HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	33
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the governor and pertinent state agencies to commit to provide culturally appropriate resources, services, and programs for native hawaiian individuals and families experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities.

WHEREAS, the State has committed to improving the quality of life of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, necessitating the provision of relief to families and care providers; and

WHEREAS, the State continues to identify the needs of individuals, families, and care providers with intellectual and developmental disabilities, evidencing the ongoing need for continued support; and

WHEREAS, intellectual and developmental disabilities are often lifelong disabilities that may involve challenges that affect intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning, or a person's ability to learn, reason, communicate, socialize, or perform self-care tasks; and

WHEREAS, developmental disabilities, which include intellectual disabilities, are a broad group of conditions that may involve an impairment in physical, learning, cognitive, language and communication, or behavior areas; and

WHEREAS, the term "intellectual and developmental disabilities" was established and is continuously used to be encompassing and far-reaching in its inclusivity, expressing the community's diversity and recognizing individuals' unique strengths, challenges, needs, and experiences; and

WHEREAS, the true extent of the cognitive abilities of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is not accurately reflected by measures of intelligence, as there are seemingly infinite ways that individuals learn or express themselves; and

WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unique in their own right and the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient to fully appreciate and provide appropriate support for their inherent uniqueness; and

WHEREAS, this body acknowledges the intrinsic individuality of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and understands the importance of developing and providing culturally appropriate services, programs, and resources that not only uphold their dignity and active inclusion as valued members of the community, but also nurture their potential and safeguard their well-being; and

WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have an inherent right to immerse themselves in their cultural identities, necessitating the provision of culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive services, programs, and resources as essential to the adequacy of support and inclusivity; and

WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and their care providers require equitable resources and support, commensurate with their socio-economic standing, to endure in their everyday lives; and

WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon society to protect and provide for the most vulnerable communities in ensuring that all people have equitable opportunities and access to thrive; and

WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians are overrepresented among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while also facing disproportionate underdiagnosis, indicating systemic disparities and increased vulnerabilities; and

WHEREAS, traditional Native Hawaiian family-based and communal structures established systems of effective care for individuals of all ages, including the most vulnerable members of society; and

WHEREAS, these traditional family-based and communal structures were dismantled and are furthered by unresolved historical injustice; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Governor and other pertinent state agencies are urged to commit to providing culturally appropriate resources, services, and programs for Native Hawaiian individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, Director of Human Services, President of the University of Hawaii System, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Chairperson of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Native Hawaiian; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Culturally Appropriate Resources