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By Art Frank
educating government on accessibility issuesHawaii's disabled residents were concerned when the state administration proposed a 10 percent cutback in various state agencies including the State Commission on Persons with Disabilities (CPD). But the situation got much worse when the budget proposed by the state House Committee on Finance proposed cutting the CPD out entirely.
Although I agree with the need to cut back our government, I believe closing down the CPD would be a big mistake, because in the long run it will probably cost the state, as well as the private sector, more. If disabled citizens like me don't have the CPD to turn to for assistance when we need it, then we will have no recourse but to hire attorneys to file lawsuits because of noncompliance with current accessibility laws. This approach would be a pain in the butt and a waste of time and money for everybody.
Having been associated with the CPD as a disabled consumer (deaf quadriplegic) as well as a volunteer for nearly 20 years, I know how successful the CPD has been in helping us, the city and state administration, the state Legislature and City Council, as well as the private sector.
For example, I recall once when a state agency wouldn't provide me with a sign language interpreter for a meeting. All I had to do was call the CPD's Hawaii state Coordinating Council on Deafness and request assistance. A phone call and follow-up letter by the staff explaining accessibilities laws regarding compliance resolve the problem immediately.
On another occasion it was a hotel that was not in compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). With one call to the CPD, the hotel management was provided with proper guidance and information in complying with the ADA. In addition, on many occasions I've seen CPD staff memberss at both the state Legislature and our City Council assist various committee members in explaining rules and regulations, and existing state and federal laws pertaining to persons with disabilities.
Furthermore, on more than one occasion I was involved with the legislative task force (on sign language interpreters and disabled parking) with staff support from the CPD to work on bills for the Legislature.
Without the CPD staff support and expertise, members of the task force from various government agencies, the private sector and the disabled community would not have been able to accomplish what we did in the past.
I am personally concerned about who will insure compliance with the ADA for new state construction if the CPD's Facility Access Unit is phased out. Who will guide and assist legislators with existing rules and regulations, and state and federal laws pertaining to the disabled consumer? Who will hold workshops to continually educate government and private-sector personnel on existing laws pertaining to the disabled? Who will the disabled call when we need guidance and/or assistance with our government or the private sector?
Although like many people I agree with the need for government downsizing, I believe cutting out entire state agencies is not necessarily the best approach. Consequently, our state Legislature should take a serious look at Rep. Quentin Kawananakoa's GOP plan to shrink government.
Using outside assistance from teams of executives from private business and nonprofit organizations to help our government "to do the mostest with the lestest" is really the way to go. And as a card-carrying Democrat, I don't really care whose plan it is that helps to make our government "smaller and better." The bottom line is if it gets the job done more efficiently, let's do it now.
Art Frank is a deaf and disabled activist for the handicapped.