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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0335.007 1998-2000 w.. Kahua Ho'oma/u Kina ~ PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGEN~If`Of HAdVAII A Place of Protection for People tri~i~gapjli fi,Q; 1 ~ 8 WAYNE TANNA, Esq. f r U UU L'j GARY L. SMITH President Executive Director r.~ _ gls~pizi.com i November 18, 1999 The Honorable Chairman James Y. Arakaki and Members of the Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Re: Real Time Captioning for County Council television coverage. Dear Chairman Arakaki and County Council Members: The Protection and Advocacy Agency of Hawaii respectfully requests that the County include "real time captioning" as a requirement of the bid proposal for all future County Council television coverage. It is our understanding that there are approximately one thousand Hawaii County citizens with hearing impairment. These citizens have a right to participate effectively in their county's business. It should be noted that Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Federal regulations implementing the Act require such accommodations in communication for people with disabilities. A public entity must take appropriate steps to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. [28 CFR Sec. 35.160(a)] A ~ public entity must furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the ~ benefits of, a service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity. [28 CFR Sec. ~ 35.160(b)(1)] Television and videotape programming produced by public entities are 1: covered by 28 CFR Sec. 35.160. Access to audio portions of such programming may ~ ~ be provided by closed captioning. [Appx. A to 28 CFR Sec. 35.160] All governmental m ~ ~ ~ activities of public entities are covered by the Act and the regulations, even if they are carried out by contractors. [Appx. A to 28 CFR Sec. 35.102] It is our hope that effective communications can be provided for all of the citizens of z ~ A Hawaii County, and that real time captioning can be implemented without further delay. $ ~ Honolulu East Hawaii (Hilo) West Hawaii (Kona) Kauai Maui 1580 Makaloa St. Ste. 1060 P O Box 1509 P O Box 6906 P O Box 302 P O Box 330044 Honolulu HI 96814 Kailua-Kona HI 96745 Ocean View HI 96737 Hanalei HI 96714 Kahului HI 96733 vttty: (808) 949-2922 voice: (808) 3340630 voice: (808) 939-8466 voice: (808) 826-4697 voice: (808) 2448013 fax: (808) 949-2928 fax: (808) 3340629 fax: (808) 939-8453 fax: (808) 826-4698 fax: (808) 249-0021 Statewide Toll Free: vltty 1-800-882-1057 ? Email: pahi@pixi.com ? Web Page: http:/Iwww.pixi.corN-pahi Q0~ The Honorable Chairman James Y. Arakaki and Members of the Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii November 18, 1999 Page Two Please distribute copies of this correspondence to all members of the Hawaii County Council. Thank you very much for your time reading this correspondence regarding this issue, and thank you for the County Council's consideration of this request. Respectfully submitted, Richard C. Luckham Staff Attorney -East Hawaii Cc: Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro; Laura L. Tobosa, Chairperson, Committee on People with Disabilities; Disability Rights Hawaii; Melvin and Dixie Kaetsu.