STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4050

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, and 665, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Rehabilitation Council

 

G.M. No. 659

ROSELANI ROWE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 660

EVALINA WATANABE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 661

STANLEY YOUNG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 662

WALTER SOARES,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 663

ANNETTE TASHIRO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 664

CATHERINE TAYLOR,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025; and

 

G.M. No. 665

HEATHER CHAPMAN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Roselani Rowe, Evalina Watanabe, Stanley Young, Walter Soares, Annette Tashiro, Catherine Taylor, and Heather Chapman for service on the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

ROSELANI ROWE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Roselani Rowe from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Rowe's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Ms. Rowe is currently the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Leadership in Disabilities and Achievement of Hawaii, a non-profit organization that works on various projects that benefit children with or at risk of disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them, including the Parent Training and Information Center for the State of Hawaii.  Prior to being promoted to her current position, Ms. Rowe was an Education and Training Coordinator providing training, outreach, and advocacy services for parents, families, and caregivers of children with disabilities and disability professionals.  Ms. Rowe's commitment to public service is evidenced in her service on various councils and committees, including the Special Education Advisory Council, whose mission is to guide and assist the Department of Education in fulfilling its responsibility to meet the individual needs of children with disabilities.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include at least one representative of a parent training and information center.  Ms. Rowe has been a member of the Council fulfilling this statutory requirement since 2020, and if reappointed, will continue to serve in this capacity.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Rowe's professional experience and knowledge in working with parents, families, and caregivers of children with disabilities and disability professionals and commitment to public service will continue to be great assets for the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Roselani Rowe be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

EVALINA WATANABE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Evalina Watanabe from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Watanabe's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Ms. Watanabe is a resident of Maui who currently serves as Staffing Coordinator at Mastercare Homecare and Healthcare, where she is responsible for advocating for and assisting families with children and adults with disabilities navigate through the homecare and healthcare systems.  Prior to her current position, Ms. Watanabe served as an independent living specialist with the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living, providing advocacy and education on disability awareness and accessibility throughout the State.  Ms. Watanabe's commitment to public service is evidenced in her service on various commissions and organizations, including serving as the Chairperson of Maui County's Commission on Persons with Disabilities that assists the County in rendering services to persons with disabilities.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include at least one member from each county and representatives of disability advocacy groups.  Ms. Watanabe has been serving on the Council since 2020 fulfilling these statutory requirements as a member from the County of Maui representing disability advocacy groups.  If reappointed to the Council, she will continue to serve in the same capacity.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Watanabe's professional experience and knowledge in advocating for families with children and adults with disabilities and commitment to public service will continue to contribute greatly to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Evalina Watanabe be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 


STANLEY YOUNG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Stanley Young from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Young's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify him to be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  For the past twenty-five years, Mr. Young has been an active client of Hoopono Services for the Blind, a branch of the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.  Mr. Young has worked at various state and federal blind vending facilities since 1995 and currently serves as a licensed blind vendor at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport's newsstand along his two blind partners and eighty-four employees, including disabled and blind individuals.  Since 2019, Mr. Young has been serving as the elected chairperson of the Hawaii State Committee of Blind Vendors, a federal Randolph Sheppard Act mandated board of blind vendors, actively participating in all major decisions made by Hoopono's Business Enterprise Program on behalf of blind vendors.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include representatives of disability advocacy groups.  Mr. Young has been a member of the Council fulfilling this statutory requirement since 2020, and if reappointed, will continue to serve in this capacity.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Young's personal and professional experience and knowledge in working as a blind vendor, hiring disabled and blind employees, and advocating on behalf of blind vendors, as well as his commitment to public service will continue to be great assets to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Stanley Young be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

WALTER SOARES

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Walter Soares from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Soares's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify him to be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Since 1989, Mr. Soares has been the President and owner of Island Skill Gathering, an entity contractor with the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, that empowers people with disabilities by facilitating the learning of independent living skills; providing assistive technology, vocational counseling, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) training; and raising disability awareness.  As an individual with a disability who has been a recipient of the Division's services, Mr. Soares has first-hand knowledge on its vocational rehabilitation process and can therefore effectively advocate on behalf of disabled individuals seeking employment.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include representatives of disability advocacy groups.  Mr. Soares has been a member of the Council fulfilling this statutory requirement since 2020, and if reappointed, will continue to serve in this capacity.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Soares's working knowledge on the vocational rehabilitation process, expertise in assistive technology that can assist an individual with a disability accomplish almost any job task, and his experience advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Walter Soares be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

ANNETTE TASHIRO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Annette Tashiro from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Tashiro's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Ms. Tashiro is a retired certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a Master of Education degree in Counselor Education-Rehabilitation Counseling.  Ms. Tashiro was a public servant for over two decades, serving in various positions with the State of Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu.  Her experience includes ten years of service as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Hoopono Services for the Blind, a branch of the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, during which she advocated for and collaborated with her clients to develop a successful individualized plan for employment and independent living.  Ms. Tashiro currently serves as a volunteer to provide counseling, education, and training opportunities for persons with disabilities to help them achieve success in their quality of life aspirations, and continues to be an active community member as an advocate for emergency preparation, resolving homelessness, aging with dignity, and equal access to community services.  In addition to being a member of the State Rehabilitation Council since 2020, she chairs the Statewide Independent Living Council and serves on the National Federation of the Blind, Anuenue Chapter, as its treasurer.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include representatives of disability advocacy groups.  If reappointed, Ms. Tashiro will be one of the members fulfilling this statutory requirement.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Tashiro's advocacy for individuals with disabilities, experience in education-rehabilitation counseling, familiarity with the vocational rehabilitation program and the needs of individuals with disabilities, and commitment to public service will continue to be great assets to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Annette Tashiro be reappointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

CATHERINE TAYLOR

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Catherine Taylor from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Taylor's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Dr. Taylor has been a teacher employed by the Department of Education for sixteen years, with credentials that include a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education, specializing in Exceptionalities earned from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling earned from San Francisco State University.  She has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Behavioral Specialist since 2008 and has been serving as a Special Education and Science Teacher, Secondary Education, at Iao School and Maui High School in the County of Maui since 2019.  Dr. Taylor's past positions include serving as a Disability Services Counselor at the University of Hawaii Maui College during which she worked closely with counselors at the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in facilitating the transition of individuals with disabilities into the workforce and vocational and college programs.

 

     Your Committee notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include representatives of disability advocacy groups.  Dr. Taylor has been serving as an interim member of the Council as one of the representatives of disability advocacy groups for the past year and if appointed, will continue to serve in this capacity.  The appointment of Dr. Taylor, who is a resident of Maui, will also fulfill the statutory requirement that the State Rehabilitation Council include at least one member from each county.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Taylor's extensive experience in working with individuals with disabilities and supporting their educational needs as they transition to employment and post-secondary education and commitment to public service will continue to be great assets to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Catherine Taylor be appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

HEATHER CHAPMAN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Heather Chapman from the Department of Human Services' Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Chapman's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Dr. Chapman earned a Doctorate in Psychology from Touro University in Vallejo, California; a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University; and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu.  She is a Licensed Behavior Analyst and is currently the Department of Education's Educational Specialist for post-secondary, incarcerated, and residential students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Dr. Chapman's role in planning, implementing, and evaluating transition education and services at the state system level ensures that transitioning students achieve their postsecondary goals.

 

     Your Committee also notes that the State Rehabilitation Council is required by statute to include at least one representative of the state educational agency responsible for the public education of students with disabilities.  The appointment of Dr. Chapman satisfies this statutory requirement.

 

     Your Committee believes Dr. Chapman's knowledge of school and mental health systems, learning styles, special education, behavior interventions, and student/client intervention development will continue to be great assets to the State Rehabilitation Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Heather Chapman be appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair