LIHU‘E — The County of Kaua‘i joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, Monday. President George Bush signed into law the ADA to ensure the civil rights of people
LIHU‘E — The County of Kaua‘i joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, Monday.
President George Bush signed into law the ADA to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities on July 26, 1990.
Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. issued a proclamation announcing Monday as ADA Recognition Day, joined by his equal-access advisory board members to devote his latest “Together We Can” television show to the ADA program on Kaua‘i.
The Public Law 101-336 established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities, states the proclamation.
It also expanded many opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing access barriers and increasing participation in community life.
The County of Kaua‘i has made strides in its efforts to comply with the ADA, implementing programs and policies that have improved access to county facilities and services, the proclamation states.
Carvalho said the true promise of the ADA will only be reached if public entities remain committed to its original purpose and intent.
To reach the goal of full compliance with the ADA, Carvalho said his administration will continue to make every effort to protect the civil rights of all people.
At the invitation of Christina Pilkington, the ADA coordinator from the Office of the Mayor, Anthony Akamine of the state elections office in Honolulu flew over a voting machine designed to help people with disabilities.
“Our focus is on privacy and independence,” Akamine said. “The state is committed to improving and expanding the accessibility of our elections and will continue to ensure that all voters of the state have an equal opportunity to participate in the election process.”
Akamine also had a brochure, “Election Accessibility for People with Disabilities,” available for anyone wanting to know more about the state elections office programs for the upcoming elections that will take place Sept. 18 for the Primary Election and Nov. 2 for the General Election.
The state was able to initiate many changes to make its elections more accessible to voters with disabilities after the enactment of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
President Bush signed that act on Oct. 29, 2002 and Congress authorized $3.88 billion in federal money to be distributed to all states for election upgrades which included the purchasing of new voting machines, the creation of a statewide voter registration database and other voting improvements.
During the 2004 election, the state of Hawai‘i reflected some of the changes including the use of temporary ramps and accessible parking at the polls, training poll workers on how to assist voters with disabilities, and the use of the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System.
For the upcoming elections, polling places on all islands are being surveyed and checked for barrier-free accessibility.
Poll workers who are trained to assist voters with disabilities and provide good customer service will also be available at all polling places.
These workers will be able to provide effective voter assistance in communicating with people who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and people with mobility, emotional or intellectual impairments.
Akamine said people who need accommodations can call the Office of Elections, 241-4800, or the County Clerk’s office, 241-4188.
Visit www.hawaii.gov/elections for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
