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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Report to the Mayor Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es (MCPD) Report – 2024 Summary To: Mayor Mitch Roth Office of the Mayor, Hawaii County From: Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es Prepared by: Julia Althoff Introduc?on The Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es (MCPD) report outlines key recommenda?ons from the 2024 mee?ngs to enhance the quality of life for Hawaii County residents with disabili?es. Overarching Goal Increase public awareness of MCPD to ensure that disabled residents have access to resources and support. This includes a public awareness campaign and be?er access to commi?ee mee?ngs. Summary of Key Recommenda?ons 1. Public Awareness: Increase awareness of MCPD and make mee?ngs more accessible to the public. 2. Emergency Preparedness: Improve emergency plans for individuals with disabili?es, including accessible shelters and improved communica?on. 3. Employment: Make Hawaii County a model employer for people with disabili?es and provide incen?ves for other Hawaii County employers. 4. Mental Health and Substance Use Services: Expand mental health and substance abuse treatment op?ons and support, par?cularly in rural areas. 5. Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services: Increase ASL services and establish satellite offices for the Deaf community. 6. Elec?ons Accessibility: Make the Elec?ons Accessibility Needs Advisory Commi?ee accessible for rural voters with accessibility needs. 7. Paratransit Services: Improve paratransit op?ons island-wide for disabled residents. 8. Female-Specific Disabili?es: Increase resources for female-specific disabili?es and improve support systems for affected individuals. 9. Con?nue to evaluate accessibility at all Hawaii County facili?es and make improvements as needed. Progress and Accomplishments in Hawaii County in 2024  Narcan Availability: Narcan availability and training have improved island wide.  Housing Grants for Treatment: County housing grants have successfully enabled more treatment facili?es for residents with substance use disorders.  Emergency Response Plans: Efforts are underway to update emergency response plans to be?er serve the disabled community. 1  Communica?on Card Project: Support for the Communica?on Card Project has been secured, with funding pledged by Councilmembers Jenn Kagiwada and Sue Lee Loy.  Revised Bylaws for MCPD: The Mayor approved revisions to the bylaws, increasing accessibility, allowing remote mee?ng par?cipa?on, and encouraging greater involvement of individuals with disabili?es.  Remote Accessibility: All MCPD mee?ngs are now accessible remotely, promo?ng broader par?cipa?on by individuals with disabili?es across Hawaii Island. Conclusion The MCPD thanks Mayor Mitch Roth for his support and looks forward to further collabora?on to enhance the lives of individuals with disabili?es in Hawaii County. The commi?ee is available for any clarifica?on or assistance needed to implement these recommenda?ons. 2 Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es (MCPD) Full Report – 2024 Full Report To: Mayor Mitch Roth Office of the Mayor, Hawaii County From: Julia Althoff Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es Summary of Key Recommenda?ons: 1. Public Awareness: Increase awareness of MCPD and make mee?ngs more accessible to the public. 2. Emergency Preparedness: Improve emergency plans for individuals with disabili?es, including accessible shelters and communica?on. 3. Employment: Make Hawaii County a model employer for people with disabili?es and provide incen?ves for other employers. 4. Mental Health and Substance Use Services: Expand treatment op?ons and support for the disabled, par?cularly in rural areas. 5. Deaf/Hard of hearing Services: Increase ASL services and establish a satellite program for the Deaf community. 6. Elec?ons Accessibility: Create an Elec?ons Accessibility Needs Advisory Commi?ee. 7. Paratransit Services: Improve paratransit op?ons island-wide for disabled residents. 8. Female-Specific Disabili?es: Increase resources for female-specific disabili?es and improve support systems for affected individuals. 9. County Facility Accessibility: Con?nue to evaluate accessibility at all Hawaii County facili?es and make improvements as needed. Introduc?on: The Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es (MCPD) met on the following dates: January 5, March 15, May 17, July 19, September 13, October 18, and November 22, 2024. This report represents an overall assessment of the commi?ee’s focus for 2024 and outlines the steps Hawaii County can take to improve the quality of life for residents living with disabili?es. Overarching Goal: Increase Public Awareness of the Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es (MCPD) To ensure that the voices of disabled residents are heard and that they have access to resources and support, the commi?ee proposes an overarching goal to increase public awareness of the Mayor’s Commi?ee on People with Disabili?es. This includes the following steps: 1. Public Awareness Campaign about MCPD: 3 o Launch a county-wide public awareness campaign to educate the public about the existence, mission, and ac?vi?es of the MCPD. o U?lize social media pla?orms, local radio, newspapers, and community newsle?ers to highlight the commi?ee’s work and how residents with disabili?es can engage with the MCPD. 2. Increase Access to Commi?ee Mee?ngs: o The Mayor’s Office can take steps to be?er publicize MCPD mee?ngs by using the county’s official channels, including its website and social media pla?orms. o Encourage community organiza?ons, disability advocacy groups, and local media to disseminate mee?ng informa?on to ensure broad community par?cipa?on, local university and community colleges. 3. Mayor’s Par?cipa?on in 2025 Mee?ngs: o To demonstrate leadership and commitment to the disabled community, the Mayor will a?end at least two MCPD mee?ngs in 2025. This will provide an opportunity for direct dialogue between the Mayor, commi?ee members, and the broader community. Progress in Hawaii County - Narcan Preven?on is ge?ng be?er. Narcan is more available, and trainings island wide have been taking place. - County Housing grants have been successful in enabling more treatment providers to open new facili?es for our residents with substance use disorders. This is a great thing. - Star?ng the process of upda?ng Emergency Response Plans for disabiled community. - Communica?on Card Project Support: Councilmembers Jenn Kagiwada and Sue Lee Loy have pledged funding for a project to create wallet cards for people with disabili?es to facilitate be?er communica?on with first responders. Public Tes?mony from 2024 Mee?ngs January 5, 2024 Mee?ng:  Toby Hazel requested ADA accommoda?ons for beach access in Hilo.  Hannah Hedrick expressed concerns about accessibility at Richardson Beach Park and the Hilo Medical Center bus stop, and praised the by-laws commi?ee report.  Claudia Rohr discussed challenges with accessing PDF content and links on the County’s website, and raised ques?ons about Robert’s Rules of Order.  Tiare DelaCruz shared issues with an interpreter provided via iPad at a doctor's office and advocated for increasing the minimum wage. March 15, 2024 Mee?ng:  Toby Hazel tes?fied on female-specific disorders, expressed concerns about the homeless female disabled popula?on, and sought be?er communica?on with commi?ee members. 4  Deputy Corpora?on Counsel, Suzanna Tiapula explained that personal email addresses of commi?ee members cannot be provided, but future mee?ngs could include member introduc?ons.  Karin Reidel expressed difficul?es in accessing commi?ee mee?ng informa?on online.  Chair Michelle Hiraishi stated that mee?ng accessibility could be added as a future agenda item. May 17, 2024 Mee?ng:  Toby Hazel raised concerns about the lack of handicapped parking stalls at Target. Recommenda?ons Based on Public Tes?mony Based on the public tes?mony, the MCPD recommends that Hawaii County review its website and make improvements to increase the clarity of how mee?ng dates, agendas, and minutes for all commi?ees can be accessed. This will ensure that residents with disabili?es, as well as the broader community, have easy access to this informa?on and can engage more fully in the county’s decision-making processes. Addi?onally, evaluate accessibility at beaches and bust stops and make changes as needed. Accomplishments in 2024  Revised Bylaws for MCPD: The Mayor approved revisions to the bylaws, increasing accessibility, allowing for remote mee?ng par?cipa?on, and encouraging greater involvement of individuals with lived experiences of a disability.  Remote Accessibility of Mee?ngs: All MCPD mee?ngs are now accessible remotely, promo?ng broader par?cipa?on by individuals with disabili?es from all areas of Hawaii Island.  Emergency Preparedness: Mayor Roth has asked Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense to par?cipate in a statewide effort to update the 2009 Interagency Ac?on Plan for the Emergency Preparedness of People with Disabili?es and Special Health Needs.  Outreach to community organiza?ons and UH Students: MCPD is coordina?ng with UH Hilo and other community organiza?ons to promote awareness of the commi?ee and foster interest among people with lived experience of disability. Key Recommenda?ons for 2024 1. Emergency Preparedness: Hawaii County must ensure that emergency preparedness plans comprehensively include the needs of disabled residents. This includes:  Establishing a specific Emergency Preparedness Plan for Disabled Individuals with tailored outreach to the disabled community that includes regularly scheduled prac?ce drills.  Implemen?ng accessible communica?on channels for people with sensory sensi?vi?es and, ensuring ?mely and accurate dissemina?on of emergency informa?on.  Ensuring that emergency shelters are fully accessible and equipped to accommodate the needs of people with disabili?es. 5  Ongoing training for first responders in handling emergency situa?ons involving people with disabili?es. This includes using Deaf/Hard of hearing placards to facilitate communica?on.  Conduc?ng community educa?on and training programs to raise awareness of disability- related issues during emergencies.  Provide ASL Interpretation Services for all Civil Defense and Mayoral messages (announcements).  Increasing funding for emergency preparedness programs, including ASL interpreta?on services.  Collaborate with the Department of Human Services to launch a pilot program SIMILAR to the Blind and Low Vision services pilot project https://legiscan.com/HI/text/SB614/2024 being discussed in the Senate. 2. Employment:  Launch awareness campaigns and provide educa?on to employers and the wider community about the capabili?es and contribu?ons of individuals with disabili?es.  Support and promote school-to-work transi?ons to enhance employment outcomes for young people with disabili?es.  Establish Hawaii County as a Model Employer of people with disabili?es. Set an example for the community by ensuring that the county provides inclusive and accessible employment opportuni?es.  Create incen?ves for employers. Encourage local businesses to provide jobs for people with disabili?es by offering tax benefits or other incen?ves. 3. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders:  Address the lack of substance use and mental health treatment op?ons, especially in rural areas, by increasing access to qualified professionals.  Support residen?al treatment for minors, par?cularly for those in need of group therapy and support, which is not currently available in Hawaii County. Further, residen?al treatment for female-iden?fying individuals on MedQuest is also limited.  Have licensed mental health and substance abuse service providers go on calls with our police to benefit those who are living with mental health and substance use disabili?es and provide support for officers.  Strengthen the availability of gender-affirming services, par?cularly for LGBTQIA+ individuals, as treatment op?ons for this community are currently limited.  Expand awareness and accessibility of resources like the Clubhouses for mental health support.  Develop mental health courts in conjunc?on with the success of the county’s drug court, providing alterna?ves for those with mental health disorders who encounter the legal system. 6  Increase public awareness of available services, including collabora?ng with NAMI (Na?onal Alliance on Mental Illness) and providing be?er internet access to enable residents in underserved areas to access telehealth services.  Con?nue to support the county housing grant because it has been helpful  Con?nue to support the awareness and accessibility of resources like Narcan which saves lives. 4. Deaf/Hard of Hearing Support:  Increase the availability of ASL interpreta?on services and ensure that all Hawaii County departments include ASL services in their annual opera?ng budgets.  Provide ASL interpreta?on for all Civil Defense and Mayoral announcements during emergencies.  Expand educa?onal opportuni?es for the Deaf and Hard of hearing communi?es, addressing specific needs around emergency preparedness, job coaching, and access to community services.  Establish a satellite program on the Big Island to mirror the services provided by the Comprehensive Service Center (CSC) on Oahu, which focuses on the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communi?es. 5. Elec?ons Accessibility Needs Advisory Commi?ee:  We recommend establishing the Elec?ons Accessibility Needs Advisory Commi?ee. Its purpose would be to ensure equal and independent access to voter registra?on, the cas?ng of ballots, and all other services provided by the county's elec?on division. This commi?ee will work closely with MCPD to safeguard the vo?ng rights of individuals with disabili?es. 6. Paratransit Services Island-wide:  We recommend that Hawaii County Mass Transit work with individual members of the MCPD to improve paratransit op?ons for individuals with disabili?es across the island. This collabora?on will ensure that public transporta?on is accessible and be?er meets the needs of disabled residents. 7. Female-Specific Disabili?es and Chronic Illnesses:  Women with disabili?es face unique challenges, especially when dealing with chronic health condi?ons like Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Polycys?c Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis, Perimenopause, and Menopause. Resources for Female-Specific Disabili?es and Chronic Illnesses Women with disabili?es face unique challenges, especially when dealing with chronic health condi?ons like Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Polycys?c Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis, and Perimenopause, among others. A brief assessment of resources on the Big Island revealed limited access to specialized care and support groups focused on these condi?ons. 7 Key Findings:  There is a significant gap in visibility and availability of support services and medical professionals who specialize in female-specific disabili?es.  Women with disabili?es are less likely to access employment opportuni?es and report lower levels of educa?onal a?ainment than their male counterparts.  Many medical providers fail to market their services in ways that effec?vely communicate their exper?se in female-specific disabili?es and chronic illnesses. Recommenda?ons:  Increase outreach and visibility for health providers specializing in female-specific disabili?es.  Encourage the crea?on of support groups for women dealing with condi?ons like endometriosis, PMDD, and PCOS on the Big Island.  Collaborate with local health care providers and community organiza?ons to create a resource guide for women facing female-specific disabili?es, including specialists and support networks. Conclusion: We would like to extend our gratitude to Mayor Mitch Roth for his ongoing support of the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (MCPD). The committee is committed to working collaboratively with your office to ensure the successful implementation of the recommendations outlined in this report. We believe these actions will significantly improve the quality of life for residents with disabilities across Hawaii County. The MCPD and its individual committee members are available to provide further clarification, guidance, or assistance as needed to accomplish these goals and build a more inclusive community. Thank you for considering these recommendations, and we look forward to continuing to serve for the benefit of the disability community and all residents of Hawaii County. The Mayor’s Commi?ee on People With Disabili?es 8 Resources for Female-Specific Disabili?es (and Chronic Illness) Contribu?ons Made By Christen Zulli While discussing disability it is impera?ve to shine a light on both gender differences and the specific needs of females with disabili?es that are gender specific. Female specific disabili?es and chronic health condi?ons include but are not limited to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Perinatal and Postpartum mental health diagnosis’s (pregnancy-specific anxiety, depression, rage, OCD, sleep disorders, Psychosis, and other condi?ons), menstrual cycle-related migraines, Polycys?c Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause, and disability due to female-specific implantable devices, illnesses, and surgeries. Diagnosis for many of these condi?ons are o?en difficult as symptoms can overlap with other condi?ons, vary greatly from person to person, and some?mes require surgery; diagnosis can be made by doctors, therapists, and other professionals in the medical field. This is a brief and non-comprehensive assessment of the resources for female-specific disabili?es and chronic illnesses on the Big Island based on internet search results. Sta?s?cs across a variety of variables such as economic, health, and educa?on con?nue to show all females with lower percentage points or disadvantages and these discrepancies are also seen in gender comparisons of people with disabili?es. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy’s March 2021 Spotlight on Women with Disabili?es Study, women have a slightly higher rates of disabili?es, and those percentages are most notable at the end of the age range. In comparison to men with disabili?es, women with disabili?es are 4 to 5 percentage points lower in employment for the “working-age” popula?on (16 to 64). While women and men with disabili?es are more likely to be self-employed, women with disabili?es are less likely to be self-employed than men with disabili?es. When not working for one’s self, women with disabili?es in the workplace are more likely than men with disabili?es to ask for accommoda?ons to help them do their job be?er. Addi?onally, in a comparison of males and females without disabili?es and those with disabili?es, females with disabili?es had the lowest rate of educa?onal a?ainment (bachelor’s degree or higher) between 2009 and 2020. In looking at available resources on the island of Hawai’I, three variables were considered, 1. ease of search (i.e. first page lis?ngs of web results), 2. medical professional’s self-promo?on of specializing in female-specific disabili?es and chronic illness, and 3. social/community support. The resources searched were a?ained u?lizing the internet through the SAFARI search pla?orm and the key phrase, “medical providers on the Big Island who specialize in female-specific disabili?es” was the first to be selected. A group of 20 providers varying in medical ?tles was selected for a secondary search where the “about me”/skills and services of the providers were inves?gated (private prac?ce providers, group prac?ces, and hospital affiliates were included). Due to the fact that diagnosis can be made by providers with various professional ?tles, such as medical doctor (M.D.) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), these providers ranged in licenses and types of prac?ces. The result was that out of 20 providers searched and “about me’s” read, only 4 providers listed “women’s health” as a service or focus, which could mean anything from prescribing birth control pills to casually consul?ng about how hormone’s can affect weight and anxiety. Zero providers used the term “disability” or “chronic illness”. 9 To specify the search, exact names of disabili?es and chronic illnesses were entered targe?ng health professionals and social support: “Dr.’s who diagnosis and treat endometriosis on the Big Island”; “Dr.’s who diagnosis and treat PMDD on the Big Island”; “Dr.’s who diagnosis and treat Pregnancy related illness on the Big Island”; “Dr.’s who diagnosis and treat menopause on the Big Island”; “Dr.’s who diagnosis and treat PCOS on the Big Island”; “Support groups for endometriosis on the Big Island”; “Support groups for PMDD on the Big Island”; “Support groups for Pregnancy related illness on the Big Island”, “Support groups for menopause on the Big Island”, “Support groups for PCOS on the Big Island”. In an a?empt to consolidate findings and avoid detailing repe??ous results, only two specific searches will be discussed in detail. In a Big Island Now ar?cle, dated March 20, 2019, the month of March was declared Endometriosis Awareness Month by Hawai’i Gov. David Ige and Hawai’i Mayor Harry Kim. With approximately 9,000 females living on Hawai’I island with endometriosis, and an es?mate 70,000 females statewide, one would assume finding a provider or support group through a google search would yield immediate results and provide resources accessible on both the east and west sides of Hawai’i Island. However, the resource search revealed quite the opposite. When the key phrase, “Support groups for endometriosis on the Big Island” was entered, only one link to a support group resulted on the first page. While a support group existed, the link was a private link to a Facebook page/facebook online support group which is only accessible to those individuals with a facebook account. Furthermore, when the facebook group was found through entering the Facebook social media pla?orm, the group only had seven members out of the approximate 9,000 individuals living on the Big Island with endometriosis. Obvious ques?ons concerning marke?ng, the accessibility of social media, health and medical provider involvement in finding or crea?ng community-based support systems, and pa?ent mental health status and perceived support naturally arise. Since the Waimea Women’s Health Center in Kamuela moved under the jurisdic?on of the Queen’s Health System, internet searches for “Waimea Women’s Center” (as it was formerly known as) results in a Women’s Center at Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital webpage and they are the only group prac?ce which lists one female-specific service provided based on the actual diagnosis or condi?on (which could last years and might result in a pa?ent seeking accommoda?ons based on disability) -“menopause management”; however, the website fails to disclose whether maternal mental health, specifically perinatal and postpartum psychosis, for example, is covered under what was listed -“maternal care” . Addi?onally le? unspecified was another bullet point service - “menstrual disorder diagnosis” and it is unclear whether that includes PMDD or the management of such diagnosis. Iden?fying words such as “disability” and “chronic illness” are not used and thus not part of any search algorithms. This report takes a look at the current availability of resources based on visibility via an internet inquiry. In order to be knowledgeable about the currently available resources, one has to first be able to complete an internet search and be knowledgeable about how to interpret the informa?on and/or various sites linked to one specific provider. Barriers to internet accessibility include geographic loca?on, financing, and physical, emo?onal, and cogni?ve symptoms of health 10 and disability. Also worth no?ng, at least half of the providers listed were also listed as “not taking any new pa?ents”, adding to the limita?ons found for accessing support. This report shows that the informa?on provided on the first page of a Safari pla?orm internet search points to deficits in provider communica?on of professional skills rela?ng to female-specific disability and chronic illness, accessing providers who do promote themselves as skilled in diagnosing/addressing female health, providers who offer symptom support, and social/community support needs. This report serves as a brief, non-comprehensive overview and due to insufficient ?me, funding, and resources, this report is lacking sta?s?cal analysis. A more comprehensive review might provide deeper insight into how exactly provider communica?on (online and with pa?ents), marke?ng of support groups, and access to medical care (diagnos?c tools, surgeries, prescrip?ons, etc.) is deficient for female-specific disabili?es and chronic illnesses, and how communica?on, resources, and marke?ng of available support can be improved. 11 Signs of Fun -submi?ed by ReBecca Benne?- signing4uall@gmail.com From 2023’s report, we, the Deaf community, want to reiterate these points: · Establish on-going training that include CERT drill and exercise events for First Responders when managing an emergency situa?on or evacua?on for community members with a disability and specifically train first responders on the use of Deaf/Hard- of-Hearing (HH) placards. · Increase funding for emergency preparedness programs (i.e. ASL interpreta?on services) have interpreters standing next to those personnel voicing the emergency announcements ON CAMERA when events are televised or posted on social media. · Increase availability of in-person ASL Interpreta?on Services in Hawaii County. · Require all County Departments to provide for ASL Interpreta?on Services during community mee?ngs, emergency messaging, and community events etc. · Provide ASL Interpreta?on Services for all Civil Defense and Mayoral verbal messaging · Increase availability for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing educa?onal opportuni?es 2024 Signs of Fun, an advocacy team and a Deaf program, has been scheduling monthly ac?vi?es for our local keiki. Our keiki cannot fully par?cipate in discussions of Hawaii’s history due to the language barrier because Hawaii’s museums do not have their videos cap?oned, so. Sugges?ons include:  Cap?ons available on all screens  Video interpreters transla?ng videos and do a side by side screen so all keiki can enjoy and understand videos  Vie for Hawaii island to have satellite offices, staffed with those who know ASL, to serve our Deaf/DeafBlind/DeafDisabled community. Successes for this year: · Mass transit-we have been working with mass transit to offer Picture Exchange Communica?on system (PECS) cards to benefit all who may have communica?on barriers, be they Deaf or ESL speakers (English is not their na?ve language) · We are working with the state library system to add a Deaf Digital Library 16-566 Keaau Pahoa Road 188-641 Keaau, HI 96749 V: (808)491-2694 VP: (540)645-5044 12 Substance Use and Mental Health Submi?ed by Zahava Z. Zaidoff Area of concern: Substance Use preven?on and treatment and Mental Health treatment availability in Hawaii County Substance Use disorders and Mental illnesses are diseases. They are all listed in the DSM-V and can be treated successfully with the right medical care. Many districts in the county have care available, but the more rural districts suffer from lack of access to qualified substance use and mental health professionals. Residen?al treatment for minors is not available in the county. Group therapy in person is not available for minors. There is Zoom availability throughout the state and county, but internet access is not available to many who need the services. Residen?al treatment for female iden?fying people who are on MedQuest is not available in the county. Residen?al treatment that allows for children to be with their parents and caregivers is not available in the county. Having licensed mental health and substance abuse providers go on calls with our police will greatly benefit those who are living with mental health and substance use disabili?es. More training is needed for our officers. There is program in San Diego that has been in use for over a decade called PERT (Psychiatric Emergency Response Team), that may offer a helpful guide. Drug court is a huge success and mental health court would prove to be successful as well. It is necessary, and we hope it is forthcoming. Our Mahu (LGBTQIA+) community members face greater obstacles receiving services. Professionals who have gender affirming training are rare. For gender non-conforming people, treatment beds are impossible to come by due to them or being male or female. Preven?on is ge?ng be?er. Narcan is more easily available and trainings island wide have been taking place. Psychotropic medica?ons are being prescribed by primary care physicians in collabora?on with psychologists, when a psychiatrist is unavailable. More publicity and visibility around the Clubhouses is necessary. More publicity and availability around NAMI is needed. 13 Despite the lacks in the county, there are many available services that residents are not aware of. The Mayorʻs Office and county services can help by publicly sharing and talking about these resources. County Housing grants have been successful in enabling more treatment providers to open new facili?es for our residents with substance use disorders. This is a great thing. Mahalo! 14