Brenda L.C. Bauer-Smith

The committee meeting addressed several important matters concerning disability parking. Old business included an update on the City and County of Honolulu's policy regarding appointments for placard issuance, noting their shift to online scheduling and refusal to reinstate express service for placards, prompting DCAB staff to suggest walk-in service options. There was also discussion regarding the Maui County Parking Ambassadors Program for enforcement and efforts to enhance public education, which may require a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for accessing motor vehicle records to send reminder letters for improper use. Accessibility concerns at the State Capitol Building regarding legislative calendar postings and lack of adequate ASL interpretation and captioning were reviewed, with a decision to forward these issues to the Legislative Committee and the Standing Committee on Communication Access. Updates on state legislation included bills almost identical to HB 469 and SB 2366, which proposes changing the fee exemption period. Furthermore, results from the Death Records Crossmatch regarding placard retrieval were reported. New business involved reviewing disability parking placard issuance statistics for Quarter 2 of Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the number of emails sent regarding pending expirations, and procurement status for decals and placards. The committee also reviewed the number of submissions for reporting placard abuse and non-design compliant accessible spaces. Finally, the committee voted on and approved specific changes to a draft survey intended for disability parking permittees, focusing on age brackets, permit types, primary mode of transport, and vehicle modifications.

The Executive Committee meeting commenced with an overview of public testimony procedures. Key discussions focused on the status of the Executive Director, Kirby Shaw, who passed away on November 22, 2025. The committee deliberated on two options for filling the vacant Executive Director position: either creating a Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) to conduct an open search, or recommending the internal promotion of the Acting Executive Director, Kristine Pagano. The committee considered the merits of maximizing the search pool versus promoting an experienced internal candidate who possesses critical knowledge. Following discussion, a motion was passed recommending the internal promotion of Kristine Pagano to the General Board for final decision. The session concluded with no agenda items for the Open Forum, and the scheduling of the next meeting.

The meeting included introductions of members, staff, interpreters, and captioners. Key discussions focused on several reports under New Business, including a report on a speaking engagement with ASL students at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa regarding the ASL interpreter shortage and ADA requirements. Staff also reported on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Board meeting, which included discussions on developing a survey and a potential statewide camp for KODAs/CODAs. Furthermore, the committee received updates from a Deaf-Blind Task Force meeting with senators regarding proposed legislation, such as insurance coverage for hearing aids and statute revisions using person-centered language. Staff also reported on the recent administration of the Hawai'i Quality Assurance System (HQAS) test. The committee discussed the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Workshop Funding Application Form, noting that it requires updates, and expressed general support for sponsoring CEU workshops, contingent on application review. Initial planning commenced for the 2026 Communication Access Conference, tentatively scheduled for September. Finally, the committee began developing formal Disability and Communication Access Board Guiding Principles on Communication Access to ensure consistent guidance on matters like accommodations, interpreter access, and emerging technologies.

The Standing Committee on Communication Access meeting covered several key areas. Old business included a continuing discussion on establishing American Sign Language (ASL) classes in public elementary schools, emphasizing early exposure and potential collaboration between special education teachers and Deaf instructors. New business included a report on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Board (DHHAB) meeting, where the formation of a subcommittee to survey Kids of Deaf Adults (KODAs) regarding interpretation interest was proposed. Updates were provided on the successful Deaf Awareness Day event, noting required improvements for future scheduling and hearing participant engagement, and a productive meeting with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) regarding improving emergency communication access through interpreters and captioning. The committee also reviewed quarterly Communication Access statistics, including interpreter credentialing and technical assistance provided. Information was shared regarding free real-time captioning of phone calls via the 'Rogervoice' app, and a recap of the Deaf Safari Day event was presented. The open forum focused on exploring future communication technology, such as AI-based tools, to bridge communication between Deaf and blind individuals.

The Standing Committee on Transportation meeting included a review of the County of Hawaii Paratransit Service responses, noting the procurement of nine new paratransit vehicles and reviewing ADA complaint data, which showed more complaints related to fixed route service than paratransit. The committee also reviewed City and County of Honolulu Bill 54 (2025), which continues the fare waiver for Personal Care Attendants. Discussions covered issues with the County of Maui's paratransit service delays and a Federal Transit Administration review detailing several ADA compliance deficiencies for The City and County of Honolulu's HandiVan program, including inconsistent suspension policies and deficiencies in vehicle lighting and inspection processes. The committee addressed DCAB Guiding Principles concerning pedestrian safety and accessibility, specifically discussing City and County of Honolulu Charter proposals to prioritize sidewalk construction and reviewing concerns regarding Honolulu's rail construction impact on pedestrian walkways along Dillingham Boulevard, which led to an agreement for a site visit. Additionally, there was discussion regarding DCAB's request for the Hawaii Department of Transportation to form an advisory committee for travelers with disabilities, and public comment was heard regarding the inaccessibility of Skyline's airport station for persons with disabilities.