STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2831

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 208, 209, 257, 258, 259

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 208, 209, 257, 258, and 259, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

G.M. No. 208

JOANN W.L. YUEN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010;

 

G.M. No. 209

JOANN W.L. YUEN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014;

 

G.M. No. 257

CAROLINE M.T. CADIRAO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010;

 

G.M. No. 258

CAROLINE M.T. CADIRAO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014; and

 

G.M. No. 259

JOSHUA I. SMALLEY-BOWER,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds JoAnn W.L. Yuen, Caroline M.T. Cadirao, and Joshua I. Smalley-Bower to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of JoAnn W.L. Yuen was submitted by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies, and six individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     JoAnn W.L. Yuen has worked as a professor and administrator in university settings for the past fifteen years.  She has focused her teaching and research on early intervention, especially pre-kindergarten programs that prepare disabled children for the school environment.  Ms. Yuen has worked on several disability focused research projects, including a year researching with the National Center for the Study of Postsecondary Educational Supports Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, as well as having been published in several academic journals. 

 

     In addition to her professional and academic experience, Ms. Yuen brings to the Council her extensive participation in community and professional organizations.  She is currently the Project Coordinator for Steppingstone, an organization focusing on literacy for English language learners with disabilities, and the Director of Hana Like and Halau Ku Mana New Century Charter School Mana Maoli Project, and has previously held positions and membership in several professional and community service organizations.

 

     Your Committee finds that JoAnn W.L. Yuen's depth of knowledge of child and adolescent disability issues, her extensive experience in other disability focused organizations in a variety of capacities, and her excellent grant writing abilities will make her a valued member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Your Committee appreciates Ms. Yuen's family-centered philosophy of care and welcomes her desire to serve her community.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Caroline M.T. Cadirao to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities was submitted by the Executive Office on Aging and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Caroline M.T. Cadirao has extensive experience working with the elderly and with issues pertaining to aging.  Ms. Cadirao currently works with the Department of Health Executive Office on Aging where she develops, manages, and administers awarded contracts for compliance with federal and state rules and regulations.  Ms. Cadirao is very familiar with the Older Americans Act and has assisted in the development and implementation of community projects including the Healthy Aging Partnership, Elder Abuse Response Services, and Empowering Elders. 

 

     Before assuming her position with the Department of Health, Ms. Cadirao was the Program Director of Helping Hands Hawaii Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, where she collaborated with thirty non-profit and government entities to place senior volunteers.  Prior to that Ms. Cadirao was the Program Coordinator of the Catholic Charities Hawaii Senior Center, a Housing Assistance Program Specialist, a Respite Connection Specialist, and a Residential Assistance Program Specialist, all of which focused on the elderly population.

 

     Your Committee finds that Caroline M.T. Cadirao's extensive experience with the elderly population and her familiarity with government and non-profit organizations offering assistance to the elderly will bring a much needed perspective to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Your Committee hopes that Ms. Cadirao will improve collaboration between the elderly and disability networks to pool resources and experiences in order to provide better services to the disabled community.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Joshua I. Smalley-Bower was submitted by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and three individuals.

 

     While only twenty-eight years old, Joshua I. Smalley-Bower has already garnered impressive volunteer and community service, including representing Hawaii at the National Assistive Technology Conference in Washington, D.C., representing Hawaii at the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., and volunteering at Easter Seals Hawaii to teach computer skills to other youth.  Mr. Smalley-Bower has already served on this Council on an interim basis working as a member of the Council's Community Supports Committee as well as serving as a member of the Self-Advocacy Advisory Council.

 

     In addition to his community service, Mr. Smalley-Bower will bring his personal perspective to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Unlike the other nominees for this Council, Mr. Smalley-Bower has developmental disabilities and has worked hard for his self-determination.  He can bring first person knowledge of the importance of accessible comprehensive medical care for persons with developmental disabilities.

 

     Your Committee finds that Joshua I. Smalley-Bower has been and will continue to be an asset for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  His personal experiences with the challenges facing people with developmental disabilities are invaluable to the Council's efforts to effectively address issues affecting the disabled community. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair