Advocacy and Social Services Resources

Access to Independence
As an independent living center serving all of Oahu, Access to Independence offers services to people with all disability types, of all ages and cultures (Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos and more).  Their staff represents the community they serve and are from a diverse background as well.  

Comprehensive Service Center
The Comprehensive Service Center (CSC) is funded by the Hawai‘i State Legislature and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation through a contract with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Center on Disability Studies (CDS).  The CSC offers a variety of educational classes, summer youth programs, and a one-stop referral service for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind. The CSC shares space with Signs of Self (SOS), an independent living agency for people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind.

Disability & Communication Access Board
The DCAB is comprised of seventeen (17) board members, who are Governor-appointed volunteers. Members include persons with disabilities, parents or guardians of persons with disabilities, public and private providers of service, and other professionals who are knowledgeable in the areas for which DCAB has rule-making authority. The Board's primary function is to serve as a public advocate of persons with disabilities. by providing advice and recommendation on legislation, rules, policies, procedures, and plans relating to persons with disabilities and their civil rights or service needs, establish guidelines for the design of buildings and facilities by or on behalf of the State or the counties in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes, §103-50; approve site-specific designs where an alternate design provides equal or greater access, issue administrative rules for the utilization of communication access services (e.g., sign language interpreters, real time captioners, computer-assisted notetakers), determine the qualifications of interpreters and the credentialing of interpreters who do not hold national certification via a state screening process, and administer the statewide program for the issuance of parking placards to disabled persons.