Bill Text: HI SCR11 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Reaffirming The Use Of The Term "deaf-blind" By The State Of Hawaii And The Counties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-22 - Resolution adopted in final form. [SCR11 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SCR11-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

11

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REAFFIRMING THE USE OF THE TERM "DEAF-BLIND" BY THE STATE OF HAWAII AND THE COUNTIES.

 

 


     WHEREAS, terminology and labeling of a particular community based on a common characteristic or interest can be quite specific and significant to the community's members; and

 

     WHEREAS, many individuals in Hawaii and nationally have used the term "deaf-blind", written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind, to describe individuals who are deaf and blind; and

 

     WHEREAS, long-standing institutions such as the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults and the National Center on Deaf-Blindness have and continue to use the term "deaf-blind", written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind, to describe the deaf and blind community; and

 

     WHEREAS, federal laws that define and refer to individuals who are deaf and blind use the term "deaf-blind" written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Administrative Rules, in section 11-218-3, define "person who is deaf-blind" as "any person who, with or without the assistance of hearing or visual aids, has both auditory and visual disabilities that interfere with communication", utilizing the term "deaf-blind" written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 218, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, session established a comprehensive service center for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals in Hawaii, with the term "deaf-blind" written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind; and

 

     WHEREAS, some individuals and organizations have sought to use the term "DeafBlind" with no hyphen between the words deaf and blind and the first letter of each word capitalized; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State, counties, and all entities that contract with the State or a county utilize the term "deaf-blind" with the term "deaf-blind" written in lowercase with a hyphen between the words deaf and blind; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Human Services, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor of the County of Maui, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Mayor of the County of Kauai, Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board, and Executive Director of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.

Report Title: 

Deaf and Blind Task Force; Terminology

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