John Lewin

The Committee discussed Hawaii County paratransit services, including the Hele-On Shared Ride, rural transportation, and paratransit programs, and planned to submit questions to the Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency. The meeting also addressed pedestrian walkway safety concerns related to Honolulu's rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard. Legislative updates included discussions on Senate Bill 2851 regarding deaf individuals, the Federal-Aid Highways 2045 Statewide Long-range Land Transportation Plan, and Act 54 concerning disability travel placards. Additionally, the Committee reviewed various parking-related bills and discussed American Sign Language interpreting services at airports.

The committee will review and approve revisions to the purpose statement in the Continuing Education Unit Workshop Funding Application Form. Discussion and planning for the 2026 Communication Access Conference will continue, including logistics for venue, fees, and topics. The committee will also review the current fiscal year Plan of Action goals and objectives, and deliberate on staff recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year, including updating the registry of communication access providers, planning a communication access conference, advocating for interpreter training program legislation, and conducting a study on the healthcare communication needs of patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

The committee discussed updates on paratransit services across the counties, including fleet procurement, ADA complaint data, and service availability. Key agenda items included an update on Honolulu's transit bill regarding fare waivers for personal care attendants and a federal ADA review of Honolulu's HandiVan program, which identified several compliance deficiencies. Other discussions covered guiding principles for pedestrian mobility and safety, ongoing sidewalk infrastructure proposals, accessibility concerns regarding rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard, and a request for the Hawaii Department of Transportation to form an advisory committee for travelers with disabilities.

The Standing Committee on Facility Access meeting includes an update on construction document review fees and the number of reviews conducted. New business items cover a report on the virtual 2026 Disability Access Conference and a review, discussion, and approval of the fiscal year 2026-2027 Plan of Action goals and objectives, specifically focusing on facility access, design requirements, and accessibility standards.

The Board discussed the recruitment and hiring process for the Executive Director position, including the potential establishment of a Permitted Interaction Group to oversee the process. The Executive Director provided a report on legislative activities for the 2026 session, specifically highlighting bills related to state budget adjustments, funding transfers, parking for disabled persons, disaster services, deaf individuals, digital accessibility, and communication needs in health care. Additionally, the Board reviewed personnel updates, including the establishment of new staff positions and attendance at various trainings and conferences. Standing committee reports were presented covering legislative matters, communication access, parking statistics and plans, and transportation programs. Other discussions included the Special Parent Information Network activities and ADA coordination efforts.