Hawaii Self-Advocates Converge on the State Capitol

March 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Honolulu, March 16, 2011:  The Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities will convene its 12th annual “Day at the Capitol” on March 17, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. in the Hawai‘i State Capitol Auditorium.  Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities will attend along with family members and friends to advocate for their legislative priorities.  Governor Neil Abercrombie will be on hand to meet over 300 participants from across the state.   Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland and Representative John Mizuno will welcome participants to the state Capitol.  Participants will receive a briefing from the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities, meet with legislators from their home districts and will also be recognized during floor sessions in the House and Senate.  
High on the group’s legislative agenda is to seek support to pass SB 962 and HB 761 which seeks to changes references in the state statutes from “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability”.  The local legislation is consistent with Public Law 111-256 also known as Rosa’s Law which was enacted by President Obama in October 2010.  Known throughout the disability community as the “R-Word”, words such as “retard” or “retarded”, are used disparagingly and as insult to demean people.  Self-Advocates and partner advocates alike seek to eliminate the derogatory use of the R-Word from everyday speech.
The “Day at the Capitol” is a collaborative event coordinated by the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities and is supported by the Self-Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC), the Hilopa‘a Family to Family Health Information Center, the Hawai‘i Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program, the Ho‘opa‘a Hawai‘i State Autism Implementation Grant, and the Hawai’i Waiver Providers Association.

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The Hilopa‘a Family to Family Health Information Center is an activity of the Hawaii Pediatric Research and Education Foundation and services the State of Hawai‘i and provides advocacy and support for children with special health care needs.