Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 181 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii (UH) to create a task force to assess the need for disability access for each campus.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the UH, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and twelve individuals.

Your Committees believe that persons with disabilities have the right to participate in society including pursuing post secondary education as a means to greater economic independence. However, students with disabilities face a multitude of barriers to succeeding in post-secondary education. These barriers are not only architectural, but include programmatic access as well as fighting the perception that a disability leaves one incapable of learning and working.

According to the UH, the various UH campuses serve approximately 1,500 students with a wide range of disabilities. The UH noted that an increasing number of students are coming forth to identify their disabilities and to request support and services to participate in the college environment. In addition, the UH system also continues to experience increasing enrollment resulting in a corresponding increase in the number of students needing disability support and services at each campus.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(2) Recognizing the Association for Higher Education And

As amended, this measure requests that the UH convene a task force of service providers, advocates, and consumers to develop a comprehensive plan to address the needs of students with disabilities and to provide them with the best opportunity to succeed at each campus. Your Committees noted that while the measure does not specifically identify students with disabilities as members of the task force it is noted that the UH Commission on Disability Access includes students with disabilities.

Your Committees believe that the findings and recommendations of the task force will lay the groundwork for future services, supports, policies, and budget appropriations to benefit all students with disabilities intending to pursue post secondary education in the State of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 181, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 181, S.D. 1.