STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1334

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 611, 614, 616, 617

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 611, 614, 616, and 617, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

G.M. No. 611

LANI BARTHOLOMEW,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 614

AARON M. KEMP,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 616

TIFFANY VARA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015; and

 

G.M. No. 617

JOSEPHINE C. WOLL,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Lani Bartholomew, Aaron M. Kemp, Tiffany Vara, and Josephine C. Woll to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities' federal mandate, Public Law 106-402, determines the composition of the Council to ensure that all stakeholders involved in the development, implementation, and use of developmental disability supports are represented.  The law specifically requires that sixty percent of the membership of the Council be comprised of individuals with a developmental disability, their parents, or family members.  Additionally, the following agencies are required to be on the Council:  Department of Health; the agencies that administer funds provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Older Americans Act of 1965, Titles V and XIX of the Social Security Act; the Protection and Advocacy Agency; the Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disability Education, Research, and Service; and agencies and private non-profit organizations concerned with services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee finds that the nominees meet the federal requirements for Council membership.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lani Bartholomew from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Arc in Hawaii, and seven individuals.

 

     Ms. Bartholomew served on the Council in the late 1980s but had to resign due to her work schedule.  Over the past several years, Ms. Bartholomew has attended the State Council on Developmental Disabilities' annual Day at the Capitol event and recently joined the Self-Advocacy Advisory Council.  She is a Job Empowerment Trainee with the Winners at Work Transitional Employment Program.  She has also been an Instructor's Assistant in the Adult Day Program at The Arc in Hawaii.  She has lived independently in The Arc in Hawaii apartments for the past twenty‑nine years.

 

     Testimony received by your Committee indicates that Ms. Bartholomew has a great understanding of issues faced by individuals with disabilities.  She has great empathy for individuals who are less able to communicate and verbalize their wants and needs.  Ms. Bartholomew has demonstrated to your Committee a strong motivation to utilize her efforts to make the community a better place for all.

 

     Ms. Bartholomew indicated from her personal statement that she would like to serve on the Council because she is a person with disabilities and can be a voice for others who cannot communicate for themselves.  She would like to work on the Council with other self-advocates, parents, and service providers to ensure that other people with disabilities have a better life.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Bartholomew's appointment would fulfill the federal requirement of having self-advocates represented on the Council.  Your Committee also finds that Ms. Bartholomew's past work experience and experience living independently in the community would greatly assist the State Council on Developmental Disabilities in its activities to promote and increase employment opportunities and residential options for persons with developmental disabilities.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Aaron M. Kemp from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Mr. Kemp is an individual with a developmental disability who resides on Maui.  He was appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities on an interim basis in July 2010.  He is a member of the Maui County Developmental Disabilities Committee, which serves as an advisory committee to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Mr. Kemp is also a member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities' Employment and Education Committee.  He participates in discussions on how best to support people with developmental disabilities as they pursue postsecondary education, training, and employment opportunities.

 

     Mr. Kemp indicated from his personal statement that he would like to serve on the Council because he often speaks with his friends on Maui and listens to their concerns, and would like to be able to help other people with disabilities.  He values his past experience on the Council, and looks forward to changing policies that will allow people with developmental disabilities to live more independently.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Kemp's appointment would fulfill the federal requirement of having self-advocates represented on the Council.  Your Committee also finds that his experience and perspective as a self-advocate will assist the Council in carrying out its activities to promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration for individuals with developmental disabilities.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Tiffany Vara from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and eight individuals.

 

     Ms. Vara was appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities on an interim basis in July 2010.  She has been actively involved in various committees and boards in the community, including the Council's Health and Early Childhood Committee and the Developmental Disabilities Division's Outcome Planning Committee.  She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the National Children's Study and on the National Family Advisory Board of the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan/The Brain Project.

 

     Ms. Vara has been a valuable member of the Health and Early Childhood Committee.  She has brought to the attention of the Committee alternative methods of providing care to medically fragile children and their families.  She has also contributed to the Health and Early Childhood Committee's work on improving health outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities and has assisted with coordinating meetings and fostering discussions with hospital staff to increase awareness of the gynecological health needs of women with disabilities.

 

     Testimony received by your Committee indicates Ms. Vara is a tireless volunteer and a sensitive, creative, reliable member of the community.  She is a passionate advocate for children with disabilities and highly knowledgeable with regard to medical issues concerning children with disabilities.

 

     Ms. Vara is the parent of a daughter with a brain injury.  Ms. Vara expressed through her personal statement that one of her highest priorities as a member of the Council will be to ensure constructive, supportive, reliable ways to communicate with the developmentally disabled population and their families.  As a member of the Council, she will serve as a voice of the developmentally disabled population and will strive to ensure that the actual needs and desires of these individuals are considered.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Vara's appointment would fulfill the federal requirement of having parents of individuals with developmental disabilities represented on the Council.  Your Committee is confident that Ms. Vara's ongoing experience and perspective caring for her daughter, her passion for educating families and professionals on innovative practices, and her ability to communicate with health care providers and families will be a tremendous asset to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Josephine C. Woll from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies, and Parents and Children Together.

 

     Ms. Woll is a Registered Nurse by profession but has spent most of her career involved in early intervention services.  She was the Director of Hawaii Easter Seal's Sultan School for thirteen years.  The Early Intervention Program at Sultan School has been recognized as the premier program in Hawaii for infants and toddlers with disabilities and those at risk for disabilities.  She has also served as a member of the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council for many years.  As a parent, she was instrumental in founding a national organization called Family Voices, a family-led advocacy group that works to improve health care access for children with special health care needs.

 

     Ms. Woll has been recognized on many occasions for her advocacy work on behalf of children with special needs, including the Council Service Award from the Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Special Parents Information Network.  She was also recognized by the Legislature and the Governor in 2000 for her contributions in support of families and their children with special needs and for her work in support of special education.

 

     Testimony received by your Committee indicates Ms. Woll has been a strong advocate over the last thirty years for children with special health needs in Hawaii.  She has mentored countless families and supported them as they sought services for their children.  She has proven her commitment to creating a responsive community environment of care for individuals with disabilities.

 

     Ms. Woll is the parent of a daughter with developmental disabilities.  Ms. Woll expressed through her personal statement that she welcomes the opportunity to serve on the Council because of its importance and service to those in the community who have developmental disabilities.  She is confident that her extensive experience in the health and disabilities fields as a parent, consumer, and professional will allow her to bring insights to any Council deliberations.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Woll's appointment would fulfill the federal requirement of having parents of individuals with disabilities represented on the Council.  Your Committee also finds that Ms. Woll's professional background and her extensive work experience in early intervention services would be a great asset for the Council in the areas of early childhood developmental and early identification for appropriate services.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services 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 Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair