at the October 19 meeting. Renee’s e-mail is rschoen@co.hawaii.hi.us. L. Tobosa tried to get hold of the people that give the violation of the disabled parking and have them come in and give a report. P. De Lima stated that the libraries were looking for advice regarding service animals, the use of bringing in their dogs, knowing what the rules are. Dr. Ron Wagner-Wright is the expert on Service Dogs, ADA Rules and Procedures and President of the Service Dog Training Center of Hawai‘i. J. Navarro on 9-9 at 9:00 a.m., at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Group, the Children’s Research Triangle is having a rally to encourage pregnant women not to drink at all. It’s that nine months of pregnancy, so it’s 9-9-9:00 a.m., promoting alcohol and drug free pregnancy, because Hawai‘i has the worst statistics in the United States, over 50% of pregnant woman are drinking. We have a high incidence with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome babies now. Dr. Chasnoff who is the expert in this field actually wrote Hawai‘i into his grant so we could do research here because we are on the radar 5